National Geographic's 'Visions of Paradise' - Book Review

National Geographic's Visions of Paradise brings together images that some of National Geographic's most renowned photographers consider glimpses of paradise. Although the book has been billed as an anthology of beautiful, natural photos, the subject matter in the photos varies considerably. From portraits to landscapes to city scenes, this is more a book of photographers' favorites than typical images of what one might describe as paradise.

Visions of Paradise brings together wonderful photography. The photographers were given free reign to choose their ideas of paradise, and the book reflects a wide variety of choices and experiences. There are some photos that you would expect -- beautiful, natural scenes of deserts or tropical islands. There are also some that might surprise you -- portraits or uniquely developed photos of ordinary scenes. Each photo is accompanied by a short explanation of why it was chosen in the caption.

Those who love photography and new ideas may appreciate the unique compilation in this book. I, however, was a little disappointed. My disappointment can be explained by a couple things: 1) I judged the book by its cover. I love photography of beautiful places in nature. I was hoping for some amazing looks at natural wonders, and was not expecting a cowboy hat or photo of a mother and daughter. 2) I received this book about the same time I received Time's Planet Earth: An Illustrated History. I couldn't help but compare the two volumes, and I thought Planet Earth was superior.

If Visions of Paradise teaches anything, though, it is that different people have widely varied ideas about beauty. I imagine, then, that some people will like Visions of Paradise more than Planet Earth. I would caution you to check out the book in a store before buying it, though, since the cover does not tell the full story.