Canyon Country: A Photographic Journey

"Fans of John Annerino's work, which has appeared in Time, Newsweek, and National Geographic, to name a few publications, praise his vision and ability to capture the immensity of the West. But what caught my eye was a shot of the author-photographer clinging upside down like a spider to a rope strung across Thunder River Falls at the North Rim of the Grand Canyon. Half-hidden in the shadow across his face is his gleaming smile. Clearly, this intrepid artist is doing something he enjoys in a part of the world he loves. The marvels of the Southwest are here in all their glory." - Newsday, New York "To anyone who has traveled in the American Southwest, the Colorado River is nearly synonymous with the regions's staggering landscapes. The great river connects many national parks and monuments, some unreachable by conventional means. John Annerino, author, nature photographer, and mountaineer, has explored such places for the last twenty years. Canyon Country, his latest work, is a presentation of stunning color photography and stories of his travels in places as beautiful as they are treacherous. The author of books such as Grand Canyon Wild and Dead in Their Tracks, Annerino brings a vast amount of photographer's expertise to everyone of his projects. The short chapters integrate geographic descriptions with historical details and personal stories. Annerino's experiences are marked with danger and exhilaration. Reading the passages, one gets a definite sense that these images are not easy to come by. Of course, the biggest emphasis is given to the photographs, themselves. They are stunning images with immense variety. The colors are sublime, and help dispel the illusion that these landscapes are barren and desolate. The light is stunning, as well - the landscapes are bright and luminous, and darkness is felt just as strongly. Some of the images are positively haunting; these are not "friendly" places. This book provides easy access to a world Annerino has traveled hard to present. Looking through the images, one almost feels like a cheat; humbling are they, as well as the dedication involved in their creation. Annerino has managed to take the enormity and power of these treacherous landscapes and capture it all on the page." - Photo Journal Southwest "A riveting exploration of the cultural and natural history of this harsh and beautiful region. Includes tales of doomed expeditions of gold seekers and early American pioneers." - Mountains & Plains "The author-photographer's writing on the West has a large following; he seems particularly gleeful during this exploration of the Four Corners' natural and cultural history." - San Francisco Chronicle A Forbes Book Club Selection