angelquasar
Well-known member
Has anyone seen the new Lynx book on trogons?Would like further information before spending 100 Euros.
-
Welcome to BirdForum, the internet's largest birding community with thousands of members from all over the world. The forums are dedicated to wild birds, birding, binoculars and equipment and all that goes with it.
Please register for an account to take part in the discussions in the forum, post your pictures in the gallery and more.
New Trogon Book (1 Viewer)
- Thread starter angelquasar
- Start date
Richard Klim
-------------------------
Well, I haven't seen the book. But as mentioned in an earlier thread, the illustrator (Albert Earl Gilbert) seems to have a rather 'chocolate box' style for my tastes, at least in these earlier examples of his work:
http://www.lodgeart.com/AlbertEarl.html
Hopefully a more appropriate style has been used for the trogon plates...
Richard
http://www.lodgeart.com/AlbertEarl.html
Hopefully a more appropriate style has been used for the trogon plates...
Richard
I agree. I'd definitely want to see more plates first. Though the front cover looks like some improvements might have been made. Thanks for the link to the earlier samples.
angelquasar
Well-known member
Thanks,I shall wait until I have seen some of the plates as the ones in the link are substandard in my opinion.I hope I am able to view a plate or two soon,however as the book is a limited edition and I must be one of the greatest trogon enthusiasts in the world!
Let us know what you think when you get to see those plates!
Of course, that's the purpose of such limited editions. They don't want people to wait and then maybe decide they can do without. In fact, I'm tempted as well! But I hate the idea of being blatantly manipulated.
angelquasar
Well-known member
A few illustrations now viewable on the NHBS site.From what is available I remain unconvinced.
Richard Klim
-------------------------
Hmmm... As I feared, an unusual painting style for a modern family monograph. Also, the sample text page seems very sparse and wasteful:
http://www.nhbs.com/trogons_tefno_139247.html&tab_tag=desc
Richard
Richard Klim
-------------------------
...the best that Amazon UK can offer is £103. That's $169! :eek!:
Don't think I'll be rushing to place an order just yet.
Richard
Neither will I. Though some temptation is still there.
Richard Klim
-------------------------
I hadn't actually noticed before, but it's also been published by PUP (in addition to Lynx Edicions):
http://press.princeton.edu/titles/9003.html
Richard
http://press.princeton.edu/titles/9003.html
Richard
Last edited:
Yep. Apparently, that's the version that will be available in the US. It's the one that I have ordered from Amazon.
It took me a second to realize this. I had seen the PUP version for offer on Amazon first. And then I saw this thread about the Lynx edition. Before checking them both out, I was like, "wow, two new Trogon books!"
Richard Klim
-------------------------
Guy Kirwan posted the following note on the Neotropical Ornithology Birding List yesterday:
Richard
"I recently reviewed the book for the UK journal British Birds. I found it to be a distinctly disappointing work. Scarcely any literature since that mentioned in HBW has been sourced (and many pertinent works from longer ago have been missed too). A shame that Lynx did not re-present the plates from HBW; as it is many taxa are not illustrated in the Forshaw work."
Richard
Wow, that sounds pretty bad. Sometimes, I wonder about the publishing policy maintained by Lynx. That first Peru FG (Clements, Shany) was similarly not doing their reputation any good. It sure casts a shadow on all their publications. One always needs to be convinced first that a particular publication does satisfy the high expectations we all have since the first volume of HBW. A bit more consistency aside from their major works (HBW and HMW) would definitely be desirable.
Last edited:
Richard Klim
-------------------------
Eric Salzman gives a favourable review in the latest issue of Winging It (Vol.21, no.4 - Aug 2009):
Richard
"Princeton’s Trogons truly recalls the Victorian golden age of natural history books in a modern guise. This is not a reprint but a new limited-edition publication in large-scale format with a major text by Joseph Forshaw on the natural history of the trogon family and handsome illustrations of the world’s species – thirty-nine in all with fifteen from Africa and Asia and the rest from the Americas – by Albert Earl Gilbert. This is another triumph of the bookmaker’s art; at 11”x16”, it is even larger in format than Buffon with 75 full-color plates, most of them in full-page reproductions, and also featuring black-and-white illustrations as well as range maps for every species. There is also information on subspecies, many of which are illustrated.
The Resplendent Quetzal is, not surprisingly, the star of this constellation of glowing beauties. Gilbert describes it as his choice for the most beautiful bird in the world and he provides a whole series of portraits and illustrations in both color and black-and-white; the most stunning of these is a remarkable fold-out elephant-folio-size portrait of the nominate male. It is somewhat surprising to discover that six of the two dozen New World species are quetzals, and they range from the U.S.-Mexican border deep into South America. Another surprise is that trogons are no longer considered part of the Coraciiformes (the 'near-passerine' family of kingfishers, hoopoes, bee-eater, rollers and hornbills) but are put into their own order known as the Trogoniformes.
Forshaw writes that "To the best of our knowledge, [Gilbert’s paintings] probably are the first to accurately depict the colors of soft parts of all trogons." I am not in a position to evaluate this claim but I will say that Gilbert’s trogons are eye-popping; they literally jump off the page. He also makes a commendable effort to show the birds in their environment (although I am doubtful that all of the environments shown are quite appropriate).
Forshaw appears to have gathered and summarized a great deal of what is known about these birds in a format that is easily referenced including sections for each species on Distribution, Description, Subspecies, Habitats and Status, Movements, Habits, Calls, Feeding, Breeding, and Eggs. While it is certainly possible that all of this information could have been presented in much less expensive format, I cannot imagine a more impressive way of presenting some of the most beautiful and impressive birds in the world."
The Resplendent Quetzal is, not surprisingly, the star of this constellation of glowing beauties. Gilbert describes it as his choice for the most beautiful bird in the world and he provides a whole series of portraits and illustrations in both color and black-and-white; the most stunning of these is a remarkable fold-out elephant-folio-size portrait of the nominate male. It is somewhat surprising to discover that six of the two dozen New World species are quetzals, and they range from the U.S.-Mexican border deep into South America. Another surprise is that trogons are no longer considered part of the Coraciiformes (the 'near-passerine' family of kingfishers, hoopoes, bee-eater, rollers and hornbills) but are put into their own order known as the Trogoniformes.
Forshaw writes that "To the best of our knowledge, [Gilbert’s paintings] probably are the first to accurately depict the colors of soft parts of all trogons." I am not in a position to evaluate this claim but I will say that Gilbert’s trogons are eye-popping; they literally jump off the page. He also makes a commendable effort to show the birds in their environment (although I am doubtful that all of the environments shown are quite appropriate).
Forshaw appears to have gathered and summarized a great deal of what is known about these birds in a format that is easily referenced including sections for each species on Distribution, Description, Subspecies, Habitats and Status, Movements, Habits, Calls, Feeding, Breeding, and Eggs. While it is certainly possible that all of this information could have been presented in much less expensive format, I cannot imagine a more impressive way of presenting some of the most beautiful and impressive birds in the world."
Richard
I just got my copy. Here are my initial thoughts:
http://www.birderslibrary.com/quick_picks/first-look-trogons.htm
http://www.birderslibrary.com/quick_picks/first-look-trogons.htm
ted nordhagen
Member
Here's a review I wrote recently.
I have been anticipating the release of the "Trogons – A Natural History of the Trogonidae" since learning that Australian ornithologist Joseph M. Forshaw and American artist Albert E. Gilbert were to collaborate on a monograph featuring the trogons, which are a family of birds that many believe to be among the most beautiful in the world. I was first introduced to Forshaw’s work with "Kingfishers and Related Birds" and later with "Parrots of the World", both illustrated by renowned artist William T. Cooper. As a student of bird art since my youth, I have been keenly aware of Gilbert’s art beginning with his compelling paintings in Brown and Amadon’s "Eagles, Hawks, and Falcons of the World". Later, he would produce a series of spectacular paintings for Delacour and Amadon’s classic "Curassows and Related Birds", which solidly established him as one of the finest bird artists in the world and launched a career that has now spanned some five decades. With the recent release of "Trogons", published by Princeton University Press, I’m again reminded of a by-gone era of bird portraiture where science and art combined to produce natural history books of extraordinary beauty. Masterfully produced by award winning book designer Derek Stone, "Trogons" is a large (11”x16”) folio-sized book limited to an edition of 700 copies in the U.S. and an additional 700 copies by Lynx Edicions in Europe.
Forshaw’s text begins with an introduction to the Trogonidae that is informative and easily digested. I found the section on physical features particularly interesting, with Forshaw pointing out that trogons possess soft, dense feathers attached to thin skin, which causes the feathers to be become easily detached, a possible defense mechanism against predators. Additionally, molecular studies have shown that trogon feathers are highly pigmented, contributing to their dazzling plumage. This is particularly evident in Pharomacrus quetzals, and reaches its zenith in the highly venerated Resplendent Quetzal of the cloud forests of Central America. Following the introduction are thirty-nine species accounts accompanied by color plates and black and white text illustrations by Gilbert. Judging by the impressive list of references, Forshaw has done an outstanding job of condensing a wealth of information on the natural history of trogons, in addition to drawing from his own observations. Well organized, concise, and easily referenced, the species accounts include distribution maps followed by sections on Descriptions, Subspecies, Habitats & Status, Movements, Habits, Calls, Feeding, Breeding and Eggs. Sadly, an all-too-familiar theme emerges as we learn that many trogons species are facing population declines owing to logging and deforestation of critical habitat.
Often in book reproduction the quality of an artist’s work can be severely diminished. Over the centuries innovations in the printing process have enabled artists to portray their subjects with increasing accuracy. With "Trogons", innovations have once again enabled book designer Derek Stone to faithfully reproduce Gilbert’s artwork in its intended splendor. Possessing pyrotechnic qualities, trogons confront the artist with a spray of colors one could scarcely imagine replicating, yet Gilbert’s peerless watercolors achieve precisely this. A seamless compliment to Forshaw’s scholarly text, his meticulous paintings result from studying and drawing the living bird. In preparation for "Trogons", he made numerous expeditions to Central and South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Painstakingly researched, his portraits are not only beautiful, but offer accurate details on soft body parts and plumage characteristics previously unavailable. Electing not to be a slave to detail, Gilbert deftly imparts life to his birds by suggesting, rather than delineating, every feather. Accompanying each plate are personal notes by the artist, which are a tasteful addition. I was struck by the similarities of some of Gilbert’s paintings to those of George Miksch Sutton’s watercolors in "Portraits of Mexican Birds", published in 1975. Gilbert gained personal instruction through his friendship with Sutton, and his influence can be seen in Gilbert’s paintings, particularly the Black-headed Trogons on page 199 and the Masked Trogons on page 271. Elegant and simply stated, they represent bird portraiture of the highest caliber. No less noteworthy are his depictions of habitat; bromeliads, epiphytes, and moss -laden branches are rendered with subtle attention to light and shadow, lending an authenticity that is unsurpassed.
I am reminded of the words of the great Wisconsin artist Owen Gromme, who was once asked how long it had taken him to complete a particular painting. Pausing, Gromme replied “A lifetime”. With "Trogons", Joseph Forshaw’s and Albert Gilbert’s life work have joined to create an exquisite book of timeless beauty. I enthusiastically recommend it.
Ted Nordhagen
I have been anticipating the release of the "Trogons – A Natural History of the Trogonidae" since learning that Australian ornithologist Joseph M. Forshaw and American artist Albert E. Gilbert were to collaborate on a monograph featuring the trogons, which are a family of birds that many believe to be among the most beautiful in the world. I was first introduced to Forshaw’s work with "Kingfishers and Related Birds" and later with "Parrots of the World", both illustrated by renowned artist William T. Cooper. As a student of bird art since my youth, I have been keenly aware of Gilbert’s art beginning with his compelling paintings in Brown and Amadon’s "Eagles, Hawks, and Falcons of the World". Later, he would produce a series of spectacular paintings for Delacour and Amadon’s classic "Curassows and Related Birds", which solidly established him as one of the finest bird artists in the world and launched a career that has now spanned some five decades. With the recent release of "Trogons", published by Princeton University Press, I’m again reminded of a by-gone era of bird portraiture where science and art combined to produce natural history books of extraordinary beauty. Masterfully produced by award winning book designer Derek Stone, "Trogons" is a large (11”x16”) folio-sized book limited to an edition of 700 copies in the U.S. and an additional 700 copies by Lynx Edicions in Europe.
Forshaw’s text begins with an introduction to the Trogonidae that is informative and easily digested. I found the section on physical features particularly interesting, with Forshaw pointing out that trogons possess soft, dense feathers attached to thin skin, which causes the feathers to be become easily detached, a possible defense mechanism against predators. Additionally, molecular studies have shown that trogon feathers are highly pigmented, contributing to their dazzling plumage. This is particularly evident in Pharomacrus quetzals, and reaches its zenith in the highly venerated Resplendent Quetzal of the cloud forests of Central America. Following the introduction are thirty-nine species accounts accompanied by color plates and black and white text illustrations by Gilbert. Judging by the impressive list of references, Forshaw has done an outstanding job of condensing a wealth of information on the natural history of trogons, in addition to drawing from his own observations. Well organized, concise, and easily referenced, the species accounts include distribution maps followed by sections on Descriptions, Subspecies, Habitats & Status, Movements, Habits, Calls, Feeding, Breeding and Eggs. Sadly, an all-too-familiar theme emerges as we learn that many trogons species are facing population declines owing to logging and deforestation of critical habitat.
Often in book reproduction the quality of an artist’s work can be severely diminished. Over the centuries innovations in the printing process have enabled artists to portray their subjects with increasing accuracy. With "Trogons", innovations have once again enabled book designer Derek Stone to faithfully reproduce Gilbert’s artwork in its intended splendor. Possessing pyrotechnic qualities, trogons confront the artist with a spray of colors one could scarcely imagine replicating, yet Gilbert’s peerless watercolors achieve precisely this. A seamless compliment to Forshaw’s scholarly text, his meticulous paintings result from studying and drawing the living bird. In preparation for "Trogons", he made numerous expeditions to Central and South America, Africa, and Southeast Asia. Painstakingly researched, his portraits are not only beautiful, but offer accurate details on soft body parts and plumage characteristics previously unavailable. Electing not to be a slave to detail, Gilbert deftly imparts life to his birds by suggesting, rather than delineating, every feather. Accompanying each plate are personal notes by the artist, which are a tasteful addition. I was struck by the similarities of some of Gilbert’s paintings to those of George Miksch Sutton’s watercolors in "Portraits of Mexican Birds", published in 1975. Gilbert gained personal instruction through his friendship with Sutton, and his influence can be seen in Gilbert’s paintings, particularly the Black-headed Trogons on page 199 and the Masked Trogons on page 271. Elegant and simply stated, they represent bird portraiture of the highest caliber. No less noteworthy are his depictions of habitat; bromeliads, epiphytes, and moss -laden branches are rendered with subtle attention to light and shadow, lending an authenticity that is unsurpassed.
I am reminded of the words of the great Wisconsin artist Owen Gromme, who was once asked how long it had taken him to complete a particular painting. Pausing, Gromme replied “A lifetime”. With "Trogons", Joseph Forshaw’s and Albert Gilbert’s life work have joined to create an exquisite book of timeless beauty. I enthusiastically recommend it.
Ted Nordhagen
Last edited:
