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Editor's picks

• 

  Focus On Apple Aperture: Focus on the Fundamentals (Focus On Series)

  Book (Focal Press)
  

  Rating (34 reviews):

  (4.6/5)

  

  Good stuff for all levels of users

  I've used aperture for a few months now and found this book quite useful. For me it was the image editing details that were most useful. Before this book my adjustments to the photos themselves were minimal and more random guessing. With this book I am able to analyze the photos and see what kind of adjustments need to be made and how to do them. Now I feel like I can really bring out the best from my photos.Before reading this book I had figured out most of the Aperture work flow, file management, etc. I will say that those chapters were still worth reading as I picked up an item or two here or there. If I hadn't been using Aperture for awhile, say if I bought this book when I bought Aperture, those chapters would have been really essential. All of the writing is well laid out and cohesive. My learning without the book was a lot of trial and error and was pretty time consuming. With the book things just seemed easy.So yes, if you use Aperture to... 5/5 Joel Schopp (Austin, TXStates) - See all my reviews, September 29, 2011

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  A Good Manual for Apple's Aperture

  I'm not a beginner to photography, but I am a beginner to Apple's Aperture program, so this book was a good fit for me. I've been using Photoshop Elements to improve my images, but with Aperture and this book, I can do most of what I've been doing in Elements so much faster.When I got Aperture I was a bit clueless as to how it worked. I floundered around in it and had some success, but this book changed all that. I think Apple should have used this book as the manual for their program, because it moved me along with the program faster than I thought was possible. 5/5 Island Dreamer (Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii) - See all my reviews, September 13, 2011

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  Excellent introduction to getting great results from Aperture

  What a beautiful book, filled with lots of tips and tutorials that easily justify the modest price.I began using Apple Aperture 3 early in 2011, learning from the 908 page PDF User Manual from Apple, various web sites, and another Focal Press book that I also received under the Vine review program, . My background in this area is that of an expert Photoshop user and an advanced amateur photographer - and, naturally, a Mac user as Aperture is a Mac-only product.This book by Corey Hilz taught me more in less time than the other sources I've used so far to advance my usage of Aperture for re-touching photographs.That Corey Hilz is a professional photographer makes the flow of the book much more interesting and useful to me. Other books and sites... 5/5 Karl (Bozeman, MT USA) - See all my reviews, October 23, 2011

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  List Price: $19.95
  

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• 

  Aperture 3: Portable Genius

  Book (Wiley)
  

  Rating (12 reviews):

  (3.9/5)

  

  Very helpful if you are new at Aperture

  There do not appear to be as many books available for Aperture 3 as there are for some other photo programs. The local book store had three, and the public library had two of them. After checking out both books and spending several hours with each, this one appeared to be more helpful. I read the book, took lots of notes, and then downloaded the trial version of the program from Apple. I have since purchased Aperture 3 on the Mac App Store, and have purchased this book for reference and problem solving. The book has been very helpful in learning to use the program and I highly recommend it. Lots of tips and many screen shots to illustrate what the author is talking about. On occasion, the screen shots can be small and difficult to read, but for the most part they are very useful. Many books of this type, teaching photo software, can be pricey. This one is a real bargain. 5/5 T. Larson (Florida) - See all my reviews, January 19, 2011

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  An excellent reference for Aperture beginners

  This book is well-organized and very clearly written. I had been looking for a solid reference to get me started in Aperture as I transition from photo hobbyist to part-time professional. This book does an excellent job of presenting the information I needed in an easy-to-access way, and answered some questions I'd had for quite some time as I'd been muddling through Aperture myself. I started out using this book as a quick reference when I needed a solution to a problem I was facing, but I've since read through it from start to finish, and have become much more proficient with Aperture as a result. Now that this book has trained me in the basics, to help my Aperture knowledge keep growing I'd love a second Aperture book that follows the same formula as this author team's other great book, Photoshop CS5 for Nature Photographers: A Workshop in a Book. 5/5 Long-Hair Domestic (Anyplace) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: Aperture 3: Portable Genius (Paperback) This book is well-organized and very clearly written. I had been looking for a solid reference to get me started in Aperture as I transition from photo hobbyist to part-time professional. This book does an excellent job of presenting the information I needed in an easy-to-access way, and answered some questions I'd had for quite some time as I'd been muddling through Aperture myself. I started out using this book as a quick reference when I needed a solution to a problem I was facing, but I've since read through it from start to finish, and have become much more proficient with Aperture as a result. Now that this book has trained me in the basics, to help my Aperture knowledge keep growing I'd love a second Aperture book that follows the same formula as this author team's other great book, Photoshop CS5 for Nature Photographers: A Workshop in a Book. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , December 2, 2010

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  An excellent refresher course for experienced Aperture user

  I've been using Aperture since it first came out and my main complaint has been the lack of "coaching" material other than Apple's help site and one or two other sources. The Anon's earlier books were helpful but did not address Aperture 3 issues. While the text is clear and concise, the illustrations add a measure of comprehension needed to effectively use this program. All user's of Aperture 3, beginning or experienced, will find a wealth of helpful material which will make the Aperture experience more rewarding. In my own case, I have recently been working on photographing flat art which requires color control. I was able to find the answer to my questions quickly using a well laid out index which directed me to the exact page which explained what to do. I recommend this volume to anyone who needs a text on how to use Aperture 3 or anyone who needs a reference book to address problems as they arise. 5/5 Sam Gordon - See all my reviews This review is from: Aperture 3: Portable Genius (Paperback) I've been using Aperture since it first came out and my main complaint has been the lack of "coaching" material other than Apple's help site and one or two other sources. The Anon's earlier books were helpful but did not address Aperture 3 issues. While the text is clear and concise, the illustrations add a measure of comprehension needed to effectively use this program. All user's of Aperture 3, beginning or experienced, will find a wealth of helpful material which will make the Aperture experience more rewarding. In my own case, I have recently been working on photographing flat art which requires color control. I was able to find the answer to my questions quickly using a well laid out index which directed me to the exact page which explained what to do. I recommend this volume to anyone who needs a text on how to use Aperture 3 or anyone who needs a reference book to address problems as they arise. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , December 13, 2010

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  List Price: $25.00
  

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• 

  Focus On Apple Aperture: Focus on the Fundamentals

  eBooks (Focal Press)
  

  Rating (34 reviews):

  (4.6/5)

  

  Good stuff for all levels of users

  I've used aperture for a few months now and found this book quite useful. For me it was the image editing details that were most useful. Before this book my adjustments to the photos themselves were minimal and more random guessing. With this book I am able to analyze the photos and see what kind of adjustments need to be made and how to do them. Now I feel like I can really bring out the best from my photos.Before reading this book I had figured out most of the Aperture work flow, file management, etc. I will say that those chapters were still worth reading as I picked up an item or two here or there. If I hadn't been using Aperture for awhile, say if I bought this book when I bought Aperture, those chapters would have been really essential. All of the writing is well laid out and cohesive. My learning without the book was a lot of trial and error and was pretty time consuming. With the book things just seemed easy.So yes, if you use Aperture to... 5/5 Joel Schopp (Austin, TXStates) - See all my reviews, September 29, 2011

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  A Good Manual for Apple's Aperture

  I'm not a beginner to photography, but I am a beginner to Apple's Aperture program, so this book was a good fit for me. I've been using Photoshop Elements to improve my images, but with Aperture and this book, I can do most of what I've been doing in Elements so much faster.When I got Aperture I was a bit clueless as to how it worked. I floundered around in it and had some success, but this book changed all that. I think Apple should have used this book as the manual for their program, because it moved me along with the program faster than I thought was possible. 5/5 Island Dreamer (Lahaina, Maui, Hawaii) - See all my reviews, September 13, 2011

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  Excellent introduction to getting great results from Aperture

  What a beautiful book, filled with lots of tips and tutorials that easily justify the modest price.I began using Apple Aperture 3 early in 2011, learning from the 908 page PDF User Manual from Apple, various web sites, and another Focal Press book that I also received under the Vine review program, . My background in this area is that of an expert Photoshop user and an advanced amateur photographer - and, naturally, a Mac user as Aperture is a Mac-only product.This book by Corey Hilz taught me more in less time than the other sources I've used so far to advance my usage of Aperture for re-touching photographs.That Corey Hilz is a professional photographer makes the flow of the book much more interesting and useful to me. Other books and sites... 5/5 Karl (Bozeman, MT USA) - See all my reviews, October 23, 2011

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  List Price: $19.95
  

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• 

  Apple Pro Training Series: Aperture 3

  Book (Peachpit Press)
  

  Rating (47 reviews):

  (3.5/5)

  

  OUTSTANDING! Kindle Version is AWESOME on the iPad. See Link Below for media files.

  I have been a fan of Apple's Training Series from Peachpit for some time. This book is no exception, and is extremely well written and easily understood and followed.I was more than happy to see that Peachpit and Apple collaborated quickly to get the first comprehensive instruction manual to print and it is a winner. The learning curve for Aperture is somewhat high, but the book guides you through the learning process gradually, with each chapter logically building on the last, and reducing the time needed to learn critical functions. The writing style is clear and end-user friendly, without a lot of techno-jargon complicating the process. By the end of the book, you'll have a very functional understanding of Aperture 3, and your processing time and workflow steps will be dramatically decreased.The book has a companion DVD with the media files necessary to follow the course as designed. It is NOT included with the e-book (Kindle) version, but can be downloaded... 5/5 Frank E. Trinkle (Shalimar, FL USA) - See all my reviews, May 14, 2010

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  Excellent For A Beginner Like Me

  To be clear, my experience level with Aperture 3 is zero. I have never used the program before and do not have any experience with other applications like Photoshop or Lightroom 3.Because of my inexperience, I really wanted a book that covered it all. In that respect, this book really fits the bill nicely. The author goes over aspects of the program including importing, tagging, editing and sharing your pictures. The book includes a disc with sample images you can use to follow along with his "lesson plans". I found this to be extremely helpful. It's one thing to read a book where they talk about what a function does, but to have a sample image that you can edit as you read along really reinforces what that function does ... it's immediate and positive feedback that you're doing it right.The book is definitely geared towards the beginner. If you already understand concepts of managing your photos, basic editing, etc ... then this book may be too simple... 4/5 T. Lee (Roseville, CA) - See all my reviews, October 10, 2010

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  Excellent training id you take the time to do the lessons

  This book is written like a training course, and to get full value you need to take the time to work through the lessons as given. This is not hard, because the book has a DVD with sample photos and disk images that you use in each lesson. When I worked through each lesson step by step with the photos they give you, I learned a lot - more than when I watched some training videos on the web. 5/5 B. Rutledge "sjsdad" (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews, May 3, 2010

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  List Price: $54.99
  

  504 Page Softcover Book

  The DVD-ROM includes lesson files for over 20 hours of training

  The only Apple-certified guide to Apple's incredibly popular end-to-end workflow tool for professional photographers.

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• 

  Apple Aperture 3: A Workflow Guide for Digital Photographers

  Book (Focal Press)
  

  Rating (27 reviews):

  (3.4/5)

  

  Possibly useful to new Aperture users (2.5 stars)

  Having gotten this book, from Vine, for my husband, here is his thoughts as detailed in an email to me. From this point on, the words are his.First, I disagree with the authors who consider Aperture to primarily be a RAW processing program. Aperture is first and foremost a DAM, aka Digital Asset Management. This is readily visible when starting Aperture.Next, there is the organization of the book. In chapter 2, page 66, is a section called "Using Aperture for the First Time". Really? Page 66? This needs to be more upfront. It does not get much better in regards to the organization.On page 252, there are 2 paragraphs on trying to use Aperture with Adobe Lightroom. Come on! These are competing products. Why would someone want to go from Aperture to Lightroom? It makes no sense to me. iPhoto yes. I do that now so I can sync photos from Aperture to my iPhone via iPhoto.Important things, like adjusting images is a single chapter... 2/5 R. Kyle (USA) - See all my reviews, July 21, 2010

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  Perfect Book for Me - A Novice to many of the topics in the book

  I was very fortunate to receive a copy of this book. I am a intermediate amateur photographer (ie, I use the histogram to check exposure, often consider aperture and shutterspeed, and understand there is something called digital image workflow,) but I am looking to take my photography to the next looking at upgrading to Aperture. So basically the author could have painted a target on my forehead.But a big reason this book is perfect for me is that I am a beginner in many of the topics in the book. I think a more advanced photographer, especially someone who does a lot of post production already, may find large sections a little tedious. But it was spot on for me on.Most of my shooting has been low res Jpeg's for web so I have never worried about shooting RAW before. After reading the first chapter on why you should shooting RAW images, I was sold, I immediately set both my Canon 10D and 40D to shoot RAW. I had known I was losing a little quality and... 5/5 Bryan Newman "alaskanoutfitting.com" (St Paul, MN) - See all my reviews, August 18, 2010

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  Reasonable Aperture Introduction

  Photography texts are useful only to the extent that they address the needs of the given reader. As a photographer who still misses Tri-X and Kodachrome, and who thinks "ASA" each time he sees the "ISO" number, I've pegged myself as living in the 1970s. On the other hand, I'm using a Canon 50D with L-series lenses, shooting RAW format, and am easily able to modify and adjust my images using iPhoto. I've had Aperture for a while but haven't moved my library over nor have I started using the software beyond experimentation.As other reviewers have noted, your experience may dictate that you start with Chapter 7, which includes moving your existing library over from iPhoto. Or you might find the basics unnecessary and start in with Chapter 5, which covers the logistics of adjusting your images using Aperture. Either way, the chapters stand alone sufficiently to allow you to find your way without much difficulty. One downside of the book production process is the lack of... 4/5 Dr. Stuart Gitlow (Providence, RI United States) - See all my reviews, September 19, 2010

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  List Price: $39.95
  

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• 

  Aperture 3

  Software (Apple)
  

  Rating (60 reviews):

  (3.2/5)

  

  Fantastic Photo Organizer, Editor, and Publisher

  Before I start the review I need to add a few caveats. The first is I have not really used Adobe Lightroom so I will not be comparing Aperture 3 to Lightroom. (Lightroom is the biggest competitor to Aperture and from what I have read owns the majority of the market). I have tried Lightroom 3 and I could not get past the restrictive module system and the small editing space. I thought I was going to have to slog through learning how to used Lightroom 3 when Apple surprised and delighted me by releasing Aperture 3. Also, I haven't really used iPhoto that much since I got Aperture 2. So I will only be making passing remarks about those programs. The other caveat is that this is a massive program with massive upgrades and there is no way I can cover everything so I will be covering how this program handles my workflow.Bottom Line Up Front: Aperture 3 is an amazing Photographic Workflow System that fits all of my professional and personal needs. Apple has implemented... 5/5 B. Fuller (United States) - See all my reviews, February 11, 2010

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  Frequent crashes... SGML

  Yes, Aperture 3 is very fast compared to Aperture 2 and 1, and it has a lot of wonderful features, but its instability on my system is a show-stopper. SGML: Sounds Good, Maybe Later!I downloaded the trial version of Aperture 3 from Apple. It's the same as the standard version but requires a purchased serial number after 30 days. Unfortunately, only one hour was needed to determine that this software is not yet ready for prime time. It crashed 3 times during the first hour of use, and then I deleted it from my system (iMac 27" i5, 8 GB RAM).Instead of buying Aperture 3 now, I'd recommend waiting until at least the first few patches are released by Apple. I'm sure these issues will be addressed sooner or later. Google "Aperture 3" and "crash" and "unstable" online to see what other photographer are saying right now.If you're feeling lucky, here are a couple of tips that might save you from spending hours and hours of frustrating work:1... 1/5 SnouterShooter (Felton, California) - See all my reviews This review is from: Aperture 3 (DVD-ROM) Yes, Aperture 3 is very fast compared to Aperture 2 and 1, and it has a lot of wonderful features, but its instability on my system is a show-stopper. SGML: Sounds Good, Maybe Later!I downloaded the trial version of Aperture 3 from Apple. It's the same as the standard version but requires a purchased serial number after 30 days. Unfortunately, only one hour was needed to determine that this software is not yet ready for prime time. It crashed 3 times during the first hour of use, and then I deleted it from my system (iMac 27" i5, 8 GB RAM).Instead of buying Aperture 3 now, I'd recommend waiting until at least the first few patches are released by Apple. I'm sure these issues will be addressed sooner or later. Google "Aperture 3" and "crash" and "unstable" online to see what other photographer are saying right now.If you're feeling lucky, here are a couple of tips that might save you from spending hours and hours of frustrating work:1... Read more Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , February 13, 2010

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  Perfect All-In-One Photography Package for Apple Owners

  At about $170-175, Aperture 3 is the best buy you can make in Mac-only photography software. In one package, you get great image editing tools and world-class organizational capabilities. That's all that most non-pros need.Aperture is easy to learn and reasonably fast if you have a decent Mac, and its biggest strength is that it allows you to get away from the computer FAST. It doesn't take long at all to import, keyword, and rate my pics, and delete the garbage. From there, Aperture lets you edit your pics very quickly, even in bulk if you want, and it has all the exporting capabilities you could want, including ones for Facebook and Flickr.Plus, the new brushes are awesome - especially the skin-moothing tool which can freshen up your friends skin in a jiffy. And of course, the much-needed preset feature is fun to play with. The slideshow feature has been enhanced as well, and basically sticks iMovie into Aperture with much-improved exporting options... 5/5 Michael E. Comeau (Brooklyn, NY) - See all my reviews, April 29, 2010

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  List Price: $199.00
  

  Aperture 3 helps you refine images, showcase your work, and manage massive libraries on your Mac

  Instantly give your images a custom look or emulate a variety of camera types and processing styles

  Apply or remove adjustments and effects to selected parts of your images with nondestructive, edge-aware brushes

  Create stunning slideshows that weave together photos and HD video clips, complete with text and soundtracks

  Features new ways to organize your photos by the people in them and more robust GPS tools for mapping images

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• 

  A Newbies Guide to Aperture 3: The Essential Beginners Guide to Getting Started with Apple's Photo Editing Software

  eBooks (Minute Help Press)
  

  Rating (1 reviews):

  (3.0/5)

  

  Not very much detail

  For 2.99 it isn't a big investment but there isn't much in here that you wouldn't get from watching the online videos on Apple's web site. The details are basic and the examples leave you wanting a little more. 3/5 Craig Herrick (San Diego, CA United States) - See all my reviews Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?) This review is from: A Newbies Guide to Aperture 3: The Essential Beginners Guide to Getting Started with Apple's Photo Editing Software (Kindle Edition) For 2.99 it isn't a big investment but there isn't much in here that you wouldn't get from watching the online videos on Apple's web site. The details are basic and the examples leave you wanting a little more. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , February 6, 2012

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  List Price: $2.99
  

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• 

  Apple Pro Training Series: Aperture 3

  eBooks (Peachpit Press)
  

  Rating (47 reviews):

  (3.5/5)

  

  OUTSTANDING! Kindle Version is AWESOME on the iPad. See Link Below for media files.

  I have been a fan of Apple's Training Series from Peachpit for some time. This book is no exception, and is extremely well written and easily understood and followed.I was more than happy to see that Peachpit and Apple collaborated quickly to get the first comprehensive instruction manual to print and it is a winner. The learning curve for Aperture is somewhat high, but the book guides you through the learning process gradually, with each chapter logically building on the last, and reducing the time needed to learn critical functions. The writing style is clear and end-user friendly, without a lot of techno-jargon complicating the process. By the end of the book, you'll have a very functional understanding of Aperture 3, and your processing time and workflow steps will be dramatically decreased.The book has a companion DVD with the media files necessary to follow the course as designed. It is NOT included with the e-book (Kindle) version, but can be downloaded... 5/5 Frank E. Trinkle (Shalimar, FL USA) - See all my reviews, May 14, 2010

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  Excellent For A Beginner Like Me

  To be clear, my experience level with Aperture 3 is zero. I have never used the program before and do not have any experience with other applications like Photoshop or Lightroom 3.Because of my inexperience, I really wanted a book that covered it all. In that respect, this book really fits the bill nicely. The author goes over aspects of the program including importing, tagging, editing and sharing your pictures. The book includes a disc with sample images you can use to follow along with his "lesson plans". I found this to be extremely helpful. It's one thing to read a book where they talk about what a function does, but to have a sample image that you can edit as you read along really reinforces what that function does ... it's immediate and positive feedback that you're doing it right.The book is definitely geared towards the beginner. If you already understand concepts of managing your photos, basic editing, etc ... then this book may be too simple... 4/5 T. Lee (Roseville, CA) - See all my reviews, October 10, 2010

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  Excellent training id you take the time to do the lessons

  This book is written like a training course, and to get full value you need to take the time to work through the lessons as given. This is not hard, because the book has a DVD with sample photos and disk images that you use in each lesson. When I worked through each lesson step by step with the photos they give you, I learned a lot - more than when I watched some training videos on the web. 5/5 B. Rutledge "sjsdad" (Las Vegas, NV USA) - See all my reviews, May 3, 2010

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  List Price: $43.99
  

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  Work Like a Pro Photographer in Aperture 3: Learn by Video

  Book (Peachpit Press)
  List Price: $34.99
  

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  Aperture (1-year auto-renewal)

  Magazine (Aperture)
  

  Rating (8 reviews):

  (3.6/5)

  

  ARTISTIC PHOTOGRAPHY AT ITS BEST AND A COLLECTIBLE

  Aperture has one of the most outstanding reputations for bringing its readers the best in artistic photography. I own several editions of the publication which are put up in areas where they will be kept cool and dry because the magazine is so highly collectible. Some editions on auction have netted hundreds of dollars. And Aperture covers a wide array of subjects, from mailboxes out on country roads, to architecture, from rare plants, to bizarre special effects, Aperture brings you photography you'll want to look at again and again and again. You'll get photographs from some of the world's most renowned photographers, and you'll get them on pages so pristine, you'd think you were viewing them at a gallery. If you want a magazine that gives you "The All" in photography, Aperture has it. Oh, and one more note, from time to time Aperture offers its customers the opportunity to purchase rare collectibles, many of which are autographed by the photographers. 5/5 carl womack (north carolina) - See all my reviews, April 2, 2002

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  Worth the subscription

  Aperture is indeed the preeminent art photography magazine, and consistently has enough good material to warrant a subscription independent of its clout. Although ostensively devoted to art photography, many of the spreads are essentially photojournalism.If you are primarily interested in just art photography, and can subscribe only to one magazine, I would suggest "Blind Spot". 4/5 Bukkene Bruse (Iowa) - See all my reviews, January 7, 2005

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  Pleasingly Interesting

  Aperture mixes interesting pictures, that are satisfying to the eye with more mainstream pictures that would appeal to all categories of photographers. Aperture is for those who do not like there pictures characteristic of so called "normal family pictures" These pictures are amazing... Aperture magazine is amazing...If you are thinking that it is not worth the price, think again because Aperture will definantly have you taking and seeing your pictures in a whole new light. 5/5 Caitie (Kennett Square, PA United States) - See all my reviews This review is from: Aperture (Magazine) Aperture mixes interesting pictures, that are satisfying to the eye with more mainstream pictures that would appeal to all categories of photographers. Aperture is for those who do not like there pictures characteristic of so called "normal family pictures" These pictures are amazing... Aperture magazine is amazing...If you are thinking that it is not worth the price, think again because Aperture will definantly have you taking and seeing your pictures in a whole new light. Help other customers find the most helpful reviews  Was this review helpful to you? , December 22, 2001

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  List Price: $59.80
  Price: $40.00
  You Save: $19.80 (33%)

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