The World’s Top Photographers - Landscape | My Photo Bookshelf
If you’ve browsed my Inspiration page, you’ll know I often look to photographers like Joe Cornish, David Ward and Christopher Burkett for guidance and inspiration. So, when I stumbled across The World’s Top Photographers and the Stories Behind their Greatest Images – Landscape, I knew immediately that it was a book I had to own.
Synopsis
Bringing together landscape shots by the world's most acclaimed professionals, this collection features the work of such luminaries as Charlie Waite, Galen Rowell, Yann Arthus-Bertrand and other top photographers. It reveals the stories behind some of their favourite images, with anecdotes, tips and technical details, providing an insight into the creative process behind the world's most stunning landscape photographs. There is also a brief biography of each photographer, including a bibliography of his or her published work.
My thoughts about the book
The full title of this book is The World’s Top Photographers and the Stories Behind their Greatest Images – Landscape. Too long for the title of this blog, perhaps, but it perfectly describes the book’s content. I have a fondness for books like this, where accomplished photographers share not only their images but also the stories behind them. It’s a wonderful resource for both appreciating expertly crafted photography and gaining insight into the process behind the work—often offering lessons along the way.
The book opens with an introduction by the author, Terry Hope, followed by 38 chapters, each dedicated to a single landscape photographer and their work. Each chapter follows a consistent format: a headshot and short introduction offer a glimpse into the photographer’s background, followed by a collection of images accompanied by brief narratives and camera settings.
As you might expect, some of the work resonated with me more than others. Even so, I could appreciate the skill, dedication, and vision each photographer invested in their craft. Landscape photography, after all, is a highly subjective pursuit, as is the selection of contributors to this book. What does “Top” really mean—best of the rest, at the peak of their career, or simply the most recognised? My advice is not to dwell on whether these photographers were truly the “top” back in 2003, but to enjoy the work for what it is and connect with the images that speak to you personally. That’s the approach I took.
Despite being published in 2003, this book feels remarkably timeless. Many of the photographs still hold up against contemporary work created with today’s gear and techniques. Age has not diminished the artistry, and in some ways, it adds a sense of history and context that modern publications often lack.
If you ever find a copy of this book, I would wholeheartedly recommend picking it up. For anyone practising landscape photography today, it’s not just a collection of beautiful images—it’s a window into the dedication, vision, and storytelling that define this craft.
Book Details
Hardcover
Size: 26cm x 26cm
Pages: 176
Availability at the time of writing: Unavailable from the usual UK booksellers. Consider buying a used copy.
Until next time.
Trevor