Asleep in the Sun

Hans Silvester is a master photographer, and here he has chosen one of his favourite subjects, cats. On many Greek Islands, cats roam free among the people, living their lives on beaches, in the public spaces, and in every nook and cranny around. These photographs, astonishing in colour and clarity, are fabulous images of familiar and emotive subjects. Who doesn't like to nap? Certainly, cats are renowned for this - the phrase 'cat-nap' is a standard English phrase for good reason. Cats also are creatures of comfort and joy -- they have a good talent for seeking out even the smallest sliver of sunlight to bask and enjoy. Single, double and in 'clumps', cats are portrayed in various settings here -- cliffs, beaches, stores, stairs, empty boxes, waterside -- every conceivable pose.These are natural shots. Silvester does not work with trained cats, and as most people know, cats are notoriously hard to 'herd'. Silvester went everywhere with his cameras, every day, and found cats doing what they do naturally, which is most often, napping. The settings on the Cyclades Islands in Greece provide a stunning backdrop. The buildings are better than any Hollywood set could ever be; from the dramatic colours of the Mediterranean to the simple white-washed stone buildings, the colours of the cats, their fur and their eyes, provide dramatic visuals, touching images, and wonderful feelings.Silvester is good at playing contrasts and well as blended images. The opening pages show a solid white cat at play and rest against a white-and-blue washed building in the shade -- the camoflague of the cat is subtle and effective. The calico and orange tabbies against the sandstone is also an effective blend. On the other hand, the tortoise shell cats against the green steps and the mother gray-striper with her collection of nursing kittens against the soft-coloured, light gray stone provide good contrasts. While the title of the book, 'Asleep in the Sun', implies something about cat behaviour and the selection of photographs by Silvester, in fact Silvester never passes up a chance at a good photograph, so we are also treated to cats at play, cats on the run, and cats in various poses such as grooming and stretching. There are no humans depicted in the photographs -- this is a book about the cats and their environment, although the human presence is very much a factor in the architecture and general layout of the place. Silvester includes a short essay at the beginning of the book, in which he praises the Mediterranean idea of siesta and relaxation that we in the north (and those descended from northern Europeans) tend to have forgotten. Cats are companions to humans with love to offer, and means of living to teach. This is a precious book.

This book belongs in every doctor's, dentist's, and attorney's waiting room! No one has mastered the art of total relaxation like cats, and this book just oozes tranquility. The photographs are incredibly candid and unstaged, the compositions are worthy of study for their artistic cropping and dynamic balance, and the patina of the architectural backgrounds is both beautiful and comfortable to the eye. No question about it, Silvester has take feline photography to the level of high art with this beautiful collection.

All of Silvester's books are medicine!This is such a dreamy romantic place.I want to live with these cats and never come back down to earth.When I look at these wonderful photos I feel great sadness that more people can't recognize the beauty of nature.I love cats and I love Greece and I love the peacefulness of this book.

Even if you don't especially love cats, you will love this book. If you do love cats, you'll be crazy for it. Silvester's photographs are so beautifully composed, it's amazing -- angles, colors, lighting -- all are wonderful. In focusing on sleeping or yawning kitties, he captures the relaxed atmosphere of the Greek islands to perfection. The cats you will see here look like and behave like cats -- they aren't posed in that cute way you typically find in cat books and calendars. On the other hand, the photographs are not "arty" in a cold, inaccessible way either (thank goodness). I can't imagine that anyone would regret purchasing this book. It would also make a nice gift for a cat lover.

Most books about cats have them dressed in silly clothes or in crazy poses and that just makes me ill.....but Silvester takes stunning photographs of cats from a distance to maintain a natural feel! And in such a beautiful location! If you are a cat lover, you will greatly appreciate his books.I was sad to learn though, that he has a book of dogs out :(