Wildlife Photographer of the Year: 50 Years

For this book, Cox, a longtime editor of BBC Wildlife Magazine, gathered images from 50 years' worth of a photography competition. What she created beyond that is an emotive tribute to the earth's wild creatures and places, through the lenses of countless photographers from all over the world. Britain's Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition is an international, furiously competitive contest, and one that Cox, a judge since 1981, argues has helped shape the craft of wildlife photography into an art form. Cox takes readers through the history of photography, the development of nature and wildlife photography and the evolution of the competition. Old and significant photos, such as one of the now-extinct quagga and the first ever action shots of birds, illustrate. Poetically named chapters such as "and then there was light" and "the tiny things in life" each have their own helpful introduction followed by stunning images that alternately intrigue, entertain, inspire and amaze. Many are moving, others are revealing and others, simply beautiful. Spare text offers readers a glimpse into how each image was made, its back story and why it deserves to be in the book. Clear the coffee table %E2%80%94 this book has substance, beauty and will draw readers in again and again. (Oct.)