Untamed [Hardcover]

Steve Bloom (Author)

Book Description

A collection of two hundred natural-world photographs includes some of the best pieces taken by the photographer in his travels throughout the world, in a volume that includes such examples as a gorilla relaxing in the trees, a shark jumping in midair to catch its prey, and a Siberian tiger traipsin

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In this extraordinary collection of full-color images, wildlife photographer Bloom (In Praise of Primates) surveys a dazzling diversity of fauna and landscapes from all six continents, with extended photo essays on such endearing species as dolphins, polar bears, elephants and parrots. Bloom combines the obsessive patience of the nature photographer (he lurked in a boat for 17 days to capture a single picture of a great white shark leaping from the water in pursuit of a seal) with a painterly feel for color, texture and composition. Images include a swirling, impressionistic photo of a sprinting cheetah; a starkly lit, hyper-real shot of two bald eagles locked in midair combat; a misty, chiaroscuro view of a giraffe browsing at dusk; a grim picture of lions playfully savaging a helpless young hippo; a character study of Japanese macaques, their florid faces and shrewd, searching gazes giving them a startlingly human visage; and a haunting existentialist tableau of a solitary penguin seated on an ice floe, looking out at the bleak Antarctic seascape. Bloom appends a few words decrying the environmental despoliation that is destroying nature faster than he can photograph it, but these ravishing pictures are the best conservationist argument he could possibly muster.
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About the Author

Steve Bloom is an award-winning wildlife photographer who also founded his own wildlife stock photo agency and fine print gallery in the mid-1990s. His first photography book, In Praise of Primates, has been published in ten languages. His other publications include Thank You for Being a Friend! and We Are Family! .

Product Details

• Hardcover: 424 pages
• Publisher: Harry N. Abrams (November 1, 2004)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 081095611X
• ISBN-13: 978-0810956117
• Product Dimensions: 14.6 x 11.5 x 1.4 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.2 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (30 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #999,986 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Terrific portraits of members of the wiser species, May 24, 2008

By 

Andre Heeger (Germany) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Untamed (Paperback)

Steve Bloom is a master photographer. Not only is he a great craftsman. His way of composure, the deep love and respect for the animals, his sensibility in creating a personal portrait of and often with his subjects are unmatched.
Even in flight the red parrot is with you, the viewer. Then again, the lazy polar bears resting probably are not...
You have whales and dolphins, all kinds of bears, tigers and deer, zebras and elephants and many more from all over the planet. Although there are two or three pictures of animals hunting, most photographs are peaceful, without the prey.
All are perfect for framing and as far as I know there are fine art prints for sale at his website.
This is a terrific collection of many different kinds of animals living their freedom in the wildlife. Most of the portraits are done with natural light, without flash. Lately quite a lot of wildlife photographers have started using artificial light. To my taste not very often with satisfactory results. But then Steve Bloom knows what he is doing. There is just one picture where the flash seems a little unnatural (but that's my taste)
As is written in the amazon description above this is a smaller version of the original HC book. My advise: get the hardcover. But in case you prefer a smaller format this one will most certainly make you happy.

10 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Stunning!, December 10, 2004

By 

Whippet "voracious reader" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Untamed (Hardcover)

This book is a revelation. It comprises a collection of the best, most deeply original wildlife photography either my wife or I have seen. Truly outstanding.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fabulous!, January 30, 2006

By 

Teri Soares "terids" (Fairfield, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Untamed (Hardcover)

There's no fluff or filler in this book. The images are breathtaking. Whether you're a photographer (like me) or an animal lover (like me, too) this book will capture your attention over and over. There are straight documentary shots as well as those with the artistic touch. Just beautiful.

I especially like the cheetah and her cub and the elephant and her calf in the Africa section. Then there is the Penguin population explosion on the beach in Antarctica. And, then... There aren't any page numbers to interrupt the pictures so I can't tell you which pages, but you'll know them when you see them. Also, the image of facing zebras outside the 4 page spread was quite a catch.

Speaking of 4 page spreads, what a treat to open up a nearly 4 foot wide wildebeest/zebra migration (among many others)! WOW!

In short, I love this book!