Customer Reviews

Brilliant Waters: Portraits of Lake Tahoe, Yosemite, and the High Sierra

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is beautiful - the photographs are stunning, and have a strong sense of personal creative vision. I own many landscape photography books, and this instantly became one of my favorites, its images are serene but powerful and take you to a distant place. They go far beyond simply documenting a location, and clearly show the artist's vision and love for these places. If you enjoy landscape or these places, this book shoulds not be missed!

This book has some very nice and perhaps unique photographic compositions, and it's perhaps worth buying the book for that alone. But I couldn't get past the almost phony or Thomas-Kincade-like appearance of many (certainly not all) of the photos.

If I want to look at paintings I'd rather buy the work of the painter or a book of reproductions. When I buy a photo book of landscapes, where it is being represented that the photos are real representations of actual places and times, that's what I want to see, not cotton-candied, smoothed over prettied-up versions. I suspect that a little too much balancing light and dark areas or messing with contrast values in Photoshop is the culprit, or perhaps something in the chain between the photo digital file and the book printer. A prime example is the cover photo.

However, I suppose that the way the photos look in the book is what the photographer intended, and represents her vision of what her artistic goals are, and that certainly is valid, but just not my taste. I suspect most people will not agree with my opinion, and that is fine, but like I titled this review - it's a contrarian opinion.

I really enjoyed the photos, and consider them worthy of study and reflection. They were certainly evocative, and to my eye original.

This is the perfect book to give as a gift or keep as a prized posession on your coffee table. The photos of the Sierras are stunning, and the poetry interspersed throughout is lovely. I plan on giving this book to friends for birthdays, Christmas, etc. Anybody who loves to spend time in nature will cherish Brilliant Waters.

I bought this book on the strength of the sample photos. Unfortunately, they were the best of the book. The rest were disappointing. Although the book is 94 pages, there are only 44 photos. Most of the pages contain just a title or a silly poem. I'm not sure why this was done, but the word 'padding' comes to mind. Very few of the photos are truly inspiring. As another reviewer said, they are kind of boring.

In the same shipment I received Working the Light by Joe Cornish, full of really stunning photos from various photographers. Highly recommended.

This is an inspiring and wonderful book that I am buying as a christmas gift for all of my friends and family who love the outdoors.

I'm always amazed at the lack of depth people exhibit. It's a shame really that people with a dank soul can't appreciate someone's work - someone's passion. Too bad for them.

I had the pleasure of meeting Elizabeth Carmel this week in Chicago and her humble nature shows in each of her photographs. This book is outstanding and should be rewarded with multiple views, often. You don't have to be a nature lover to appreciate the talent of this photographer.

I'm looking forward to the next publication.

This is an exquisite portrait of a treasured part of the world. The photographs are gorgeously beautiful of an already beautiful place.

Historically, most photographers have printed their own material. Not always, but most. W. Eugene Smith was one who was obsessive about printing his pictures to achieve exatly what it was he wanted. Other photographers did not print their own pictures, but their images shone due to the strength of their new and unique visions and compositions. This is not the case with this book or this photographer.
I found nothing new in these pictures. They are functional, but they are also prosaic and plain, and, unfortunately, reexamine tired themes and compositions previously exhausted. Clearly the photographer has strong Photoshop and printing skills, but there is no authentic or new photographic vision here. The photos look as if she spent more time on the computer than in front of the camera or even looking closely at her subjects. When she photographs a tree branch with the blurred, flowing water behind it, it has been done. Repeatedly. There is a picture on her website taken in Monument Valley that is nearly identical to one oc Ansel Adams's taken in color at least 50 years ago. The picture does not pay homeage nor does it pay respect. It does not rise above the level of mimicry.
The compositions of the photographs are also stale and freshman. The look complacent and convienent. It does not look like much effort was place into their conception or capture. There is another picture of the author on her website phbotographing in the cold and snow. This is not the suffering for one's art that the old masters, I believe, had in mind. I see more emphasis on understanding layers in CS2 than being placed on working to find a different point of view from which to photograph.
I would resists buying this book. The artist's vision and composition skills have not yet exceeded her grasp, and as a result, nothing is any different here. She does not or is not able to connect with her subjects like Weston or Sexton or others. I have no doubt that she will make a lot of money using her pictures for stock photography sales, but I do not recommend this book. It should arrive at your local library soon enough.