Customer Reviews

Wild Birds of the American Wetlands

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

In her Afterword, Rosalie Winard writes that she hopes the photographs depict how the birds make her feel, and her photos have done just that. Each photo evokes a different mood, a different state of mind. Some of the photos made me laugh like the one of the cranes all coming in for a landing or a two page photo of a busy group of white pelicans. I was struck by a photo of a white egret against a black background which made the bird look taller than life. While looking at the three part photo of an egret dancing, I could not help but think that the bird was enjoying himself. Many photos bring a sense of peace such as the photo of American avocets moving through shallow water. I was impressed with the different effects and the play of light and shadow that Winard produced in these pictures. For example, the photo of little blue herons opposite the title page reminded me of a pointillist painting while a photo of a brown pelican is so sharp that I felt I could see and touch every feather. This is a unique and beautiful book.

I just got my copy of "Wild Birds of the American Wetlands" by photographer Rosalie Winard. It is not only a beautiful 'concept'--allowing the birds to speak for themselves: soaring, sweeping, standing, in concert and alone against the sky; it is exquisite execution: pages unfold, the infra-red camera takes us to details and a realism unknown to photography. It is far more an art book--like a delicate Impressionist, she allows the birds to truly 'inhabit' their own world; like an Expressionist, her camera jolts us to see the deeper meaning of flight.
Like natural Angels, birds mediate between earth and sky; this book takes me there.

after reading the review of this book in 'audubon' magazine and because i'm a fan of black and white photography, i anticipated the arrival of rosalie winard's effort. i wasn't disappointed and sat with the book until the last beautiful image. then i went back to the beginning, realizing that each image is presented like a well composed painting, darks and lights balanced to create a startling intimacy with each subject. the vehicle of infrared film does not distract from detail while actually enhancing the sensation of flight and graceful rest. the minimal text is compelling and heartfelt, representing this artful and lovingly created project. it's not for everyone, but for the reasons stated above, it is deserving of high praise.

june savage

I'm not a birder, but now I can understand why others are. The photos here are not the typical ones that always seem to be anatomy lessons. These capture the spirit of living in the wild along with the personality inherent in each individual avian. Highly recommended for those who love unique, fine art photography. The black and white is so evocative that somehow color seems superfluous. This is a beautifully produced book, a wonder at this price.

Birds have been a favorite subject for painters and photographers for as long as their have been canvases and cameras. "Wild Birds Of The American Wetlands" is a coffee table photography book published to accompany a planned touring exhibition which is scheduled to debut at the Utah Museum of Natural History (November 1, 2008 - March 2009) and then tour nationally. A visually impressive collection of black-and-white photographs of wetland and marshland birds taken by Rosalie Windard as she traveled the country from Florida, to California, to Louisiana, to North Dakota, by foot, canoe, airboat, and ATV. The individual images run the gamut from meditative and abstract to energetic and literal. Each photograph translates and transforms an avian image into a work of conceptual art. Enhanced with an informed foreword by Temple Grandin and an informative essay by Terry Tempest Williams, "Wild Birds" is a welcome and enthusiastically recommended addition to personal, academic, and community library Photography and Wildlife reference collections.

I met Rosalie Winard and fell in love with her work prior to the publication of this book. I love that her work bridges science and art. She captures wetlands and the migratory journeys of birds through her photographs-provokes awe and concern for the well being of the creatures and their journeys. Her photographs also capture beauty, emotion, vastness, and joy in manner few artists ever achieve. I am so glad that Rosalie's book is on the shelves and fervently hope that this is the first of many books.

I gave this book to my daughter for her 21st birthday, hoping that she would appreciate these birds and their space on our earth. Her reaction far exceeded my expectations. "Mom I never expected to like a book about birds but I love this book" .She wanted a photograph ( the pelican landing) for her next birthday present. Each photograph is a special insight, a haiku of bird poetry.

Rosalie Winard has created a body of work of incomparable beauty and the reproductions of her photography are mesmerizing. Growing up around San Francisco Bay and its many wetlands I have always been fascinated by egrets, herons and pelicans, but I could never have imagined them the way Rosalie sees these flying souls. I am truly amazed at what she has done here. This book ought to cost $100.00 with its French folded dust wraps, cloth binding and numerous gate folded images. I've met Ms. Winard and she is just as beautiful as her photography. She absolutely and resolutely adores her subject matter. If I could indicate 8 stars then I would. Wild Birds of the American Wetlands is a magnificent masterpiece and Rosalie's work belongs in the permanent collection at the Museum of Modern Art, period

Ethereal and spiritual is how I would describe these photographs. A very unique approach. The photographer's love of our feathered friends is evident in every photo. She describes how she came to love birds and observing them in her own words, as well. A real treat for birders and photographers.

As an avid birder, I was really looking forward to the publication of this book. I anticipated beautiful black & white photographs of wild birds& wetlands ==> capturing scenes of birds in special moments that few of us get to actually see during our birding trips. The copy of the book I received, though, had very grainy photos ...a few could be considered "artistic" but most just looked like they had been poorly reproduced. I hope my copy was just a poor reproduction...since the concept of the book is beautiful and the photographer is supposed to be an outstanding nature photographer.