The living forest: a visual journey into the heart of the woods

Book Cover
Average Rating
Publisher
Timber Press
Publication Date
2017.
Language
English

Description

“With precise, stunning photographs and a distinctly literary narrative that tells the story of the forest ecosystem along the way, The Living Forest is an invitation to join in the eloquence of seeing.” —Sierra Magazine From the leaves and branches of the canopy to the roots and soil of the understory, the forest is a complex, interconnected ecosystem filled with plants, birds, mammals, insects, and fungi. Some of it is easily discovered, but many parts remain difficult or impossible for the human eye to see. Until now. The Living Forest is a visual journey that immerses you deep into the woods. The wide-ranging photography by Robert Llewellyn celebrates the small and the large, the living and the dead, and the seen and the unseen. You’ll discover close-up images of owls, hawks, and turtles; aerial photographs that show herons in flight; and time-lapse imagery that reveals the slow change of leaves. In an ideal blend of art and scholarship, the 300 awe-inspiring photographs are supported by lyrical essays from Joan Maloof detailing the science behind the wonder. 

More Details

Contributors
Llewellyn, Robert J. photographer., pht
ISBN
9781604697124

Table of Contents

From the Book

Toward the sky: the canopy and bird life
Eyes all over: leaves
A deep breath: lungs of the land
World of water: cycles and creatures
On the ground: animals of the forest floor
The middle realm: trunks
Shedding and resting: autumn and winter
Budding: winter into spring
Flowers and fruits: spring into summer
Connections: roots and fungi
The only-green: moss and fern
The spirit of the forest.

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Author Notes

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Published Reviews

Choice Review

Reading The Living Forest is akin to taking a slow walk with a keen naturalist and poet through a deep wilderness in the backwoods of New York or Virginia. A journey meant to slow the breath, to engender fascination and love for the natural bounty that surrounds us. This book was created with more of an artistic sensibility than a scholarly one; Llewellyn's photographs encompass trees from the roots to the leaves, and the pages feature stunning high key photography of buds and flowers opening in the spring. Forest animal inhabitants are highlighted where their part of the ecosystem or cycle is integral to the natural journey Maloof's writing takes, from the canopy in the air and sky down to the moss and ferns on the ground. A short bibliography is included for those looking for more information, though there are no in-text citations. For those who lack easy access to the forest, taking a few minutes to savor this book--to take in the emotionally expressive photography and learn a tidbit or two--could be just as pleasurable as a nature walk. Summing Up: Recommended. All readers. --Tara Lee Bal, Michigan Technological University

Copyright American Library Association, used with permission.
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Publisher's Weekly Review

Arresting photographs combine with musings about the web of life in deciduous forests in this coffee-table book. According to Maloof, a professor of biology and environmental studies at Salisbury University, "The forest is not only something to be understood, it is also something to be felt." She imbues the written portions of the book with colorful language that sometimes takes the tone of a fantastical children's story, as when she encourages readers to enter "this world of tangible rainbows" to experience fall foliage. While some of the science is elementary, Maloof compensates by adding more-esoteric information, as with her extended discussion of the sensory powers of tree leaves or the fact that most of a hummingbird's nutrition comes not from nectar but from insects and spiders. Llewellyn's photography is gorgeous and includes aerial shots and close-ups of plants and animals. He presents the plants against a white background, easily drawing attention to elements of biodiversity described in the text. Surprisingly, there is only a brief statement on environmental preservation. The book provides a beautiful-if not deep-view of woodlands through the seasons. Color photos. (Oct.) © Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved.

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Publishers Weekly Reviews

Arresting photographs combine with musings about the web of life in deciduous forests in this coffee-table book. According to Maloof, a professor of biology and environmental studies at Salisbury University, "The forest is not only something to be understood, it is also something to be felt." She imbues the written portions of the book with colorful language that sometimes takes the tone of a fantastical children's story, as when she encourages readers to enter "this world of tangible rainbows" to experience fall foliage. While some of the science is elementary, Maloof compensates by adding more-esoteric information, as with her extended discussion of the sensory powers of tree leaves or the fact that most of a hummingbird's nutrition comes not from nectar but from insects and spiders. Llewellyn's photography is gorgeous and includes aerial shots and close-ups of plants and animals. He presents the plants against a white background, easily drawing attention to elements of biodiversity described in the text. Surprisingly, there is only a brief statement on environmental preservation. The book provides a beautiful—if not deep—view of woodlands through the seasons. Color photos. (Oct.)

Copyright 2017 Publisher Weekly.

Copyright 2017 Publisher Weekly.
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