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Product Description
Colin Prior's work is about landscape photography at its limits. Shooting at the magic hours of dusk and dawn, he catches those rare moments when composition, fine light and colour combine to create a remarkable image. Each photograph captures fleeting moments of nature which will never repeat themselves exactly. The images verge on obsession - Prior camped out on the remotest peaks in Scotland to obtain them. This stunning new collection documents the dynamic nature of the Highlands landscape and wildlife - and sounds a clarion call for a new, engaged naturalism. In a world where the environment is increasingly being damaged, Prior argues, we should regain touch with what's left of the natural landscape rather than rely solely on superimposed solutions. A key reason why the natural environment is now in peril is precisely because of failures to understand its dynamic, in-flux nature. The portfolio combines breathtaking new examples of Prior's trademark panoramas - which continually appeal to the tourist/travel market - with a range of new medium-format images that push the boundaries of digital photography, of huge interest to his dedicated technical following.
About the Author
Colin Prior is one of the world's leading panoramic photographers, celebrated for his images of wild places. His work has appeared in books, calendars and exhibits around the world. He is a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society and a founding member of the International League of Conservation Photographers. Born in Glasgow, Scotland in 1958, his proximity to the Highlands had a powerful influence that helped shape his passion for the elements. As Bruce Stannard wrote of Colin Prior's second book Scotland The Wild Places, 'When he peers through his lens in the fleeting, ethereal light of dawn and dusk Colin sees not merely mountains and lochs and corries but the spiritual essence of the Scottish landscape.'
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
19 of 19 people found the following review helpful
Colin Prior is one of the the original British landscape photographers. If you had wandered into a Borders or Waterstones at any point in the last decade, his Scotland, the WildPlaces and Highland Wilderness books would probably have kept First Light, The Landscape Within and Seeing Photographs company.
Originally an underwater photographer, Colin's hard work in finding the right commissions gave him the chance to travel the world. But he was always returning to Scotland where his fathers influence had him climbing mountains and recording their majesty with his omnipresent landscape film camera.
Colin famously (in geeky landscape circles at least) gave up film for a while only to return with his Fuji GX617 in order to capture that quality of light and feeling of colour in the mountains. He's still using a digital camera (a Canon 1Ds Mk2?) but only uses it for his less elongated shots.
His new book starts with a charming/heartfelt? missive on the loss of the wilderness in people's lives due to a lack of engagement with the ecosystem that he worries will leave the next generation dislocated from the land, and so unable to have an opinion on ecological matters. I can relate to what he has to say, but I do think that exposure to photography of these wild places, the affordability of travel and the huge increase in the numbers of people using the land for recreational purposes should hopefully balance this dislocation.
Anyway - onto the photography. Well firstly, Colin hasn't lost it; he has a strong personal style to his panoramas (I'll talk about the non-pano's afterward) which suits the mountains and you shouldn't expect an experimental "fourth album syndrome" book. This is a real continuation of the previous volumes, covering new territory and showing familiar ground in different light. There are some real standout pictures, particularly Liathach and Beinn Eighe with earth's shadow which continues on from the wonderful photograph of Rannoch Moor from Black Mount in Scotland, the WildPlaces.
In fact if you reduced the massive 50 panoramas in this book down to about 35, every single one would be excellent - not a single filler. The remaining fifteen are fine location shots but don't show what Colin is capable of. The weak side for me are the non panoramas (mostly of more intimate subjects) in the book. Although fine as documentary photographs, as the work of a talented photographer, they leave a little to be desired. I have to wonder if the mental switch from extreme planning, using film and considering every shot to carrying a dslr whilst wandering around taking photos means that there isn't the same investment in these non-panoramas; His previous (smaller?) shots from Highland Wilderness and particularly Scotland, the Wild Places are particularly well composed and have beautiful tones.
Colin's landscape panoramas are the best of their genre by far. No-one has come close to capturing the range of Scotland's mountains moods. This is a must buy for anyone with a passion for the British mountains or landscape photography.
Originally an underwater photographer, Colin's hard work in finding the right commissions gave him the chance to travel the world. But he was always returning to Scotland where his fathers influence had him climbing mountains and recording their majesty with his omnipresent landscape film camera.
Colin famously (in geeky landscape circles at least) gave up film for a while only to return with his Fuji GX617 in order to capture that quality of light and feeling of colour in the mountains. He's still using a digital camera (a Canon 1Ds Mk2?) but only uses it for his less elongated shots.
His new book starts with a charming/heartfelt? missive on the loss of the wilderness in people's lives due to a lack of engagement with the ecosystem that he worries will leave the next generation dislocated from the land, and so unable to have an opinion on ecological matters. I can relate to what he has to say, but I do think that exposure to photography of these wild places, the affordability of travel and the huge increase in the numbers of people using the land for recreational purposes should hopefully balance this dislocation.
Anyway - onto the photography. Well firstly, Colin hasn't lost it; he has a strong personal style to his panoramas (I'll talk about the non-pano's afterward) which suits the mountains and you shouldn't expect an experimental "fourth album syndrome" book. This is a real continuation of the previous volumes, covering new territory and showing familiar ground in different light. There are some real standout pictures, particularly Liathach and Beinn Eighe with earth's shadow which continues on from the wonderful photograph of Rannoch Moor from Black Mount in Scotland, the WildPlaces.
In fact if you reduced the massive 50 panoramas in this book down to about 35, every single one would be excellent - not a single filler. The remaining fifteen are fine location shots but don't show what Colin is capable of. The weak side for me are the non panoramas (mostly of more intimate subjects) in the book. Although fine as documentary photographs, as the work of a talented photographer, they leave a little to be desired. I have to wonder if the mental switch from extreme planning, using film and considering every shot to carrying a dslr whilst wandering around taking photos means that there isn't the same investment in these non-panoramas; His previous (smaller?) shots from Highland Wilderness and particularly Scotland, the Wild Places are particularly well composed and have beautiful tones.
Colin's landscape panoramas are the best of their genre by far. No-one has come close to capturing the range of Scotland's mountains moods. This is a must buy for anyone with a passion for the British mountains or landscape photography.
8 of 8 people found the following review helpful
In reviewing this book, you could say I'm biased. For I have every one of Colin's publications in all iterations, from an Original 1st edition Highland Wilderness published in 1993, through Living Tribes, to this most recent instalment, High Light.
High Light is very much `The Return of the Jedi' in terms of Colin's Scottish Mountain Photography books. Whereas Highland Wilderness was revelatory for its time, it also outlined the work to be done. This culminated in Scotland The Wild Places, proving a pinnacle of sheer achievement beyond equal measure.
High Light reinforces what has gone before with stunning panoramic images photographed at dawn and dusk from 3000ft. But in providing this further embellishment of Scotland's wild places, also offers us an alternative view, the world beneath out feet.
In the initial review here, the reviewer states that the non-panoramas are weak and leave little to be desired. I argue this point, and whilst these `closer views' didn't initially grab me the way the panoramas do, thanks to the well written image captions, I now understand them and enjoy them. I wonder, has the reviewer who shares his dissatisfaction of these `closer views' ever climbed or camped on a mountain at 3000ft. Or, has he stood by a waterfall for over an hour in -15c?
So often, the world around us needs no further embellishment other than the power of our inner physce to see and observe. How often as mountain climbers have we trudged through Heather, or scrambled upon Lewisian Neiss blissfully unaware of its origins.
This, like all Colin's other books, is a must purchase, the images within are wondrous and have the power to change your outlook on the world. I can certainly attest to this, as my world has changed beyond measure. So much so, you will find my credit on page 192.
It has been a sheer pleasure to work with Mr Prior on this publication, and as I said at the beginning, you could say I'm biased..............
High Light is very much `The Return of the Jedi' in terms of Colin's Scottish Mountain Photography books. Whereas Highland Wilderness was revelatory for its time, it also outlined the work to be done. This culminated in Scotland The Wild Places, proving a pinnacle of sheer achievement beyond equal measure.
High Light reinforces what has gone before with stunning panoramic images photographed at dawn and dusk from 3000ft. But in providing this further embellishment of Scotland's wild places, also offers us an alternative view, the world beneath out feet.
In the initial review here, the reviewer states that the non-panoramas are weak and leave little to be desired. I argue this point, and whilst these `closer views' didn't initially grab me the way the panoramas do, thanks to the well written image captions, I now understand them and enjoy them. I wonder, has the reviewer who shares his dissatisfaction of these `closer views' ever climbed or camped on a mountain at 3000ft. Or, has he stood by a waterfall for over an hour in -15c?
So often, the world around us needs no further embellishment other than the power of our inner physce to see and observe. How often as mountain climbers have we trudged through Heather, or scrambled upon Lewisian Neiss blissfully unaware of its origins.
This, like all Colin's other books, is a must purchase, the images within are wondrous and have the power to change your outlook on the world. I can certainly attest to this, as my world has changed beyond measure. So much so, you will find my credit on page 192.
It has been a sheer pleasure to work with Mr Prior on this publication, and as I said at the beginning, you could say I'm biased..............
6 of 6 people found the following review helpful
Colin Prior's "Highlight" has been one of the highlights of my year bookwise. Photography for me is a hobby, and I am a huge admirer of the work of British landscape photographers like Joe Cornish, and others, but this new book I believe establishes Colin Prior firmly at the top of the list of UK landscape photographers, and arguably puts him into the worlds top five. What he has achieved in this book is not just the taking of beautiful images that are technically close to perfection, but what lifts them to another level is how they communicate the photographers committment, passion and deeply felt emotional relationship with his subject matter. Its hs finest work, and in the unlikely event of any of my family reading this, you don't have to guess what you are getting for Christmas!
Most Recent Customer Reviews
His best yet - an almost unbelievable achievement
As a recently retired professional photographer just moving to Scotland for retirement and with new non-professional photographic opportunities in mind, I have been looking for... Read more
Published 4 months ago by I. Giles
Scotlands hills by a top class photographer
I attended a talk when this book was launched and the passion Colin Prior had that night comes over from the photos and the few words. Read more
Published 16 months ago by R. Gardner
Fantastic work
This book is a piece of art. With details for photographers as well as walkers.
It will make a fantastic present or dispaly book in every home. Read more
It will make a fantastic present or dispaly book in every home. Read more
Published 17 months ago by Kerstin
The perfect coffee table book
When looking for gifts this Christmas for family, friends and clients, I couldn't have found a more perfect present (including buying one for myself). Read more
Published 17 months ago by M
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