Jonvelle

Rating:
Summary: He Tries Too Hard
Review: I love the visual style of this book. The large, grainy photos break almost every rule of conventional photography. It ends a voyeuristic reality to the book that's delightful. However, his models ruin it. They, in most of the pictures, are too aware of the camera, they play up to it. This turns the book into something I'd expect to see as a B&W spread in Penthouse. The images in which he and the models relaxed and quit trying to make a photograph are wonderful. Unfortunately, there are only about ten of these images in the entire book. It's an interesting look into the genre.

Rating:
Summary: Everday Beauty
Review: Jonvelle has captured the everyday beauty of his subjects in a"conversational" style that lacks the pretense of many otherphotographers of this genre. Taking this approach, he presents uswith a series of photographs that are very good, pleasing to the eye,and with excellent composition. This is a useful book for new &young photographers studying to develop their own style and want adifferent take on the nude, and also just to have on your coffee tablefor the beauty of its own sake.

Rating:
Summary: The most stunning collection of beautiful Elles
Review: Maybe I don't get out much, but I found this book breath-taking. Some of the pictures are pornographic, some are just casual, but they are all tastefully exquisite. If you like beautiful women - the curve of a neck, a moue on the lips, an eyebrow, a venus - you will look at this again and again.

Both my straight and gay friends love it. One said, "Gee, I thought *I* had a good job until now..." Another said, "Remember, Sid, not all French women are this good-looking."

Rating:
Summary: Attractive women almost make up for the poor quality
Review: Most of the women in this book are very attractive. I've nothing more to say of a positive nature.

Jonvelle would benefit from a college photography course, because his grainy, washed out photographs are completely lacking of even the most basic technical quality. This is annoying and distracting, and the beautiful women in these pages deserve better.

And it appears Jonvelle is striving for sexy pictures, but the harder he tries, the more contived and raunchy the result. Once again -- these women deserve better.

Having said all that, there are perhaps a half-dozen good (not great) pictures in this book.

Here's hoping that in the future Jonvelle will learn to take his craft seriously and give his subjects the dignity they deserve.

Rating:
Summary: So beautiful, so cool.
Review: This is beautiful stuff. Lovely girls looking happy and at ease in front of the camera. Not one picture looks contrived. Cool yet erotic. A very casual elegance to this book. I am a big fan of black and white nudes, have many books. This is one of my favorites.