“Silent Moments” by Scott Barrow, 2005, Running Press, hardbound, 96 pages: A collection of meditative winter photography by Scott Barrow, this book reflects on the quiet beauty of the season and invites the reader to do the same.
Save for the introduction, the only text in the book is quotes from famous people regarding the human relationship to nature in general and winter in particular.
The book is divided into five sections, including “Reflection,” “Peace” and “Simplicity,” and the quotes are categorized to match each section. Often, the photos fill an entire page and have a quote (or a few quotes) on the opposite page; other times, as many as three photos make up a page.
The subjects range from humans (rarely, and seen in near-silhouette) to animals (also rare) to bird houses, barns and lamp posts, but mostly they are trees, leaves, water, ice and snow.
The way Barrow captures light is stunning. It glows foggily from a lamp post or from behind trees; it glimmers on icicles beginning to melt; it glitters on a snowscape.
There are photos of bark peeling from a birch tree, brown maple leaves crisp with frost and multicolored fall leaves as rich as fresh fruit scattered in the snow. One could gaze at these images for endless moments.
The quotes are many and varied, from people such as Andrew Wyeth (American realist painter); Henry David Thoreau (American author and naturalist); Dame Edith Sitwell (English poet, critic and biographer); and William Cullen Bryant (American poet and editor) to name only a very few.
Some of the quotes are poetic, lauding the beauty of ice-laden tree trunks or snow-clad twigs; others are reflective, contemplating the simplicity of winter and the time it gives us to enjoy being alone and consider the human condition.
Barrow has worked as a professional photographer for three decades. “Extraordinary New Jersey” and “Private Moments” (a photo-essay of New York City) are two other books in which his work may be found.
As of this writing, it appeared as though Running Press was discontinuing its publication of "Silent Moments"; however, this enchanting book may still be found on Amazon.com. Look also in your local library.
Lee’s take: A great gift book.
J.J.’s take: Terrific for nature lovers.
LEE AND J.J. MACFADDEN are twins and voracious readers living in Bristol, Tenn. E-mail them at leeandjj.doubletake@yahoo.com.
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