Through the Lens: National Geographic Greatest Photographs (National Geographic Collectors Series)

I fancy myself to know a good photo when I see one and I was humbled by the really great photos in this book. I suppose it all depends on what you like, but since these are the pix they chose to include and I think they are great, either they or I agree with each other. Buy it. It will amaze you and when you leave it out for discovery, it will amaze your friends!

National Geographic Magazine, long the definitive resource for armchair discovery of the world, has published this very fine volume that has been translated in many languages and distributed around the world. The contents are simply (!) rich color photographs for which National Geographic is so widely respected and well known. Divided into sections - Europe, Asia, Africa & the Middle East, The Americas, Oceans and Isles, and The Universe - the editors have selected a terrific cross section of images from the depth of underwater photographs (apparently these were the first ever made!) to images of the distant most stars. And of course including images of the planet's surface and habitants in the fine tradition of the magazine. Some of the photographs will be familiar to readers of the magazine while many will be the first glimpses of how fine the representative 84 photographers truly are. This is one photography/art book that would rest comfortably on any coffee table. It provides a wonderland for children's imaginations, reveries for travelers, and stimuli for every eye that journeys through the book. Highly recommended. Grady Harp, December 05

Our world, its people and the animals that share it all with us, as captured thru the years by National Geographic photographers. Photography is an art and a book like this proves it! Some of the most lovely, shocking, interesting and amazing pictures ever published are in this incredible book. Fun to look at again and again. Well worth the price.

This is a great book - it is just so wonderful to see all one's favourite pictures over so many years in one wondrous book. No one takes pictures like the National Geographic - so what if the reproduction is occasionally slightly muddy? This is just the kind of book to give your favourite nephew and niece for Christmas (OK - I am that old and have been reading the National Geographic THAT long), because it will introduce them to the wonderful world that is out there for them to explore and enjoy. Christmas is coming, folks and this is just the kind of gift to give! Christopher Catherwood, long time National Geographic reader and author of CHRISTIANS, MUSLIMS AND ISLAMIC RAGE (Zondervan, 2003)

It never goes wrong to buy photo collections of national geographic. Hardcover, 500 pages, high-quality pictures, at price $30. What do you expect?The book is in high quality, in terms of binding and printing. The pictures included are also very interesting. About 250 photos are included, and usaully, one photo will cover too pages.But I have a complaint. Most photos are not the original. The editor cut the edges, and only show the "main" part of the photo in this book. This causes two problems. First, I believe that when the photographer took the photo, he/she has special purpose for framing. Different photographer has different style. But now, the style of all photos look consistent!!! I want to see the original photos. Second, since a portion of the orignal photo is enlarged so much, the color is not as vivid as before.But anyway, despite the drawback, it is definitely worth buying this book.