Plateaus and Canyons - Impressions of the American Southwest is a new title from Rocky Nook, and the first book of colour photographs by master photographer Bruce Barnbaum. Over the past forty years, Barnbaum has visited the Colorado Plateau repeatedly to capture a series of stunning images of Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Factory Butte, Colorado River Plateau, White Cliffs, Painted Desert, and other scenic locations in the region. “These 95 large-format color photographs, each with an accompanying description, are certain to captivate, inspire, and above all, encourage a new appreciation of the wonder of our planet,” the publisher says. The 220-page book is available now for $44.95.

O’Reilly Press Release

Plateaus and Canyons — New from Rocky Nook

Impressions of the American Southwest

Santa Barbara, CA — Nov. 8, 2011 — Spanning across the borders of four states is the Colorado Plateau, a region that boasts an amazing diversity of landforms. Over the past forty years, master photographer Bruce Barnbaum has visited this region repeatedly — sometimes several times a year and often staying as long as a month each time. During these visits he has discovered an endless array of awe-inspiring subjects to photograph.

Although widely known for his black-and-white images, Barnbaum has been quietly capturing color images all along. Finally, these stunning images have been published in this, his first book of color photographs, Plateaus and Canyons (Rocky Nook, $44.95 USD).

Photographed with the eye of a true artist are the remarkable colors of Antelope Canyon, Horseshoe Bend, Factory Butte, Colorado River Plateau, White Cliffs, Painted Desert, and so many other locations. Barnbaum’s images reveal the hues and layers of the various minerals found throughout the region, and the breathtaking landforms that were created over millions of years of faulting, folding, uplifting, and being buried under seas.

In a series of short essays throughout the book, Barnbaum shares his stories, thoughts, and feelings about this majestic territory — from his first introduction to the “Canyon Country” in 1974, when it was little-known and rarely photographed, through the changes he witnessed over the years as more and more people visited the area, and finally to the irreversible effects the multitudes have had on it.
These 95 large-format color photographs, each with an accompanying description, are certain to captivate, inspire, and above all, encourage a new appreciation of the wonder of our planet.

About the Author

Bruce Barnbaum, of Granite Falls, WA, entered photography as a hobbyist in the 1960s, and after four decades, it is still his hobby. It has also been his life’s work for the past 30 years.

Bruce’s educational background includes bachelor’s and master’s degrees in mathematics from UCLA. After working for several years as a mathematical analyst and computer programmer for missile guidance systems, he abruptly left the field and turned to photography.

Bruce is recognized as one of the finest darkroom printers on this planet, both for his exceptional black-and-white work, as well as for his color imagery. He understands light to an extent rarely found and combines this understanding with a mastery of composition, applying his knowledge to an extraordinarily wide range of subject matter.

Bruce has authored several books, some of which have become classics. The Art of Photography: An Approach to Personal Expression (first published in 1994 and then going out of print in 2002) was updated, revamped, and newly released in late 2010 by Rocky Nook. This new book became an instant best seller and is sure to remain a classic for years to come.

Bruce has been an active environmental advocate for more than three decades, both independently and through his involvement and leadership with organizations such as the Sierra Club, the National Audubon Society, the Mountain Loop Conservancy, Futurewise, and the North Cascades Conservation Council.

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