It's been some little while since I wrote a book review on this blog but it is something I do rather enjoy ... and when this book came out I was motivated to share my thoughts about it ...
The book is succinctly described below the title on the cover and when you open the book it becomes apparent that the photographs are of exceptional quality ... but beyond their straightforward quality lies an aesthetic value that comes from the way that they are presented.
Some of the photos carry detail that is rarely seen ...
... but beyond that they evoke a deep sense of the bird ... this Grey Heron is just one example (the text looks wavy here as I didn't want to press the book flat) ... the words accompanying the photos are crafted to enhance the sense of the wild experience that comes from watching these wonderful creatures ...
It is worth mentioning that most of the species photographed are shy and difficult to approach as many frequent the wide open spaces of the Solway ... often it is difficult to see these birds well, let alone take good photographs of them ...
What comes across most powerfully in looking through the book is the pure sense of pleasure that Sam derives from simply watching these wild birds and absorbing their every detail and movement ... the book celebrates the essence of that pure pleasure ...
... as is the case with this Short-eared Owl, having a smaller image of the bird can evoke the strong sense of its presence within the habitat ...
For the second year running Sam has contributed photographs to the Cumbria County Wildlife Report ... Birds and Wildlife in Cumbria 2020 ...
He also produces calendars and framed prints of his photos ... you can contact him at samalij@aol.com
No comments:
Post a Comment