Nature & Wildlife Books - Page 5

Egg & Nest

Rosamond Purcell, Linnea S. Hall, René Corado

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The beauty of the robin’s egg is not lost on the child who discovers the nest, nor on the collector of nature’s marvels. Such instances of wonder find fitting expression in the photographs of Rosamond Purcell, whose work captures the intricacy of nests and the aesthetic perfection of bird eggs. Mining the ornithological treasures of the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology, Purcell produces pictures as lovely and various as the artifacts she photographs. The dusky blue egg of an emu becomes a planet. A woodpecker’s nest bears an uncanny resemblance to a wooden shoe. A resourceful rock dove weaves together scrap metal and spent fireworks. A dreamscape of dancing monkeys emerges from the calligraphic markings of a murre egg.

Alongside Purcell’s photographs, Linnea Hall and René Corado offer an engaging history of egg collecting, the provenance of the specimens in the photographs, and the biology, conservation, and ecology of the birds that produced them. They highlight the scientific value that eggs and nest hold for understanding and conserving birds in the wild, as well as the aesthetic charge they carry for us.

How has evolution shaped the egg or directed the design of the nest? How do the photographs convey such infinitesimal and yet momentous happenstance? The objects in Egg & Nest are specimens of natural history, and in Purcell’s renderings, they are also the most natural art.

Wild Beauty: Photographs of the Columbia River Gorge, 1867–1957 (The Northwest Photography Series)

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Total reviews: 1 Average rating: 3.0 of 5

Editorial Review:

The Columbia River Gorge exerts a powerful influence on the lives and imaginations of the inhabitants of the Pacific Northwest. For people who live here today, just as for those Native Americans and European settlers who preceded us, this dramatic natural landform is a source of awe. Since the 1860s it has inspired superb photographers who have framed and interpreted the way we see the Gorge, and who have in turn had their artistic vision shaped by this compelling landscape. The ninety-year period covered in Wild Beauty was a critical one in the river’s history. Over thousands of years the wild, free-flowing torrent of the Columbia River carved a passage—the Columbia River Gorge—through the Cascade Mountain Range. In the 1860s, when the first photographers arrived, the Gorge still looked much the same as it had when Lewis and Clark made their way down the river in 1805, and indeed as it had for centuries before that, when the native peoples’ culture of fishing and trade thrived along the river’s banks. In the mid-twentieth century, the character of the river was fundamentally altered by the construction of hydroelectric dams. Terry Toedtemeier and John Laursen have selected more than 130 images—most of them previously unpublished and many of them never before available for public view—by some three dozen photographers to chronicle the history of photography in the Gorge. Wild Beauty begins in 1867 with images by the legendary Carleton Watkins, creator of some of the greatest landscape photographs of the nineteenth century. Later photographers include Benjamin Gifford, Lily White, Sarah Ladd, Fred Kizer, Alfred Monner, and Ray Atkeson. The volume ends in 1957 with the completion of The Dalles Dam, which drowned Celilo Falls and with it the historic site where Indians had fished for millennia.The images in this beautifully designed volume are presented one to a spread, with captions on the facing pages. The book is organized into five chronological sections, each with a brief introduction; a map shows the locations where the photographs were made. The photographs have been meticulously restored and are exquisitely reproduced in four-color process to capture the subtle coloration and nuanced tonal values of albumen prints, gelatin silver prints, platinum prints, hand-colored photographs, and early Kodachromes.The photography of Watkins and his successors is a significant piece of the cultural heritage of the Pacific Northwest. Readers interested in the history of the Columbia River and the photography of the developing American West will be enthralled by the book’s scope and artistry. And those who love the Gorge’s stunning beauty will welcome how this volume has captured its grandeur.Wild Beauty represents, in the words of one reviewer, “a culmination of decades of research, exhibition, and total immersion in the geology, history, and photography of the Columbia River Gorge.” Oregon State University Press is proud to partner with the Northwest Photography Archive to publish this remarkable volume.

Shopping for Porcupine: A Life in Arctic Alaska

Seth Kantner

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 12 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

READ THIS BOOK!!! 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Seth Kantner's writing has a way of awakening something inside me that I don't even have words or ways to reach on my own. His storytelling prose is thoughtful, true -- it's more than words -- it's like an unnamed emotion all its own.

"Flower of the Fringe," is one of several chapters in the book that highlights characters in the writer's life...Kantner connects you with these people, beautifully captured and introduced to you in ways rarely reached in writing.

This book will not disappoint...it's creative nonfiction at its best: entertaining, intimate, eye-opening, introspective, refreshing...and true.

Editorial Review:

His story begins with the arrival of his father, Howard Kantner, to the remote Arctic of the 1950s and ends with him as a grown man settled in the same landscape. Through a series of moving essays and vivid photographs, ranging in subject from family histories to hunting stories, celebrations of people and places to a lament over a majestic wilderness rapidly disappearing, Shopping for Porcupine provides a compelling, intimate view of America’s last frontier — the same place that captivated so many readers of Ordinary Wolves.

Macro Photography for Gardeners and Nature Lovers: The Essential Guide to Digital Techniques

Alan L. Detrick

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Editorial Review:

Gardeners and nature lovers delight in taking pictures-especially close-ups of flowers, butterflies, and insects. And though advances in digital camera technology have made taking, storing, and sharing photos easier than ever, taking top-quality pictures requires familiarity with both digital technology and the general principles of photography. Macro Photography for Gardeners and Nature Lovers provides exactly the information that aspiring photographers—no matter their level of skill—need to take their photos to the next level. Clear and concise chapters cover the basics of macro (close-up) photography, explain the features of current digital single-lens reflex cameras, show the many ways images can be composed, and share tips on digital effects, storage, and manipulation of imagery. Throughout the text, helpful tips, definitions, exercises, and case studies serve to demystify digital photography. Each lesson is supported by examples of the author's stunning photography. Whether taking photos of flowers and insects, compiling a photographic record of your garden, or simply sharing beautiful images with friends and family, everyone can become accomplished photographers of the world's small-scale wonders.

One Hundred & One Beautiful Small Towns in France (101 Towns)

Simonetta Greggio

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Total reviews: 7 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

Editorial Review:

A sequel to the highly successful One Hundred and One Beautiful Small Towns in Italy, this book expands the series to include the most enchanting hamlets of France. Gorgeously illustrated as well as informative, One Hundred and One Beautiful Small Towns of France is a journey through the French countryside, a place where the pace slows, locals engage strangers in conversation, and every town has a unique story to tell. Travel between the hilltop towns of the Central Massif and the Pyrenees to rockbound coastal fishing villages in Normandy and Brittany. Breathtaking full-color photographs create the perfect atmosphere as you discover these unexplored places, and descriptive sidebars offer invaluable information on local curiosities to indulge, unique artisanal products to buy, and age-old culinary specialties to sample. A detailed appendix is the perfect source on where to shop, sightsee, and dine—avec plaisir! Whether you are an armchair traveler or a Francophile planning another trip, this volume is the guide to the hidden treasures of France that proves once and for all that the heart of this popular travel destination lies in the countryside far from the grandeur and pomp of Paris.

Understanding RAW Photography

Andy Rouse

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 3 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Great Reference for Digital Photographers 5 out of 5 stars.
8 of 9 people found this review helpful.

Understanding RAW Photography is a rare gem. In 140 pages, Andy Rouse explains the basics of how to deal with digital images from the photographer's point of view. This book is not 500 pages of fluff with some good information tossed in. It is a handbook of what steps the photographer must perform after the shutter is pressed.

Workflow is thoroughly discussed in 16 pages. Workflow is simply setting up the camera to shoot RAW file format, managing the RAW data, and editing/correcting the RAW data. This is tedious but not difficult work. Every DSLR camera manufacturer has their own proprietary software to deal with their own version of RAW data, so read the owner's manual for your camera and use the proprietary software or use freeware that accepts your camera's version of RAW data.

Chapter 2 "In the Field" has many excellent exposure tips, techniques for keeping the camera sensor clean, and backing up the camera memory card while on assignment.

The rest of the book deals with image editing, correction and processing, printing and digital asset management. These topics are discussed in a straight forward manner with enough information given so that the user can get an understanding of the process and then seek more advanced texts if greater detail is needed.

Every DSLR photographer today has the ability to become their own photo processing laboratory. Gone are the days of dropping off rolls of film at the processor's facility and then reviewing proof sheets or slides. Each user can set up the camera, capture the image, download the RAW files on to the computer, edit, correct, process and finally print the photos. This book helps the busy photographer understand and master this series of steps.

Editorial Review:

A RAW file allows far more flexibility than a JPEG will, and enthusiastic amateur photographers everywhere are discovering their vast potential. RAW files open up a whole new world of image processing where photos can go from ordinary to perfect simply and quickly. In Understanding RAW Photography, renowned photographer Andy Rouse follows the entire procedure from start to finish: the volume takes the form of an easy-to-follow workflow overview, covering all the essentials right from the beginning of a shoot. Rouse explains how to make software choices; work in the field; edit, correct, and process the picture; and ultimately display it in print or on screen. A wide range of images and screen grabs illustrate techniques both basic and advanced, as well as creative possibilities.

 

National Audubon Society Guide to Nature Photography: Digital Edition (National Audubon Society Guide)

Tim Fitzharris

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Editorial Review:

A professional course in digital nature photography.

National Audubon Society Guide to Nature Photography is a comprehensive reference and inspiring guide to taking outstanding photographs of the great outdoors. Renowned photographer Tim Fitzharris shares his foolproof techniques, emphasizing digital photography field procedures for a wide variety of nature shots.

Everything needed to achieve professional results is covered, including:

• The best digital equipment, and how to use it
• Detailed insider field techniques for photographing mammals, birds, insects, amphibians, reptiles, wildflowers, wilderness landscapes, seascapes and more
• Getting a correct digital exposure every time
• Using filters (with before-and-after examples)
• Fine art composition
• Photographing scenes for maximum sharpness
• Shooting postcard-perfect sunrises and sunsets
• Digital processing
• Preparing digital captures for publication.

Packed with tips and strategies, this outstanding guide is ideal for beginners, advanced amateurs and professionals. The information is presented in a conversational style and accompanied by hundreds of stunning examples of the author's photographs.

(20031011)

Frog: A Photographic Portrait

Tom Jackson

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 2 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

Getting intimate with frogs 5 out of 5 stars.
2 of 2 people found this review helpful.

This is my first acquaintance with the photography of Thomas Marent, so I did not know what to expect really. But more often than not a picture on the front cover of the book can tell you something about the quality of photography inside. And considering the low price, I did not really hesitate to buy.
From the very beginning, upon opening the book, I was delighted. The book begins in a very nice way: upon opening the cover and leafing through the frontispiece and title page one does not immediately get to the copyright info and list of contents, but one is treated first with ten pages of gorgeous photographs of frogs with just small captions of their names and places, so that one is immediately pulled into the world of frogs and amphibians before any 'explanation' begins. After the list of contents (listing the foreword and chapters on 'identity', 'body form', 'survival', 'reproduction', 'amphibian families' and index) there is a foreword by the photographer, telling a bit about his motives for making this book (mainly his passion for nature and wildlife in general and frogs especially).
I am delighted by the editing, which is gorgeous: the crisp colour photographs and white typeface are set on black background, with many photos covering the whole page or the total width of two pages. Also, on many pages a few photographs are placed on the same page to compare features, shapes or sizes among different species (or sometimes within the same species, like the different skin hues for day and night on the tree frog Hyla rubracyla). In other occasions, one photo overlaps the whole page and just a bit of the other, leaving space for one or two other photos and some text now and then. Some photos also zoom in on details of the bodies, like heads, eyes, legs, toes or fingers. But most of the photos show the frogs in portrait, from special angles (like the exquisite glass frog being photographed from underneath to show its transparency), perching in typical stances or in action: walking, jumping, 'flying', calling, feeding or mating.
Thomas Marent's art is wonderful. One can see the effort that has gone into taking the best possible shot (sometimes a deliberately posed shot), also taking into acount background. Sometimes a wonderful effect is created with varying depth/sharpness, but always with great style and with purpose behind it. And of course the eyes are always in sharp focus, especially in extreme close-ups. Often, at the same time, the photographer has 'come down' to eye level with the frog, creating a wonderfully 'intimate' view, especially when the frog seems to look at you with sort of a 'puzzled' or 'amazed' look on its face (however impossible that may be, but that is part of the great mastery of the photographer). In my view, this is a great book that is expecially worthwile because of the photographs (how many months of hard work must have gone into creating all of those!!!). And the text, while basic, is very informative. Also, the captions sometimes add a little extra delightful information about the species photographed. A lovely aspect of the text are a few 'anecdotes' (eight if I count correctly) from the adventures of the photographer, making the story behind the photos coming alive, which is wonderful.
All in all this book is a true gem and a delight for all who love high quality nature photography in general and of frogs/amphibians/animals especially. Each and every photo in it is a little work of art and some are simply stunning. Paging through the book, looking at the pictures and reading the bits of wonderfully informative text, really draws one into the world from a frog's perspective (pun intended). Also, this book, just by showing the sheer beauty of frogs, should help to heighten awareness of the many endangered species of amphibians (called "the canaries in the coal mine" because of their high sensitivity to environmental pollution). So when you have the idea that the frogs are looking you in the eye personally when looking at the pictures and when you feel touched, you have made an important step in your awareness I believe: you feel the call of good conscience and respect for nature and wildlife: think what you could do (or do without) to lower your impact on the environment.
Highly recommended.

Editorial Review:

Frog is a celebration of the fascinating range of the planet's frogs and toads. Published to coincide with Amphibian Ark's "Year of the Frog" and designed to build awareness of environmental change causing many species of amphibians to disappear at an alarming rate. The aim of the year's campaign is to generate awareness to the greatest species conservation challenge in history. AUTHOR BIO: Thomas Marent, author of Rainforest (2006) and Butterfly (2008), started photographing natural history subjects, particularly birds and butterflies, in the mountains of his native Switzerland. He has dedicated nearly half his life to recording butterflies across five continents.

Shelter Dogs

Traer Scott

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Customer Reviews:
Total reviews: 39 Average rating: 5.0 of 5

A disappointment 1 out of 5 stars.
1 of 6 people found this review helpful.

I bought this book because I read all the wonderful reviews and frankly I was extremely disappointed. I am a real dog lover and melt at the sight of any dog but these photos lack life. They look like mannequins and very few of them show the wonderful expressions we so often see in dogs and which make dogs so utterly lovable. For a book that is trying to tug at your heart on the subject of shelter dogs, it has failed spectacularly.
Give this book a miss.

Editorial Review:

Photographer Traer Scott’s endearing portraits of dogs living in American shelters are irresistible and heart-rending – and make a passionate appeal to dog lovers everywhere. Some of the dogs subsequently found good homes; others were never adopted. The portraits reveal the strikingly intense emotion, dignity and, sometimes, humour and whimsy that Scott saw in each face despite the dog’s circumstances. By documenting the undeniable expressions of emotion in the dogs encountered in her volunteer work, Scott raises awareness of animal rescue causes, and especially the need for more adoptive homes for abandoned dogs. This book of true portraits of fifty beautiful shelter dogs is a poignant and loving tribute to all dogs.

The Art of the Snowflake: A Photographic Album

Kenneth Libbrecht

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Total reviews: 8 Average rating: 4.5 of 5

High quality novelty, thought-provoking 5 out of 5 stars.
3 of 3 people found this review helpful.

Since several other reviewers have described this book, and the topic is self-evident, I want to emphasize what a high QUALITY book this is. As a coffee-table size hardback, many of which today are so cheaply made, this one is MADE really well, a pleasure for that alone. Good quality binding and excellent color reproductions. And who would have thought such a simple subject could remain fascinating for over 150 pages! Really worth the price, esp. with the Amazon discount.

Editorial Review:

The perfect geometry and exquisite beauty of nature is nowhere so clear to us as in the snowflake. But how have we been able to appreciate this infinitesimal wonder in all its crystalline glory? This book, as much a work of art as a testament to science, reveals how one of the snowflake’s most inspired photographers came to such intimate knowledge of his craft and its fleeting focus. Beautiful pictures illustrate Kenneth Libbrecht’s story of the microphotography of snow crystals, from the pioneering work of Wilson Bentley in the 1890s right up to Ken’s own innovations in our age of digital images. A breathtaking look at the works of art that melt in an instant, this is a book to page through and savor, season after season.