Animal Portraits [ILLUSTRATED] (Hardcover)

by Walter Schels (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal
Great portraits not only expose the inner workings of the subject but also create an emotional resonance that elicits an association for the viewer. Here, Schels encounters another level of complexity because his subjects are animals, seldom viewed as individuals in their own right. Schels's sophisticated black-and-white studio portraits consist of head shots of earnest and supple cats, quirky and noble dogs, observant sheep, stern roosters, and a few exotica, including a gawky kangaroo, a ruggedly etched elephant, and a resplendent golden eagle. Simply placed and directly viewed, the faces of these animals are intricate, communicative, highly personable, and surprisingly unique. Overall, the animals seem at ease and aware, often even participatory. From the reflective gaze of a chimpanzee to the scrutiny of a house cat, Schels settles for none of the more common sentimental and sugary ideas of these animals but seeks and repeatedly finds undeniable and frequently comical evidence of their distinctive personalities and universal traits. This book is recommended for large public libraries and, though not intended as such, will also make a delightful addition to well-endowed children's collections. Debora Miller, Minneapolis
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist
In the brief afterword to this album, German photographer Schels, a fine portraitist, confesses what may seem a strange orientation to the art: "For my portraits of people, I wanted 'animal-like' faces without poses and superfluous smiles, without the implied question: 'How do I look?'" Which attitude accounts, perhaps, for the stunning quality of his black-and-white images of animals' faces, all presented, proper portrait-wise, against black or white backdrops. Although they can't smile, animals don't hide their feelings, Schels opines, and "that is why we sometimes think we recognize a carefully hidden part of our own inner selves in an animal's expression." Dunno about inner selves, but the camel looks like a bully, the bear looks like a bishop, and the pigs all look like city councilmen. Most impressive is the pictures' presentational force, thanks to which it is possible to stare enrapt at the elephant's head and ear that, with every wrinkle and texture of skin ruthlessly exposed, resemble nothing so much as a relief map of an alternative Africa. Ray Olson
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved

Product Details

• Hardcover: 120 pages
• Publisher: Stemmle Pub.; illustrated edition edition (July 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 3908163455
• ISBN-13: 978-3908163459
• Product Dimensions: 14.6 x 11.1 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 3.8 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,330,702 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Animal portraits, December 8, 2002

By	Yael Niemeyer-James - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Walter Schels fotos are stunning portraits of creatures great and small. They provoke a whole range of feelings on the viewers side, some are witty, some proud, some rather funny, clever, serious etc., but always admired beings in their own rights. The book is a statement of the authors underlying love for the animal kingdom.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Recommended for photography and animals enthusiasts!, March 23, 2002

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

Walter Schels' photography of animals provides oversized, black and white pages filled with close-up portraits of farm animals and others, displaying striking differences in features and expressions. Artists with a special passion for animals will find this packed with diverse images which, when seen under one cover, do a fine job of displaying animal characteristics and animal art.