Angels Hardcover – November 12, 2014

I have had a passion for both photography and beautiful fashion photography for pretty much as long as I can remember. I grew up in the late 70's and early 80's, which was really the beginning of the supermodel era. Back then it was the Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue that was king and the models that wound up coming up through Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issues really defined a generation regarding fashion and again that was really the start of the supermodel. The Sports Illustrated swimsuit issue remained the pinnacle of the industry for many years, but slowely but surely we started to see a much more cutting edge style in the fashion photography world and companies like Sports Illustrated and even Playboy really resisted this change in photographic styles. They both felt that sticking with the look and style that had made them so successful for so many years was the right move to make. It wasnt. Sporting photography that was deemed FAR more sexy and much more cutting edge, magazines like Maxim and FHM quickly leapfrogged over Sports Illustrated and Playboy in regards to the quality and sheer sexiness of the photography. Maxim went on to become the #1 selling mens magazine in the world and the style of photography Maxim used played a HUGE role in that magazines overall success.In the midst of this pretty dramatic change we were seeing with fashion photography, there was one company in particular that really embraced it, Victoria's secret. On top of embracing this more sexy and cutting edge style of fashion photography, Victoria's Secret went out and signed some of the most beautiful models ever to enter the business. Just to name a few (starting around the late 90's) you have Tyra Banks, Naomi Campbell, Adriana Lima, Gisele Bundchen, Isabeli Fontana, Laetitia Casta, Helena Christensen, Alessandra Ambrosio, Heidi Klum, Daniela Peštová, Stephanie Seymour, etc. The combination of the two (signing some of the sexiest models in the business and embracing the more cutting edge style of fashion photography that was emerging) catapulted Victoria's Secret to the very top of the business. While the Sports Illustrated Swimsuit issue, and even Playboy, was still being produced, their sales numbers and popularity had continued to wane year after year. The new king of the hill was Victoria's Secret Angels. The yearly fashion show, which started in 1996, helped catapult the brand and the image to the very top of the fashion world. Tickets to the Victoria's Secret Fashion show today are HIGHLY coveted and will cost you a significant amount of money, that is of course if your even able to find someone that can get you tickets.And that brings us to this book, Angels by Russel James. Russel has been the primary photographer for Victoria's Secret for the last 15 years (what a lucky man indeed!!) so there is literally no photographer out there that had more insight and access to these beautiful women during those years than Russel did. And Russel James developed his own photographic style during this time and it was....well, absolutely beautiful and really a perfect balance between the really cutting edge photpgraphy we were seeing every month in magazines like Maxim and the more classic photographic styles we were seeing from photographers like Herb Ritts. Russel James and Victoria's Secret, especially during this period of time, was really just a match made in heaven. How fitting that the models were referred to as angels.I have been a big collector of fashion photography books since the early 90's. I literally have entire bookshelves filled with just fashion photography books (the collector in me). Some are for particular photographers, some are for partciular models, some are for partciular companies or magazines, and some are more of a mixture. In my recent review of the Gisele Bundchen book by Taschen LLC, I stated that out of all the fashion photography books I owned, there were maybe 6-7 that I deem absolutely irreplacable. Thats not to say that there arent PLENTY more well worthy of owning. In fact, out of the 200+ fashion photography books I own, I have only been disappointed a few times. The point I was trying to make is that some books are simply at a whole different level than the vast majority of books that get released in that partciular genre and while I have thoroughly enjoyed the VAST majority of fashion photography books that I own, there are a select few that are simply at a whole different level than most of the other books on the market. Angels by Russel James is without question one of those books.Bottom line - Angels is simply breathtaking, through and through. It has some of the most beautiful models ever to enter into modeling and the time period in which the pictures were taken couldn't have been more perfect. This was when Victoria's Secret really rose up and took the modeling world by storm. And this was during a period when fashion photography in general was seeing a lot of changes. Russel James molded his photographic style around many of those changes and the result is nothing short of incredible. His work has a classic feel to it, yet at the same time his work was unquestionably influenced by a lot of the cutting edge photography that really changed fashion photography so dramatically during those years. The end result is just a beautiful photographic style that couldnt have been more perfect for the company or subjects he was photographing. This book has some of the most beautiful fashion photography shot on film during those years. Yes, the MSRP on this book is a bit over the top. $199.99 is definitely a tough pill to swallow in regards to photography book pricing, but if your patient you can easily find this book for at least 50% off. If your lucky, you can even find it at times for as much as 65-70% off. Either way, wether your paying full price or your getting a sizable discount, its worth it in the end. IMO, this is without question one of the nicest fashion photography books ever made and any serious collector should deem this an absolute must have book. If this book ever happens to go out of print, I can guarantee that you will wish you purchased one when it was only $100 to $200. Prices will likely jump to $300-$400 overnight.If you love fashion photography or your just a fan of Russel James or the Victoria's Secret models, you literally cant go wrong with purchasing this book. I guarantee 99% of the people that buy this book, regardless of the price they pay, will wind up absolutely loving it. Books like this simply dont come around very often. All in all, easily one of the best fashion photography books on the market. Just an absolutely stunning job by one of the luckiest and most talented fashion photographers in the business. Most photographers would kill to have Russel's job for the last 15 years, lol. I know I certainly would!5 Stars and then some!!!

This gorgeous book offers another serving of Russell Jame's figure photography - something I can't get enough of. His background in glamour photography comes through in every image, honoring the native beauty of each model even as she becomes an element in a larger image.Although the models themselves tend toward a type, the collection spans a range of looks: B&W or color, studio or exotic locale, intimate closeups and half- or whole-length portraits, or scenes of sand and water. And, even in full nudity, James keeps the images tasteful and respectful. Any looking for titillation can just keep looking.Another reviewer points out overlap between this collection and another of James's - so be it. There's still plenty of new work to enjoy, and I enjoy it very much.-- wiredweird

An incredible collectors coffee table photo book. As a professional fashion and glamour photographer myself, I really appreciate the quality of Russell James' work and the beauty of the Victoria's Secret models. Almost all the photos are in Black & White, very sharp resolution and with dramatic lighting of the models' face and bodies. Well shot, well lighted and posed.The design, print quality and paper of this book which is published by teNeues in Germany is the best there is.For any serious photographer, fashion, glamour or erotic enthusiast this book is a must have.The Pirelli Calendar photos should be this well done.It does seem that all the photos were shot recently in the studio specifically for the book. Which is great...But I'd also love to see some behind the scenes, and photos from the incredible from Victoria's Secret's Big Location Feature Catalog Shoots as well.The ones on London Bridge, the Queen Mary, in Huge Mansions, etc. But possibly Victoria's Secret won't release the use of their Advertising Shoots by Russell? That's why this books has his own exclusive studio shots.But maybe for James' next book, he can convince Victoria's Secret to allow him to publish their best Advertising Shoots?And you might want to purchase a FastDates.com Calendar of my Model Shots! :) -  GARAGE GIRLS 2015 - Beautiful Models Hard at Work Calendar

Excellent seller. Prompt feedback to queries. Speedy shipping. The book arrived in excellent condition, well packed. The content, a celebration of beauty. What more can I say?

Its a beautiful book. I have always admired Russell James work. The book is very large with beautiful photos. CONS, there is a lot of blank pages, I think they should have been filled, also unless you get this book when it goes on sale it is very pricey.

Amazing quality. So large, this is one of the heaviest books I own. Great print quality.One thing I could mention as a con, almost all the photos looks the same. There's not much variety in this book.

I love this book. I got it for my boyfriend and it is a great coffee table book and conversation starter. I like the black and white aspect because it is fitting for this book. Don't know why some people have a problem with that...

The book is amazing. I love the work of Russell James and I had seen this book before I bought, so it was a right purchase. All right with the delivery and the delivery time.

Excelente libro. Las fotografías son excelentes, la resolución, calidad y tamaño perfectos.

Amazing collection of photos.

The artist really captures the beauty of every angel well.Them being nude or partly nude doesn't hurt either.In all honesty though it is quite a well done book. Weather you are into models, fashion, photography and the female form this book really is a good one.

Libro spettacolare e affascinante. È anche molto scenografico se decidete di lasciarlo aperto su un tavolino da fumo davanti il divano. Le foto sono stupende e le ragazze non necessitano di presentazioni. Da avere!!!consigliato

Amazing book with fantastic photographs so artistic and beautiful to look through. The pages of mine are slightly marked by some kind of white dust but it is only a few pages. I think it is where the book was bound together when it was made.