Whether fierce, cuddly, startling, mysterious, or some indefinable combination of all of the above, nocturnal animals never fail to fascinate. In Nocturne: Creatures of the Night, celebrated animal photographer Traer Scott takes the viewer on a journey through nighttime in the animal kingdom, revealing some of nature's most elusive creatures. Bats, big cats, flying squirrels, tarantula, owls, kangaroo mice, giant moths, sloth, several species of snakes, and a Madagascar hissing cockroach are only a few of the animals illuminated in these lushly detailed portraits. Seventy-five full-color photographs of forty different species are accompanied by informed but accessible descriptions of each animal's habits and habitats, and an introduction provides personal insight into how Scott captures her astonishing images. Nocturne is a compelling view of the rarely seen darkness dwellers who populate the night. From Princeton Architectural Press.
REVIEWS:
“From bats to boas, owls to otters, rats to tarantulas, Nocturne celebrates some of the nighttime world’s most mysterious and misunderstood denizens. Close-ups of creatures that we might never see otherwise - the spotted salamander, the giant luna moth and the vampire bat, to name a few - pop out against stark, black backdrops. Even common suburban backyard wanderers, like the raccoon, possum and domestic cat, cut striking figures against the velvety darkness.”
“In this exquisite collection of portraits of 42 nocturnal animals, photographer Scott sets her subjects against dark backgrounds that give the images quiet dignity and power, while making the animals’ fur, feathers, quills, and skin all the more luminous. A serval cat stares intently at readers, a bat bares its teeth, and a cecropia moth’s fuzzy, vibrant wings fill a full spread. Intriguing information about the animals accompanies the photos: “Hedgehogs are extremely vocal. They communicate their preferences and moods using a repertoire of grunts, chirps, hisses, and squeals.” The brilliance of the photographs is in their minimalism, allowing the animals to dictate the mood of the compositions.”
“Stunning.”
“Scott once again taps into her creativity and photographic genius, compiling remarkably intimate images. The book features 42 nocturnal creatures, many depicted through multiple shots, laid out on a black background, allowing the details and features of the subject to pop. Each image is accompanied by unique information written for a higher level reader than most photobooks. Some of the highlights are a capybara so lifelike that it begs to be touched, a raccoon staring into the camera soulfully, a little brown bat that seems to be coming right off the page, a charming fennec fox whose sweet expression will evoke squeals, and a hedgehog rolled up into a ball. The collection contains many mammals, but there are also plenty of birds, reptiles, amphibians, and insects, too. This selection will attract nonreaders with its gorgeous images but will also be of interest to older children, though students doing anything but the most basic research reports would need to supplement this book with additional materials. An excellent addition.”