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National Geographic Invisible Wonders: Photographs of the Hidden World
In this dazzling coffee table book, acclaimed scientist-photographer Anand Varma unveils a world never before seen by human eyes, achieved through the innovative techniques of today’s finest photographers.
“If we hold our breath and gaze a bit more carefully at our world, we might just glimpse a few beautiful secrets hiding in plain sight,” writes Anand Varma, renowned National Geographic photographer, in this book.
The long tongue of a hummingbird. The intricate shape of a butterfly pupa. The propulsive appendages of a cancer cell. These and many more phenomena appear in this astonishing book, revealing a world once invisible to the naked eye, but now revealed through the lenses of today’s most innovative photographers.
Invisible Wonders explores how size and time, light and focus, can show us our world in brand new ways. From the microscopic to the cosmic, from minuscule elements to intricate life-forms, here is a surprising assortment of objects we are unable to see with own eyes. Contemporary photographers offer insight into the innovative artistry that makes these images possible, alongside Varma’s commentary what has inspired his own work.
Filled with breathtaking images and examples of technical mastery, this glorious book unveils the “beautiful secrets” to be found in this world of invisible wonders.
“If we hold our breath and gaze a bit more carefully at our world, we might just glimpse a few beautiful secrets hiding in plain sight,” writes Anand Varma, renowned National Geographic photographer, in this book.
The long tongue of a hummingbird. The intricate shape of a butterfly pupa. The propulsive appendages of a cancer cell. These and many more phenomena appear in this astonishing book, revealing a world once invisible to the naked eye, but now revealed through the lenses of today’s most innovative photographers.
Invisible Wonders explores how size and time, light and focus, can show us our world in brand new ways. From the microscopic to the cosmic, from minuscule elements to intricate life-forms, here is a surprising assortment of objects we are unable to see with own eyes. Contemporary photographers offer insight into the innovative artistry that makes these images possible, alongside Varma’s commentary what has inspired his own work.
Filled with breathtaking images and examples of technical mastery, this glorious book unveils the “beautiful secrets” to be found in this world of invisible wonders.
368 pages, Hardcover
Published September 26, 2023
2 people are currently reading
4580 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews
October 9, 2023
“These images remind us that our world holds wonderful surprises if we learn to slow down and pay careful attention.”
Guys the pictures in this book are STUH-NING!
They are so vibrant and eye catching. I have always been a lover of photography and this book gives you just a peek into the amazing images that photography can capture using different techniques and light sources. Just gorgeous.
Thank you to @tlcbooktours and @natgeo for the gifted book.
Guys the pictures in this book are STUH-NING!
They are so vibrant and eye catching. I have always been a lover of photography and this book gives you just a peek into the amazing images that photography can capture using different techniques and light sources. Just gorgeous.
Thank you to @tlcbooktours and @natgeo for the gifted book.
March 2, 2024
Amand Varma, scientist and photographer has been fascinated by the aquatic life since splashing through water behind a mall near his Atlanta home as a kid. That led to home aquariums and a job and a step-by-step rise to photograph the world’s invisible wonders. Here, he introduces stunning images of his and of colleagues: a translucent flounder, a triangular diatom (a species of algae), a revealing crack in an agave leaf, slime mold given the Hollywood treatment. “These images,” he writes, “remind us that our world holds wonderful surprises if we learn to
Slow down and pay careful attention.” I had this book for months before finally picking it up—and losing myself on it.
Slow down and pay careful attention.” I had this book for months before finally picking it up—and losing myself on it.
August 28, 2024
This photobook features photography at the macro and microscopic level, extremely fast or slow shutter speeds, composite images, taken through different light spectrums which the naked human eye cannot see, and other such forms of photography.
It's quite a large volume (~30cm/360 pages). The majority of the images take up 3/4 of a spread, some the full page or full spread. Each has a small caption to describe the image and the type of photography, lighting, etc. The majority of the images are of plants and animals, with some landscapes, landforms, and a handful of human forms.
This is probably best-suited for public libraries as it's a volume which people who are interested in photography and the details of our natural world will flick through and go "wow". It's really quite interesting and will sit very nicely alongside the library's copies of books like Nature/Bird Photographer of the Year (books which many people are interested in but cannot afford to buy for themselves - not just in terms of $$ but also space on their shelf and how much 'use' they will get out of it for the $$).
It's quite a large volume (~30cm/360 pages). The majority of the images take up 3/4 of a spread, some the full page or full spread. Each has a small caption to describe the image and the type of photography, lighting, etc. The majority of the images are of plants and animals, with some landscapes, landforms, and a handful of human forms.
This is probably best-suited for public libraries as it's a volume which people who are interested in photography and the details of our natural world will flick through and go "wow". It's really quite interesting and will sit very nicely alongside the library's copies of books like Nature/Bird Photographer of the Year (books which many people are interested in but cannot afford to buy for themselves - not just in terms of $$ but also space on their shelf and how much 'use' they will get out of it for the $$).
October 9, 2023
Beautiful does not begin to describe the photographs in this book. Each picture shows the reader a different perspective of our wonderful home. As someone who spent ten years as a wedding photographer, photos are all about angles, lighting, and patience, but these images blew my mind. They’re vibrant and capture things the human eye can't see.
𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 is a stunning visual representation of the world around us capturing things beyond what most would have the chance to experience.
𝐈𝐧𝐯𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐖𝐨𝐧𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐬 is a stunning visual representation of the world around us capturing things beyond what most would have the chance to experience.
March 21, 2024
This is a magnificent collection of photographs of small, tiny, and microscopic life and objects. Anand Varma has collected superb examples of "invisible wonders" captured by himself and other professional photographers. Many elicited my saying, "Wow!" I read about this book, and since my library didn't have it, I requested an inter-library loan. My library then decided to purchase it, which I greatly appreciated!
October 9, 2023
Beautiful photos. I've always been in awe of what God has created but seeing the details of a book scorpion or what a kiwi seed looks like under an electron microscope absolutely blew my mind!
Great coffee table book.
Great coffee table book.
May 14, 2024
Pretty amazing look at creatures big and microscopic. There are some very talented people out there with a vision that I wouldn't think of. This collection encompasses many of those folks displaying their work and narrative about how they started with it.
November 11, 2023
Incredible photographical art with informational captions.
January 14, 2024
Incredible images of nature - I also learned quite a bit about photography and what you can do with modern technology to see things that are otherwise "invisible"
February 1, 2024
All I can say is wow!
August 19, 2024
These photos are magnificent and breathtaking. This is an amazing coffee table book, and I highly recommend it.
June 19, 2025
Beautiful photographs that expands your world view with light reading on the science and photography techniques behind them.
March 5, 2024
Wonderful photography which enables us to see what we can't see with the naked eye. The world is beautiful from so many points of view. Whether you love photography or just like looking at the world from new vantage points, this book is worth looking at.
Displaying 1 - 13 of 13 reviews