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Photographing the Southwest: Volume 2--Arizona (2nd Ed.) (Photographing the Southwest) Review

Lucky you. Having found this book, buy it before they come to their senses and double the price.

Just back from a 2 month tour of the Southwest, this guide was indispensable. Together with the New Mexico version, we were able to visit 100 sites in 65 days, and get 1000's of incredible images. We had never even heard of most of the places before reading these books. Even with 19 days of snow, we were able to put ourselves in several hyper-photogenic spots every day. And yet, I doubt we've seen half of places Laurent describes. For a few shekels, you get intimate knowledge of the region with decades of practical experience.

But that's just us. We wanted to travel and hike and photograph everyday. These guides hit that sweet spot. If you don't want to get out of the car, or just want to shop, or are looking for the best opportunities for fine dinning, or like comfortable museums, or looking to save pennies RVing parking lots, this book is not for you. To get the most out of it, you'll also need well worn hiking boots, a light backpack, water bottles, navi gear, a walking stick, lots of camera gear, flashlights, emergency gear, a high clearance vehicle, a high-limit credit card, good legs, and a variety of hats for sun and cold. Camping equipment also helps, but we like showers and beds. And that's not all. You will mostly need enormous amounts of energy, courage, desire, and time.

Yes, it takes courage and perseverance to follow this author's footsteps. If you want to see the show, you have to be the show. We hit the limit and backed out of one of his suggested hikes (Cathedral Wash), fearing for our lives. We were abducted by Indians, rescued from the desert at night by a rancher, and met countless wonderful people on the trails. We lost a tire, a windshield, and a body panel on the car. Those are just a few of the hundreds of incredible stories.

Practically speaking, it is a sturdy, well bound book, and thank goodness for that. We spent hours everyday for weeks with each book, and they got tossed around in the car and packs.

Laurent is highly enjoyable to read in the planning phase of your trip, and very enthusiastic. Sometimes too enthusiastic. When he mentions that something might require caution or is "perfectly safe," you'd better hold on for your life or back away. To get the picture, you have to drive through the stream, squeeze through the crack, and get comfortable with 500 foot cliffs.

As others have mentioned, his travel directions are capricious. This is typical for the Southwest. They don't want to squash your sense of adventure. Seriously. So it can be difficult to follow along at home. Once you are en route, he always gives you enough to get there. We bookmarked his one-little-map-per-book, and found the uncluttered, schematic view very useful.

One last word on coded messages--when Laurent mentions that you might want to spend some extra time exploring an area beyond his specific recommendations, plan on extending your stay and get busy. He's hinting that something spectacular is lurking just beyond the view of the tourists. Talk to the locals, trade info with other hikers, and explore some of those Forest Service roads. We found prehistoric pottery shards, rock art, natural and cultural wonders, and even a cave dwelling that nobody knew about. How can you beat that for adventure?

This book will get you going. I'm buying his Utah guide right now.

Photographing the Southwest: Volume 2--Arizona (2nd Ed.) (Photographing the Southwest) Feature

ISBN13: 9780916189136
Condition: New
Notes: BUY WITH CONFIDENCE, Over one million books sold! 98% Positive feedback. Compare our books, prices and service to the competition. 100% Satisfaction Guaranteed

Photographing the Southwest: Volume 2--Arizona (2nd Ed.) (Photographing the Southwest) Overview

Have you ever wanted to see with your own eyes all the beautiful locations found in coffee table books, posters and travel magazines? Do you want to see the most photogenic spots in our national parks and monuments? Do you want to visit spectacular "off the beaten track" locations outside the parks? Are you are interested in rock art and early Native American dwellings? The Photographing the Southwest guidebook series is the culmination of over twenty years experience exploring and photographing the natural landmarks of the Southwest. A must for everyone with a Passion for the Southwest, Volume 2 takes you on a grand tour of Arizona, starting with an in-depth discovery of the Grand Canyon, from the rim and from the river, exploring the superlative landscapes of Navajoland, including Monument Valley and Canyon de Chelly, amazing narrows and slot canyons such as Antelope Canyon, the incredible swirls of Coyote Buttes and its crown jewel: The Wave, the colorful area around Sedona, all the national parks and monuments of the Sonoran desert, and finishing with a foray into the adjacent southern tip of Nevada.

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Customer Reviews

Better Arizona Photos - Paul L. Sharp -
My son bought this book and used it to enhance our trip to Arizona. Both of us are amatuer photographers and the book really helped us get better photos. Photographing the Southwest: Volume 2--Arizona (2nd Ed.) (Photographing the Southwest)

A solid resource for photographers! - Kate Burns - Oregon
I purchased this book in preparation for a photography trip to Arizona, and it has been a solid resource regarding places to go and when to go there.

I wish they had maps within the body of the book, but they do let you know that those aren't included. So, it wasn't a surprise to me.

THE essential photo book for the region - P. Eleazer - Allentown, PA USA
I travel a lot and photograph a lot (look up buddy4344 on [...] or visit my blog at [...]). A challenge as a traveler is knowing where to go and when to go on a tight schedule. This book will save you a lot of time looking for photo angles and locations. It could have more detailed info, but considering the alternatives this book is very good.

*** Product Information and Prices Stored: Sep 04, 2010 13:06:05

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Saturday, September 4, 2010