Customer Reviews:
 Disappointing July 23, 2008
1 out of 4 found this review helpful
Title says it all.
Mr Rouse has so much opportunity, but results are not great.
 A beautiful book with captivating and inspirational narrative June 14, 2008
7 out of 10 found this review helpful
References may have been made in the past to Andy Rouse being an old-ham, but to me he is more of a fine cheese. I say this not as any defamatory reference to his personal hygiene, but more that having followed his work since his penchant to lying down in front on angry Rhino, he still continues to excel and raise-the-bar year-on-year.
The first thing that strikes you about "Concepts of Nature" is how beautifully it is printed and bound. It is clear that this book has been put together with great care and a proper understanding of how to present photographs. It is sturdy, glossy and the colour reproduction is first class.
The second thing that strikes you is what an amazing natural ability Andy must have, and how lucky he must have been to get some of these pictures. This is where first impressions can be misleading...
As well as containing amazing photographs, Andy's books have always been a thoroughly good read. However, in "Concepts of Nature", something has happened, and it's almost like Andy has found another gear. The narrative, as well as being as amusing and captivating as previous books, has a new level of emotion about it. Andy's passion for his 'work' shines through, and is both inspirational and motivational. Virtually every photograph has accompanying background narrative giving the image context and further depth. It also becomes very clear, very quickly that although luck may sometimes play a factor, it is intense planning and dedication that has helped Andy achieve these amazing results.
Being a bit of a geek, I am always keen to know some of the technical information behind a picture. I was delighted to discover a five page geek section in the book providing the photographic and setup info for many of the key shots in the book.
Presumably now well into his fifties, the old-dog Rouse still continues to learn new tricks and find new ways of making his awesome wildlife photographs stand-out from the crowd. Personally I cannot wait to see what he does next. My only regret is that I didn't get to see him whopped by the Capercaillie!
This book is a beautiful piece, and I would highly recommend it to animal lovers, photographers and human-beings alike.
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