Edward Steichen, as Director of the Navel Photographic Institute during WW2, is the one to thank for these wonderful photos. He made a wise choice in choosing photographers like Wayne Miller, Howard Liberman or Charles Jacobs to record the Home Front military effort. Like the famous Farm Security Administration photos from the Depression years the images were made for use in civilian and military newspapers, magazines, posters or anywhere that would keep the patriotic spirit alive.

The 150 plus photos are in two sections: training and military work. They all put over a positive image especially the work ones though there are no WAVES with dirty hands or uniforms despite much of the work involving heavy machinery and many of photos are clearly posed to get the best effect. The first section of volunteers going off to camp, training and relaxing put across a message of comradeship and all pulling together (and still having a good time as five shots of a snowball fight at boot camp show).

The photos (in 175dpi) are presented one to a page with generous margins and nicely the captions are either under each photo or on the opposite page. The only thing missing from this interesting book is some background about the WAVES. The author reveals a little in her short intro but I had to go to Wikipedia to learn that this Navy section was part of a much larger ladies only military effort including the WAAC/WAC, ANC, NNC, USMCWR, PHS, SPARS, ARC and WASP (the website: Blitzkrieg Baby had plenty on uniforms, insignia and general background stuff).

Making Waves is a collection of wonderful no-nonsense photos that had to work at the time but now decades later their quality is still apparent.

***FOR AN INSIDE LOOK click 'customer images' under the cover.

I just received my copy of this book a few days ago and have been through it twice. It is a wonderful tribute to the women who served their country so honorably during the time of WWII. I just wish there was a pictoral story like this for my generation of WAVES in the early 60's!