The American Eagle [Hardcover]

John Pezzenti (Author, Photographer)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 1, 1999

Brilliantly designed and lavishly packaged--a stunning photographic portrait of our national symbol in its natural habitats

John Pezzenti, whose Alaska brought us the tenderness and grandeur of America's last wilderness, obsessively seeks out the remotest corners with the most untouched wildlife--and then positions himself and waits patiently for the perfect image. Driven by a daring that defies solitude and danger and fired by a passion to immortalize what is threatened by civilization and technology, Pezzenti produces work of the highest craftsmanship and artistic purpose to be found in nature photography today.

The images in The American Eagle capture the magnificent bald eagle as never before--in flight, in battle in the air, hunting, resting, nesting--from the murky Florida Everglades to the sub-zero temperatures of the Appalachian Mountains. They detail the complete lifespan of the bird that since the early days of America, has supremely embodied the bold spirit and soaring beauty of our country. With rare, unforgettable color photographs and a text that tells the struggle for survival of this once-endangered bird, The American Eagle is a gift to awe every nature lover, photographer, or patriot.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Aloof and powerful, the once endangered bald eagle is slowly making a comeback, ecologically speaking, throughout much of North America, to which it is unique. For the last two decades wildlife photographer John Pezzenti has been recording this reversal of fortunes, traveling where the eagles do and bringing home images from his travels, some 150 of which are gathered in this volume. Many of Pezzenti's striking views come from the Kenai Peninsula of Alaska, home to a huge concentration of bald eagles; some 20,000 nesting pairs are found in the region, nourished by silver salmon and other large fish. Pezzenti captures images of little-seen aspects of eagle behavior, including courtship flights that involve several males, who compete to mate with a female by exhibiting an "impressive display of calls and acrobatic maneuvers." He also provides the only photographic record yet published of eagles hatching in the wild, a sequence that alone is worth the price of the book. While noting that conditions are much improved, especially after the federal ban of the use of the pesticide DDT, Pezzenti observes that bald eagles are not yet wholly safe from harm; a thriving black market for flight feathers exists, in which a single white tail plume can bring a thousand dollars. For admirers of this spectacular raptor, Pezzenti's book is required reading. --Gregory McNamee

From Library Journal

Professional photographer Pezzenti here dramatically displays our national bird in settings from Alaska to Florida. The Bald Eagle Protection Act of 1940 and the listing of the bird as endangered in 1973 reflected the serious decline in populations. In recent years, however, its numbers have increased, and the bald eagle can now be seen in nearly every state and is expected to be "delisted" in 2000. Several books have appeared recently on the bald eagle, but none contain finer quality photography and portraiture of all phases of the bird's life cycle than this coffee-table work. The introduction recounts the story of the bald eagle's population recovery and the author's years of hard work and adventure attempting to document the many faces, moods, and trials of the birds. Highly recommended.
-Tim McKimmie, New Mexico State Univ. Lib., Las Cruces
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 192 pages
• Publisher: Viking Studio (September 1, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0670884480
• ISBN-13: 978-0670884483
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 9.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (10 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,081,802 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunningly beautiful images!, October 17, 1999

By 

James Ronan ([e-mail]) (Anchorage, Alaska) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The American Eagle (Hardcover)

Not long ago I sat with John Pezzenti Jr. in his beat up Suburban that he uses for nature photography as rain pounded upon the roof. John showed me a pre-release copy of his newest book, American Eagle. My 13 year old nephew from California looked over my shoulder as I turned each page, stunned by the breadth and depth of John's photographic coverage of this symbol of America. To say this is a remarkable book is an under statement. My nephew summed up how magnificant this book is when we were driving back home. "John's pictures are amazing," Shane said. "I'm going to start saving today so I can buy that book when it comes out!"

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pezzenti brilliantly captures spirit of American Eagle!, March 16, 2000

By 

Jean Napper - See all my reviews

This review is from: The American Eagle (Hardcover)

Prepare yourself for another exhilarating adventure by one of wildlife photography's most talented photojournalists. John Pezzenti, Jr. has the unique ability to take his reader on a journey filled with fascinating tales and unparalleled photographs. In the American Eagle Pezzenti brilliantly captures the very essence and spirit of an American treasure - the powerful and majestic bald eagle - photographed by many but rarely to such perfection. Depicting the bald eagle in every conceivable situation, Pezzenti begins his photographic journey from the Florida Everglades through picturesque New England and northwest to Alaska - his home territory. I thoroughly enjoyed Pezzenti's engaging stories and portrayals of the dedicated eagle protectors across America who work tirelessly toward the survival of this magnificent bird. The photos alone make The American Eagle a "must have" for anyone with an adventurous spirit and a love of America's national treasure. Once again, Pezzenti has proven himself to be one of wildlife's finest photographers working in the field today.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ONCE AGAIN, PEZZENTI'S WORK SECOND TO NONE, June 20, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: The American Eagle (Hardcover)

Finally, a book on our nation's icon that does not bore you to death in thirty seconds with facts and statistics. Instead, the information is laid in and between the personal and heart-warming stories of biologists, scientists, and unique people that are responsible for our eagle's return. The narrative, although short, gives us the true reasons the Bald Eagle is back and repopulating our skies. In relationship to Mr. Pezzenti's photography, it is clear that he is not only unparalleled in his field, but has taken nature photography to a new level. He is without a doubt, second to none.

After reviewing an advanced copy five times, my mind still could not absorb the imagery of Bald Eagles in this book. How on earth does Pezzenti capture not only eagles fighting in mid-air, but the multitude of eagle photos with clarity, precision, and artistic appeal? Impossible! As a naturalist and nature lover, I believe that Mr. Pezzenti would be hard-pressed to duplicate his Alaska book (actually, no one ever will). But his American Eagle certainly runs a close second. I love this book.