Tuesday, February 21, 2012

National Geographic: The Photographs (National Geographic Collectors Series)

National Geographic: The Photographs (National Geographic Collectors Series)

National Geographic: The Photographs (National Geographic Collectors Series)
By Leah Bendavid-Val

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Average customer review:
(19 customer reviews)

Product Description

This stunning volume was the gift book of the year when it first published, and the images that grace its pages remain iconic. From the famous Afghan girl whose haunting green eyes stare out from the book's cover, and her poignant story that captured the world's interest, to award-winning photography culled from the Society's vast archives, The Photographs offers readers an inside look at National Geographic and a sharp-eyed view of the world. The book showcases the skill and imagination of such notable Geographic photographers as David Doubilet, William Albert Allard, Sam Abell, Jim Stanfield, Jodi Cobb, Jim Brandenburg, David Alan Harvey, and many more. They share their techniques, as well as personal and colorful anecdotes about individual images and their adventures in the field—sometimes humorous, sometimes terrifying, always vividly compelling. Author Leah Bendavid-Val writes about the photographers' achievements from technical, journalistic, and artistic perspectives.

Five chapters cover core National Geographic themes—wildlife on land and water; cultures in the United States and around the world; and science, from astronomy to archaeology to the human senses. The photographs in each chapter capture rare moments in nature and the lives of animals, along with defining events in the lives of people everywhere. This exquisite collection is as elegant as it is timeless.

Product Details
  • Amazon Sales Rank: #22092 in Books
  • Brand: National Geographic
  • Published on: 2008-09-16
  • Released on: 2008-09-16
  • Original language: English
  • Number of items: 1
  • Dimensions: 6.80" h x 1.02" w x 6.27" l, 1.50 pounds
  • Binding: Hardcover
  • 336 pages
Editorial Reviews

About the Author
Leah Bendavid-Val , Director of Photography Publishing for National Geographic Books, is the author of Propaganda & Dreams; Changing Reality; National Geographic: The Photographs; Stories on Paper & Glass, and most recently Song Without Words: The Photographs and Diaries of Countess Sophia Tolstoy. She has curated photography exhibitions for museums worldwide.

Customer Reviews

Most helpful customer reviews

20 of 21 people found the following review helpful.
4Manna on mulch
By Jean E. Pouliot
The strength of the photographs in National Geographic is that they are often gorgeously-shot and expertly composed by professionals who clearly know their craft. Their weakness is that their perfection sometimes masks a banality of subject matter and narrative, often sinking them beyond the level of illustration. "National Geographic: the Photographs" embodies both aspects of the magazine's photography.

While more than a few photos barely rise above the snapshot level, most are thoughtfully (if a bit too artfully) composed, though a few are absolutely standouts. Steve McCurry's haunting 1984 shot of Sharbat Gula, the green-eyed Afghan refugee girl, is the classic example. The girl's haunted expression speaks volumes about the hardships she has experienced. The photo graces the book's cover, while her updated portrait, shot 18 years later, adorns the back. Now a wife and mother, the same hauntedness appears in Gula's eyes, now encased in a face grown older and wearier. Another standout -- an overhead shot of camels traversing the wastes of Djibouti -- is disconcerting until one recognizes the camera's vantage point. The straightforward grace of some photos belies the difficulty with which they were taken. It takes only a second to flip past an underwater picture of an approaching hippo; but the photograph cannot capture the hours of patience and luck it took to take it.

"National Geographic: The Photographs" includes the expected pictures of wildlife, nature and human cultures from around the globe as well as several topical spreads -- Spain, sleep, and the Titanic. The book's large format helps many photos communicate the grandeur of their natural subjects. When the subject and composition coincide, the photographs are strikingly beautiful.

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful.
5History and photography
By Jennifer Chien
This is not just a coffee table picture book! This is a compilation of stories and pictures which you read page by page to get amazing world and cultural perspectives over the past 100 years. National Geographic did an great job compiling the most comprehensive set of photographs taken since the early 1900's. The book features breathtaking pictures of foreign lands, wildlife, people, etc. divided into sections which are narrated in story-like form. For examples, the first section in the book explores the history of photography and the role that the National Geographic played in the development of the technology and the art. I liked the story/photograph format and especially liked the mix of photograph size/style published. Overall, it's a great deal for the price!

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful.
5Great collection of top quality photography
By Harold McFarland
A book of fantastic photography, it covers 25 years of work by National Geographic photographers. An oversized book (as it should be in order to appreciate the full beauty of the photography), it is organized into five parts: The Land, Underwater, Science, The United States and The World. Leave it out for guests to leaf through and enjoy because they will once they see it. Of course it is not all just pictures, if you've ever wondered about those photographers behind the pictures it includes informative comments about them and their achievements.

http://astore.amazon.com/amazon-book-books-20/detail/1426202911#

 
 

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