"Stunning", "Awesome", "Oh, Cool!"...these are just some of the comments that were uttered by our family upon opening the impressive hardcover book - Light Fading: Reflections on the Imperiled Everglades, by Joel Curzon. Joel spent many years exploring and experiencing the Florida Everglades. The in-depth networking with numerous scientists and experts shows in the exceptional essay he created to go along with his photographs.
This beautiful photographic celebration of the Florida Everglades (USA) is, in part, a tribute to the author's deceased brother who provoked those around him to see the beauty in the finest detail. Joel utilizes wording in such a way as to inspire readers to really SEE what his photographs reveal. The book itself is also impressive, heavy weight, good quality and a large coffee table book size of 10.5 X 13.25 inches.
There are about 20 pages, in total, of text that is split up into sections in throughout the book, such as where Joel describes his solo trips through the everglades over the years and his need to participate in the protection of the environment and express his awe of the everglades' diversity. His essay on the environment - how it was formed, the people who have used the area and how it has changed over the years to what we see today - is quite interesting. On pages 170-171 readers will find information on success stories of environmental efforts and also current threats to the area. The book closes with resources and organizations with connections to the Florida Everglades. At times the authors writing can seem a bit wordy - so don't expect light-reading material. Of course one can easily enjoy this book based on the photographs alone.
The dream-like lightening strikes, algae-streaked wildlife, detailed shots of scales, feathers, leaves, fauna and parallel sheets of falling rain are certain to evoke reverence from the reader. Check out the reflective raindrops (one of my favorites) and the startlingly intricate design of the blue eyes of the white ibis. Tree snails that look like jewelry, snakes that look like they've been sprayed with shellac, gorgeous shots of turtles highlighting their eyes and designs... Birds, butterflies and grasshoppers so colorful they look like they were dipped in a box of melting crayons.
Light Fading is distributed by the National Book Network and published by Peter E Randall Publisher. The retail price is $60 (US) but offers 320 pages of full color photography for the Nature and Environment genre buffs. Printed in China (which increases the environmental footprint of this book) it is created in hard cover format, cloth bound, with a slipcover jacket. Only one photograph seems to have been altered and one other photograph was from a contributor - however all other images are the original works of Joel Curzon.
ISBN#: 978-1-931807-28-9
Rating: 4-out-of-5 stars
~ Lillian Brummet: co-author of the books Trash Talk and Purple Snowflake Marketing, author of Towards Understanding; host of the Conscious Discussions radio show (http://www.brummet.ca/)
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