America's Spectacular National Parks

Rating:
Summary: Stunning, Breathtaking Superb Coffee Table
Review: Angel Lee had already said most of the great features about this book so I will just add on it.

Breathtaking shots on America's national parks, I bought it along with Spectacular China, and Spectacular Ireland, books from the same series. A very general book on the national parks of America, and so do not expect many shots on each area. My favourite would be the canyon shots, but there are too few, and none too surprised. A companion book would be Spectacular Alaska, which I find a real essential to get hold of.

It's been said and I'm going to say it again, the real treat is the fold-out panoramas (about 3 x A3 paper length). With the wide-angle view, one can almost imagine standing right in front of the parks, not to mention the other full page shots. At this price, it's a fairly good deal, with all the panaromas you can hardly find elsewhere, you would just need to get dedicated books on individual national parks, especially those of Colorado and Grand Canyon, among the best nature can offer I would say.

Ths is the best one among the Spectacular series, China is another great book, with panaroma shots of the Great Wall, as well as her scenic valleys and mountains. The whole series is Highly recommended for coffee table (though the shots in Spectacular Ireland seems so murky and out of focus) and to inspire you to get off the couch and see them for yourself....

Rating:
Summary: Just imagine...
Review: If you ADORE Nature, even half as much as I, this book is perfect for you. I have always wanted to visit National Parks someday--and divers places worldwide and this book confirms my dream and that I will make it happen! Every single page is full of breathtakingly gorgeous, striking photography by not just true professionals but true artists which impress me more than any photos I've seen in a long time. The helpful 'reviews' about each, written adeptly by various writers who not only personally visit the park but share some of the history about each and much more is very interesting, informative and helpful reading. Usually for me, when I gape and gander through a book of photography of this quality and magnitude with three-page foldouts, the writing is boring but this is terrific! On each page the state is included beside the page number. Well- organized, well-written, flawless photography--the Perfect book. You will never get photographs this good even if you visited all the parks. That is all the reason you need to buy it now!

Here is a list of the parks: (* I must see)
THE EAST: Acadia, Shenandoah*, Great Smoky Mountains (I've seen), Biscayne, Everglades*.
THE MIDWEST: Mammoth Cave, Hot Springs, Voyagers, Isle Royale*, Theodore Roosevelt, Badlands, Wind Cave.
THE SOUTHWEST: Big Bend*, Guadalupe Mountains, Carlsbad Caverns, Petrified Forest*, Saguaro, Grand Canyon*, Zion, Bryce Canyon*, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Arches*, Mesa Verde*.
THE ROCKIES: Great Basin, Rocky Mountain (I've seen), Grand Teton, Yellowstone*, Waterton/Glacier, North Cascades.
ALASKA: Wrangell-St. Elias, Glacier Bay, Denali*, Kenai Fjords*, Lake Clark*, Gates of the Artic, Katmai, Kobuk Valley*.
THE WEST: Channel Islands*, Death Valley*, Yosemite* (WBHW! Wish I were there with you!) Joshua Tree*, Sequoia/Kings Canyon*, Lassen Volcanic, Redwoods* (Everlasting. Aaggh you're going there too? This is torture! LOL! Well, I am going someday too, Lord willing), Crater Lake*, Olympic*, Mount Rainier*, Haleakala, Hawaii Volcanoes. Just imagine, if earth has places this glorious, how wonderous Heaven will be!

Happy Trails and Soar!

Rating:
Summary: Just imagine...
Review: If you ADORE Nature, even half as much as I, this book is perfect for you. I have always wanted to visit National Parks someday--and divers places worldwide and this book confirms my dream and that I will make it happen! Every single page is full of breathtakingly gorgeous, striking photography by not just true professionals but true artists which impress me more than any photos I've seen in a long time. The helpful 'reviews' about each, written adeptly by various writers who not only personally visit the park but share some of the history about each and much more is very interesting, informative and helpful reading. Usually for me, when I gape and gander through a book of photography of this quality and magnitude with three-page foldouts, the writing is boring but this is terrific! On each page the state is included beside the page number. Well- organized, well-written, flawless photography--the Perfect book. You will never get photographs this good even if you visited all the parks. That is all the reason you need to buy it now!

Here is a list of the parks: (* I must see)
THE EAST: Acadia, Shenandoah*, Great Smoky Mountains (I've seen), Biscayne, Everglades*.
THE MIDWEST: Mammoth Cave, Hot Springs, Voyagers, Isle Royale*, Theodore Roosevelt, Badlands, Wind Cave.
THE SOUTHWEST: Big Bend*, Guadalupe Mountains, Carlsbad Caverns, Petrified Forest*, Saguaro, Grand Canyon*, Zion, Bryce Canyon*, Canyonlands, Capitol Reef, Arches*, Mesa Verde*.
THE ROCKIES: Great Basin, Rocky Mountain (I've seen), Grand Teton, Yellowstone*, Waterton/Glacier, North Cascades.
ALASKA: Wrangell-St. Elias, Glacier Bay, Denali*, Kenai Fjords*, Lake Clark*, Gates of the Artic, Katmai, Kobuk Valley*.
THE WEST: Channel Islands*, Death Valley*, Yosemite* (WBHW! Wish I were there with you!) Joshua Tree*, Sequoia/Kings Canyon*, Lassen Volcanic, Redwoods* (Everlasting. Aaggh you're going there too? This is torture! LOL! Well, I am going someday too, Lord willing), Crater Lake*, Olympic*, Mount Rainier*, Haleakala, Hawaii Volcanoes. Just imagine, if earth has places this glorious, how wonderous Heaven will be!

Happy Trails and Soar!

Rating:
Summary: Other recommended readings
Review: Just to add on. To see more great scenic shots, see books by David Muench, Galen Rowell, Art Wolfe, among the very best nature photographers/writers out there, not to mention many others.

Wildlife photography? See them. Arthur Morris, Tim Fitzharris

Rating:
Summary: Breathtaking photos. Info on over 50 different nat parks
Review: This is an absolutely breathtaking book on national parks and a must have for anyone who loves nature. There is information and beautiful photography for over 50 different parks across the United States.

The book opens with a brief history of the development of our national park system. A map showing where each is located in also included. About two to four pages are then devoted to each of the parks.

The history and features are then described along with the spectacular photographs. There are many diverse landscapes including lush forests, desert vistas, magnificent mountains, huge glaciers, pristine lakes, & mysterious caverns.

Several 3 page fold-out panoramas are the highlight of the book. It almost makes you feel like you're there. I could go though this book a thousand times, discovering new things each time.