Where Children Sleep reflects their worlds

In discussing his photo essay, Where Children Sleep, photographer James Mollison says "I found myself thinking about my bedroom: how significant it was during my childhood, and how it reflected what I had and who I was. It occurred to me that a way to address some of the complex situations and social issues affecting children would be to look at the bedrooms of children in all kinds of different circumstances."

Mollison combined compelling portraits with bedroom photos and stark, matter-of-fact bios. The contrast is immense. This is serious social controversy that not only explores worldwide lifestyle divides but combines them with detailed graphics which are fascinating and haunting at the same time.

Preview portraits from the book. And, if it intrigues you, borrow the book from The Urbana Free Library and spend time exploring how differently children live around the world. Where Children Sleep is a book you won't forget.

Questions or need help placing your hold? Call us at Adult Services, 217-367-4405, or email.

Champaign Urbana Color

I became a fan of Dan O'Brien's gorgeous local shots when I followed his daily photoblog on the gct13.com website a few years ago. Dan went out into Champaign-Urbana, UIUC and the surrounding countryside and posted the most colorful photos celebrating our communities.

The photoblog is discontinued now, so I was delighted to discover O'Brien has published a book inspired by the spirit of his blog. Some shots are new, but I was thrilled to view some of my personal favorites. While O'Brien's shots of UIUC buildings bring out their iconic flavor, I particularly love his images of the fields and ever-changing Illinois skies.

Preview Champaign Urbana Color online, or request our Urbana Free Library copy.

Boy, does that sandwich look yummy!

Our mouths may water every time we see a scrumptious color food photo in a cookbook or hear the raucous tunes of a TV commercial touting the most delectable meal ever. Where do all the wonderful cooks who turn out those lovely dishes come from? My food never looks that good!

If you read Food Styling: the Art of Preparing Food for the Camera, you'll learn that the delicious-looking food needs a bit of help to look so tasty. Yep--it's not the cook but the food stylist who gussies up and tweaks those tidbits to the utmost.

Career food stylists have their own tips and tricks, many of which are passed on in full color in this unique vocational guidebook. Do you know that it can be hard to burn proper, attractive grill marks on meat? That margarine is preferred to butter in photo shoots because it melts more slowly and photographs more attractively? That you can brush thinned-out soy sauce on toast to even out the browning? (A caveat: some of the tips make the food photograph wonderfully, but also make it inedible.)

If you're just planning to take some casual snaps of a family picnic for Flickr posting, you probably won't need most of the tips in this book. But you can learn a lot about making food gorgeous for those special times. And discover some cooking techniques, too.

Whether you're searching for a new career, want to get some photography ideas, or just think about food, Food Styling: the Art of Preparing Food for the Camera will pique your interest. And it's available now at The Urbana Free Library. Want to take this new book home? Place a hold or give us a call at 217-367-4405.

Typhoon Ketsana (Ondoy)

Boston.com has posted a photo series showing the devastation of the recent typhoon in the Phillipines, Vietnam, and Cambodia.

Google.com has created a helpful page listing agencies to which you can provide donations.