Wonders: Spectacular Moments in Nature Photography

Description

This breathtaking collection of nature photography reveals rare creatures, transports us to distant landscapes, and captures fleeting moments of drama and beauty in the natural world. From a rare glimpse of the elusive Pampas cat to a heart-pounding shot of the Wildebeest Migration, each of the 100- plus images tells a story about the diversity and grandeur of life on our planet. These photographs are all winners of the BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition, founded in 2014 by the California Academy of Sciences to recognise photographers who use their artistic mastery to teach and inspire. With essays by leading lights in conservation and photography and captions explaining the natural phenomena and technology behind each shot, this book celebrates the beautiful intersection of art and science.

The California Academy of Sciences is a renowned scientific and educational institution dedicated to exploring, explaining, and sustaining life on Earth. Based in San Francisco's Golden Gate Park, it's the only place in the world to house an aquarium, a planetarium, and a natural history museum as well as innovative programs in scientific research and education-all under one living roof. Rhonda Rubinstein is the creative director of the California Academy of Sciences and cofounder of the BigPicture Natural World Photography Competition. Dr. Sylvia A. Earle is a National Geographic Explorer in Residence, Ocean Elder, founder of Mission Blue, and founder of Deep Ocean Exploration and Research Inc. Suzi Eszterhas is an award-winning wildlife photographer best known for documenting newborn animals in the wild. Dr. Jonathan Foley is a world-leading environmental scientist and author and has worked on numerous issues including climate change, global land and water use, and sustainable agriculture.

"Nature is a beautiful thing and this stunning book has more than 100 snaps capturing the natural world in all its glory. The shot of the wildebeest migration is incredible, as is that of the elusive pampas cat." -- The Sun "Tiger cubs playfight and a penguin jumps for its life in stunning images highlighting spectacular moments in the natural world" -- MailOnline "WONDERS is a stunning collection of the best photographs from the Big Picture Natural World Photography Competition, and what a line-up it is! [...] If you need a reminder of the wonders of nature, then look no further than the pages of this fabulous book." -- Daily Mail "While the animal photographs capture those behaviours that humans don't often get to see, the landscape shots preserve transient moments in nature that might be missed by those without a photographer's eye. And if you're keen to recreate the images yourself, you'll be pleased to know that the book explains the scientific phenomena and photographic techniques behind each shot." -- BBC Focus "Presenting the beauty and diversity of wildlife in all its splendour, the pictures in this book are the best submissions from this year's Big Picture Natural World Photography Competition - an international competition launched by the California Academy of Sciences. This year they received more than 6,000 entries, helping to reinforce the academy's mission to explore, explain and sustain the natural world and life within it. The eight categories have been grouped into six key chapters, with each picture including an extended caption from the photographer. An intriguing addition is the judges' comments on selected images. Feedback from leading figures in the industry, such as wildlife photographer Suzi Eszterhas, National Geographic picture editor Kathy Moran and Sophie Stafford, former editor of BBC Wildlife magazine, gives readers insight into what makes a standout wildlife photograph. It's a stunning tribute to the included photographers." -- Outdoor Photography "These incredible photos offer a rare up-close glimpse of some of the world's most incredible animals - from sleepy sloths and camouflaged rhinos, to quick-footed penguins and more..." -- Wanderlust "The striking compendium features unique glimpses into rare moments of nature. The photos, and the stories behind them, are truly inspiring." -- Psychologies magazine "A tonne of spectacular nature photography that explains the science and techniques behind the images." -- Porter Magazine