Through the Lens: National Geographic Greatest Photographs (National Geographic Collectors...

Through the Lens: National Geographic Greatest Photographs (National Geographic Collectors Series) | National Geographic | Through the lens...

books:

Most Popular Books... Disney princess Shafiq Syed Ryan O'Neal Through the Lens: ...

	Through the Lens: National Geographic Greatest Photographs (National Geographic Collectors Series) National Geographic National Geographic, 2009 - 504 pages average customer review:based on 37 reviews view larger image
	for more information click here

Since the 10.5 million images in National Geographic's possession won't fit in a book, the 250 in this moderately glossy, minimally costly collection will do nicely. Through the Lens is a stunning collection of photos judiciously apportioned to represent the regions of the earth, the sea, and outer space; humans and nature; and even the history of the medium--a few historic black and whites contrast dramatically with the eye-popping modern color shots that dominate the book. As ever, the esthetic key to their impact is the use of big, emotional pictures with witty little captions, and whenever possible, startling juxtapositions. A Boston matron's faux-fur coat looks just like her pet Dalmatian (the caption identifies them as "spots fans"). The world's widest street (in Buenos Aires) by night looks great next to a grassy highway overpass for grizzly bears in Alberta. The famous green-eyed Afghan refugee poses in a purple burkha with her 1985 National Geographic cover. A Moscow shopper tries on a snowsuit, oblivious to the huge face in the ad on the wall behind him, whose nose he obscures and smile he bisects. A fuzzy shot of a 1907 inventor testing a multiwinged "Katydid" flying machine contrasts with a crisp 1974 shot of Skylab soaring far above fluffy clouds. Often, what's striking is the juxtaposition of ideas. An Arctic wolf making an impossible leap between ice floes arcs in midair, only its reflection hitting the frigid water. A 1935 Model T "surfs" a steep dune in White Sands, New Mexico. Chorus lines of stuffed cane-toad corpses with surreally clothespinned snouts perform on a taxidermist's shelf. Newborns are lined up like bread loaves in Shanghai. A woman in a white chador sits in the Tripoli airport, the white lines of fluorescent ceiling bulbs radiating behind her head like a saint's halo. This isn't the fanciest photo book of the season, but it certainly is a good deal. ?Tim Appelo

for more information click here

Beautifully Illustrated Book

I gave this book to a freind of mine for Christmas. He shares my passion for photography so he loved this book.

Through the lens...

good delivery service, good value for dollar, like all Nat'l Geo products, book is excelllent

Perfect gift for the photo enthusiast

Given as a gift to daughter. She loves photography, and loved the National Geographic photo book. Unlike a traditional table book, the smaller size is perfect for sharing and carrying.

Good Value for Some Outstanding Photographs If You Like Small Reproductions

"Though your beginning was small,
Yet your latter end would increase abundantly." -- Job 8:7

Before starting my review, let me note that at the time I wrote this review Amazon had mixed up reviews for the larger size hardcover book available at $30 with the smaller size hardcover book available at $16.95. I am reviewing the smaller format book that came out in September 2009 (6.6 inches by 6.1 inches by 1.5 inches). Unless you don't care what size your photographs are, I recommend you spend the extra money and get the larger size version that came out in October 2003 (10.7 inches by 10.1 inches by 1.8 inches). I think in the larger page size the book is a five-star resource for any photography lover. If you are a National Geographic subscriber or admirer, why wouldn't you want to own that book?

Like many books of photographs, many of these reproductions will appeal to you more than others. I happen to like nature shots that provide me with a new perspective on life against a backdrop of stunning beauty. Obviously, National Geographic could have filled many volumes with just such images. A boy diving backward off a water buffalo into a muddy river filled with water buffalo perfectly captures the sort of thing I mean (James P. Blair, 1993, in Bangladesh), as does a meerkat keeping watch (Mattias Klum, 2002).

There are also some marvelous wilderness shots that take the civilization out of you in meditative ways (Maria Stenzel, 1996, islands on the Fond du Lac River; Steve Winter, 2001, jaguar in Belize; and Jim Brandenburg, 1987, arctic wolf)

More typically, these images are about people. I particularly liked the ones that put nature's scale against human accomplishment (Hiram Bingham, 1912, portraying Machu Picchu; Gordon Wilstie, 1994, mountaineers in Chile; Michael S. Yamashita, 2003, the Great Wall of China).

Much of the book is social commentary. Depending on your point of view, you'll be amused, outraged, or left musing.

For my taste the book could have included a lot more space and ocean images.

Inevitably, there are images of bare-breasted women from lesser-developed countries, views of whom have provided such controversy over the years about National Geographic. I could have done without those.

for more information click here

Concept of reviewing all of the world

By using different concept, throught the lens provide me another experience for myself to review what I have seen the world. Remind myself, there are lots opportunities for me to explore more experience during each photo that been taken from works, daily life, with friends, family or even snap shot simply happen around of us.

reviews: page 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8

products you might be interested in