Tropic: The Nature of Colombia [Hardcover]

Aldo Brando (Author), Sir Ghillean Prance FRS (Author), Benjamin Villegas (Editor), Jimmy Weiskopf (Translator)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 1, 1997

Everything in this book invites us to marvel at the Colombian tropics. As the point of convergence of the tectonic plates, flora and fauna of three American continents, the world's two largest oceans and its most variegated mountains, it is a territory of excess. The restless lens of Aldo Brando focuses on this natural setting, furnishing us with a panoply of images that excite both the eye and the imagination. As he eminent Colombian writer Germán Arciniegas points out, this book is "a vertical exploration of a country which is the synthesis of the Americas." Novel and unique, it is a summary of fifteen years work by a photojournalist whose documentation of wild life goes beyond capturing the physical contours of the seas, islands, jungles, savannahs, mountains and inhabitants of Colombia. "It penetrates into the beauty and soul" of natural wonders, as one of the world's leading professionals in the field-- the American wildlife photographer Art Wolfe-- recognizes in his prologue. The book's five chapters are accompanied by an essay written by the Colombian journalist, Arturo Guerrero, who invites us to share in the astonishment and poetry found in nature and science. The dazzling photographs of this book evoke the magic of the tropical ecosystems of the new world, and draw near to the intimacy of nature. It also allows us to reflect upon mankind's contradictory relationship with the natural world. Professor Sir Ghillean Prance, director of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, writes in his introduction: "It is my hope that this book helps to encourage the conservation of Colombian ecosystems, which are a valuable resource, not only for inhabitants of that nation but also for the world." The book concludes with a heartfelt message by the Colombian poet William Ospina.

Editorial Reviews

From the Inside Flap

Everything in this book invites us to marvel at the Colombian tropics. As the point of convergence of the tectonic plates, flora and fauna of three American continents, the world's two largest oceans and its most variegated mountains, it is a territory of excess. The restless lens of Aldo Brando focuses on this natural setting, furnishing us with a panoply of images that excite both the eye and the imagination. As he eminent Colombian writer Germán Arciniegas points out, this book is "a vertical exploration of a country which is the synthesis of the Americas." Novel and unique, it is a summary of fifteen years work by a photojournalist whose documentation of wild life goes beyond capturing the physical contours of the seas, islands, jungles, savannahs, mountains and inhabitants of Colombia. "It penetrates into the beauty and soul" of natural wonders, as one of the world's leading professionals in the field-- the American wildlife photographer Art Wolfe-- recognizes in his prologue. The book's five chapters are accompanied by an essay written by the Colombian journalist, Arturo Guerrero, who invites us to share in the astonishment and poetry found in nature and science. The dazzling photographs of this book evoke the magic of the tropical ecosystems of the new world, and draw near to the intimacy of nature. It also allows us to reflect upon mankind's contradictory relationship with the natural world. Professor Sir Ghillean Prance, director of the Royal Botanical Gardens, Kew, writes in his introduction: "It is my hope that this book helps to encourage the conservation of Colombian ecosystems, which are a valuable resource, not only for inhabitants of that nation but also for the world." The book concludes with a heartfelt message by the Colombian poet William Ospina.

Aldo Brando. As a student of marine biology in the early 1980's, Brando became interested in wildlife photography and film-making, specializing in Colombia's tropical ecosystems.

His work has appeared in such books as Coral Reefs of the Caribbean, Mangroves, Paramos, Colombia from the air, For a Country Within the Reach of the Children, all published by Villegas Editores; Malpelo, Oceanic Island of Colombia, published by Imprenta Mariscal/National Geographic. His photographs have also appeared in Américas, BBC Wildlife, Earth, Climbing, Natural History, Terre Sauvage, the San Francisco Examiner, Sinra and Wildlife Conservation, among other magazines.

His collective exhibitions include the Smithsonian's international display on tropical rainforests, and Forests Revisited: Expeditions at the End of the Millennium, held at the United Nations in New York.

About the Author

Aldo Brando. As a student of marine biology in the early 1980's, Brando became interested in wildlife photography and film-making, specializing in Colombia's tropical ecosystems.

His work has appeared in such books as Coral Reefs of the Caribbean, Mangroves, Paramos, Colombia from the air, For a Country Within the Reach of the Children, all published by Villegas Editores; Malpelo, Oceanic Island of Colombia, published by Imprenta Mariscal/National Geographic. His photographs have also appeared in Américas, BBC Wildlife, Earth, Climbing, Natural History, Terre Sauvage, the San Francisco Examiner, Sinra and Wildlife Conservation, among other magazines.

His collective exhibitions include the Smithsonian's international display on tropical rainforests, and Forests Revisited: Expeditions at the End of the Millennium, held at the United Nations in New York.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 236 pages
• Publisher: Villegas Editores; 1st edition (November 1, 1997)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9589393314
• ISBN-13: 978-9589393314
• Product Dimensions: 12.3 x 9.4 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #529,421 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #28 in Books > Travel > Latin America > South America > Colombia

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Colombia is much more than a land of war...., June 27, 2002

By 

Johannes (Stockholm, Sweden) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tropic: The Nature of Colombia (Hardcover)

Well, I must say I bought this book based on reviews I`d read here. And I do not regret it.
"Tropic" is absolutely wonderfull. At 12 x 9˝ inches and 4 pounds, it`s a huge book which isn`t appropriate for long journeys but it makes an excellent coffee table book.
In fact, I think it`s the most incredible achievement ever done to portray the nature of one country. Printed on black, very fine paper, it`s a nice book looking through.
The book is divided into the following sections : Seas, Islands & Littorals, Forests & Savannahs, Mountains & Inhabitants(which are actually a vertical journey through the land, from the bottom of the sea to the tops of the Andes). The vertical views of the colombian coast are absolutely gorgeous and awe-inspiring. There are also many majestic, almost poster-like pictures of pelicans flying towards the sky, inside caves and above the surface of the water. The closeups of many fishes are also a feast for the eyes, as are the beautifull flowers of the rainforest. The fantastic views of the Andes makes anyone wish they were there. And the first picture of the book on bromelias with the blue clouds and the sun melting down in the horizon will open more "wow" and "aahh"`s than fireworks of the millenium.
This book may be expensive, but if you come across a copy, do not hesitate to take it - it`s worth the money, I promise you that.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars This is a wonderful book., December 17, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Tropic: The Nature of Colombia (Hardcover)

I purchased this book for someone else, but I'm going to keep it and get him another copy. Set on black pages with white writing, this book covers mountains, oceans, forests, valleys, and some very ethnic, old-world inhabitants of Columbia. It's large and very heavy; a definite coffee table kind of book. I'm very happy with my purchase; my only regret is that I didn't pick one with Columbia's cities in it also.

5.0 out of 5 stars absolutly wonderful, October 23, 2002

By 

garten (Österreich) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Tropic: The Nature of Colombia (Hardcover)

What a beautiful book. I got it for my husband and I am truly happy that that means it will not leave the house.
The fotografs are super, half pages, full or often double. The first chapter is about the sea and underwater animals, later come mountains and people. And to remind us that the world as beautiful as Aldo Brando can show it to us is not save at all the last chapter shows the destruction people can do to our poor planet.
The black background pages give the book a special look, paper and print are perfect.
I am really happy with this, a wonderful view of the tropics!