Customer Reviews

Karl Blossfeldt: Photography

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I got my copy of this book about 2 hours ago.
What I want to say, is this-What a find!
If you are an artist,and are attracted to botany,this is a book of photography that is comparable to another book I bought about 2 years ago, featuring drawings from under a microscope.
What a treasure, this book is!
Other people have posted negative comments about the so called "blurriness" of the black and white photography in previous editions of other books concerning Blosfeldt.
There is nothing blurry about this book.
If you love nature, and are a sculptor,designer, I can tell you, you will be very pleased when you get this collection of plant photography.
Gosh, $10.19 is unbeleivable.
This has got to be the best book,I have bought online.

Karl Blossfeldt's work is not well known by people who are not photographers. This is a great pity, because his photographs represent the kind of visual education anyone would be glad to have.

Those of us who garden, in particular, will find much here to stir their interest. Even gardeners who have the gift of being fully present to the subtlest changes in plants are likely to find photos that will cause them to blink and look again at what gardens show us. People with an interest in design can learn from the proportions of nature described with such clarity and economy in these photos. Those looking for something in which to lose themselves will find it in this book.

It is important to note the dimensions of this book. Many associate Taschen with thick little books; this is a relatively large (i.e., larger than a hardback novel) hardcover. The format is large enough to allow photos be reproduced at a size in which they can been SEEN, not simply squinted at. In addition, the layout allows a good bit of breathing space around most photos. Captions are low on the page, where text does not intrude visually on the image.

A bonus is the short passages, including a piece by Blossfeldt, himself.

Some will quibble about the quality of paper and might mention that other books offer better reproductions of the photos (which is partly to do with paper quality). If that is a particular concern, you might want to pass on this book's bargain price in favor of another edition. However, if you would be able to overlook these issues -- as I recommend, especially if you are unfamiliar with Blossfeldt -- I think you will find this to be a rewarding purchase, not to mention an extremely economical one.

Ragnar Naess, a wonderful ceramic artist, turned me on to this book, saying Blossfeldt has long been an inspiration. These black and white prints, intense close-ups of buds, leaves, flowers, seed pods and other botanical elements are exquisite. They leave you delighted by nature's diversity and perfect designs. This book is a treasure.

This edition is comprised of the two books published by Blossfeldt so if you get this you got it all. The photos are not as sharp as todays, but most of them are sharp enough to fully appreciate. In fact, the softness render them a artistic beauty that clinicly perfect ones wouldn't have.
The paper is standard good quality and glossier surface would not make any dramatic difference in the reproduction. They are what they are. A small percentage does not measure upp to the majority of fascinating picture, but who's perfect? After entering this world of details and cut-outs I was so inspired to look at the plants in my garden with a new curiosity looking for motifs for the camera in the spirit of Blossfeldt, what fun! See how the plants are constructed after numbers like 2, 3 or 5.

This book is absolutely fantastic--and especially for the price! I have purchased a number of Taschen books and I have never been disappointed but this one has blown me away. The book is full of beautiful b/w images of gorgeous details of pants, all in the same style as the cover, that is set upon a plain background. This book is perfect for anyone that has interest in geometry found in nature, an artist looking for inspiration, or someone who just appreciates the beauty and intricacy of plant forms. Also, this book is written in English, German, and French (all in the same book) so if you are learning any of those languages, you can also use this book to practice!