Seeing Gardens (New Millennium) [Hardcover]

Sam Abell (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 2000 | Series: New Millennium

One of the world's premier photographers combines candid, personal narrative and lush full-color photography in a fascinating international odyssey in search of the world's great gardens, in a three-part volume that includes "The Garden," "Wild Gardens," and "Seeing Gardens" and ranges from English

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com Review

In his 1990 book Stay This Moment, National Geographic photographer Sam Abell wrote, "There are few fresh photographs of gardens because photographing beautiful things is difficult." Now, almost as if in answer to himself, Abell has produced Seeing Gardens, with 150 quiet, intensely gorgeous full-frame images from around the globe that stand as a testament to his ability to do exactly that: photograph beautiful things in a fresh and inventive way. In his simple, elegant text, Abell provides insights into how he came to take many of his better known images, such as National Hotel, Moscow, Russia, which features a handful of pears resting on a windowsill with the Kremlin in the background. Perhaps never before have Abell's sumptuous photographs been placed in a more apt context--that of the garden, both in a literal sense, like his stunning images of temple gardens in Japan, and in a figurative sense, including his shot of a blue neon sign that simply says "FLOWERS." --Walt Opie

From Booklist

Traveling the world for National Geographic, photographer Abell nourishes his reverence for gardens. This unique perspective translates into a refined ability to capture stunning garden images, whether they happen to materialize in a commonplace moment, or in the rare opportunity to document a 600-year-old Japanese landscape. Be it a floral babushka glimpsed on a Moscow bus ride, or an enthralling pattern of English hedgerows shrouded in mist, each frame from Abell's camera resonates with a vital life force, while his visionary lens imprints each photograph with a contemplative grace. In this masterful photographer's latest book, a cornucopia of intimate vignettes, breathtaking scenery, and intriguing tableaus are thematically arranged in four distinct chapters spanning designed gardens, wild vistas in nature, cultural representations, and the artist's singular visions. A mesmerizing portfolio suitable for garden and photography collections alike. Alice Joyce
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 208 pages
• Publisher: National Geographic (November 1, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0792279565
• ISBN-13: 978-0792279563
• Product Dimensions: 11.9 x 10.2 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.5 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,104,085 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exotic, beautiful, dazzling photographs of gardens, January 16, 2001

By 

Midwest Book Review (Oregon, WI USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Seeing Gardens (New Millennium) (Hardcover)

For more than thirty years Sam Abell traveled the world on assignment for National Geographic. In Seeing Gardens he has assembled 125 of his most exotic, beautiful, dazzling photographs of gardens ranging from the symmetrical, formal English garden to the haphazard, naturally harmonious rock pools, to a field of spring blossoms, to the floral design of a head scarf. Highly recommended for students of photography, gardening enthusiasts, and anyone who appreciates viewing the world through an artist's lens, Seeing Gardens is a vivid, personally intense, inspiring, visual celebration of the variety, spectrum and beauty of gardens.

5.0 out of 5 stars Masterful Photographs, May 5, 2009

By 

Jack Combs "Shutterbug" (Santa Fe, New Mexico USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Seeing Gardens (Paperback)

Sam Abell is a master photographer who spent 30 years photographing the world for National Geographic. In Seeing Gardens, the master applies his experienced eye to some of the world's greatest gardens, photographing them in rich textured colors, and composed in scenes which show not only their beauty, but a personal and

insightful look into their meaning. This is by no means a stilted view of garden photographs but an often surprising view of why and what they are to the people who designed them, who work in them, and who enjoy

them. Any photographer who wants to learn composition would do well to study this book; anyone who enjoys gardens will be dazzled by his adept handling of showing the heart of the garden; and anyone who wants to see

beauty in an alive presentation should own this book.