This is a very unique book for both lovers of Pennsylvania's outdoor treasures, and those who love to take pictures of them. As can be seen in the subtitle, this very attractive and informative book is tailored for two crowds - hikers and photographers, though the term "hikers" is used loosely. Thanks to our state's surprisingly varied natural history, there are a plethora of small picturesque waterfalls in Pennsylvania, and as can be found in this book, a great many of them can be reached very easily by car for the weekend rambler crowd. Granted, as an active PA hiker I can think of a few excellent but less-accessible waterfalls that Scott E. Brown does not cover here. But on the other hand, the good news is that the easy accessibility of the many falls that Brown does cover will allow more people to appreciate the values of Pennsylvania's natural treasures. Only a few of the falls covered by Brown require any real hiking - notably the stupendous Ricketts Glen State Park and a couple of State Game Lands areas in Sullivan County. Otherwise, the waterfall lover is in luck because the vast majority of waterfalls described by Brown are accessible via rambles of less than two miles in length, and a few are even right next to parking lots.
Regardless of the requirements on the visitor's feet, the best aspect of this book is the photography, with dozens of lavish examples of Brown's expert compositions. These beautiful shots will hold over the PA nature lover until you can get to these falls yourself. Brown's focus on photography is definitely the key to this book's uniqueness, because he has surely written for the shutterbug. Brown includes many great tips for the pro photographer, not just for general outdoor work but also for many of the particular waterfalls themselves. One must appreciate the great amount of hard work Brown did in order to get the shots presented in this book - and the best part is that he advises other photographers on how to get even better shots. So for those interested in capturing dozens of under-appreciated PA waterfalls on film, and for those who just want an easy and rewarding ramble to unexpected natural treasures, this book is an excellent addition to both your backpack and your coffee table. [~doomsdayer520~]