Cynthia Boylan

It is said that everything is big in the great state of Texas and that certainly includes the rugged sense of individualism and the independent spirit of those who live there. Michael O’Brien is well known for being one of America’s top portrait photographers. In his latest book, The Face of Texas, he presents us with a wonderful collection of finely crafted portraits featuring unique Texans (both native and naturalized).

Hollywood, is so much more than just a spot on the map. Hollywood is a well-oiled machine, a fantastic dream factory where stars are born and ideas become reality on celluloid. This book offers a rare glimpse behind-the-scenes of films such as Some Like It Hot, Psycho, Dirty Harry, The Godfather, Taxi Driver, The Thing, Wall Street, The Crow and many more. Images captured on the set—and some candid moments caught between scenes—are all presented in the form of contact sheets, the direct prints that photographers used in pre-digital days to edit their work.

The Terminal Bar opened its doors in New York City for the first time in 1958 and was located just across the street from the Port Authority bus terminal, near (world famous) Times Square. In 1972, Sheldon (Shelly) Nadelman began working there as a bartender and stayed for the next ten-years until it closed in 1982. Featured in the iconic Scorsese film Taxi Driver, at that time the Terminal Bar was know for being one of the roughest dive bars in the city.

Another item on most photographers' holiday wish lists this year will be a photo gear bag (for that amazing new camera and all the latest gadgets that are, of course, also on your list). And Booq has a wide variety of sizes and styles of great caemra bags to choose from. If you have your eye on a new DSLR (or just want a case for the one you already have) then check out the Booq Python toploader bag.