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Title: The Western Horizon by MacDuff Everton, Edmund Morris, Mary Heebner ISBN: 0-8109-4562-2 Publisher: Harry N Abrams Pub. Date: 01 November, 2000 Format: Hardcover Volumes: 1 List Price(USD): $49.50 |
Average Customer Rating: 4.75 (4 reviews)
Rating: 4
Summary: Panographs with an edge
Comment: I noticed that the writing on the front flap of the book jacket claimed that the images are large format panographs. After taking a close look at the first few images on pages 1-10, I came to the conclusion that these are panographs taken in 135 format not the medium format of the 120 or 220 types. Everton's notes of camera and film on page 7 confirmed my assessment. It is interesting that he departed from the usual practice of his peers by choosing the colour negative film Fuji NHG II rather than its sibling, the transparency film, Fuji Velvia 50. Though it does not have the punchy colours and high contrast of Velvia, NHG II gives softer colours in highlights and more shadow details. With negative films, mastery in controlling exposure is only half of the accomplishment, mastery in making prints is essential for bringing the final image to the masses. Everton said he developed his prints in a rental lab. If so, his craft is well done. The contrast control of each image is good with no lost of colour saturation and shadow details, even for heavily overcast landscape such as the one on Lemhi Pass (p56). About half of the images was taken at a time when a storm was approaching. Some even have a clearly visible rain curtain (p33,49,62). The panograph of the Great Sand Dune Monument (p62) is a real visual treat. The land and sky were connected by a rain pillar over the sand dune on the right, illuminated by the emerging light. The highlighted strip of the desert floor formed the visual anchor for the reader, guiding my eyes to start the journey from the lower left-hand side of the image then wander into the distant storm-covered horizon. The smoothness of the dunes form a visual contrast to the roughness of the storm clouds above. It is rare to see a rainstorm in a sandy desert let alone under such magical lighting. Capturing fleeing moments like this calls for great patience and skill on the photographer's part. The panograph of Lower Geyser Basin is my second favourite (p49). The steam pillar jetted out of the geyser is the force within the deep earth whereas the heaven is owned by the menacing storm dumping torrents of rain from above. I couldn't stop asking if this image was taken on Planet Earth or near Mount Doom of Middle Earth in Tokkien's fantasy. My other favourite is the panograph of the Lower Calf Creek Falls (p72). Here stillness and transquility was interrupted by the gushing waterfall. The branches of the two trees at the foreground formed a perfect arch that frames the waterfall. This is a stage built by Nature where we are invited to sit in front and be immersed in the sound of moving waters.
The map next to Everton's preface showed not only the places where the images were taken but confirmed the warning that American wilderness is an endangered specie. The rest of the writings is simply an eloquent elaboration of this urgent issue. This book is another quality publication from Abrams Inc. I give it four out of five stars.
Rating: 5
Summary: Peerless Panoramas!
Comment: This book deserves more than five stars for the unmatched color panoramas of the most picturesque horizons in the western United States.
You could visit these sites for twenty years and not see actual scenes as luscious as these. Whether you know the West or think you would like to, I suggest that you start with this remarkable book. This is the West as you've never seen it . . . but could. The wonderful photography is nicely complemented by the essays that provide geological and historical perspectives on the scenes portrayed here.
The photography is all done in 148 or 150 degree large format color panoramas. This perspective approximates what the human eyes can see, including peripheral vision. As a result, these images give you a remarkable sense of being present that is almost impossible to obtain in a book.
The reproduction quality is amazingly good, and the lighting and tones vary wonderfully from one outstanding photograph to the next. Almost all are displayed over an entire wide panorama-sized page, and many extend over parts of two such pages.
The feeling is so ethereal that it evokes the same sense of natural wonder that looking at paintings by the Hudson River School creates. There are in fact some parallels, as a few scenes include tiny people or animals in the foreground.
The book is divided into sections showing the Great Plains, the Rocky Mountains, the Colorado Plateau, the Cascade range, the Pacific Northwest, and California. Although I have traveled extensively in the West for over 40 years, more than half of these scenes were new to me. I can see that I have many wonderful trips ahead of me to visit these locales, now that I know how gorgeous they are.
Here is a list of the sites:
Sand Hills, Nebraska
Badlands National Park, South Dakota
Theodore Roosevelt National Park
Montana Prairie
Breaks of the Missouri
Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming
Waterton/Glacier International Peace Park, Montana
Lemhi Pass, Montana
Mores Creek, Idaho
Aspen, Colorado
Great Sand Dunes National Monument, Colorado
Grand Canyon, Arizona
Grand Staircase -- Escalante National Monument, Utah
Ghost Ranch, New Mexico
Painted Desert and Petrified Forest National Park, Arizona
Monument Valley Tribal Park, Arizona/Utah
Wupatki National National Monument, Arizona
Mount St. Helens
Crater Lake, Oregon
Mount Shasta, California
Oregon Coast
Big Sur, California
Santa Catalina, California
Yosemite, California
Mono Lake, California
Joshua Tree National Park, California
Death Valley, California
The text connects these boundless images to "a West of unlimited horizons" and the work of Turner in developing his frontier theory of the role of the West in stimulating American imagination and initiative. Even today, the book argues that the "unconstrained Western horizon" is important to our sense of taking on the new challenges of modern society.
Everyone who sees these photographs will agree that it would be horrible if these sights were ever to be spoiled. We are fortunate that government policy began to preserve these lands beginning in the 19th century. With today's challenges of pollution and visitors, perhaps even more will have to be done.
Reading and looking at this book is a spiritual journey, not unlike a peaceful meditation. If your spirit is troubled at all, I suggest this book as a balm that you can always use to ease your discomfort.
Live with beauty!
Rating: 5
Summary: Wonderful text and photographic art
Comment: Wow. What a wonderful book that amazes me, everytime I open the cover. Everton seems to have complete control over the dynamics range in all of his photographs. Dark clouds yield to lighter, fluffy clouds, down to a light horizon, and a rich, dark lower 1/3 of these exposures. Add to this control his use of a tool that has limitations, at Noblex 150 panoramic camera.
Everton also captures locations that have already been widely photographed before, but with his own signature. He adds a new face to Calf Creek Falls in Utah. A must have book for your table.
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Title: Desert: The Mojave and Death Valley by Jack W. Dykinga, Janice Emily Bowers ISBN: 0810932385 Publisher: Harry N Abrams Pub. Date: 01 October, 1999 List Price(USD): $49.50 |
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Title: Stone Canyons of the Colorado Plateau by Charles Bowden, Jack W. Dykinga, Robert Redford ISBN: 0810929929 Publisher: Harry N Abrams Pub. Date: 01 April, 2001 List Price(USD): $19.95 |
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Title: National Parks of America by Stewart L. Udall, James R. Udall, David Muench ISBN: 1558681248 Publisher: Graphic Arts Center Publishing Company Pub. Date: 01 June, 1993 List Price(USD): $50.00 |
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Title: Stretch: The World of Panoramic Photography by Nick Meers ISBN: 288046692X Publisher: Rotovision Pub. Date: 01 February, 2003 List Price(USD): $30.00 |
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Title: Landscape: The World's Top Photographers and the Stories Behind Their Greatest Images (Worlds Top Photographers) by Terry Hope ISBN: 2880465761 Publisher: Rotovision Pub. Date: 01 October, 2003 List Price(USD): $35.00 |
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