Michael A. Smith

This book was published on the occasion of a major twenty-five year retrospective exhibition at the International Museum of Photography at George Eastman House. It brings together for the first time in one volume a broad and varied selection of Smiths prodigious work. The large number of reproductions trace the growth of his distinctive and life-affirming vision in photographs of the land, cities, and people. A foreword by Marianne Fulton, Senior Curator at the International Museum of Photography at George Eastman House places Smiths work in an historical context, and an insightful essay by John Bratnober probes the connection between the photographs and the life of the artist. A complete chronology and bibliography are included. The high production standards combined with the beauty of the photographs insure that this high-quality publication will stand as one of the finest monographs ever produced. Every detail of production was supervised by the photographer. Included are 24 fold-outs for reproduction of the large-scale 8x20-inch contact prints.

Christians have the unique opportunity to experience a Jewish Passover seder from a distinctly Christian perspective in this guide co-authored by a rabbi and a pastor that also provides a plan and script for a Christian seder while remaining respectful of the differences between Judaism and Christianity. Original.

There are a few remaining wild places in Texas, notes author and nature educator Michael A. Smith, and exposure to these locales—from the high deserts and mountains of the Big Bend to the prairies and grasslands across the center of the state and the Piney Woods and Big Thicket of East Texas—can be restorative, both emotionally and physically. In this thoughtful tour of Texas ecoregions, Smith—also a licensed psychological associate—weaves perceptive prose, prompts, and meditations with evocative nature photography by Meghan Cassidy to create a guide for readers that promotes both greater appreciation of Texas nature and greater mindfulness of our place in the natural environment and its holistic importance to our wellbeing. Mindfulness in Texas Nature briefly explores the history of seven Texas ecoregions and discusses the benefits to health and wellbeing that are gained by spending time in nature. Written for readers who may not have a technical background in biology but who want to understand and experience nature at a deeper level, this book models mindfulness—experiencing oneself and surroundings in a fully-present, attuned, and nonjudgmental way—as an ideal practice for experiencing the woods, mountains, or wetlands of Texas. Illustrated throughout with beautiful photographs of woodlands, prairies, streams, flowers, and animals, Mindfulness in Texas Nature encourages readers to experience for themselves what makes these places special, how to get the most out of the time spent there, and how to plan meaningful visits to the many beautiful and significant natural areas across Texas.

Whether they're considered cool or creepy, reptiles and amphibians spark curiosity in most people who come across them. This introductory guide-the book that author Michael A. Smith says he 'would have wanted at age thirteen or fourteen'-offers an educational and inspirational starting point to discovering reptiles and amphibians in their natural habitats.The Wild Lives of Reptiles and Amphibians introduces readers to the exciting native species they can observe on a family nature trip or a walk through the local park. Smith takes readers through creeks, rivers, and bottomland forests and across woods, deserts, and plains, profiling the herps to be found along the way with vivid photographs and helpful descriptions. Species included focus on the variety of herps found in the field - such as the American bullfrog, the eel-like amphiuma, the western diamond-backed rattlesnake, and the ornate box turtle - instead of the typical zoo species. Along the way, readers learn about the lifecycle of a frog, the secret to slithering, and how a turtle is able to pull its head completely into its shell. Within these stories, readers learn how herps hunt, move, defend themselves, find mates, and adapt to the places in which they live.For readers who are ready to take the next step, tips are given on where and how to find these animals and whether to approach them, pick them up, or admire them from a distance as well as notes on exploring safely and responsibly.

Sam Brownback was the first modern-day conservative to be elected governor of Kansas, the culmination of a rightward shift in the state's often-dominant Republican Party. This book is a detailed case study of the policies implemented over his two terms as governor, paying particular attention to the impact on state government and services, the economy, public education, and the business environment. The authors provide extensive background, historical evidence, and detailed references. The book's real-world relevance is grounded in a discussion of similar policies in other states as well as the US federal government.

Coiled beneath discarded trash or rocky slabs, basking along river edges, and tucked into rock cuts beside the highway, reptiles and amphibians constantly surround us. While many people go out of their way to avoid snakes or shudder at the thought of touching a toad, herpers take to the field armed with cameras, hooks, and notebooks hoping to come across a horned lizard, green tree frog, or even a diamondback rattlesnake.In Herping Texas: The Quest for Reptiles and Amphibians, Michael Smith and Clint King, expert naturalists and field herpers, take readers on their adventures across the state as they search for favorite herps and rare finds. Organized by ecoregion, Herping Texas describes some of the state's most spectacular natural places, from Big Bend to the Big Thicket. Each chapter contains photographs of the various snakes, lizards, toads, and turtles Smith and King have encountered on their trips.Part nature travel writing and part guide to field herping, Herping Texas also includes a section on getting started, where the authors give readers necessary background on best field herping practices. A glossary defines herping lingo and scientific terms for newcomers, and an appendix lists threatened and endangered species at the state and federal level.Herping Texas promotes experiencing natural places and wildlife equipped with solid information and a responsible conservation ethic. Throughout their decades tracking herps, Smith and King have collected humorous anecdotes and fascinating facts about reptiles and amphibians. By sharing those, they hope to dispel some of the stigma and false ideas people have about these misunderstood animals.

This is the softcover color edition. In all the vast and unknown depths of Hollywood - how could there be only one? To celebrate the 40th Anniversary of one of the most popular and influential movie sequels, the updated and expanded edition of Jaws 2: The Making of the Hollywood Sequel contains more facts, more interviews and almost 200 new photos, many never seen before, shared by the cast, crew and fans. Just when you thought it was safe to turn the page again...the story continues "Originally published in 2015, Michael A. Smith and Louis R. Pisano gave readers an in depth look at the sequel to the movie that started the summer blockbuster. They interviewed so many people behind the film, both ones that worked on the original version and those that were in the picture that was finally released. They give you one fascination story and sheds so much light on this film. We reviewed this version on our site when it came out and just loved it.But now, they have a newer expanded edition, giving us even more information. The original release was 363 pages and this new edition is 530, giving us close to 200 more pages We get more interviews, almost 200 new photos, many which have never been seen before. While we hate double-dipping for these kind of newer editions, I loved the first book so much that I think I'm going to have to go right back into the water for a second swim."- Kitley's Krypt

In all the vast and unknown depths of Hollywood - how could there be only one?To celebrate the 40th Anniversary of one of the most popular and influential movie sequels, the updated and expanded edition of Jaws 2: The Making of the Hollywood Sequel contains more facts, more interviews and almost 200 new photos, many never seen before, shared by the cast, crew and fans.Just when you thought it was safe to turn the page again...the story continues

A Modern Wytches Grimoire Perhaps the most complete book of spells and incantations ever printed

Like traditional food pyramids that help us design and follow a healthy diet, the Supplement Pyramid is an educational tool that can be personalized to meet anyone's specific nutritional needs.

During an artillery barrage at the Civil War battle of Antietam in 1862, a young colonel lost his leg. More than 155 years later, he loses the same leg in a traffic accident Diane Kowalski, a genetics expert, analyzes the amputee

Multimodal Video Characterization and Summarization is a valuable research tool for both professionals and academicians working in the video field. This book describes the methodology for using multimodal audio, image, and text technology to characterize video content. This new and groundbreaking science has led to many advances in video understanding, such as the development of a video summary. Applications and methodology for creating video summaries are described, as well as user-studies for evaluation and testing.