Product Description

Following the success (25,000 copes sold and still going strong) of Joe Cornish's First Light: A Landscape Photographer's Art (ISBN 1 978 902538 24 2) Argentum is proud to present a companion volume by another photographer who is also a leader in his chosen genre. Andy Rouse has gained a reputation for getting in close, really close, to his subjects which range from lions and elephants in Africa to penguins in Antarctica, taking in a whole host of African, European and North American wildlife on the way. In first part of this book, 'Visions' he presents the photographs, many never before published, which he feels were the landmarks in his career and in his development from a one 'big shot' specialist to an artist who can capture the whole story of a species and its environment. Under the heading of 'Expression' he then discusses and illustrates the ideas and techniques which have enabled him to create a series of themed portfolios devoted to a single species or ecosystem, such as those he made in South Georgia and Antarctica. Finally, in 'Inspiration' he turns to the work of other wildlife photographers who have inspired and influenced him. There is also an appendix giving technical details of the individual photographs. For aspiring wildlife photographers, this book will itself be an inspiration, showing just what can be achieved with skill, patience and an extraordinary eye for the telling and dramatic shot. But it will also be treasured by the host of wildlife enthusiasts who admire Andy's pictures, attend his lectures or watch his television programmes. Andy Rouse has published a dozen books on photography and natural history, the most recent being Penguin Life. He writes regularly for the photographic press and has made and appeared in television programmes for the BBC, ITV, Carlton Meridian and NBC.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #40710 in Books
• Published on: 2008-04-01
• Original language: English
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Hardcover
• 160 pages

Customer Reviews

A beautiful book with captivating and inspirational narrative
References may have been made in the past to Andy Rouse being an old-ham, but to me he is more of a fine cheese. I say this not as any defamatory reference to his personal hygiene, but more that having followed his work since his penchant to lying down in front on angry Rhino, he still continues to excel and raise-the-bar year-on-year.

The first thing that strikes you about "Concepts of Nature" is how beautifully it is printed and bound. It is clear that this book has been put together with great care and a proper understanding of how to present photographs. It is sturdy, glossy and the colour reproduction is first class.

The second thing that strikes you is what an amazing natural ability Andy must have, and how lucky he must have been to get some of these pictures. This is where first impressions can be misleading...

As well as containing amazing photographs, Andy's books have always been a thoroughly good read. However, in "Concepts of Nature", something has happened, and it's almost like Andy has found another gear. The narrative, as well as being as amusing and captivating as previous books, has a new level of emotion about it. Andy's passion for his 'work' shines through, and is both inspirational and motivational. Virtually every photograph has accompanying background narrative giving the image context and further depth. It also becomes very clear, very quickly that although luck may sometimes play a factor, it is intense planning and dedication that has helped Andy achieve these amazing results.

Being a bit of a geek, I am always keen to know some of the technical information behind a picture. I was delighted to discover a five page geek section in the book providing the photographic and setup info for many of the key shots in the book.

Presumably now well into his fifties, the old-dog Rouse still continues to learn new tricks and find new ways of making his awesome wildlife photographs stand-out from the crowd. Personally I cannot wait to see what he does next. My only regret is that I didn't get to see him whopped by the Capercaillie!

This book is a beautiful piece, and I would highly recommend it to animal lovers, photographers and human-beings alike.

Great images and useful information
I decided to buy this book after seeing Andy's picture of the Osprey carrying the twig in this year's wildlife photagrapher's awards.

The book is full of images , wildlife and landscape , of similar beauty and quality ,it also has useful information about how to take them.

The index at the back has all the technical info ( Tv and AV values and camara and lenses ) as well as locations.

I wished it had more text but the quiality of the pictures and the print is enough to make this book enjoyable.

Another great book from Mr. Rouse
I have read all of Andy Rouse's books and have just finished reading Concepts of Nature. I've even been on holiday with the guy and I can confirm that he is as nutty as a fruitcake. However, this is my unbiased review.

Firstly, strange title for the book. Not quite sure what it means but the cover photo of the great grey owl is stunning. I agree with the first reviewer when he said Andy's work has moved up to another level. There is quite a lot of landscape work in this book which is a first for Andy. The shots are world class and prove that Mr. Rouse isn't just a one trick pony. As a long time follower of his work I also agree that he adapts and changes his style constantly with fresh approaches. There are some sensational shots in this book and owners of some of his other books will be pleased to know that the majority of the images in this book haven't been published before.

The text is written in his usual witty style which is always welcome. There's plenty of advice for the avid wildlife photographer but not much for total beginners. However, this is not a "how to" book, it is a showcase of his work along with some photographic advice and a few of his own personal experiences and ideas thrown in. A nice easy read.

The print quality is superb with good sized pages to show off the photographs. A few spelling mistakes and misprints but I'm just a nitpicker! Highly recommended overall.

If you are looking for a book with great advice for the beginner combined with a good selection of Andy's work try looking at the Lonely Planet book written by Andy, simply called "Wildlife Phtogoraphy". If you need to now more about the fieldcraft side of wildlife photography, you must read Andy's first book called "Photographing Animals In The Wild". It is still his best book in my opinion and gives some superb advice on creating hides and stalking your subjects etc.