Customer Reviews

Extreme Nature: Images from the World's Edge (Discovery)

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This book is so much more than a book of pretty underwater photographs. Mr. Curtsinger shares with us his view of the world in places where other-worldly things live. Many of these photographs were the first of their kind; from the first pictures from beneath the Antarctic ice, to the first images of many elusive mammals like the leopard seal and the walrus, all in their secretive, hostile marine habitats. What is astonishing and powerful about these images, many now decades old, is that they are more than just documents from a wild unseen, uncelebrated world; they are artful and aesthetically moving images that capture attention in form and composition; they are timeless in their beauty and truth. Weaving the imagery together is a collection of essays which tell the stories of some of the Earth's toughest creatures, as well as Mr. Curtsinger's journey in photographing them. These are not encyclopedia entries, rather, they are deeply personal and honest accounts of one man's experience in the magnificant natural world. Filled with struggles and epiphanies, the book is the confluence of a human story and a celebration of nature, in words and fantastic imagery. More than something to sit on your coffee table or shelf, it is a book you will revisit again and again and share with others. My copy is already well worn.

I loved this book of photographs and suggest it ought to go on everybody's Christmas and Hannukah lists. Curtsinger was one of the pioneers of underwater photography (he's shot something like 35 National Geographic articles and six covers), specializing in the strange and marvelous polar regions. The cover alone is worth the price of the book. It's a shot of two penguins, not cuddly tuxedoed stuffy toys, which we've seen a lot of lately, but two rockets jetting down through the water amid a stream of bubbles. Amazing. Curtsinger is a wonderful writer, too, so after looking at the pictures, plan on spending plenty of time on the text.

Bill Curtsinger has not only shown us remote places with his camera but he generously shares his life and thoughts.This is not only an incredible visual feast but a wonderful read.Treat yourself.

Amazing photography and stories from some of the wildest ecosystems in the world. This book really provides an unusual and illuminating window on a part of nature that few have an opportunity to see.

This astonishing compilation of a life's work left me amazed and grateful. The photographs--some of them already iconic--will fill you with awe, and the accompanying prose adds color and poignancy to this photographic journey. I cannot recommend this book highly enough!

This book is wonderful visually and has a real story to tell. Mr Curtsinger captures many creatures in their natural habitat - things I could never dream of seeing. This diversity makes it an appealing book for multiple ages and family members. My teenagers have even shared it with friends.It will make a lasting impression on anyone - more than just a pretty coffee-table book. Glad I bought it and I will be giving it as a gift this season.

I may be biased because the author provided a signed copy of this book to my library (I'm a college library director), but the photography in this is nothing less than stunningly beautiful. There are photos here of commonly seen animals shot in uncommon ways, and photos of other creatures that look more at home in a John Carpenter film than an ocen on Earth. You can tell by the nature of the work Curtsinger has insinuated himself in some scary places (a photo of another diver deep in an underwater ice crevasse, for instance, makes you wonder at Curtsinger's own position for shooting it), but his courage allows us to marvel at sights most of us couldn't even imagine. I recommend this as a coffee table book for people to actually look at, and as a great addition to nature or photgraphy collections. Truly remarkable.