Galen Rowell's Vision: The Art of Adventure Photography [Paperback]

Galen Rowell (Author), Steve Werner (Foreword)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 11, 1995

In sixty practical yet inspirational essays drawn from his Outdoor Photographer column, and in 145 stunning color photographs, world-renowned photographer Galen Rowell explains and demonstrates the techniques he uses to transform light and color into vivid, uniquely expressive art.
The illuminating essays in Galen Rowell's Vision are grouped into four chapters covering the fundamental aspects of the art of adventure photography as practiced by one of its masters: "Goals," transforming dreams into realities through personal vision; "Preparations," pushing the limits of equipment, film, and technique; "Journeys," merging visions with realities; and "Realizations," communicating one's worldview through photography. Throughout, Rowell includes examples of some of his most memorable images and relates fascinating anecdotes from his extraordinary photographic career.

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

What makes Rowell one of the world's top photojournalists and sets him apart from others in the field? Steve Werner, editor of Outdoor Photographer, says the magazine's most popular columnist pursues his art the way a mountain climber pursues a peak: "planning the logistics, overcoming the hardships and conquering the unknown." The text, based on Rowell's monthly column for the magazine, is accompanied by images "chosen to illustrate concepts" rather than exhibit his best work -- or so he claims. Don't believe him; the pictures will blow you out of the water as surely as a well-placed stick of dynamite.

From School Library Journal

YA-An eclectic collection of 60 essays, based on 6 years of Rowell's columns written for Outdoor Photographer. His erudite selections range from the general and ruminative to the esoteric; they are tied together by the belief that the key to creating great pictures is a photographer's inner vision. While nonphotographers will find his thoughts on foreign cultures, environmentalism, and other topics quite captivating, the book caters to shutterbugs who have achieved a degree of proficiency but who stand to benefit from the author's artistic insights. Anyone, however, should appreciate and enjoy the photographs. Over 140 astounding, full-color shots illustrate the concepts Rowell sets forth and truly give the volume its power.
Christopher Solomon, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 288 pages
• Publisher: Sierra Club Books (April 11, 1995)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0871563576
• ISBN-13: 978-0871563576
• Product Dimensions: 10 x 7 x 0.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (12 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #540,141 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Galen Rowell, internationally renowned photographer and mountaineer, is the author of such acclaimed books as My Tibet (with His Holiness the Dalai Lama) and Mountains of the Middle Kingdom. His work regularly appears in Life, National Geographic, Outside, and Sports Illustrated.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars ... the words paint pictures too !, March 16, 2001

By 

Yeoh Siok Kee (Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Galen Rowell's Vision: The Art of Adventure Photography (Paperback)

It cannot be helped ... I'm partial to Rowell ... have been, ever since I started serious photography in '89 ... His photographs have always left me in awe ...

So you can imagine my surprise, when I found myself reading the words with as much care as I was looking at the photos ... Rowell carefully describes his preparations, his thoughts and preferences ... he writes as he photographs ... in a direct manner, with few affectations and no gimmicks ... The reader learns not so much about f-stops or apertures, but is introduced into the mind set of an adventurer, an exceptional photographer ... whose approach to image making is both pragmatic and inspirational ... the photographs are more instructional than usual ... but an exceptionally good read!

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Great book, terrible binding, February 23, 2004

By 

Fabian Gonzales (San Francisco, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Galen Rowell's Vision: The Art of Adventure Photography (Paperback)

The book is great. Rowell's essays are very informative, fun to read, and give a lot of insight into the world of adventure photography. However, the binding from Sierra Club Books is terrible. I'm halfway through the book and the glue came apart, leaving me with hundreds of loose pages. This is especially frustrating since I planned to use the book as a reference, frequently re-reading and looking up pertinent information.

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent Post-beginner book, September 10, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: Galen Rowell's Vision: The Art of Adventure Photography (Paperback)

Galen Rowell's columns are a lot of fun. They explore the whys and hows of photographys, but more importantly, provide insight to how the best photographers work. This densely packed volume range from equipment tips to philosophical discussions, and is highly recommended as a beginning Outdoor Photographer's second book