Growing Palm Trees: In Hawaii And Other Tropical Climates [Paperback]

David Leaser (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 127 pages
• Publisher: Mutual Pub Co (May 30, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1566478251
• ISBN-13: 978-1566478250
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 5.7 x 0.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #911,180 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

David Leaser creates dramatic images of landscapes and botanicals. His work has appeared in numerous magazines and journals, and he has authored four books, including two photographic monographs. Leaser's "Tropical Gardens of Hawaii" and "Palm Trees: A Story in Photographs" have received critical acclaim; the latter was also featured at the Museum of Photographic Arts in San Diego.

Leaser has also written two additional books on palm care. "Growing Palm Trees in Hawaii" is an easy to read guide for palm lovers in the tropics. "Betrock's Essential Guide to Palms" is a complete guide to selecting, growing and maintaining palms. The book includes a unique landscaper section that makes it easy to quickly find the right palm for your location.

Upon seeing his work, Dr. John Dransfield, senior officer at London's Royal Botanical Garden (Kew Gardens) praised David's photographic monograph. "Palm Trees: A Story in Photographs is a beautiful, sumptuously illustrated book. Altogether a treat to look at."

David began taking photos at a young age. He received a Polaroid Swinger camera from his parents at age six, and he has been taking photographs ever since. . After completing the photographic essay, "Tropical Gardens of Hawaii," Leaser spent a day at the Huntington Library, Art Collections, and Botanical Gardens in California. The Huntington was featuring an exhibit of paintings from Frederic Church, arguably the most successful 19th century American artist. Church's realistic images of the Andes and Amazon inspired Leaser to travel to South America and retrace his footsteps.

In the Amazon, David studied the details of the small flowers on the rainforest floor. Each small flower contained its own ecosystem for the small insects and reptiles of the Amazon. In the Amazon, he had an epiphany: why not show viewers the most intricate, intimate workings of these tiny flowers?

Upon returning to his studio in Los Angeles, David spent the next few months collecting exotic flowers from around the world to pose as subjects for his new work. Orchids from Asia, bromeliads from the Amazon, gingers from Polynesia . . .

Unfortunately, technology hadn't caught up with his vision. He wasn't able to capture the extremely fine detail he wanted to show. After months spent researching, David developed his own process, now being called the dettagli process because it captures detail like you've never seen before. You can literally see grains of pollen on the stamens of a hibiscus in the Nightflowers collection. And every flaw in these flowers demonstrates that every beauty has its imperfections.

David is dedicating himself to creating a collection of botanical images that will show viewers the miracle of nature. He believes, after studying his Nightflowers series, viewers will never look at flowers in the same way again.

Visit David Leaser's website at http://davidleaser.com