National Geographic Rarely Seen: Photographs of the Extraordinary

As I stated in my title, this is perhaps the most beautiful and unique photo collection I have ever purchased!! National Geographics "RARELY SEEN, PHOTOGRAPHS OF THE EXTRAORDINARY" is a GORGEOUS collection of incredible photographs by the amazing Steven Alvarez. He includes wonders large and small from around the world in what could only be called a visual delight that can be enjoyed for years to come. The images are divided into sections on Phenomena, Life, Places, Objects and Moments. It should also be noted that this book is an absolute door-stopper, coming in at 400 pages. Each photograph captures what very few get the chance to see for themselves — from 30,000-year-old cave art sealed from the public to animals that are among the last of their species on Earth to volcanic lightning, giant crystals that have grown to more than 50 tons and desert flowers that bloom just once a year. I purchased this book for my grandfather who is not in the best of health, and therefore doesn't have much opportunity for world travel. The size scope and scale of this book left him very impressed. This is perhaps the best alternative to getting out there and seeing these wonders for yourself. Beyond that, since purchase at Christmas, it has also become the best coffee table book and conversation starter we have ever had around the house! Everyone who has picked up the book and scanned through the pages has remarked about the beauty and skill needed to capture these images. A must for anyone who is into photography, world travel, unique sites, or just life in general. A perfect and well deserved 5 stars!

Many of these color photos are almost unbelievable and I can't recall having seen them in the NGS Magazine.The cover is like a photo from another planet. The opening title spread shows a supercell storm cloud that looks like its from a SyFy movie and is hiding an alien star ship. So unusual are the subjects of these photos that even the "Cave of Crystals" that show men in red space suits climbing through a maze of giant icycle-like 30 foot long white shafts of selenite as thick as pine tree trunks located 1,000 feet below ground level don't seem all that odd. It's as if men making a journey to the center of the Earth are in danger of getting lost in the maze of support beams for the Earth's surface. A few pages after the spacemen in the bowels of the Earth there is another one from the Journey to the Center of the Earth is another underground passage of Basalt Columns of Fingals Cave from an uninhabited island Staffa, Scotland. Once back on the Earth's surface there is picture of Fly Geyser near Nevada's Black Rock Desert. Apparently when a drilling company punched a hole in the desert they tapped far enough into a geyser pocket that hasn't closed up and now provides a fantastic geographical formation that graces the cover of this table-top book. While the pictures of the alien-looking geography are great, the people pictures included in the volume are even better starting with the double page spread of "Bog Man" who was hanged 2,300 years ago and then placed in a bog. The bog turned the executed man's mummy into a leather statue that today appears like a solid bronze statue with a leather rope still wrapped around his neck. Men hanging from the ceilings by their toes with their hands folded like bats are part of the training for Shaolin Monks in a Shaolin Montastery in Zhengzhou, China. Those photographs almost give the viewer the creeps. "Wisteria Whimsy" in Japan must have been the inspiration for the Trees of Life and Souls in the movie "Avatar." There are also pictures of Venus Flytraps and Lady Slippers, both carnivorous plants. And then, on page 167 is a Plant-Hopper Perwig that looks like a tiny native with a crazy head dress leaning over to see his reflection in a pool of water. It's even more weird looking than the double-page picture of leaf-tailed gecko that has almost perfect camouflage. There are samples of cave art from Chauvet-Pont-d'Arc as well as more recent art comprised of Graffiti covering the walls and ceilings of tunnels under Paris.There are photos taken on the moon as well as a glove worn when walking on the moon. R2D2 is shown sitting in a half opened shipping crate when he at the Smithsonian. By the time the reader has finished examining the photos in the book he will have to catch his breath because of all the truly breath taking images the beautifully done photographs. And that's no Jellyfish Lake. That lake is also represented in the fine art photographic book.This is one of my favorites of all the NGS Book Long Photo Essays. It's amazing how their publications seem to get better and better.

I bought this for my son for his birthday as an added gift as he loves the National Geographic programs on TV. The book starts with 1) Phenomena. 2) Life: 3) Places: 4) Objects and 5) Moments. The photography is stunning and gives the reader a look around the world at some amazing photos, like the totally preserved man found in a bog, to some amazing creatures like the 'Poisonous Spikes', to the Well of Initiation in Portugal to a gilded photo of the Vatican - just a wonderful book to browse through from time to time - basically a very colorful book full of amazing photos!

I saw this book in an office lobby when doing some financial business. The photographs in this book are simply amazing. The color and quality of the photographs are incredible. I purchased a copy right after leaving that office lobby. This is a great addition to your library or as a coffee table book. It will encourage conversation and interactions with friends or family. I was pleasantly surprised at the price of this hardback book. I hope you enjoy it as much as we have!

I bought this for my 92 yo grandpa, who had dementia, for Christmas last year. Gramps had subscribed to Nat Geo mags for as long as I remember. He didn't remember my name when I visited him at Christmas, but he treasured this book. He loved to look through the beautiful pages and he'd even sleep with this book under his pillow! He passed away this summer. I have the book now and when I look through it, I think about all of the joy it's pages gave him :)

I saw this the first time on a table at Fidelity. Browsed through it and was amazed at the photos. As soon as I came home I ordered it. Fast delivery- and definitely fine quality. Not only do adults enjoy looking at the photos but so do my grandsons- the photos are amazing and real. It makes me think of the world and nature through different perspectives.

Superbes images. Commentaires un peu trop US mais bon, c'est National Geographic, donc c'était à prévoir. Existe aussi en français sous le nom "rare".

Ha delle fotografie davvero eccezionali!!!!!

The title of the book aptly describes the contents. A bunch of colorful lively photographs depicting rarely seen moments, places, objects that seldom can be experienced in lifetime...

This is such a great book. Took a chance and ordered as a gift on strength of the description on Amazon. Fortunately I was not disappointed and I am sure that a lot of people would be happy to find this under the Christmas tree! Book is packed full of photo's of things you wouldn't normally see. These range from the open mouth of a hippo to an aircraft landing on a small caribbean island seemingly just a few feet above the heads of sunbathers on a nearby beach! Ideal book to browse through with a glass of wine in front of a fire. I think that even those who don't normally like reading would enjoy this as there is very little text ;- the photo's speak for themselves. Good gift idea for people who have everything apart from a copy of this book. Can see myself buying additional copies for a few birthdays in the coming year.

wundervoller bildband zum staunen.