NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 125 YEARS: Legendary Photographs, Adventures, and Discoveries That Changed the World

WASHINGTON (Sept. 25, 2012)—On Jan. 13, 1888, a group of 33 men met at the Cosmos Club in Washington, D.C., to discuss a way to increase and diffuse geographic knowledge across the world. A century and a quarter later, after landmark shipwreck discoveries, stunning images from countless cultures and expeditions from the top of Mount Everest to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, the National Geographic Society has expanded beyond those original founding members, but the organization’s goal of spreading geographic knowledge around the globe has remained the same.

This fall, readers can join the National Geographic Society in celebrating its past and future with a new book NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 125 YEARS: Legendary Photographs, Adventures, and Discoveries That Changed the World (National Geographic Books; ISBN 978-1-4262-0957-4; on sale Nov. 6, 2012; $50 hardcover), by author and historian Mark Collins Jenkins, a former National Geographic Society archivist. The foreword is by Gilbert M. Grosvenor, the Society’s former chairman, president and National Geographic magazine editor, who is a fifth-generation member of the Society’s founding family.

Filled with exhilarating tales and astonishing photography, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 125 YEARS is an engrossing visual chronicle of the last 12-and-a-half decades through the eyes of the explorers, writers and photographers who captured it all. Readers will be able to dive deeper into the iconic yellow border and get a behind-the-scenes look into the stories that have shaped the world, including Hiram Bingham’s discovery of the lost city of Machu Picchu, the arctic explorations of Richard Byrd, Jane Goodall’s legendary chimpanzee research and the epic dives of Jacques Cousteau and James Cameron.

Laid out chronologically, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 125 YEARS explores the history of the Society from a small group dedicated to spreading geographic knowledge of the world and all that’s in it to the international nonprofit and media company it is today. Each era of the Society’s history is highlighted, featuring the most significant expeditions, field research and photography. Personal stories from legendary explorers such as Luis Marden, who discovered the remains of the H.M.V.S. Bounty, and marine biologist Sylvia Earle, as well as writers and photographers in the field fill each chapter, along with quotes from important figures associated with the Society, including paleontologist Louis Leakey, underwater explorer Robert Ballard, geneticist Spencer Wells and many more.

The more than 600 images by world-renowned photographers from the Society’s history illuminate the legendary storytelling of National Geographic. Readers can revisit Japan with Eliza R. Scidmore’s hand-tinted images of Japanese life in the early 20th century; remember the haunting eyes of the Afghan Girl in Steve McCurry’s iconic photograph; and take a trip to the American West with images made by William Albert Allard over his 50-year career. Other featured photographers include such renowned masters as David Doubilet, Chris Johns, Emory Kristof, David Allan Harvey, Sam Abell, Brian Skerry, Paul Nicklen, Frans Lanting, Annie Griffiths, Mattias Klum, Jodi Cobb and Joel Sartore.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 125 YEARS also looks into the future of exploration, celebrating not just where we have gone but where we can go next. The book celebrates the history of National Geographic and showcases the quest for knowledge and adventure that has driven the Society’s mission for well over a century.

About the Author

Former National Geographic librarian and archivist Mark Collins Jenkins is the author of many books, including “On Assignment with National Geographic: The Inside Story of the National Geographic Society,” “Worlds to Explore: Classic Tales of Adventure from National Geographic,” “Vampire Forensics” and “The War of 1812 and the Rise of the U.S. Navy.” He lives in Fredericksburg, Va.

About National Geographic Books

National Geographic Books is a global publisher of 125 new books annually in Adult and Children’s combined, as well as a publisher of digital content and services with more than 50 partners who translate our books.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society’s mission is to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 400 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; school publishing programs; live events; interactive media; merchandise; and travel programs. For more information on National Geographic Books, visit facebook.com/NatGeoBooks and nationalgeographic.com/books.

###

View the original article here

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 125 YEARS: Legendary Photographs, Adventures, and Discoveries That Changed the World

WASHINGTON (Sept. 25, 2012)—On Jan. 13, 1888, a group of 33 men met at the Cosmos Club in Washington, D.C., to discuss a way to increase and diffuse geographic knowledge across the world. A century and a quarter later, after landmark shipwreck discoveries, stunning images from countless cultures and expeditions from the top of Mount Everest to the bottom of the Mariana Trench, the National Geographic Society has expanded beyond those original founding members, but the organization’s goal of spreading geographic knowledge around the globe has remained the same.

This fall, readers can join the National Geographic Society in celebrating its past and future with a new book NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 125 YEARS: Legendary Photographs, Adventures, and Discoveries That Changed the World (National Geographic Books; ISBN 978-1-4262-0957-4; on sale Nov. 6, 2012; $50 hardcover), by author and historian Mark Collins Jenkins, a former National Geographic Society archivist. The foreword is by Gilbert M. Grosvenor, the Society’s former chairman, president and National Geographic magazine editor, who is a fifth-generation member of the Society’s founding family.

Filled with exhilarating tales and astonishing photography, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 125 YEARS is an engrossing visual chronicle of the last 12-and-a-half decades through the eyes of the explorers, writers and photographers who captured it all. Readers will be able to dive deeper into the iconic yellow border and get a behind-the-scenes look into the stories that have shaped the world, including Hiram Bingham’s discovery of the lost city of Machu Picchu, the arctic explorations of Richard Byrd, Jane Goodall’s legendary chimpanzee research and the epic dives of Jacques Cousteau and James Cameron.

Laid out chronologically, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 125 YEARS explores the history of the Society from a small group dedicated to spreading geographic knowledge of the world and all that’s in it to the international nonprofit and media company it is today. Each era of the Society’s history is highlighted, featuring the most significant expeditions, field research and photography. Personal stories from legendary explorers such as Luis Marden, who discovered the remains of the H.M.V.S. Bounty, and marine biologist Sylvia Earle, as well as writers and photographers in the field fill each chapter, along with quotes from important figures associated with the Society, including paleontologist Louis Leakey, underwater explorer Robert Ballard, geneticist Spencer Wells and many more.

The more than 600 images by world-renowned photographers from the Society’s history illuminate the legendary storytelling of National Geographic. Readers can revisit Japan with Eliza R. Scidmore’s hand-tinted images of Japanese life in the early 20th century; remember the haunting eyes of the Afghan Girl in Steve McCurry’s iconic photograph; and take a trip to the American West with images made by William Albert Allard over his 50-year career. Other featured photographers include such renowned masters as David Doubilet, Chris Johns, Emory Kristof, David Allan Harvey, Sam Abell, Brian Skerry, Paul Nicklen, Frans Lanting, Annie Griffiths, Mattias Klum, Jodi Cobb and Joel Sartore.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC 125 YEARS also looks into the future of exploration, celebrating not just where we have gone but where we can go next. The book celebrates the history of National Geographic and showcases the quest for knowledge and adventure that has driven the Society’s mission for well over a century.

About the Author

Former National Geographic librarian and archivist Mark Collins Jenkins is the author of many books, including “On Assignment with National Geographic: The Inside Story of the National Geographic Society,” “Worlds to Explore: Classic Tales of Adventure from National Geographic,” “Vampire Forensics” and “The War of 1812 and the Rise of the U.S. Navy.” He lives in Fredericksburg, Va.

About National Geographic Books

National Geographic Books is a global publisher of 125 new books annually in Adult and Children’s combined, as well as a publisher of digital content and services with more than 50 partners who translate our books.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society’s mission is to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 400 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; school publishing programs; live events; interactive media; merchandise; and travel programs. For more information on National Geographic Books, visit facebook.com/NatGeoBooks and nationalgeographic.com/books.

###

View the original article here

Life in Color: Photographs

WASHINGTON (Aug. 27, 2012)—A vibrant new photography book from National Geographic celebrates the power and beauty of colors.

LIFE IN COLOR: Photographs (National Geographic Books; ISBN 978-1-4262-0962-8; on-sale date Oct. 16, 2012; $35 hardcover), curated by world-renowned photographer Annie Griffiths, is a gorgeous gallery of 245 photographs that showcase the kaleidoscope of colors in the world.

“Colors ignite your senses, so prepare for sensory overload. The photographs in this book explode off the page; the saturated images will make you feel like you’re there,” writes Jonathan Adler, “happy-chic” designer, potter and author, in the book’s foreword. “Keep it on your coffee table and feel alive. Surrender to these photographs and go on a whirlwind tour of the world.”

Through chapters divided by hue, LIFE IN COLOR navigates the globe to reveal fascinating and astonishing images — a cave explorer suspended in a shaft of golden light; the purple reflection of a medieval Slovenian castle in morning mist; enchanting Japanese maples coated in thick green moss. Color is also used in surprising and unexpected ways — the iridescent blue irises of a young cougar cub in Canada; a man’s torso coated in thick silver paint for Carnival; and a stallion in a cherry-red harness standing before the Great Pyramids of Giza.

The chapters open with short essays on the meaning, feeling and symbolism of each color, such as the “friendliness” of orange and the “loudness” of red. Inspirational quotes about colors fill the pages, offering readers the timeless insights of great minds. The quotes are paired perfectly with complementary images.

The back of the book shows thumbnails of every photograph, which are available for purchase as frameable prints. Readers can use their favorite photograph as colorful inspiration to decorate their home or office.

“Here is your chance to revel in color, to pause and cherish each nuance, each variation in the spectrum that brightens our world,” writes National Geographic Books author and editor Susan Tyler Hitchcock in the book’s introduction.

LIFE IN COLOR will inspire one’s inner designer and revitalize one’s sense of perception and sight. It encourages readers to open their eyes to take in the glory and unmistakable power of color in the world around us.

About Jonathan Adler

Noted interior designer, potter and entrepreneur JONATHAN ADLER is the owner of 20 home furnishing boutiques across the United States and in London that bear his name. He is the author of four books on design.

###

View the original article here

National Geographic Greatest Photographs of the American West

WASHINGTON (Aug. 27, 2012)—On Saturday, Oct. 27, 10 museums across the country will open simultaneous displays of images by National Geographic photographers that capture the spirit and majesty of the American West. In celebration of the event, National Geographic Books is releasing NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC GREATEST PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE AMERICAN WEST: Capturing 125 Years of Majesty, Spirit and Adventure (National Geographic Books; ISBN 978-1-4262-0956-1; on sale Oct. 2, 2012; trade paperback; $30), the official companion volume to the exhibition. The book is produced by Rich Clarkson, former director of photography at National Geographic magazine, with a foreword by James McNutt, president and CEO of the National Museum of Wildlife Art of the United States.

“The role of photography in creating and perpetuating beliefs and understandings about the West has been continuous and evolving,” writes McNutt. “Beginning with adventurous pioneers in the field and never ceasing to the present day, photography accumulated an enormous record of change beyond the 100th meridian.”

Featuring 175 iconic, rare and never-seen-before photographs, NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC GREATEST PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE AMERICAN WEST chronicles the epic history and grandeur of the region. The earliest photographs of the American West were published in National Geographic magazine in 1889, setting the stage for the breathtaking images captured by such photographic masters as William Albert Allard, David Alan Harvey and Joel Sartore. In addition to these world-renowned photographers, images by early photographers such as Edward S. Curtis and William Henry Jackson also appear.

NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC GREATEST PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE AMERICAN WEST is a visual journey through the history of America. Each chapter focuses on a different aspect of the American West and its importance to our national identity. The first chapter, “Legends,” portrays some of the cowboys, Native Americans and landscapes that define the vast area. Chapter two, “Encounters,” showcases the interactions among the people of the West, visitors and wildlife. Chapter three, “Boundaries,” features places where endless skies, boundless plains and dramatic mountains meet natural and manmade limits. The final chapter, “Visions,” explores the growth of the American West and where its story may go in the future.

“This volume and the exhibit that it accompanies give a small hint of the scope and significance of the National Geographic holdings,” says McNutt. “From that it is only possible to guess at the impact of millions of such images disseminated through National Geographic magazine and other media. What happens to the West in the future may not result directly from National Geographic photographs — but then again, it may.”

The exhibition will open Oct. 27 at the following museums:

Booth Western Art Museum, Cartersville, Ga.

Buffalo Bill Historical Center, Cody, Wyo.

Eiteljorg Museum of American Indians and Western Art, Indianapolis

Gilcrease Museum, Tulsa, Okla.

National Cowboy and Western Heritage Museum, Oklahoma City

National Geographic Museum, Washington, D.C.

National Museum of Wildlife Art of the United States, Jackson Hole, Wyo.

Rockwell Museum of Western Art, Corning, N.Y.

C.M. Russell Museum, Great Falls, Mont.

Stark Museum of Art, Orange, Texas

###

View the original article here

EYEWITNESS TO WORLD WAR II: Unforgettable Stories and Photographs from History’s Greatest Conflict

WASHINGTON (Aug. 28, 2012)—EYEWITNESS TO WORLD WAR II: Unforgettable Stories and Photographs from History’s Greatest Conflict (National Geographic Books; 978-1-4262-0970-3; on sale Oct. 30, 2012; $40 hardcover) brings to life the epic strife of World War ll. As the Greatest Generation passes on, we lose the opportunity to hear firsthand the tales of sacrifice, heroic moments and devastating battles. However, through EYEWITNESS TO WORLD WAR II, edited by Neil Kagan and narrated by Stephen Hyslop, National Geographic ensures that the stories of this time are never lost.

EYEWITNESS TO WORLD WAR II takes a comprehensive look at the entire history of World War II — from the key events leading to the clash to the final moments of the war. This book includes words and thoughts of those who lived during this historic time — both on the front lines and the home front. There are personal writings from Roosevelt and Patton, excerpts from soldiers’ letters and journal entries from the battlefield, words from women serving in the military, reports by war correspondents and even the musings of Hitler. Photographs and maps bring into sharp focus moments of triumph, defeat and heartache, while they detail military movements, decisive battles, daily life as well as the horrors of war. Together, the individual accounts, riveting visual testimony by frontline war photographers — in many never-before-seen images — and maps tell the story of World War ll in startling intimacy.

The book begins with the causes of World War II, when Hitler invaded Poland, and provides snapshots of the state of China, Spain, Italy and other countries, which allows readers to contextualize the geopolitical realities of the world just prior to the war. The next six chapters follow the war action around the world, from Pearl Harbor to the Bataan Peninsula, from North Africa to Normandy. These chapters are filled with information about weaponry, equipment and tactics. Throughout EYEWITNESS TO WORLD WAR II, the text highlights the stories of such individuals as Takeo Yoshikawa, a Japanese spy and naval officer sent undercover as a young consular official, who provided intelligence on the U.S. Navy and its fleet and helped plot the bombing of Pearl Harbor.

“This book focuses on the trials, prayers, and sacrifices of Americans in World War ll, while providing a global overview of that great conflict, from the rise of Nazi Germany to the fall of Imperial Japan,” writes historian and author Hugh Ambrose in the book’s introduction. “It reminds us of the vital role Americans played on the world stage when they joined with their allies on distant shores to uphold freedom and democracy.”

EYEWITNESS TO WORLD WAR II brings readers closer than ever before to the greatest challenge a generation of Americans had ever faced. Incredible, first-person stories, moments of heroism, arresting rare imagery and rich maps bring the entire history of World War II into sharp focus. This deeply moving book will delight history lovers and World War II buffs.

About the Narrator and Editor

Narrator Stephen Hyslop’s many books include “Great Empires,” “Eyewitness to the Civil War,” “Bound for Santa Fe: The Road to New Mexico and the American Conquest” and “Chroniclers of Indian Life.”

Editor Neil Kagan heads Kagan & Associates, a firm specializing in innovative illustrated books. During his career at Time-Life Books, he spearheaded multiple historic series and has produced “Eyewitness to the Civil War” and “Atlas of the Civil War” for National Geographic.

About National Geographic Books

National Geographic Books is a global publisher of 125 new books annually in Adult and Children’s combined, as well as a publisher of digital content and services with more than 50 partners who translate our books.

The National Geographic Society is one of the world’s largest nonprofit scientific and educational organizations. Founded in 1888 to “increase and diffuse geographic knowledge,” the Society’s mission is to inspire people to care about the planet. It reaches more than 400 million people worldwide each month through its official journal, National Geographic, and other magazines; National Geographic Channel; television documentaries; music; radio; films; books; DVDs; maps; school publishing programs; live events; interactive media; merchandise; and travel programs. For more information on National Geographic Books, visit facebook.com/NatGeoBooks and nationalgeographic.com/books.

View the original article here

Desert Air: Photographs by George Steinmetz

WASHINGTON (Aug. 16, 2012)—An exhibition featuring images of the world’s deserts by award-winning National Geographic photographer George Steinmetz will be on display at the National Geographic Museum from Aug. 30, 2012, to Jan. 27, 2013.

The free exhibition, “Desert Air: Photographs by George Steinmetz,” which will include breathtaking photographs of sand dunes, human habitation, wildlife and vast expanses of the world’s last great wildernesses, will be in the museum’s M Street gallery. An audio component will feature Steinmetz telling the stories behind selected images.

Inspired by a 1997 assignment for National Geographic magazine on the Central Sahara, Steinmetz has spent the last 15 years surveying and photographing remote and inhospitable desert environments around the globe. To be able to capture his stunning images, he learned to fly a motorized paraglider, the world’s lightest and slowest-moving aircraft. One of his experimental, foot-launched aircraft, which consists of a backpack motor and parachute-style wing, will be on display. The craft allows Steinmetz to fly low enough to the ground to document rarely seen places.

One of National Geographic’s top expedition photographers, Steinmetz has been photographing the remote corners of the world for 25 years. He has received many awards for his work, including two first prizes from World Press Photo, and Pictures of the Year, Overseas Press Club and Life Magazine’s Alfred Eisenstadt awards. In addition to articles in National Geographic magazine, including one on sand dunes in the upcoming November 2012 issue, his work has been featured in the New Yorker and Smithsonian magazines.

The National Geographic Live speaker series will host George Steinmetz on Nov. 27 as part of the Masters of Photography series. More information can be found at www.nglive.org.

Images from “Desert Air: Photographs by George Steinmetz” will also be featured in a new book from Abrams Books on sale Dec. 1, 2012.

National Geographic Museum, 1145 17th Street, N.W., Washington, D.C., is open every day from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. It is closed Dec. 25. Photography exhibitions in the M Street gallery are free; exhibitions in the 17th Street galleries require an admission fee. Admission is $8 for adults; $6 for National Geographic members, military, students, seniors and groups of 25 or more; $4 for children ages 5-12; and free (reservations required) for school, student and youth groups (age 18 and under). Tickets may be purchased online at www.ngmuseum.org; via telephone at (202) 857-7700; or in person at National Geographic between 10 a.m. and 5:30 p.m. For more information on group sales, call (202) 857-7281 or email groupsales@ngs.org.

On display in the 17th Street galleries are “Titanic: 100 Year Obsession,” through Sept. 9, 2012, and “1001 Inventions: Discover the Golden Age of Muslim Civilization,” through Feb. 3, 2013. For more information, call (202) 857-7588 or visit www.ngmuseum.org.

###

View the original article here