New to the catalogue

(Photo credit: Conway Publishing)

Mountain heroes by Huw Lewis-Jones is a visual celebration of those who have risen to the challenge of the highest mountains on Earth.

Come face to face with those who have spent their lives at altitude; explorers and pioneering travellers, intrepid ice-climbers and extreme skiers, ecologists, photographers and film-makers, and a range of people who have made their homes among the hills. 

This is a stunning book of pioneering mountaineering with new commissions for leading photographers alongside historic treasures from the world’s finest collections.

Among those featured are Sir Edmund Hillary, George Mallory, Reinhold Messner, Tenzing Norgay, Joe Simpson, Jim Whittaker, Pat Morrow, Dean Potter, and Steve House.

This beautifully designed book also includes special contributions from admired members of the mountaineering community, including Sir Chris Bonington, Stephen Venables, and Doug Scott.

It’s a story of endurance, enterprise, heroism and fellowship in the wildest of places, best capturing the spirit of human achievement and adventure.

You can find further details of Mountain Heroes on our catalogue.

Journey through Tibet with the latest addition to the collections of the National Library of Scotland. Travel to a land of high mountain ranges, stunning temples and monasteries, beautiful rivers and farmland.

The work allows an insight into all aspects of life in this unique land from religion, history, work and festivals. Photographs of the stunning landscapes and beautiful architecutre of the region abound. The vibrant colour of these photographs certainly captures the beauty of the ‘Land of Snows’ with fold out photographs enhancing our experience.

The book also features a comprehensive index which references the traditional and geographic significance of each location, giving the reader further cultural and historic background.

You can find further details of Tibet on our catalogue.

(Photo credit: Nests / Sharon Beals. Chronicle Books, c2012)

As spring nears in the UK, we can look forward to watching the annual spectacle of birds pairing up and creating nests in which to raise their young. With so many nests built out of our sight, it is a rare treat to be able to see, close up, these intricate structures for ourselves. In ‘Nests : fifty nests and the birds that built them’, Sharon Beals allows us to do just this and gives us a fascinating insight into the lives of the birds who created them.

Beals has drawn on the collections of the California Academy of Sciences, the Museum of Vertebrate Zoology at the University of California and the Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology. Her work allows us to look in detail at 50 nests from around the world. These vary from the silky plant fibres and spider-webs of the Cuban Emerald Hummingbird to the sticks and leaves of the Greater Roadrunner.  Information on the creator of the nest and a detailed illustration accompanies each photograph.

As well as allowing us an insight into the variety of nests and the skills involved in making them – the work comes with a serious warning. As a result of environmental change, the birds responsible for building these nests are, in many cases, in decline. Beals warns us, changes in the way we live are required urgently, if we are to continue to enjoy the beauty of nests and their builders.

You can find further details of Nests : fifty nests and the birds that built them on our catalogue.

Photo credit: Taschen

The classic Godfather films are portrayed in this handsome book of photographs by Steve Shapiro, who was on set as a stills photographer during the shooting of all three films. The book brings to life the enthralling saga of the Corleone family as seen through the eyes of director Francis Ford Coppola.

The book contains over 400 colour and black and white photographs, many of them never previously published. Many of the stills are from the films themselves, but there are also fascinating portraits of the stars on and off set – Marlon Brando, Al Pacino, Robert Duvall, James Caan, Robert De Niro and Diane Keaton are just some of the major stars featured. The photographs are accompanied by interviews with many of those involved in the making of the films, including Francis Ford Coppola and Al Pacino.

You can find further details on The Godfather family album on our catalogue.

Thames and Hudson has published this survey of Eve Arnold’s photography. Known for her sensitive eye for her subject as well as their surroundings Eve’s work is mesmerizing. Her photographs range from movie stars to women in Afghanistan. Each photo seems to capture the soul of the subject.

Arnold has been a Magnum photographer since 1951.  She captured such important subjects as American migrant workers, Malcolm X as well as the people of Cuba.  Her photographs of Marilyn Monroe are some of the most famous of the actress. This book also features texts by Angelica Huston and Isabella Rossellini. Both actresses have been photographed by Arnold and give a unique insight into how she works.

Further details of Eve Arnold’s People can be found on our catalogue.

(photo credit: Prestel Publications)

Skateboarding.3D features the award winning photography project of Sebastian Denz.  Using professional sketeboarders Denz is able to bring the amazing tricks performed to life. 

With the popularity of 3D in movies and home television it is no wonder that we now have books that enable us to feel we are apart of the picture. With two pairs of 3D glasses accompanying the book you can share the experience with a friend! 

All of us in Monographs and Media have loved looking through this amazing companion to the travelling exhibition of Denz’s work.  Stop by the library today and experience 3D like you never have before!

You can find details of  Skateboarding 3D on our catalogue