Photographs from the Edge: A Master Photographer's Insights on Capturing an Extraordinary World

by Art Wolfe, Rob Sheppard

Legendary nature photographer Art Wolfe presents an intimate, behind-the-scenes guide to the experiences, decisions, and methods that helped him capture images from some of the most exciting locations across the globe.

In Photographs from the Edge , you'll discover the secrets behind forty years of awe-inspiring photography from around the world. Wolfe takes you from the mountains of the Himalayas to the sandy shores of Mnemba Island, with stops in the crowded streets of India and the alkali lakes of Africa along the way. You’ll learn the equipment, settings, and creative choices behind each photograph. From endangered species to cultural celebrations to natural wonders, Wolfe brings each subject to life through his stunning photography and the stories he shares in this one-of-a-kind photo safari.

Genres: Photography, Nonfiction, Art

288 pages, Hardcover

First published September 20, 2016

About the author

Over the course of his forty year career, photographer Art Wolfe has worked on every continent and in hundreds of locations. His photographs are recognized throughout the world for their mastery of color, composition and perspective. Wolfe's photographic mission is multi-faceted: art, wildlife advocacy, education, and journalism inform his work.

Wolfe is the host of the award-winning television series Art Wolfe’s Travels to the Edge, an intimate and upbeat series that offers insights on nature, culture, and the realm of digital photography. It now airs worldwide. He was also featured in the 2015 Canon Australia/National Geographic Channel production Tales by Light, now streaming globally on Netflix.

Since his first publication in 1978, Wolfe has released more than 100 books in all editions; 2014 saw the release of his magnum opus Earth Is My Witness; this mega project features Wolfe's favorite photos taken so far and is garnering international accolades and awards. In 2015 it was published by National Geographic in France (Hymne à la Terre) and Germany (Eden). Published in Fall 2021 is Night on Earth.

Numerous US and international museums and galleries have featured monographs of his work as well his traveling exhibitions, Travels to the Edge, and Beyond the Lens. Earth Is My Witness is now a traveling exhibit in Europe. Wolfe has been a contributor to many group exhibitions.

Education is a major component of Wolfe’s work, whether it is about the environment or about photography. He leads photographic tours worldwide and has created the streaming course Pathways to Creativity.

Wolfe's photographs have appeared in the world’s top magazines such as National Geographic, Smithsonian, Audubon, GEO, and Terre Sauvage. Magazines all over the world publish his photographs and stories, and his work is licensed for retail products and advertising, as well as products such as USPS stamps, of which he has three, including the latest Forever Stamp commemorating the US National Parks.

Along with his numerous book and television awards, Wolfe is the proud recipient of the Nature's Best Photographer of the Year Award, the North American Nature Photography Association’s Lifetime Achievement Award and the Photographic Society of America’s Progress Medal. He is an Honorary Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, and a Fellow of the International League of Conservation Photographers.

Wolfe maintains his office, stock agency, and production company in Seattle, Washington. His fine art work is available online at artwolfe.com.

Reviews

[Melissa ♥ Dog/Wolf Lover ♥ Martin · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I was younger I wanted to be a wildlife photographer and then an everything photographer. But, unfortunately I never went after my dreams and now that I'm home bound I'm not going to be doing it at all. I have taken many pictures over the years and some are quite good I might add. I still take pictures of some amazing things from inside the house. You would be amazed what you can catch through a window!

So, when I had the change to pick up this book I jumped at it because I love any books with beautiful photographs!

The author set this book up in different years.

1980's
1990's
2000's
2010's

He tells where the pictures where taken, the camera etc, a little story about the picture, and photo tips and the nature of the photo. I'm going to add several pictures for you all to see. There are many I loved and some not so much, but that's okay, we can't love every little thing!



I think the above picture of this villager in Tibet, China is stunning. ↑

The next picture is of a Beluga Whale! Just beautiful!





The reflection on the lake makes it even more stunning! ↑

Check out the hippo in the middle of all of those flamingo's! That's just crazy and awesome!



I think these fighting bears are amazing! It's one of my favorite! If you could see how beautiful the actual picture is you would know what I mean!







The hummingbirds are another one of my favorites because you don't see pictures of them every often. Well, not in real life in my experience. Although, we had tons of them to our feeders this year!





Like I said, I loved most of the pictures in the book and some a great deal. I really wish I could go out and take pictures like these!

*I would like to thank Blogging For Books for a print copy of this book for my honest review.*


MY BLOG: Melissa Martin's Reading List

[Megan · Rating 5 out of 5]

What does it take to be a travel photographer? Many of us would probably say that it takes the sort of luck that, for whatever reason, we were not blessed with. Can you say dream job?? But what does it actually take? I wanted to know too, and then I came across this book that gives us a look into the answer to that question, and let’s just say it’s not as clear cut as you might think.

For starters, and this should be obvious, you’ve got to be a really, really good photographer. This isn’t just “I can take a pretty good picture and post it on Instagram and get a bunch of likes” sort of good, I’m talking willing to sometimes put your life on the line for the perfect shot and still have it come out crisp and perfect sort of good. AKA, the sort of good that many of us are not. But hey, we have a lot to learn!

Anyways, back to my point – I came across this book that is not only one of the most beautiful books I’ve ever laid my hands on, it’s also one of the most informative. As someone who loves capturing moments on film AND traveling to beautiful places, I feel like this book, Photographs From The Edge, is hands down the best merging of those two.


If you’re looking for a book that not only tells you the story behind the pictures you’re looking at, but also gives you tips regarding technique AND equipment, this is the book for you! I’m not even sure what’s more valuable – the pictures or the tips! For example, there will be tips on getting the right angle, interacting with your surroundings, and dealing with less than ideal lighting. Seriously, I’ve learned so much from flipping through it and I know that I’ll be coming back to these lessons over and over again as I strive to get better.

So what if you’re not a travel photographer, you’ve still got the chance to get some truly amazing captures and if you’re looking to learn from the best – well, this is about as close as I think you can get.

**I received this book for free in order to conduct this review. All opinions are 100% my own.**

[Madelyn · Rating 4 out of 5]

As any and all of my friends will attest, I’m rather obsessed with aesthetics, specifically when found in photographs. If I could, I’d jump at the chance to paper my walls with pictures I’ve deemed perfect (my alternative is Pinterest). But, when I was presented with this hardcover photography book filled with timeless photographs from 1980-2010, I did jump at it. While it wasn’t exactly what I expected, I’m still pleased beyond words.

The photos are flawlessly captivating, they give you a taste of the world. Rural as it might be, it’s a thrill to be transported to the crude structures of African dwellings, the Rock Mountains of China and elsewhere immersed in a foggy heaven, the faces of those who are rarely seen – Eskimos, traditional tribesmen, even the flighty animals who are seldom captured by camera.

Art Wolfe condenses a vast knowledge of the world and photography into what I would call a form of memoir. It’s his memoir of seeing the world firsthand, in action, of seeing the quintessence of life. I would say it’s an enrapturing voyage, looking through these pages, these pages of his life story and journey.

[Vicki · Rating 5 out of 5]

Photographs From The Edge by Art Wolfe with Rob Sheppard is a wonderful collection of photographs taken from all over the world from the 1980's until today. The full-color photographs bring life to the book. From Monks in hot pink to penguins from Antarctica there are so many people, animals, and stunning locations covered in this one book. The pages are glossy and not only provide the beauty, they provide instruction and equipment details. Allowing for the aspiring photographer to learn from this professional world class photographer.

Each page takes you to a new location and delighted me with unusual sights. Over 270 pages of art and instruction. It is a book I will keep from now on to share with my children and grandchildren. I have the hardback book which I received from Blogging for Books for this review. It is a book I will treasure.

[Cheri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Filled with absolutely breathtakingly gorgeous photographs, there is also the story behind each image, the lens and techniques used, some hints related to taking a photograph under similar conditions, and more. Choosing your equipment. “The Nature of the Photo” for each photograph, giving you a little insight into each particular photograph. I can’t think of too many locations that weren’t covered, geographically this is about as close as you can get and have a book you could easily pick up and enjoy. There are several celebrations, including religious ones included, some unique looks at indigenous cultures, and a large variety of wildlife. Seeing the evolution of his photography through the years is enlightening.

The photographs are *stunning*… there are too many I loved to name, but some of my favorites began with the ones titled Huangshan, Anhui Province, China (cover photo) and Altocumulus Clouds, Torres del Paine National Park, Chile (which is the first photograph inside this lovely book).

April 1987. Farmlands, Andes, Ecuador
October 1990. Polar Bears, Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
November 1992. Emperor Penguins, Weddell Sea, Antarctica
June 1993. Lesser Flamingos, Lake Magadi, Kenya
August 1994. Simbu Dancers, Mount Hagen, Papua New Guinea
October 1995. Les Aiguilles and Lac Blanc, Savoy Alps, France
March 2005, Kecak, Bali, Indonesia
December 2006, King Penguins, South Georgia Island
April 2008, Fin Whale, Gulf of California, Mexico
December 2009, Adélie Penguin, Antarctic Peninsula, Antarctica
June 2014, Bald Eagle Takes Flight, Point Adolphus, Chicagof Island, Alaska, USA

Mind you, these are just some of my favorites.

This would make a wonderful gift for someone (like yourself), a new “coffee table” book to share, something to inspire you, something just to make your heart smile. There are so many reasons to want to own this book, especially if you have any interest in photography, but if not, this book has photographs everyone will love.


Pub Date: 20 September 2016

Many thanks to Ten Speed Press / Amphoto Books, NetGalley and to (photographer and author) Art Wolfe and (co-author) Rob Sheppard for providing me with an advanced copy for reading and review.

[Marjorie · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a gorgeous collection of photographs this is! Starting right off with the cover, which isn’t a paper cover but instead the photograph is right on the hardcover book and wraps around halfway to the back. It’s a striking photograph of Huangshan or the Yellow Mountains of China.

The book is filled with photographs of flamingos, bears, dolphins, whales, tribal celebrations, mountain ranges and erupting volcanos. The photos are fascinating. But just as fascinating as the photographs are the stories the photographer has written about each scene. My favorite story is the one about the lemurs. The author said that these monkeys are so friendly that he has them climb up his tripod, crawl on his shoulder and give him kisses behind the ear.

The author also gives photo tips on how he was able to obtain the special effects of each photo, which I’m sure would be very helpful to those who are interested in photography itself. But for me, the pleasure of this book was getting lost in the extraordinary world that Art Wolfe has captured in his photographs. This book will be treasured by me and my family for many years to come and will be picked up again and again. Most highly recommend.

This book was given to me by the publisher through Blogging for Books in return for an honest review.

[Thomas Bogda · Rating 4 out of 5]

Art is someone who is deeply interested in his subjects, whether it’s nature or culture. Here, he infects you with that same interest and his natural curiosity for animal behaviour, tribal culture and life inside monasteries. I think that is this book’s greatest gift: insight into the curious mind required for a career capturing the smallest moments and creatures.

He offers both hyper practical tips as well as general lessons for photographers throughout that he developed across a decades-long career covering different subjects and using evolving tech. It’s a pleasure to have his photos on my shelf and to have a reference for the future.

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is the next best thing to being there myself, and it makes me want to travel. Art Wolfe has gifted us with this genius, and forty years of experience.
Not only are we given the beautiful photo, we are told about the nature of the picture, such as the one on polar bears. Then there is a photo tip along with the camera, lens and film used. He shares with us the time of the day, and other tidbits that were used, fascinating.
There are decades of work here from the 1980’s concluding in 2015. Found myself turning the pages, and seeing images, through the author’s eyes, and yet marveling what I might not have seen if I had been there.
What a wonderful gift this book is, and one I began turning pages, I couldn’t stop looking and then I wanted more, and went on to the next, a keepsake for sure.
I received this book through Blogging For Books, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Carolm · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent photographs, but what makes this a standout book for me is the descriptions of how and where the photo was taken. It includes technical details used (camera, fstop, etc) as well as a description of the photo itself. As a non-photographer I still appreciate the information. Although all of the photos are wonderful in a technical sense, not all appealed to me personally. That actually enhanced my appreciation of the ones that I loved.

[Ronald Spitzer · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent book and inspiring photos. The photography tips and accounts as to where and how they were taken are fascinating and I hope to use these tips in my own photography. Practical book of examples from all over the world. Every photographer who wants to improve their craft should read this book. Highly Recommended!

[kn · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a beautiful book filled with beautiful, beautiful photographs. I’m in love, and in awe, of the big world we live in and also of Art Wolfe.

[ISIK TANSAL · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fantastic Photographs are designed chronological order. Also like photo tips and nature of photography texts.

[Nathan Albright · Rating 5 out of 5]

[Note: This book was provided free of charge by Blogging For Books/Amphoto Books in exchange for an honest review.]

Although I am by no means either a prolific or a proficient photographer, my father was a very skilled amateur photographer, and someone who greatly enjoyed good photographs full of human interest or landscapes or animals, and this is a book that would have greatly appealed to him both for its content as well as its technical nature. That said, this book is also of appeal even to those who are, like me, fond of the artistic ambition and achievement [1] that can be found here. The photos included in this book are more than merely the work of a master photographer giving lessons to others who wish to take stunning pictures in either film or digital formats, although it is this, but are also the works of an artist who seeks and finds a great deal of stunning and thought-provoking beauty in the natural and human world that he has photographed over the course of a lengthy and productive career as a photographer who has written many books and even had his own successful and long-running PBS show.

The contents of this book read like a best-of collection from a successful photographer who is clearly in a late-career role as an instructor to a younger generation of photographers. This is not intended in any way as a criticism, since the photos included are visually stunning, often unconventional, and include tips for photographers, discussions on the story of the photos chosen as well as their context within the previously published body of work of the author, and also include notes on the location of the photo, its subject matter, as well as the camera, filters, lenses, and settings used to take the photo. The photos themselves are organized in chronological fashion, beginning in the 1980’s and continuing to the present decade, often revisiting the same places, like India or the areas near Antarctica, and the same subject matter, like primitive tribes or Buddhist monks or penguins and bears or tigers or beautiful mountains and alkaline lakes. This is clearly a photographer with artistic tastes as well as particular subject matters that he likes to return to over and over again. And why blame him-it works, as anyone who reads this book will be able to easily attest to, and why change what has worked over the course of a successful career?

In many ways, from his residence in Seattle, his avoidance of familiar tourist locations and his search for remote and obscure locations that few people had enjoyed at the time the photos were taken, and his preference for primitive cultures rather than seeing other cultures attempt to mimic our own, this author shows himself to be a hipster. My own thoughts on hipsters are somewhat clear, if occasionally complicated [2], although it should be admitted that this book presents the hipster qualities oft the author in their best light, a somewhat soft light that ends up being not only obscure and edgy but also beautiful, and the sort of photography that is likely to be appreciated by many people who would not otherwise get the chance to visit the exotic locations or enjoy the many advantages in terms of access that the author has enjoyed throughout the course of his career. Even so, either for those who wish to appreciate these artistic photographs or those who wish to emulate them in their own lives and in the contexts they find themselves in, this book has a lot to offer.

[1] See, for example:

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https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

[2] See, for example:

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

https://edgeinducedcohesion.wordpress...

[Matt · Rating 4 out of 5]

There are only so many words that can be used to describe light and conditions for taking a photo, yet it is said that a picture is worth a thousand words – but why stop there? Photos speak for themselves, in as many or as few words as the viewer feels like. Knowing what to look for, or how the picture was composed, of course adds food for thought. “Photographs from the Edge” is a new book by Art Wolfe, with Rob Sheppard, that tells a lot of stories in a selection of beautiful photos, and also in the words behind them.

Most of these photos are on the left page, sometimes spilling over to the right, where there are a few paragraphs telling the story behind the image. Each has “The nature of the photo(s)” to give a few sentences of background about the subject in view, and a “Photo tip,” which sound more like they’re by Sheppard, under the image. When there is a two-page photo, the following is from the same setting, but the writing usually focuses on the first. Wolfe includes the settings, camera and lens used, and film if not digital. You can skip over that, but if you want to try more photography, these are really helpful to know, so you can see more possibilities. When he does mention specific settings in the writing, he explains why they were used, and how they enabled him to capture what he did, rather than just “I used this, this, and this” which is not helpful if you don’t know much about photography or are just beginning to learn. I found this a little more encouraging in tone, perhaps, than “John Shaw’s Guide to Digital Nature Photography” which felt more challenging.

While the titles given to his photos are not very original, they don’t have to be; the images themselves are indeed unique. They span the 1980s to now, with the last two decades mostly digital photography. There is a real variety here, but they are unified in a way. One characteristic in particular is the depth of field, where something in the background is in focus in addition to the closer subject, making a fuller composition, and they are all artistic, too. In one photo of elk, taken from an ultralight aircraft, the shadows of the elk are in better focus than the animals, and an even more M.C. Escher-esque photo depicts a hibernating bat colony. It’s a mesmerizing photo, and interesting in the challenge of not disturbing these endangered critters. Two separate photos from Buddhist monasteries in China show how to see existing art and take a picture not only to document it, but to make something personal and new with it. Some of the photos of human subjects were planned and arranged, working with people living in that area. The volcanic and astronomical pictures are stunning in their own ways, and an aerial shot of an alkaline lake looks like a microscope slide with a reddish tinge. This is a very nice book, pleasant and insightful.

Note: I received a free copy of this title through BloggingForBooks in exchange for an honest review. For more reviews, follow my blog at http://matt-stats.blogspot.com/

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is filled with absolutely breathtaking photography. As I was reading the book I got a stronger and stronger case of wanderlust. The colors in the photos are stunning. I really enjoyed the added photo tips and reading the story behind each image as well. I am not a great photographer by any means, so I really enjoyed reading tips on how to improve my photos, choosing the right equipment, and different techniques he used.

There is a wide variety in the images including: mountain views, dolphins, bears, leopard siblings, tribal traditions, flamingos, and even volcanoes that were in the middle of erupting! This will be a book that I continue to look back through for years. I've actually lent it out to two different photographer friends already because I knew they would love it too, and of course they did. Beautiful book for anyone who wants to better their photography skills, and also for people like me with a serious case of wanderlust.

[Mazzou B · Rating 5 out of 5]

How excited I was to get this book to read and review! I absolutely love photography and nature so this book was perfect for me! I don't think I had heard of Art Wolfe before but I was delighted to look through this book and follow his photographic career through the past years. This book is arranged chronologically which is very interesting. I love how each picture includes a description and a story behind the capturing of it. The photographs are beautiful tributes to the amazing world around us. Art Wolfe has taken such fascinating pictures of animals, people and nature which will surely amaze and delight you. This book will not disappoint! Excellent coffee table book and gift!
I received this book from the publisher in exchange for my review.

[L.A. Kelley · Rating 4 out of 5]

It’s a pleasant surprise to find a book that’s not only lovely to look at, but can teach you a little something, too. Art Wolfe is a master photographer. Trained as an artist, but with a passion for the camera, he’s been clicking away for over thirty years. Photography from the Edge is a collection of his favorite photographs covering the past three decades. An interesting aspect of Wolfe’s creative process is his breadth of subject matter. His preferences can best be described as in the raw. He’s an outdoor photographer who likes animals in their natural element and cultures without all the trappings of modern western society.

The pictures, whether of nature or humans, are all vibrant and capture light and shadow in different ways. Wolfe has a particular interest in light and isn’t a slave to normal photographic standards that say the most interesting images come from either early morning or late afternoon sun. For Wolfe, all type of light can be used to produce compelling photographic studies.

Along with the visual aspect, Photographs from the Edge is also an enjoyable read for both amateur photographer and those of us who simply like looking at pretty pictures. The book is divided into decades. Paired with each image is a short essay by Wolfe describing the circumstances surrounding the day the image was taken. I particularly liked two short sections at the bottom of each photo; Nature of the Photo and Photo Tip. The former gives a little background on the subject matter while the latter give a quick explanation on how to duplicate the photo’s creative aspect. It’s an artistic explanation, rather than technical, but Wolfe also include details before each essay on film, camera, lens, and shutter speed. Non-photographers can easily gloss over them.

Because of the well-written explanations and the compelling beauty of the photographs, this book would be a good addition to the library of either an artist, amateur photographer, or any person who can appreciate the skill required to create a work of art from a picture.

I received this book from Blogging for Books in exchange for a review.

[Andrea · Rating 5 out of 5]

Photographs from the Edge
by Art Wolfe
with Rob Sheppard

ISBN 978-1-60774-781-9
Retails for $32.00
Photography-Techniques


ABOUT:

A MASTER PHOTOGRAPHER'S INSIGHTS ON CAPTURING
AN EXTRAORDINARY WORLD

"Legendary nature photographer Art Wolfe presents and intimate behind-the-scenes, chronological guide to the experiences, decisions, and methods that helped him capture images from some of the most exciting locations across the globe."


IMPRESSION:

What a gorgeous book!
This book is a first edition and contains 280 pages filled with some of the most stunning nature and travel photography you could ever imagine by the famed photographer Art Wolfe. There are photographs of many different indigenous cultures and wildlife on its pages. Right away you learn about Art and what equipment he prefers to shoot with and how his style has evolved over the years to help him find his niche. He's been a photographer for over 40 years and lets his photos tell stories. You will read some of his stories in this book.

I really liked the format in which his work was presented. The photographer is very elaborate with keeping track of details. You will see a photo and he tells you when and where he took the photograph and the camera, the lense and the manual camera settings he used to achieve said photo. He also does a bit of journalism by telling the story of each photograph, which I found to be unnecessary because the photos often speak for themselves, but I do like his style of work.
Art Wofe is so talented and this book doesn't just exist to show off his work. He gives extremely useful, and professional photo tips throughout the book too, such as making sure to use a wider aperture when you find yourself in low light situations, or using color as a form of unifying your viewer with your subject.

Overall, you will find that this book is very heavy and big, but despite it's size, is absolutely awesome. It's perfect for a coffee tabletop book. You'll want to have others see it. If you know somebody who appreciates photography, this book would make a great gift for them.

[Jessica Higgins · Rating 5 out of 5]

As breathtaking as the pictures are, the stories behind them will intrigue you even more!

Art Wolfe has been in the professional photography business through four different decades. He has had the opportunity to photograph for several different publications including National Geographic and Smithsonian. Now, he has compiled some of his favorite photos from each decade to bring forth a new book that highlights not only the pictures, but also where he shot them, how he shot them, and what type of equipment he used to get them. During this time he used both film and digital and it is very difficult to differentiate between the two as they are all just that good!

The photos are arranged by decade, beginning with the 1980s and moving into the present day 2010s. Each photo is supplied with three different narratives: a general narrative, the nature of the photo, and a photo tip. The book is also not dedicated to a particular type of photography. He provides several different photos on landscapes, culture, people, wildlife, night sky, and time lapse. It is easy to see why he has had such a successful career.

I love all of the pictures in this book. I have already gone through it several times, just looking at my favorites. But I also really enjoy learning how he got the shot. When reading publications with pictures, I often think about how they must have just been in the right place at the right time. Sometimes that is true, but throughout the book Wolfe discusses several occasions where the shots were actually staged. Even so, it still takes a lot of work and local cooperation to make this happen.

Any art lovers or photographers will enjoy this book. Highly recommended! Especially if you are a photographer aspiring to have pictures in magazines for the trade secrets.

I received a complimentary copy of this book from Penguin Random House in exchange for an honest and thorough review. The views and opinions expressed within are my own.

[Paul Franco · Rating 5 out of 5]

Travels To The Edge is most likely my favorite travel show, in no small part due to the awesome theme song (still waiting for it to be released. . . someday. . . just sayin’). More importantly, as a travel photographer this show gives me ideas where to shoot next, as well as fond memories of previous shoots. But this book is even better at that, as most of these shots are from places not visited by the TV show. Art Wolfe’s philosophy is that he wants to shoot places that haven’t been photographically exploited before, which is hard to do nowadays, considering it doesn’t take long to reach any spot on Earth in this modern world.
Each photo comes with a description of how it came about: camera and lens, f/stop, exposure, ISO. The fact he took the time to document all that while shooting, especially back in the film days, makes my head hurt. Each page also has a photo tip, which in a book this large is an astonishing number of tips. One of these says his workhorse lens is an 80-200; that’s the one I use the most too, so I had a momentary geek-out. (But I’m feeling much better now.)
On to the important stuff. The first image is of an arctic fox, and it’s beautiful, a perfect opener. Another shot that stayed with me was of a small house and some trees looking amazingly tiny as a mountain looms straight up behind them. I also learned more about hyenas than I ever expected. And as much as I know I shouldn’t laugh at his scare on Easter Island. . . I laughed. There are hundreds more, and while it’s impossible for all of them to be awesome, considering everyone’s taste is different, this is a stunning and fitting document to what I consider an underappreciated modern photographer.
For fans of his show, think of this as a “best of” episode, told chronologically. I read this with his voice in my head.
4.5 pushed up to 5/5

[Riya Biswas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Photography has always been a great hobby for me, I love taking pictures whether through our DSLR or my previous point and shoot camera. When in a hurry I take pictures in Auto mode but in Auto mode, the essence of a picture does not always show. For sometimes now when I get some free time and have the mood to learn something new, I have been reading about focal lengths, aperture and shutter speed to take the different type of pictures.
Photographs from the edge by Art Wolfe and Rob Sheppard is a nice book where they talk about the pictures shown and how we can capture pictures like that from the book.
While I liked most of the pictures, they are clear and show details of the subject or simply the beauty of nature. But then again I found some pictures that looked very ordinary as if someone took it with a phone's camera, they did not look very clear and did not have me in an awe.
One of the pictures that I did not like much was the picture of Holi in India on Page 120, it looked very dull, Holi is a very bright and colorful festival, the picture did have colors but they did not look very bright. But when I compare a similar picture of people playing Holi on the previous page, it looks much better and clearer with very defined colors.
Overall a nice read with mostly beautiful pictures. I hope things that I learned from this book helps me to take better pictures in the future.

DISCLAIMER: I received a copy from the publishers in return for my honest and unbiased review. I received no other compensation for my review and was not required or bound to provide my review or any specific rating. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising

[Mark Wheeler · Rating 5 out of 5]

Art Wolfe and Rob Sheppard put together a collection of stunning photographs in a coffee-table quality art book. The book has the appearance of a “greatest hits” album of master photographer Art Wolfe’s work over the years. The work is organized by decades, starting in the 1980’s when Art used print film and going up to the 2010’s when he now specializes in digital photography. Much of his work centers on wildlife, but also includes geography and people from all over the world.

Each picture is dated, titled, and located geographically as to where and when it was taken. The author also gives the details of what camera was used, the film or ISO setting, and the lens he used. The artist also gives an explanation of the circumstances that led to each photograph, how he chose the subject, setting, lighting, etc. The editor also includes a section on “The nature of the photo” which explains a little about the animal, geographic landmark, or person in the picture. There is also a “Photo tip” about how to use lighting, lenses, color, and background to take a similar photograph.

The book is both entertaining and informative. I learned by reading the explanations and tips as well as by studying the details of the photos.

I received this book from the Blogging for Books program in exchange for this review. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own.

[Sherri · Rating 5 out of 5]

Photography lovers and nature lovers, have I got a book for you! Photographs from the Edge: A Master Photographer’s Insights on Capturing an Extraordinary World by Art Wolfe with Rob Sheppard is out today, and it is beautiful!

Wolfe has traveled the world with his camera and tripod, visiting places most of us won’t ever see. This book presents a collection of his work chronologically from the 1980s through January 2015.

The rich color and depth to his photographs is astounding as he presents landscapes, creatures, and cultures. Not only are the photographs themselves gorgeous, but each one includes a write up from Wolfe offering the story behind the picture, as well as a photo tip and the camera settings used to capture the image.

This is a book I will return to again and again for the cultural experience, the visual feast, and to soak up his photography knowledge, so I can apply it to my own work.

I received an advance-read copy of this book from the publisher, Amphoto Books, via Blogging for Books in exchange for an honest review.

[Mandy · Rating 5 out of 5]

5 STARS

Once I opened this book...I could not close it back up. The photographs are mesmerizing and I loved the fact that each photo came with its own fantastic story. The photographs included in the book were an outline of Art Wolfe's life, as they were outlined in the order in which they were taken - timeline style. And the descriptions, stories, and tips made the book engaging, and stimulating, yet comprehensible for amateur photographers - or anyone who just would like to look at the pretty pictures. The design of the book illuminated the facts and concepts to show Art's expertise and enthusiasm in photography.

I received an advanced electronic copy of Photographs from the Edge: A Master Photographer's Insights on Capturing an Extraordinary World from NetGalley.

[Leyla Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a wonderful book, full of fabulous photos and the generosity of explaining how the photos were taken and a little about the history behind the photo. There are tips too to help with photography for a uninitiated. The photos are from around the world and I love the way the different cultural events were captured. A wonderful book just to look at, but fabulous for anyone who has an interest in photography, not only inspiring but instructive and encouraging. It has been a long time since I have come across a book with such generosity of character from the authors.
This book was provided to me in return for an honest and unbiased review

[Nada · Rating 3 out of 5]

Photographs from the Edge: A Master Photographer's Insights on Capturing an Extraordinary World by Art Wolfe and Rob Sheppard is structured around photographs from Art Wolfe's considerable portfolio. Each photograph spans a two page spread, but a surprising amount of the space is taken up with text. The text content wins out over the presentation of this book; the format unfortunately prevents the photographs themselves from having the visual impact the should.

Read my complete review at http://www.memoriesfrombooks.com/2016....

Reviewed for the Blogging for Books program

[Linda B · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is a book of photographs taken by Art Wolfe  from 1983 to 2015 all around the world. Each photograph has a camera/film/exposure guide, an explanation of the shot, the nature of the photo and a photo tip. The photos are amazingly beautiful and the photographer’s notes about the shot and locations give even more depth to the subjects. The subjects are varied, with animals, people and landscapes. Not quite large enough to be a “coffee-table” book, some of the photographs get crossed over to the facing page by an inch or two. I found it a bit of a distraction, but does not take away from the overall beauty of the photos.

[Marylou (As the Page Turns) · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is more than a collection of breathtaking pictures. It's a photographer's journey around the world that captivated me. These are photohraphs that capture moments and that is one hard thing to do. Wolfe has snapped pictures of wildlife and of cultures that are truly iconic.
I will be def buying this collection!

[Heather Tietz · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a interesting book by Art Wolfe and I can say it made me appreciate his work more. Art Wolfe was never one of those photographers I loved a lot, but I enjoyed some of work I have seen. I did love the fact that the author and photographer included photography tips throughout the book, nice touch for learning. Overall you will be very happy with this book if you follow Art Wolfe and if you are a fan of landscape photography you should also check it out.

[Katrina Roets · Rating 5 out of 5]

If you're like me and you love photography and could spend hours just looking through photos, this is a book that you're going to want to pick up. Not only are the photos absolutely breathtaking, but each one includes the story behind the photo, what lens was used and even some tricks and tips. There are over 270 pages of art and instruction in this book and I know that it's one that I'm going to come back to again and again.