Book and DVD Reviews
Winter 2008
This is an article from WaveLength Magazine, available in print in North America and globally on the web.
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by Diana Mumford
Oceanic Wilderness
by Roger Steene
Firefly Books, 2007
ISBN 978-1-55297-000-0
$59.95, 340 pp, hardcover
color photos
www.fireflybooks.com
Oceanic Wilderness is a truly breathtaking collection of over 600 well-captioned photos taken by an accomplished underwater photographer. The large (11 in. x 12.75 in.) hardcover book of over 300 pages showcases spectacular images of the brilliant, intricate, amazing creatures—some never previously photographed or named—that live in oceans around the world. Roger Steene has explored coral reefs, tidepools and other marine habitats in locations in the Caribbean, the Pacific and Indian Oceans, and the waters along the coasts of Japan, Australia and Southeast Asia, finding and photographing rare organisms. Using new technology, he was able to work at great depths, capturing images of microscopic life. The incredible beauty and bizarreness represented in the photographs chosen for Oceanic Wilderness will never be seen first-hand by the vast majority of people, which makes this volume a priceless tool adding to our understanding of the marine environment and the importance of protecting its fascinating bio-diversity. This is a book to place near a comfortable chair to be explored and savored over time.
Pacific Horizons:
exploring the northwest coast by kayak
filmed and directed by Bryan Smith
Reel Water Productions, 2007
$29.95, 60 minute DVD
www.pacifichorizonsfilm.blogspot.com
www.helipress.com
This DVD production is a compilation of segments filmed in British Columbia and Oregon. Included is an introduction to Greenland Rolling featuring Dubside; footage of a 6 day expedition to the Bunsby Islands on the west coast of Vancouver Island; kayak surfing on the Oregon coast; sea kayaking in tidal races in the Skookumchuk near Egmont, BC and Surge Narrows off Quadra Island; a short piece about a circumnavigation of Vancouver Island by kayak; an introduction to the southern resident orcas in the San Juan Islands by The Center for Whale Research; and some footage of Justine Curgenven’s journey around Haida Gwaii with Shawna Franklin and Leon Somme (more to come in a Cackle TV production in 2008). Together, these segments showcase the variety of amazing paddling experiences available in British Columbia and the Pacific Northwest in the US. Each features athletic paddlers, pursuing adventurous experiences and serves as inspiration to get out and enjoy the beauty of the Pacific coast by kayak.
Digital Wildlife
Photography
by David Tipling
Firefly Books, 2007
$24.95, 112 pp, color photos, index
ISBN 978-1-55407-305-4
www.fireflybooks.com
Professional wildlife photographer David Tipling shares his knowledge and experience in this new guide to digital photography, providing up-to-date information on such topics as choosing a digital camera and other equipment, storing images and backing up files, enhancing photos with and without Photoshop, working with various file formats, printing and scanning images, and strategies for photographing animals. He explains the jargon that may seem baffling to some, and for budding professional photographers, there is a chapter on marketing your work. Fabulous photos on every page illustrate a text written in a personal style, drawing on the author’s experiences with photographing animals in the studio and the field. This is a useful guide for anyone wanting to learn more about digital photography and how to take stunning wildlife photographs using new technology and techniques. Even experienced photographers will benefit from learning how Tipling approaches his work, and can apply his techniques to their own way of working. Amateur photographers can read and practice now, and be ready for encounters with wildlife during the paddling season!
Whales & Dolphins of the North American Pacific
by Graeme Cresswell, Dylan Walker, Todd Pusser
Harbour Publishing, 2007
$21.95 CAN/$19.95 US
216 pp, color photos and drawings, glossary, index
ISBN 978-1-55017-409-0
www.harbourpublishing.com
This concise but comprehensive guide to marine mammals is packed with well-organized information, and lavishly illustrated with color photographs, charts and illustrations. In addition to facts specific to 39 cetacean species, 6 species of seals and sea lions and the sea otter, there is general information on how to identify the animal you are seeing by observing behavior or characteristic features. Quick Reference Guides show the relative size of families of species, and color coded maps show seasonal distribution, breeding areas and other key information. This guide is a small enough to pack into your kayak and has a place aboard any mothership whether you are on the water off Mexico or Alaska or anywhere in between. It provides a huge amount of fascinating information about marine mammals, and tips for responsible whale watching and photography. Proceeds from the sale of each copy are donated to the American Cetacean Society.
Enchanted Isles: The Southern Gulf Islands
by David A.E. Spalding
photographs by Kevin Oke
Harbour Publishing, 2007
ISBN 978-1-55017-422-9
$34.95, 144 pp, hardcover
color photos, index
www.harbourpublishing.com
Enchanted Isles provides an enticing glimpse into the history and present day culture of the Canadian southern Gulf Islands—the group of islands that lie just off the southeastern shore of Vancouver Island. The waters that surround these dozens of islands from Gabriola in the north to D’Arcy in the south—some large, some merely islets—are a mecca for boaters of every ilk. Plenty of secure harbors provide protection for anchoring, marinas on the larger islands offer dockside mooring and other amenities, the short distances between destinations make for great day sailing, campsites are within paddling distance of one another, and a variety of resort and B&B accommodation provides an option for those who prefer to do their exploring from a home base on land. Although they share some commonalities by virtue of being islands, each Gulf Island has a unique history, a distinct cultural flavor, and its own set of political and social issues. The author and the photographer who collaborated on the creation of this book live on one of the islands, and bring their insider understanding to the text and images. Dazzling photos that capture the physical beauty of the coastal landscape, as well as archival and contemporary photos of the people who settled here after the first European explorers arrived, are set alongside text organized into chapters, each dealing with one of the bigger islands or groups of smaller islands. The book begins and ends with additional general information about some of the qualities of Gulf Island living. A list of titles for further reading is an excellent resource for those whose interest has been piqued by this introduction to the southern Gulf Islands.
Boat Green: 50 Steps Boaters Can Take to Save Our Waters
by Clyde W. Ford
New Society Publishers, 2008
$17.95, 224 pp
ISBN 978-0-865-71590-5
www.newsociety.com
No one can dispute the negative effect of human activity on the ocean and its shorelines and the lakes and rivers of North America. Everywhere there is evidence of pollution, habitat degradation and interference with the natural life of marine plants and animals. The author maintains that while boaters are not the main source of problems related to the declining health of our waterways (eutrophication, sedimentation, acidification, toxic contamination), as front-line users, we are important advocates for solutions to these problems and we can adjust our behavior to minimize our impact on the environment. Boat Green outlines some of the problems facing marine ecosystems, and straightforward strategies that individuals can take to address these problems. The pros and cons of biodiesel and ethanol fuels, 4-stroke and 2-stroke engines, diesel, gasoline and electric outboards, and the environmental implications of their use are outlined. Issues around marine sewage and sanitation are explored, including types of marine sanitation devices, maintenance of holding tanks, dry heads (a kind of composting toilet), using pump-out facilities, and handling of grey water. Other topics discussed in this comprehensive manual include: prevention of onboard fires, the prudent use of radar, recycling while cruising, opportunities for using solar and wind power, extending the life of batteries, best practices in boatyards, handling of bilge water, environmentally friendly cleaning products, the welfare of wild animals and pets, behavior ashore, and working with others to promote environmentally responsible boating. Boat Green would be a great resource for yacht clubs and boating organizations to circulate among members and perhaps use as a starting point for a committee dedicated to raising awareness and planning environmental boating events.