Earthsong [Hardcover]

Bernhard Edmaier (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2004

Earthsong is a breath-taking collection of aerial photographs by Bernhard Edmaier. A celebration of the extraordinary beauty of the untouched areas of our planet, the book includes majestic pictures of natural phenomena such as volcanoes, glaciers, coral reefs, desert sand dunes and rivers that dominate and define the landscape. Travelling to the uninhabited and remote areas of the earth, Edmaier's photographs give us a unique view of these rarely seen areas of our planet, revealing the vast natural patterns of the earth and providing an understanding of the geological processes at work. There are corners of our planet untouched by human influence, where nature rules. Natural phenomena such as volcaones, glaciers, coral reefs, desert sand dunes and rivers dominate and define the landscape, and the imprint these phenomena leave on the earth's crust can last from just a brief moment to millions of years. Earthsong is a collection of photographs by renowned aerial photographer Bernhard Edmaier, which captures the stunning beauty of these unspoiled areas of our planet. Edmaier's photographs are a fascinating insight into rarely seen areas of our planet. Taken from above vast natural patterns of the earth are revealed to us in their unique beauty. In addition, the photographs we see provide a unique insight into the phenomena shown, providing invaluable insights into the geological processes at work. Earthsong is divided into four chapters reflecting the four major environments that cover the earth's surface - Aqua (water), Arid (desert), Green (forest and grassland) and Barren (tundra). Thus, we see the frozen ice of the arctic together with the warm oceans of the Pacific; coastal deserts, with underwater deserts, glacial deserts and sand deserts; the frozen mountains of the Alps with the barren wasteland of the arctic; and the lush green forests of Europe with desert flowers and floating river algae. And covers parts of the world as distant as the Bahamas, Ethiopa, New Zealand, the Antarctic and Ecuador. The images are accompanied by extended captions giving a brief introduction to the phenomena shown, context and basic name and location information.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

Art meets earth science in Earthsong, a gallery of spectacular aerial photographs by Bernhard Edmaier. Reproduced in full color on oversized pages, the patterns of deserts, glaciers, volcanoes, and grassland often resemble abstract paintings. But the wisdom of this book lies in its pairing of beautiful images with brief explanations by geologist Angelika Jung-Huettl of the forces that produced these startling effects. Divided into four parts--Agua (water), Barren (tundra), Desert, and Green--Earthsong is full of surprises. The action ranges from the brilliant, firecracker-like explosion of lava fields on Mt. Etna in Sicily to the sci-fi shapes of boiling mud pools in Waiotapu, New Zealand, powered by sulphur gas. On Disko Bay in western Greenland, a delicate embroidery of fine-grained ice has been shaped by wind, waves and frozen fog. The pristine clarity of early morning light reveals huge swaths of rolling and rippling orange-red sand in the Namib Desert of southwest Africa. Subtly meandering patterns worthy of a master etcher are carved into the icy wastes of Iceland by the action of volcanic dust, snow, sun and wind. While most of the book surveys sparsely inhabited regions, geologic action is also observed next door to major population centers. Cutting a dark ribbon through a lush meadow in eastern Germany, the Tollense River and its hungry algae will eventually erode and conquer the entire valley. Quietly acknowledging the effects of global warning, Earthsong literally hovers above the earth to reveal the effects of the interconnected forces that continue to shape our planet. --Cathy Curtis

About the Author

Bernhard Edmaier studied civil engineering and geology before becoming a professional photographer in 1992. Edmaier, who specialises in aerial photography, has been instrumental in improving the standard of geological photography, as well as producing images of stunning aesthetic beauty. His book GeoArt (Blv Verlagsgesellschaft), showing the geological patterns of the earth, won the Kodak Photography book prize in 1998. Dr Angelika Jung-Huettl studied in geology and journalism, and is a science writer for newspapers and magazines such as the Suddeutsche Zeitung, the biggest daily newspaper in Germany, the Berliner Zeitung, and the popular science magazine pm-history. Dr Jung-Huettl has been working with Bernhard Edmaier for ten years, and together they have published several photography books on subjects such as volcanoes, ice and glaciers.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 232 pages
• Publisher: Phaidon Press (November 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0714844519
• ISBN-13: 978-0714844510
• Product Dimensions: 14.1 x 12.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 6 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #942,165 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Extraordinary Visual Feast, November 27, 2004

By 

MLP (New York, NY USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Earthsong (Hardcover)

This is a book that one must see to truly appreciate. I came across it in a store and began to browse because it looked as though it was a collection of spectacular works of modern art. The realisation that it was an album of aerial photographs only made it more compelling. There are many images that are breathtaking in their own right but the effect of combining them into a planetary photo essay is nothing short of outstanding. It uniquely explores the great diversity of Mother Earth while highlighting the beauty that is always present in her many forms.

Everyone I have showed this book to has had a similar reaction. If you are looking for a gift for that person who is difficult to buy for because they seem to have everything, look no further. They are sure to be delighted.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Absolutely striking photographs, February 9, 2005

By 

Jill Malter ([e-mail]) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Earthsong (Hardcover)

Edmaier takes us to a variety of isolated and relatively unpopulated areas for some terrific aerial photos of our planet. We see water, ice, tundra, glaciers, sandy deserts, volcanoes, coasts, grassland, and forests. And Jung-Huettl's descriptions of what we are seeing are nicely done.

The overall effect is eerie, as if the Earth were uninhabited (by our species, at least) and we humans were looking the place over and trying to decide if we wanted to visit it, live there, or try someplace else.

In any case, the photographs are marvellous and show plenty of detail. If I were writing a book on planetary science, I'd want to use a couple of these photos for the section on our little world.

26 of 35 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Disappointing - especially from Phaidon publishing, February 1, 2005

By 

peakpilot (Nova Scotia, Canada) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Earthsong (Hardcover)

I was really looking forward to receiving and reading this book - I had looked at it in the stores but it was plastic wrapped and, therefore, I could not see what was inside. However, once I had received it from Amazon and opened it, my eager anticipation gave way to annoyance and disappointment. The photographs of the earth from above are, indeed, spectacular and of the highest quality, BUT Edmaier has used (or appears to have used) the same (or variations of the same) photographs over and over again - even though the book is supposed to have four distinct themes, Aqua, Barren, Desert and Green. I own several books published by Phaidon and have been impressed beyond expectation with every one of them - not this time. I considered the book price to be reasonable until I opened it - now I feel as if I have been ripped off! With over 220 pages, I expected in the region of 150-200 different photographs. Yes, the photographs are different but most of them are just different views of the same subject - not what I expected at all. Overall, a nice coffee table book, but far too expensive for what you actually get. Very disappointing!