“Penguin” by Frans Lanting, 2008, Taschen, $7.99, hardbound, 190 pages: Part of Taschen’s 25th anniversary special “Icons” series, “Penguin” showcases these unique birds in their natural habitats, in the Falklands, Antarctica, the South Sandwich Islands, South Georgia and other places.
If you know little about penguins, you’ll learn quite a bit by reading this book.
For example, Galápagos penguins, found in the tropics, is the rarest penguin species recognized by scientists.
The tiny fairy penguin is the smallest species, while the emperor stands tall at 4 feet.
Penguins are divided into four main clans, the Galápagos being of the jackass penguins because they bray like donkeys.
However, this book is not a scientific work, but rather the photographic recording of Lanting’s encounters with several penguin species and his endeavor to express those species’ personalities.
Accompanying the pictures is text about his personal impressions of the penguins.
There are photographs of the birds on land; here may be found the rockhopper penguins and the macaroni penguins, as well as the Magellanic and the gentoo.
Rockhopper penguins have red eyes and striking yellow brows which dip down, giving them a expression of perpetual annoyance.
Lanting often pictures gentoo penguins on the move, their wings out and their short legs stretching out before and behind them.
Among the sea photographs are the king penguins, another of the tall species.
Photographs of their courting rituals are highlighted, and the sight of their orange markings, brilliant against the black and white, is remarkable.
Lanting captures images of massive colonies and of littered feathers, each photo bringing alive a different aspect of penguin life.
Lanting talks about the horrendous conditions in which penguins must live – some places, such as Antarctica, no human would survive; yet emperor penguins do, existing even as chicks in weather that is 40 degrees below freezing.
Last and largest to be discovered, emperor penguins may weigh as much as 90 pounds; their weight helps them survive the frigid temperatures.
Lanting depicts these birds almost silhouetted against the ice, drifts of snow misting up around them.
Trails of them lie on their fronts and slide over the hardened landscape, kicking as they go.
One chick imitates his father, another seems to smile up at both his parents.
A final note is made on how Lanting managed to photograph penguins in such extreme conditions, and there follows an image index and conservation resources.
Lee’s take: Fascinating information.
J.J.’s take: Terrific pictures.
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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