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Rainforest
Thomas Marent, a self-taught photographer who has dedicated half his life to capturing images of rainforest life, tells the story of his journey through these spectacular photographs. Join him as he travels across five continents for an up-close view of the astonishing variety and fascinating behavior of rainforest plants and trees, reptiles, birds, amphibians, insects, and mammals.
359 pages, Hardcover
First published August 21, 2006
7 people are currently reading
371 people want to read
About the author
Thomas Marent
25 books7 followersThomas Marent is a Swiss nature and wildlife photographer whose passion for the outdoors began in childhood and deepened when he got his first camera at 16. A transformative trip to an Australian rainforest at 23 inspired a lifelong mission to explore and document rainforests worldwide. Since the mid-1990s, his work has appeared in magazines and calendars, culminating in his 2006 book Rainforest, translated into 15 languages. He has published several follow-ups, leads wildlife photography tours, and supports butterfly conservation in Switzerland.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews
June 3, 2018
This is a really beautiful book of photographs of life in the forest: plants and animals. Over 500 taken over 16 years on 5 different continents, and the result is beautiful. My copy came with a CD of rainforest sounds worldwide; haven't yet listened to it, but looks promising.
The pictures are categorised: scenery, variety of species, survival tactics, life circle (reproduction, food, recycling), and group life. At the end are details on the world's rainforests, and short writing on rainforest photographing. With many photographs there are also small background stories on taking the pictures and such things.
It is a magnificent journey of pictures: there is so many colors and shapes (and to think there are still places with new stuff that is not yet found...). The photos are taken with different distances and at different times of day.
You feel like you really learn new things as you gaze at it all. Traveling with a book is sometimes the best way to appreciate a good photographer, and you get to travel without the tough parts of being there: wetness, heat, being bitten/stung/lost... But the main point is: this is travel book and a visual book, and a beautful book, and you don't want it to end. A great experience.
The pictures are categorised: scenery, variety of species, survival tactics, life circle (reproduction, food, recycling), and group life. At the end are details on the world's rainforests, and short writing on rainforest photographing. With many photographs there are also small background stories on taking the pictures and such things.
It is a magnificent journey of pictures: there is so many colors and shapes (and to think there are still places with new stuff that is not yet found...). The photos are taken with different distances and at different times of day.
You feel like you really learn new things as you gaze at it all. Traveling with a book is sometimes the best way to appreciate a good photographer, and you get to travel without the tough parts of being there: wetness, heat, being bitten/stung/lost... But the main point is: this is travel book and a visual book, and a beautful book, and you don't want it to end. A great experience.
July 3, 2021
Phenomenal pictures. My favorite section: Deception. Large, highly detailed pictures in logical progressions. I like the white text on black background - easy to read. Informative coffee-table kind of book. If people can't combat climate change for the sake of cities and business, simply looking through a book like this will make everyone want to preserve these rain forests forever.
February 2, 2021
Krásné fotografie živé i neživé přírody, zajímavé informace o deštném lese (jeho druzích, životu a koloběhu, fauně i flóře...) a životě fotografa, který na dobrou fotografii čeká hodiny, dny i týdny... Za nejkrásnější kapitolu musím rozhodně označit tu o přežití a maskování.
Víte, že?
- Jedovaté pralesničky svůj jed samy nevytváří a mají je z pojídání mravenců, kteří pojídají jedovaté rostliny. Jedná žába by stačila na usmrcení i 50 lidí.
- Sklípkani dost špatně vidí, své oběti sledují pomocí chlupů na nohách a přenášení vibrací.
- Až 40 % života na zemi nežije v deštných pralesích, ale v korunách tamních stromů. Na půdu se totiž dostane jen asi 1 % slunečních paprsků, a jde tak o mnohem nehostinější prostředí, než se často myslí. Představa neprostupného zarostlého pralesa realitě odpovídá tak, jako pouště složené převážně z písečných dun (což nejsou).
- Oči nártouna jsou větší než mozek a dokonce tak velké, že s nimi nelze otáčet a nártoun musí otáčet celou hlavou.
- Voda černé Amazonky sice vypadá čistě, ale skoro nic v ní nežije, protože je "otrávená" teiny z rostlin.
Jen je tedy bohužel vidět, že i přes hodiny a hodiny obětované získání těch nejlepších fotografií, se od doby focení a následně vydání knihy zase technika o trochu posunula. I tak ale převažují fotografie technicky kvalitní a kniha za prolistování i pročtení stojí.
Víte, že?
- Jedovaté pralesničky svůj jed samy nevytváří a mají je z pojídání mravenců, kteří pojídají jedovaté rostliny. Jedná žába by stačila na usmrcení i 50 lidí.
- Sklípkani dost špatně vidí, své oběti sledují pomocí chlupů na nohách a přenášení vibrací.
- Až 40 % života na zemi nežije v deštných pralesích, ale v korunách tamních stromů. Na půdu se totiž dostane jen asi 1 % slunečních paprsků, a jde tak o mnohem nehostinější prostředí, než se často myslí. Představa neprostupného zarostlého pralesa realitě odpovídá tak, jako pouště složené převážně z písečných dun (což nejsou).
- Oči nártouna jsou větší než mozek a dokonce tak velké, že s nimi nelze otáčet a nártoun musí otáčet celou hlavou.
- Voda černé Amazonky sice vypadá čistě, ale skoro nic v ní nežije, protože je "otrávená" teiny z rostlin.
Jen je tedy bohužel vidět, že i přes hodiny a hodiny obětované získání těch nejlepších fotografií, se od doby focení a následně vydání knihy zase technika o trochu posunula. I tak ale převažují fotografie technicky kvalitní a kniha za prolistování i pročtení stojí.
September 17, 2013
rainforest is a DK book that was reviewed in the Oprah magazine O. As with any DK book the pictures are very important and these are great pictures! The pictures start with a few panoramic views. You'll see animals you recognize and some you don't. In the Arms and Armor section you might be left asking, "What's that?" See if you can find all the critters hiding in the Deception section. There are a few pictures of creatures being eaten by another and mating, but none are graphic in any way. Lots of colorful frogs, snakes and butterflies. Also a full spread sequence series of a cicada coming out of it's shell. Check out the bats living inside a leaf on page 323,or the fantastic shot of a strangler fig on page 160 (Guess how it got that name.) or maybe say eehhh when you see the millipede on page 344. This photographer definitely spent numerous hours in the rainforest. Wonder how many mosquito bites he has? Just check out the pictures of other animals that have to endure mosquitoes too.
Bottom Line: This book has amazing pictures of all kinds of rainforest animals and plants (mostly animals) with just a few sentences about each picture. There is a page or two of text at the beginning of each section. Read it if you want to learn more or just skip it and read the captions as you enjoy the pictures. This book is worth the trouble of placing a hold to see it. You'll want to share it with friends or family so you can eeww and wow together. And yes parents this adult book really is ok for children of all ages.
Bottom Line: This book has amazing pictures of all kinds of rainforest animals and plants (mostly animals) with just a few sentences about each picture. There is a page or two of text at the beginning of each section. Read it if you want to learn more or just skip it and read the captions as you enjoy the pictures. This book is worth the trouble of placing a hold to see it. You'll want to share it with friends or family so you can eeww and wow together. And yes parents this adult book really is ok for children of all ages.
April 10, 2011
This book is a beautiful display of photography.
Yes, there is writing inside, explaining each photo, and even snippets written here and there describing the journey it took to get some of these shots.
For me though, this book was all about the photos.
With that said, I was somewhat disappointed in the ones that took both pages. I found the photo got lost in the binding at times, and the ones that were a single page were more vivid and complete.
A great picture book still. One I think photographers would enjoy.
Yes, there is writing inside, explaining each photo, and even snippets written here and there describing the journey it took to get some of these shots.
For me though, this book was all about the photos.
With that said, I was somewhat disappointed in the ones that took both pages. I found the photo got lost in the binding at times, and the ones that were a single page were more vivid and complete.
A great picture book still. One I think photographers would enjoy.
June 27, 2013
A stunner... and free! Picked up pretty much brand new at the town transfer station on Wednesday. I was looking this morning. Amazing photography...
January 3, 2019
This book changed my view on the rainforest and even on life in general. First the photos are the best nature pictures I've ever seen. It took years to take them and many of them have a story connected to them. Secondly it explains the whole ecosystem and it opened my eyes about plans and animals. Plants use energy directly from the sun. Once the best places for getting sunlight were occupied, certain plants had to use tricks like using roots of other trees to get sunlight. Then some organisms evolved that didn't use direct sunlight but just the energy from plants: animals. Then others evolved that used energy from them: carnivores. That example highlights what the rainforest is all about: the beauty in the complexity of survival. The book brings such fascinating insides, but really is a visual journey through all living things in the jungle.
January 29, 2019
If you are at all geeky about nature and animals, this book is an absolute joy throughout. Large format, full-colour, glossy pages, teeming with gorgeous photos, well-written and immaculately proofread too. If I try really hard, the biggest criticism I can direct at this book is that it might benefit from just a little more academic text here and there, and the removal of just the tiniest bit of repetition in places. The amount of work that went into this book over 16yrs of travelling and photographing around the all the rainforests in the world, is clear for all to see. Quite brilliant. 4.75/5
February 13, 2024
This book is a rare collection of photographs of tropical rainforest landscapes from around the world by a top photographer.
At the beginning of the book there is an image of the photographer himself with his camera equipment. He's a really great photographer.
The book is accompanied by beautiful poems, introducing the animals and ferns that inhabit the rainforest.
The green of the trees and the red and yellow of the flowers are all intense, and all life is vibrant.
As I looked at the beautiful pictures in this book, I was moved by the rain as a blessing from the sky and felt its strong life force.
At the beginning of the book there is an image of the photographer himself with his camera equipment. He's a really great photographer.
The book is accompanied by beautiful poems, introducing the animals and ferns that inhabit the rainforest.
The green of the trees and the red and yellow of the flowers are all intense, and all life is vibrant.
As I looked at the beautiful pictures in this book, I was moved by the rain as a blessing from the sky and felt its strong life force.
September 15, 2019
The imagery in this book is exquisite. The book lays out the creatures, insects, and plants of the rainforest and how they are virtuous to our earth. This book was an older read, so I’d love to learn about the rainforests of today. Are each of the creatures in Thomas Marent’s earlier book still protected? How has any creature loss/extinction had an effect on our food supply?
That said, Thomas Marent is an excellent photographer. A pioneer of his time, I’m sure. This book reminded me how we should see the earth and pay attention to it. I highly recommend it.
That said, Thomas Marent is an excellent photographer. A pioneer of his time, I’m sure. This book reminded me how we should see the earth and pay attention to it. I highly recommend it.
June 16, 2023
All the photos are beautiful and well-thought out in terms of orientation, lighting, depth, etc. I picked it up for the photos, but the depth of knowledge was also quite apparent and the diversity of photos and little bits of story were great. Highly recommend, I learned and saw a lot.
May 12, 2018
Breathtaking Photos
August 18, 2018
My nieces and I looked through this book and they loved all the bright big pictures of the different frogs, mushrooms, and animals. They didn't like all the spider pictures though. Super cool.
July 7, 2019
Animal lovers can skip this book.
Many species are missed. Photos are big and colorful but details are not sufficient. You don't learn much.
Many species are missed. Photos are big and colorful but details are not sufficient. You don't learn much.
December 16, 2019
beautiful photography. Great book to use for science or even for art.
August 22, 2020
Breath-taking photography
August 1, 2022
Absolutely gorgeous coffee table book!
January 28, 2023
Stunning photography combined with smart, concise analysis.
June 12, 2023
Photos viewed, text not read
August 4, 2023
Outstanding macro photography.
November 24, 2023
My friend and I tripped on mushrooms reading and listening to the soundtrack that comes with this book. Fabulous time.
December 11, 2024
fabulous beautiful book
March 13, 2011
Rainforest” is a testament to the tenacity and passion that Thomas Marent has for his photographic art and nature. The book is an explosion of colour and characters that inhabit rainforests around the world in Australasia, Asia, Africa and South America.
The photography is stunning and enhanced by the anecdotes written throughout the pages about the lengths Thomas went to capture the images. Hours and days of patience, keeping awake through nights, immersing himself in water and mud, covered in leeches – there seem to be few obstacles that keep this man from capturing an image.
This book covers all facets of life in a rainforest by dividing the images into five sections on panorama, diversity, survival, cycles and society. We are taken on a top down view from the canopies and rivers, to animals, insects, plants and parasites. It shows the interconnectedness of all the elements and that a rainforest is truly a delicately balanced system.
As beautiful as this is as a coffee table book it is more importantly a document and record of a fragile environment that needs urgent protection. I hope many people can be as touched and moved by these images as I have been and take steps to preserve the rainforests as places of intrinsic value in themselves. Thomas Marent is a wonderful ambassador and I hope to find more of his books.
The photography is stunning and enhanced by the anecdotes written throughout the pages about the lengths Thomas went to capture the images. Hours and days of patience, keeping awake through nights, immersing himself in water and mud, covered in leeches – there seem to be few obstacles that keep this man from capturing an image.
This book covers all facets of life in a rainforest by dividing the images into five sections on panorama, diversity, survival, cycles and society. We are taken on a top down view from the canopies and rivers, to animals, insects, plants and parasites. It shows the interconnectedness of all the elements and that a rainforest is truly a delicately balanced system.
As beautiful as this is as a coffee table book it is more importantly a document and record of a fragile environment that needs urgent protection. I hope many people can be as touched and moved by these images as I have been and take steps to preserve the rainforests as places of intrinsic value in themselves. Thomas Marent is a wonderful ambassador and I hope to find more of his books.
March 30, 2014
This book offers the best visual rainforest safari one can get, a safari enjoyed at the comfort of a living room! I've seen some other rainforest books and i can safely say that this one by far, when it comes to a visual experience and some accompanying information, the best on offer. Thomas Marent's eye for the beautiful diversity of rainforests is unmatched! This book offers a photographic journey into the most important rainforests in the world, including the many types of a rainforest. The book is not divided by each included rainforest location, Instead, it tackles the many qualities shared by the many types of rainforests (such as diversity, survival...etc) by a beautiful collection of photographs taken by Marent from 1990 to 2006. This book is dream come true for all lovers of nature and photographers alike! One of those rare books that should not be missed.
January 30, 2008
This is a book that I want to own, I'm a photographer and this book is very motivating to me..its a beautiful, well-laid out, pictorial adventure into the Rainforest! This book is a great coffee table book or a great gift for anyone that appreciates the beauty in nature!
August 6, 2016
This book is a visual joy and journey through the various rainforests of our wonderful planet.
A collection of breathtaking animal and plant portraits and the short but meaningful and fascinating stories behind them.
A great book which I enjoyed much.
A collection of breathtaking animal and plant portraits and the short but meaningful and fascinating stories behind them.
A great book which I enjoyed much.
June 20, 2008
Gorgeous pictures and a CD to boot .... this book will make you want to book a trip to the rainforest of your choice!
October 20, 2008
This books has fantastic photos and facts of a large number of exotic wildlife found throughout the Rainforest. Thomas Marent is an extraordinary photographer.
January 28, 2011
Some of the most gorgeous pictures I've ever seen!
September 1, 2013
Breathtaking photos and informative captions!
Displaying 1 - 30 of 38 reviews