Guide Books

by David Ritchey

ISBN 978-0929915579, 14 x 11, color photographs, Retail Price $49.95 WHAT IS FINE ART PHOTOGRAPHY? "Fine Art Photography" The term still creates confusion for many people. Sometimes when I tell people that I am a fine art photographer, they assume that means that I photograph other artists' paintings. As recently as 50 years ago, combining the term "fine art" with the term "photography" was generally considered to be oxymoronic. It was often believed that creating an image with a machine (camera) simply could not qualify as "fine art." That bias has been changing in recent years, in part because of the regular use of photo editing techniques.

One definition of fine art is "a visual art considered to have been created primarily for aesthetic purposes and judged for its beauty and meaningfulness." In other words, it is art produced primarily for beauty rather than for utility. The word "fine" does not so much denote the quality of the artwork in question as it does the purity of the discipline.

Fine art photography refers to photographs that are created to fulfill the creative vision of the photographer that is, to express her/his artistic perceptions and emotions, and to share them with others. Fine art photography stands in contrast to photojournalism, commercial photography, and snapshots.

The images within this book reflect a broad cross-section of my photographic vision over the years. They had a profound impact on me when I was creating them and I hope they will evoke a profound response from you when you are viewing them.

In his color-rich photographs, [Mr. Ritchey] crops his subjects tightly, causing the subjects themselves to disappear. I found myself referring to the photographs as paintings, perhaps because of the richness of the color --Art Matters

We are hard put to extrapolate from the marvelous patterns to the larger [subject]--but the pattern arrests the eye. Taken out of context, [the images] are given new meanings, transformed from their original functions. --Newsday

by Ed Rehbein and Randall Sanger

112 pages plus 16 page map book, full color photographs, 9 x 12, color dust jacket, hard cover, ISBN 978-0-929915-79-1, $49.95 plus s/h More than 100 waterfalls grace the cliffs and canyons of the New River Gorge and its tributaries. This book invites you to savor this untapped wealth of beauty in two enjoyable ways - by viewing photographs of these waterfalls and by experiencing them for yourself.

Photographers, hikers, and nature lovers Ed Rehbein and Randy Sanger have photographed some of the most beautiful places in the New River Gorge, plus - provided maps and information on how to visit each waterfall yourself. The pull-out hiking guide will keep you on the path to your own Appalachian adventures!

"Every one of all ages can appreciate the sheer beauty of one of nature's most delicate and breath-taking works of art, the waterfall. It wasn't until I experienced these glorious masterpieces through the pages of "West Virginia Waterfalls: The New River Gorge" that I could truly appreciate the natural beauty of the Mountain State. The captions bring a vivid experience through the personal thoughts of the photographers as they make their way through the wilderness to the falls. I could feel their heart-pounding anticipation as they began shooting the photographs. This book captures the whole experience of visiting these falls without leaving home! I, for one, must dust off my hiking boots and get going!" -Karen G. Lilly, Gallery Director, Cynthia Bickey Art Gallery

"The New River Gorge is such a beautiful place that it is often said photos don't do it justice. This photography certainly does. Ed Rehbein and Randy Sanger have successfully captured not only the beauty of these waterfalls, but the emotion and the majesty they impart. These two avid hikers have also provided all the information necessary should one want to experience any of these locations firsthand. Their book is a combination of breathtaking photography and informative yet succinct details. It belongs on the coffee tables of outdoor enthusiasts and fine art lovers everywhere." -Audrey Stanton-Smith, Former Editor, West Virginia South Magazine

Visit www.wvscenicphotography.com for more photographs and information.

West Virginia Waterfalls: The New River Gorge by Ed Rehbein and Randall Sanger, ISBN 978-0-929915-79-1, 112 pages plus 16 page map book, full color photographs, 9 x 12, color dust jacket, hard cover, Retail Price $49.95