Observation

Observation is the active acquisition of information from a primary source. In living beings, observation employs the senses. In science, observation can also involve the recording of data via the use of instruments. The term may also refer to any data collected during the scientific activity. Observations can be qualitative, that is, only the absence or presence of a property is noted, or quantitative if a numerical value is attached to the observed phenomenon by counting or measuring.

Observation in science

The scientific method requires observations of nature to formulate and test hypotheses. It consists of these steps:

Observations (album)

Observations is the debut album by American jazz trombonist Steve Swell and saxophonist Chris Kelsey, which was recorded in 1996 and released on CIMP.

Reception

In his review for AllMusic, Scott Yanow states "Both Swell and Kelsey (who possess fairly original sounds) are not shy to utilize space nor to express themselves and their colorful interplay is the main reason to acquire this continually interesting avant-garde disc."

The Penguin Guide to Jazz notes that "The duo with Kelsey is a long-standing rehearsal partneship, and they read each other's moves with brilliant empathy."

Track listing

Personnel

Observations (book)

Observations is a collaborative coffee table book with photography by Richard Avedon, commentary by Truman Capote and design by Alexey Brodovitch. It features a slipcase with color, all-capitalized lettering; the book itself is further housed in a clear acetate/glassine slip cover and is printed with the same bold design as the slipcase in black-and-white. Simon & Schuster published the work in 1959 having it printed using the photogravure method in Lucerne, Switzerland.

Conception

Avedon and Capote started collaboration on the book in 1945.

Contents

Observations contains numerous portraits of famous people of the twentieth century, including Pablo Picasso, J. Robert Oppenheimer, Katharine Hepburn, Marilyn Monroe and Mae West.

Reception

Isak Dinesen was initially insulted by Capote's description of her, but forgave him shortly before her death in 1962.

Kerry William Purcell contends the book's design represents the pinnacle of Alexey Brodovitch's book designs.

The book is a sought-after collectors item and typically sells for hundreds of dollars, even when not in ideal condition.