Alaska: A Photographic Journey Through the Last Wilderness

by John Pezzenti

Book Overview

John Pezzenti is an advocate of a photographic technique he calls "roaming nature," which involves studying the rhythms of a particular piece of ground, the ways of its trees and animals, and only... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0670870943
• ISBN13: 9780670870943
• Release Date: November 1997
• Publisher: Penguin Putnam
• Length: 224 Pages
• Weight: 3.88 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 10.5" x 13.8"

Customer Reviews

Great Book and Great Photography

Great Book! I would recommend to anybody interested in the beauty of our 49th state. This book captures the wild beauty and grandeur of the last frontier. Buy this book, if you can!

Truly a journey that touches the heart, mind and spirit.

Once you have met John Pezzenti, you will understand that this artist and his incredible photographs are one entity. John's "ALASKA..." will take you on an incredible journey through the heart of the Alaskan wilderness, into the soul of an unforgettable man.Five years ago, I walked into a conference room at the World Trade Center in Manhattan. A man stood beside a display of exquisitely breathtaking photographs, protecting them like an anxious parent; listening to every word, every comment, as if there might be some question about the magnificence of his work. That enigma was John Pezzenti, Jr. Those privileged to know him, have experienced the complexities of the man: Passionate, sensitive, wild as Alaska, free as the wind and sometimes, as immovable as the mountains. His life and his photographs have made an indelible impression.Language seems a truly inadequate means of conveying the experience of John's "ALASKA" book. The photographs seem to have a life of their own. Speaking directly to the heart and soul, they give a glimpse into the spirit of the man who created them. This is a soul that seems to dance somewhere between heaven and earth. A soul that has borne burdens that few of us could shoulder, but one that has known transcendent heights that few will ever reach.With each page, John's photographs and stories allow us to share his incredible gift, and to see places on this earth that seem closer to heaven. John's spirit is as wild and free as the Alaskan wilderness. Nature seems to recognize a kindred spirit. You will feel certain that he has been granted special permission to view the sacred, and that at times, nature must say "wait, keep that until John gets here." But such honors are not bestowed without tremendous tests of courage and endurance, endless patience, and unquestioning faith. No work of this magnitude is brought to fruition without great sacrifices, and John has made more than his share.John has the unique talent of capturing the essence of the moment - then combining it with a fragment of his own soul - the result is this spectacular gift he has given to the world. No one can experience "ALASKA: A Photographic Journey..." and not be deeply moved. The superb imagery and heart warming words speak to everyone in a unique way. It will draw you in, touching your heart and soul each time you open its pages to relive the journey. Again and again it will surprise you, revealing something new with each reading.Thank you, John for sharing your vision. Your book is dearly treasured, and keeps Alaska close to my heart until I return. God Bless, John. We await your next creation.

Inspiring, captivating, and a precious find.

After 40 some years of living Alaska, I am well aware of the difficulty and seeming impossibility of capturing the great land on film and with words. The true essense and spitituality of this vast offering often eludes our cameras and pens. John has nailed it. His enduring patience and impecable eye for the finest of nature glows from image to image, mushroom ice stands, an otter enjoying a meal, volcanic clouds balloning over stands of towering spruce, an eaglets first moment broken from the shell, in your face bears, all these images and much more inspire me to look harder, go further, and wait longer for more of Alaska than I have ever experienced. The photos are sparkled by John's unique style of writing. After recieving the book as a gift I spent long nights, reading and re-reading his tales of adventure with delight. My work takes me far from home and John's book gives me opportunity to share the true flavors of Alaska with those I meet on the trail. Thank you John for sharing your God given talents, I so look forward to the next book.

Magnificent work of art.

I received a copy of John Pezzenti's book,A Photographic Journey Through The Last Wilderness,as a gift through my work. John Pezzenti's photographes portray such beauty and his words flow with spirituality. John Pezzenti's gift for writing matches his talent for capturing nature at it's finest. From the incredible photo's of the birth of an eagle,to the heart felt story of the Birthday Cake Bear. As I look through this magnificent book I feel his photo's and words drawing me in. It gives me the sense that I too am able to share what John Pezzenti must have felt being there. When I was young I went on a cruise to Alaska. I knew that one day I would move to this great land. John Pezzenti's book reinforce's why I kept this dream so close to my heart for all these years. I will always cherish this gift I received and feel blessed that John Pezzenti chose to share his God given talent with the rest of us. One could keep writing but there are no words that can truely describe this work of art. I highly recommend this book to anyone that has ever dreamt about Alaska. John Pezzenti truely opens his heart to the reader with his photographes and lets us share in the beauty he has captured over the past 25 years. I look forward to being able to share his work with my family and friends,as I also look forward to his next publishing.

Spectacular Alaska

When you first look through John Pezzenti's ALASKA, you will see that it is clearly the most incredible photographic book on Alaska ever published. There are dozens of photographs of things that have simply never even been seen by most people, much less published in a book. The volcano clouds, ice mushrooms and eagles being born will blow away anyone who has spent much time in the field and knows how impossible it is to ever witness events such as these. John has not only witnessed them; he has also managed to capture fantastic images of them to share with the rest of the world. It goes without saying that the rest of the pictures in the book are equally as thrilling. The photography in this book is amazing, but I think the thing that brings me back to it again and again is the writing. Unbelievably, John may even be a better writer than he is a photographer. Although he has only written about 25 pages of text, the stories he tells of his 25 plus years of travelling Alaska will thrill you and keep you on the edge of your seat. John is truly a modern-day adventurer who has lived an amazing life. The introductions by the publisher and Leonard Lee Rue will also give you some insight into just how unique a man John Pezzenti actually is. In his first two columns of text, John has managed to almost completely sum up my feelings about Alaska. John writes about flying over the Alaska Range on a beautiful day. He reaches for his camera and then realizes it would do no good. The "visual extravaganza" of the scene is too spectacular to ever be "captured on film" he writes. He puts his camera down and enjoys the view. This story puts into words what I have been trying to tell my family and friends about Alaska since I moved here 4 ½ years ago. Now, for birthdays and Christmas, I simply send them a copy of John's book and tell them if they read it, they will understand why I have decided to live here in Alaska. At last count, I think I have FedEx'ed at least eight copies of this book to people in the lower 48! John is clearly one of the world's top photographers. In spite of his stature, you would be hard pressed to meet another top professional who is more helpful and gracious to anyone he sees with a camera in their hand. John is more than willing to share any of his skills, talents and a lifetime of experience with anyone who is willing to learn. I consider myself blessed to live in the same city as a person of his talent and not only consider John a good friend, but as my photographic mentor. Thank you for this spectacular lifetime's worth of work. I am looking forward to the next one.