National Geographic Simply Beautiful Photographs takes readers on a spectacular visual journey through some of the most stunning photographs to be found in National Geographicrsquo;s famed Image Collection. Award-winning photographer Annie Griffiths culled the images to reflect the many variations on the universal theme of beauty. Chapters are organized around the aesthetic concepts that create beauty in a photograph: Light; Composition; Moment (Gesture and Emotion); Motion; Palette; and Wonder.Beyond the introduction and brief essays about each featured concept; the text is light. The photographs speak for themselves; enhanced by lyrical quotes from scholars and poets. In the chapter on Light; for example; we read these words of whimsical wisdom from songwriter Leonard Cohen: ldquo;Ring the bells that still can ring. Forget your perfect offering. There is a crack in everything. Thats how the lights get in.rdquo; And then the images flow; of light entering scenes through windows; clouds; and spotlights; from above; alongside; and behind; casting radiance upon young ballerinas and weathered men; into groves of autumn trees and island-dotted seas; revealing everything it touches to be beautiful beyond expectation.To illuminate the theme of Wonder; Griffiths chose a wish from Andre Bazin: ldquo;If I had influence with the good fairy...I should ask that her gift to each child in the world be a sense of wonder so indestructible that it would last throughout life.rdquo; This thought is juxtaposed with an exquisite vision in white; a frame filled with the snowy-pure dots and rays of a birdrsquo;s fan tail. And on it goes; picture after tantalizing picture; alive with wondrous beauty.When she created National Geographic Simply Beautiful Photographs; Annie Griffiths set two goals: to maximize visual delight; and to create a book unique in the world of publishingmdash;one in which many of the photographs could be purchased as prints. She has succeeded on both counts. Many of these stunning images are available for order; and there can be no doubt as to the visual delight. You must open this book for yourself; and take in its radiant beauty.From the Hardcover edition.
#294143 in eBooks 2015-05-01 2015-05-01File Name: B00P6VHRKE
Review
0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. The Quick and Easy Guide to Photographing Your ArtworkBy Ruth Ann MeszarosThis is a great; practical book with clear instructions and very good photos. I recommend this to any amateur photographer.0 of 0 people found the following review helpful. Four StarsBy Johnny Fowlerhelpful information1 of 1 people found the following review helpful. Not useful if youre using a digital cameraBy Ozcan GokceThis review was written by Cigdem Gokce. This book was written with good intentions; as can be understood from the simple and clear illustrations used to explain many aspects of photographing art work and the various examples of faulty photography. However; for digital camera users it is virtually useless for anything beyond setting up the correct lighting conditions since digital photography ise mentioned almost as an afterthought; with the bulk of the book dedicated to extensive elaboration of the merits and uses of photography film. As such; it can only be of help to those artists who still prefer to use (and manage to find) analog photography machines and films. I read this book on North Light e book archives and was glad that I didnt buy it. Its a shame that no effort was made to bring it up-to-date before publishing in 2003.
