Customer Reviews

Where Every Breath Is a Prayer: A Photographic Pilgrimage in the Spiritual Heart of Asia

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For twenty years, renowned photographer JON ORTNER has been devoted to exploring the wonders of the most haunting and mystical of all regions on earth

-spiritual Asia and the ancient lands of the Himalayas. Following the footsteps of holy men and shamans, Ortner has trekked thousands of miles-
many remote and dangerous-through Nepal, India, Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Java, and Bali, to
rediscover and record sacred topography, archeological and architectural marvels, and people whose lives are focused on enlightenment
and growth.
Witness the world's highest peaks and deepest gorges of the Himalayas; the world oldest
city, Varanasi, on the holy Ganges River; the once forbidden temples of Myanmar and Cambodia; the
Grand Palace of Bangkok, and the magical landscape of Java.
Accompanying these evocative images are compelling factual and mythological narratives that trace the evolution and diffusion of Hindu and Buddhist religions. From the prmitive beginnings of animism, to the Hindu Creation Myth, to the birth of the Hindu ruler, Siddharta Gautama, and his legacy of Buddhist enlightenment, ORTNER leads us
down a path unbroken for thousands of years.
An unprecedented tribute to the wonders of the East, WHERE EVERY BREATH IS A PRAYER is destined to change Western conception of the natural World.
This is a lavish (300 stunning full-colour
photographs), large scale book, leavened by an exceptional collection of portraits of men and women in the midst of ordinary worship.
In this marvelous book, JON ORTNER has shown us the path he traveled, a path readers might follow, if only in their longings.
I recommend this book for its text and for its 300 stunning full-color photographs; it is in perfect harmony with the motto of its publishers
"The Heart and Soul of Illustrated Books"
Jan Mortelmans

This book is a visual exploration into the heart of Eastern religions. It begins in the high Himalayas, juxtaposing the fantastic mountain scenery with images of local temples and local life. From the Himalayas, it moves on to the Ganges, with scenes of celebrations and funerals along the river. The collection of photographs goes on to show religious people, temples, and scenery in South and Southeast Asia from India to Bali. The accompanying text provides a concise explanation of some of the basic tenets of Buddhism, as well as some information about the beliefs of the Hindus. The photographs are spectacular-some of the best that I've ever seen. I found myself thinking as I looked through the photographs, "Wow, I'd love to have that one hanging on my wall!" only to find that the one on the next page to be even more breath-taking. This is a book to read slowly, to savor again and again.

If it's the photos essay I would expect to see better quality of images that could capture the heart of what the author had intended. It has nice title and great attempt. The content could have been much more profound.