One Hundred Flowers

The number of photographs in _One Hundred Flowers_ is astounding. The colors contrast beautifully against the black background. It's as breathtaking as the publisher claims, and more. Sydney Eddison's introduction, "A Bee's Eye View," leads readers into the photographs and in the essay, "Engendered is the Flower," A. D. Coleman talks symmetry, comparing Feinstein and Chaucer in the timing of their work. With each section there is a 3- to 6-page piece about the flowers in the photographs (White Flowers, Roses, Pansies, Poppies, Orchids, Irises, Sunflowers and Dandelions, Cosmos and Daisies, Floral Diversity, A Name for Every Flower). Some of the photos remind me of drawings in pastel oils, such as the doubled-flowered evergreen azalea on page 105, the bouquet of pink evergreen azaleas on page 107, and the large picture of a modern rose on 32-33. I can only imagine the modern rose photo hanging on my office wall. Absolutely beautiful. This book is huge. Place it on your coffee table and company will naturally gravitate to it. Any cultivator or artist will appreciate its ability to bring the conversation around to nature and art. My first thought was my daughter and her drawing class. This book can inspire many ways of sharing it. Be sure to look up all Feinstein's floral books. They are well worth the effort.

This will forever be one of my favourite books. For anyone who appreciates the spirituality of Eastern Philosophies, you will never again look at a flower without seeing the true beauty and wonder of its creation. Many of us walk through a garden, but how many of us really take the time to absorb the unique and individual beauty of each flower we see? The same principle could easily be applied to the people we encounter each day. How often do we overlook each person's imperfections and see only the inner beauty shinging through? The photography and messages delivered in this once-in-a-lifetime book will stay with you and serve as a constant reminder that it is time to slow down, smell the roses, and enjoy the wonder and beauty of each and every day. You, and only you, have the power to accept life's challenges as an opportuntiey to grow and learn; an opportunity to face life's obstacles and choose to be happy, anyway. The splendour and beauty of this book is a subtle hint that time is short and... life is whatever you choose to make it.

ONE HUNDRED FLOWERS is a joy to behold! Harold Feinstein's magnificent photography of the flowers that grace our gardens are enclosed within the pages of this spectacular new book in a way not seen before. He teams with Gregory Piotrowski, who skillfully provides the lilting prose for this endeavor giving the reader information about each of the hundred and leaving him wanting to know more. After examining these glorious photographs, I don't think I will ever look at a flower in quite the same way again. Mr. Feinstein's photography pulls the reader into a place of brilliant color, design, and fluidity. This "bee's view" as it is called, allows the reader to see into the very soul of each flower pictured. One takes away a new appreciation of the miracles of creation. You will give yourself a gift by owning this book. I plan to purchase it for friends and family as I strongly feel that no one should be deprived the beauty, the sensuousness, the vitality found springing to life on the pages of ONE HUNDRED FLOWERS. I can only hope for one hundred more!

This man's artwork is astounding! As rendered by Mr. Feinstein's photography these flowers will transport you to an inner world where the awesome detail of nature's beauty comes alive as never before observed by the human eye. I use his pictures as a form of personal meditation to elevate my mood and transform my consciousness. I was so pleased to receive my copy of this wonderful book and share it with my friends - it makes for endless conversations on the nature of beauty. I don't have enough money to buy copies of all the prints Mr. Feinstein has to offer, so I bought the book instead! Now I have 100 of his most magnificent pieces of art in my home!I have been following Mr. Feinstein's artistic pursuits and tremendously enjoy his remarkable photography as documented by Life Magazine and TV's Nightline (did you know his work was placed in the permanent collection of the Museum of Modern Art in New York when he was just 19?). He certainly is one of the world's greatest living photographers. I had to own this book!

This gorgeous book is worth its weight in gold. It sits open on my coffee table where every day I select a different spread of luscious photos upon which to feast my eyes and spirit. Feinstein's images are invitations to meditate on life's mysterious gifts and the manifold perfections all around us. What inspiring teachers these flowers are! The words are wonderful, too. Sydney Ellison taught me much about the secret life of flowers ... I'll never look at them in quite the same way again. A.D. Coleman's essay provides artistic context and testament to the breadth and depth of this photographer's vision and body of work. Greg Piotroski's descriptions of the individual flowers in the book range from practical to rhapsodic. I loved the literary references sprinkled throughout this book. My summation in four words is "Wow! and Thank You." This book is pure beauty. I know what gift I'll be giving my special friends this year!