A history of the Midwestern transportation hub and its impact on the city and the region, plus stunning photographs of the station’s architecture.More than a century before airlines placed it at the center of their systems, Chicago was already the nation’s transportation hub—from Union Station, passengers could reach major cities on the Atlantic, Pacific and Gulf coasts as well as countless points in between.Chicago’s history is tightly linked to its railroads. Railroad historian Fred Ash begins in the mid-1800s, when Chicago dominated Midwest trade and was referred to as the “Railroad Capital of the World.” During this period, swings in the political climate significantly modified the relationship between the local government and its largest landholders, the railroads. From here, Ash highlights competition at the turn of the twentieth century between railroad companies that greatly influenced Chicago’s urban landscape. Profiling the fascinating stories of businessmen, politicians, workers, and immigrants whose everyday lives were affected by the bustling transportation hub, Ash documents the impact Union Station had on the growing city and the entire Midwest.Featuring more than one hundred photographs of the famous beaux art architecture, Chicago Union Station is a beautifully illustrated tribute to one of America’s overlooked treasures.“The book includes more than 100 illustrations, a quarter of which are in color—but the real value is in author Ash’s narrative; he’s devoted decades to the study of terminals in the Railroad Capital, and it shows in this marvelous work.” —Classic Trains“The station’s history is thoughtfully revealed alongside concurrent economic and political events unfolding in Chicago at given points in time, thus providing the reader with a deeper understanding of why certain station milestones occurred when they did and the way they did.” —The Michigan Railfan Read more

Do you want to learn how to make money with real estate photography? This book has got all the answers about what it takes to do professional real estate photography. It provides guides that you ready to shoot real estate photography in only 14 days.Don't wait any longer, quit your boring day job, or just make some nice extra income on the side. Real estate photography is never boring, and it is a different adventure every day. You'll get to work with dynamic realtors and friendly homeowners.This book will open everything from the right equipment to shooting and processing the pictures, they include:• Choosing your equipment• Getting prepared for the shoot• Shooting the property• Processing the pictures• Delivering the final product• Much, much more! Read more

"From Novice to Pro: A Journey through the Essentials of Real Estate Photography" is a comprehensive guide designed to transform aspiring photographers into skilled professionals in the realm of real estate photography. This book covers all the fundamental aspects of the field, providing a step-by-step exploration of the craft. Beginning with an understanding of the significance of real estate photography, readers delve into topics such as gear and equipment, camera techniques, effective shoot preparation, capturing exteriors and interiors, twilight and night photography, drone usage, post-processing, marketing strategies, client relationship management, troubleshooting, industry trends, and future opportunities. With practical insights and expert advice, this book is an invaluable resource for anyone seeking to master the art of real estate photography and build a successful career in the industry. Read more

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Updated February 2023, this sixth book in Nathan Cool's real estate photography shows techniques, setups, and options for lighting various rooms, interior spaces, and various configurations. With numerous lighting diagrams and example images, you can learn ways to light simple, intermediate, and advanced interior spaces while understanding why certain techniques are preferred over others, and under varying circumstances, so that you can apply these principles to almost any interior space you may encounter. Along with detailed information on popular lighting gear used for interior real estate photography, Nathan discusses various lighting methods in-depth, along with tables for flash power starting points for each example, and how they differ across flash units. This lighting guide builds on techniques in the interiors book in Nathan’s real estate photography series, and this is a great companion guide for his book “Shot Lists” as well. By using professional techniques for interior flash photography you can gain the know-how to tackle almost interior lighting challenge to help you show your clients that you’re not just a consumer with a camera; but instead, you’re a pro. Read more

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Abandoned America: Then and Now, Before and AfterTake the fascinating look at when these American abandoned places were busy and bustling in their heyday and compare them to decades of nature retaking them in their abandonment and how they appear today. Places and things we have left behind and have long forgotten. From old abandoned motels, restaurants, theme parks, shopping malls, derelict mansions, and many more. Nature has overtaken some of these forgotten icons, bring them to a little more than rubble and barely recognizable, but at one point they were popular destinations to the American public. Relive the nostalgia of yesterday. Read more

In this fifth book in his real estate photography series, Nathan takes you room by room and outside as well to show an easy and efficient strategy to photographing homes. By knowing what shots and compositions will have the highest positive impact on clients and buyers, Nathan shows what works well, and why. With more than 200 examples you’ll see numerous homes, room designs, property layouts, and photographic challenges that you can quickly identify and optimize while shooting almost any property. Along with explanations on why certain compositions are preferred over others, Nathan suggests image quantities for rooms and amenities in assorted home sizes, and how they relate to price-packaging tiers. Although it’s suggested to be familiar with the interiors and exteriors books in Nathan’s real estate photography series, the principles in this book show how any style of photography can apply to the shot lists, compositions, and techniques contained in this book. Nathan also provides “Quick Pro Tips” throughout the book with easy-to-apply tricks and techniques, as well as a pre-shoot preparation checklist you can pass along to clients. Knowing not only what to shoot but also why, the photos you deliver to clients will have a higher wow-factor, proving that you aren’t a consumer with a camera; but instead, you’re a pro. Read more

A “beautifully crafted” visual celebration with 150 photos and essays by Barbara Kingsolver, Bill Moyers, Ann Patchett, Anne Lamott, Amy Tan, and more (Publishers Weekly).   Many of us have vivid recollections of childhood visits to a public library: the unmistakable musty scent, the excitement of checking out a stack of newly discovered books. Today, the more than 17,000 libraries in America also function as de facto community centers offering free access to the internet, job-hunting assistance, or a warm place to take shelter. And yet, across the country, cities large and small are closing public libraries or curtailing their hours of operation. Over eighteen years, photographer Robert Dawson crisscrossed the country documenting hundreds of these endangered institutions. The Public Library presents a wide selection of his photographs—from the majestic reading room at the New York Public Library to Allensworth, California’s one-room Tulare County Free Library, built by former slaves. Accompanying them are essays, letters, and poetry by some of America’s most celebrated writers.   “For book lovers, library denizens, and fans of architecture or Americana, The Public Library is a delight.” —The Christian Science Monitor   “If you think all public libraries look pretty much the same, well, you need to take a look at this book. Oh, sure, there are plenty of grand ones, such as Philadelphia’s own Central Library on the Parkway. But we also have the Fishtown Community Branch, featured in this volume, which used to be a firehouse and, before that, a stable. There’s also the log cabin library in Cable, Wis. And many, many more, both grand and humble.” —Philadelphia Inquirer   “An irrefutable argument for the preservation of public libraries . . . profound and heartbreakingly beautiful.” —Toni Morrison Read more

The most significant building project of its time, Eastern State Penitentiary was designed to reshape the minds of its inmates, rather than break their spirits.It was believed that by keeping prisoners isolated in the chapel-like cells the inner light of their souls would emerge, leading them to discover penitence. In reality, the isolation was nearly impossible to maintain, and the lofty goals of the founders crumbled in the 20th century, much like the building itself. Originally located on the outskirts of Philadelphia, the city eventually expanded and swallowed up the prison. Its unique location became problematic, and numerous escapes and riots threatened the civilian populace in the area. The prison was home to such well-known figures as Chicago mob boss Al Capone and bank robber Willie Sutton, once the most wanted man in America. Eastern State Penitentiary chronicles the history of this massive prison from its opening in 1829 to its closing and abandonment in 1971, and finally to the rebirth of the prison in the 1990s as a thriving historic site and national historic landmark Read more

Discover dozens of underappreciated landmarks and the stories behind them in this unique history on New York City, written and photographed by Landmarks of NY creator, Tommy Silk. New York is a city of landmarks – more than 37,000 of them. Visitors and New Yorkers walk by hundreds of these landmarks daily, often never knowing the rich history behind each of these buildings. One of these New Yorkers, Tommy Silk, has been photographing and chronicling a landmarked building every day for the last five years on his Instagram account, Landmarks of NY.    In Hidden Landmarks of New York, Silk uncovers 120 of the city’s oldest, most unique, and often relatively unknown landmarks and the hidden history behind them. Whether it’s an African Graveyard a stone’s throw from City Hall; the Truman Capote house in Brooklyn Heights that he claimed to own (but actually just rented a room there for years); or 4 Gramercy Park West, the Greek Revival-style townhouse that is rumored to be the home of Stuart Little; each entry includes a picture of the landmark with a short, informative description of its history and its past (often well-known) inhabitants.   With 120 photographs beautifully designed in a portable book, it’s perfect for armchair perusal or to stash in your backpack while wandering around the city.   Read more

This advanced guide to using flash with ambient light (a.k.a. "flambient") takes a deep dive into this pro technique, showing how you can efficiently capture and create higher quality interior real estate photos. Building off earlier books in his popular real estate photography series, professional photographer and best-selling author Nathan Cool shows how to not only take and make flambient images, but also how flambient works; the science behind flambient; presets and actions used in the flambient process; common repairs with flambient; how window pulls can be incorporated into the flambient workflow; and ways to become more efficient while onsite and when editing. Nathan also clarifies common misperceptions about flambient by showing why some shortcuts work while others should never be used for high quality work. Beyond the technical aspects of flambient, Nathan also discusses how you can incorporate this into your market to garner higher paying clients, and retain clients for the long term. While being a professional skill that goes far beyond what simple HDR photography can provide, this book provides an approach to flambient that can build a solid skillset to become a highly proficient, professional real estate photographer. Read more

The communities of northeast Tennessee are among the oldest settlements west of the Appalachian Mountains and the original 13 colonies. The cities of Bristol, Johnson City, and Kingsport and surrounding towns of Elizabethton, Erwin, Greeneville, Jonesborough, Mountain City, and Rogersville are home to some of the most remarkable historic houses in the country. The region is home to the oldest frame structure in Tennessee--the Carter Mansion in Elizabethton--and Pres. Andrew Johnson's residences in Greeneville, the Rocky Mount State Historic Site in Piney Flats, the Allandale Mansion in Kingsport, and the Roderick Butler Mansion in Mountain City. Northeast Tennessee features mountain log cabins, brick Federal-style residences, Georgian, Colonial, and Victorian mansions, urban apartment dwellings, row houses, and a number of other architectural styles. The region's oldest homes were built in the late 1700s, including the Gillespie stone house in Limestone. Read more

Updated September 2022, Nathan Cool’s book on virtual tours is a timely resource showing how you can photograph, create, and host 360 virtual tours, in more ways than one. Using either inexpensive portable cameras or high-end DSLRs or mirrorless cameras, Nathan shows the steps involved with 360 photography and how to optimize various techniques to fit your real estate photography business. Nathan covers gear, compositions, photography techniques, hosting services and options, editing practices, workflows, software, and pricing calculations to guide you through photographing and publishing 360 virtual tours. This book builds on techniques in Nathan’s interior real estate photography book so that you can optionally incorporate flash and high-end editing for impressively impactful tours. By using the professional techniques in this seventh book in Nathan’s real estate photography series, you can show your clients that when it comes to providing virtual tours, you’re not a consumer with a camera; but instead, you’re a pro. Read more

Chicago River Bridges presents the untold history and development of Chicago's iconic bridges, from the first wood footbridge built by a tavern owner in 1832 to the fantastic marvels of steel, concrete, and machinery of today. It is the story of Chicago as seen through its bridges, for it has been the bridges that proved critical in connecting and reconnecting the people, industry, and neighborhoods of a city that is constantly remaking itself. In this book, author Patrick T. McBriarty shows how generations of Chicagoans built (and rebuilt) the thriving city trisected by the Chicago River and linked by its many crossings.This comprehensive guidebook chronicles more than 175 bridges spanning 55 locations along the Main Channel, South Branch, and North Branch of the Chicago River. With new full-color photography of existing bridges and more than one hundred black and white images of bridges past, the book unearths the rich history of Chicago's downtown bridges from the Michigan Avenue Bridge to the often forgotten bridges that once connected thoroughfares such as Rush, Erie, Taylor, and Polk Streets.Throughout, McBriarty delivers new research into the bridges' architectural designs, engineering innovations, and their impact on Chicagoans' daily lives, explaining how the dominance of the "Chicago-style" bascule drawbridge influenced the style and mechanics of bridges worldwide. A confluence of Chicago history, urban design, and engineering lore, Chicago River Bridges illustrates Chicago's significant contribution to drawbridge innovation and the city's emergence as the drawbridge capital of the world. Read more

Architectural photography is more than simply choosing a subject and pressing the shutter-release button; it’s more than just documenting a project. An architectural photograph shows the form and appeal of a building far better than any other medium. With the advent of the digital photographic workflow, architects, real estate firms, and interior designers are discovering exciting new opportunities to present and market their work.But what are the ingredients for a successful architectural photograph? What equipment do you need? How can you improve your images in the digital darkroom? Why does a building look different in reality than it does in a photograph? In this book you will find the answers to these questions and much more.Author Adrian Schulz—an architect and photographer by training—uses real-world projects to teach you how to: Capture outstanding images of buildings, inside and out Choose the right equipment and use it effectively Compose architectural shots Work with ambient and artificial light Process images in an efficient workflow based on Adobe PhotoshopThis book is a step-by-step guide to architectural photography for both the aspiring amateur photographer interested in architectural photography and the professional photographer who wants to expand his skills in this domain. Moreover, architects themselves will find this book motivating and inspiring.This third edition has been extensively revised and includes 90 new images and illustrations. Updates include information on topics such as: Photographic technology, including digital cameras, lens quality and construction, and large format cameras Shooting techniques The real life of a professional architectural photographer Traveling Analog to digital shooting Stadium photography Image Processing, including screenshots from the latest image-processing software such as Adobe Photoshop CC With this book, you’ll learn a variety of creative tips, tricks, and guidelines for making the perfect architectural image. Read more

“Dain’s A History of Boston helps the reader understand how land-use and environment contribute to shaping a community. Dain’s Boston is the go-to book.” - R.J. LymanBoston is today one of the world’s greatest cities, first in higher education, hospitals, life science companies, and sports teams. It was the home of the Great Puritan Migration, the American Revolution, the Industrial Revolution, the first civil rights movement, the abolition movement, and the women’s rights movement. But the city that gave us the first use of ether as anesthesia, the telephone, technicolor film, and the mutual fund—the city where Martin Luther King Jr. and Coretta Scott founded their world-changing partnership—was also the hub of the anti-immigration movement, the divisive busing era, and decades of self-inflicted decay. Boston has the most important history of any American city. Yet its history has never been given a comprehensive treatment until now. Join Dan Dain as he acts as your tour guide from the arrival of First Peoples up to the election of Boston’s first woman and person of color as mayor. Dain’s masterful work explores the policies and practices that took Boston from its highest heights to its lowest lows and back again, and examines the central role that density, diversity, and good urban design play in the success of cities like Boston. Read more

A curated guide to the best of London’s museums and galleries. From the obscure to the resplendent, Eleanor Ross acquaints you with the very best museums and galleries the city has to offer. Including world-famous art to quirky collections, London is host to a vast assortment of enlightening spaces just waiting to be explored.  ​This compact and portable little book introduces locals and tourists alike to the capital’s cultural hot spots. Read more

This book will bring you straight to the point on how to do outstanding architecture photography. Composition, light, framing, technical details and equipments are explained in a simple and visual way for better understanding, with a few extra tips from a professional with solid background and experience in this wide and amazing field. Read more

From Feydeau to Fitzgerald, from Hugo to Hemingway, the Paris locations that have influenced modern literatureA photographic stroll around the bookshops, famous literary restaurants and storied streets of Europe’s favourite tourist destinationLiterary Landscapes: Paris takes this major European city and with picture perfect photography, compiles an album of memorable views linked to the words of Parisian authors, or writers who made Paris their home. It looks at places where books were written, discussed over dinner, and where ultimately the books are sold. It’s a picture book with words, not a words book with pictures.There are the theatres of Molière, Dumas and Feydeau along with the incredible Palais Garnier opera house and the legend of Le Fantome by Gaston Leroux.There are the revered bookshops of the Latin Quarter including the idiosyncratic Shakespeare & Co.There are the classic grand structures referenced in Victor Hugo novels (and still there) or the mean streets of George Orwell’s Down and Out in Paris.There are the famous cafes where authors gathered and wrote, or where artists and philosophers argued: Les Deux Magots, Café de Flore, Le Procope, La Closerie de Lilas, Prunier, Le Dome, La Rotonde and Le Select.There are the bouquinistes ranged in their green booths along the Seine, as once tended by Jean Genet. And there is the classic expatraiate Paris of Joyce, Stein, Wilde, Hemingway, F. Scott Fitzgerald and the Beat poets.Literary Landscapes: Paris takes readers on an exclusive cultural journey, guided by one of the city’s most engaging tourist guides. Read more