Coffee Table Books

Cosmopolitan and nonconformist by history and vocation, San Francisco's spirit is matched by its man-made and natural beauty. It looks out over the Pacific toward the East, surrounded by a glittering bay and its own majestic monuments. These superb aerial photographs enable the reader to take in all of this and much more. Everything is spectacular, and from any angle the view is surprising. San Francisco's architecture mirrors its history from the Spanish missions to its modern steel bridges and skyscrapers. An itinerary from above... read more

This high-quality, exquisitely produced book is a celebration of the work of acclaimed equine artist Alister Simpson. Presenting a cross-section of his work, from sketches to watercolours and oils, it reveals the depth of his talent and the breadth of his style. Racehorses featured include Phar Lap, Makybe Diva, Brew, Mahogany, Octagonal and Sunline, to name just a few, while all the excitement of race day is also captured in scenes painted trackside. But Alister is not just at home on the racetrack. A Brush with Horses also includ... read more

This lavishly illustrated book reveals the state of the art of the custom racing bicycle. Each chapter covers a particular part of the bike, starting with the largest subject area - frames (steel, aluminium, titanium and carbon fibre), then moving on to forks, headsets, wheels, tyres, hubs, gear components, chains, brakes, saddles, handlebars, pedals, water bottle cages and accessories. As well as an overview of the components available, with beautiful studio images of the latest kit, the chapters include interviews and opinions fr... read more

Andrew Zuckerman now turns his unique photographic perspective to music. Fifty eminent individuals - artists, composers, producers and performers from rock, rap, dance, soul, R&B, classical, country, reggae, pop, jazz, world and more - are all subjected to Zuckerman's democratic style, hyperreal photography to create an inspiring and brilliant perspective of music and musicians.

Visions of Paradise is a panoply of experiences from the most peripatetic photographers on Earth - the photographers of "National Geographic Magazine". After all the stories and all the journeys, each man and each woman shares with us the place he or she found to be Heaven on Earth. The pictures come from all seven continents, from different times of year, in different climates. The stories are as minute as the glance of an amorous leopard seal before lunch or as vast as the landscape of Iceland during the days of the midnight sun.... read more

"Himalaya" is both a tribute to a region and its people and a call for humanitarian compassion. Compelling photographs and vivid text illuminate the vast diversity, unique history, and uncertain future of the Himalaya, along with personal tales of life among the region.

Photographing the Global Spectacle Weather World is a visual celebration of the diversity and unpredictability of the weather in all its forms - from the benign beauty of a clear sky to the explosive impact of lightning and hurricanes. This is a fascinating and beautiful collection of photographs, ranging from satellite images of developing fronts and global weather patterns, to ground-based photographs of cloud formations. Also included are optical phenomena such as rainbows, sun pillars and aurora borealis, and breath-taking ... read more

Showcasing many of the most awe-inspiring temples, palaces, monuments and man-made structures ever created. China's incredibly rich cultural and historical structures and icons offer a unique window on the development of one of the world's great civilisations. Selected and described by Chinese experts, the sites are illustrated with over 250 superb photographs.

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Since the atrocity of September 11 2001, Osama bin Laden has attained a quasi-mythical status. Is he the evil mastermind of a global terror network, a media-savvy holy warrior, or simply a devil of our own creation? What kind of world gives rise to such a figure? In October 2002 Ben Langlands and Nikki Bell spent two weeks in Afghanistan as war artists researching the aftermath of September 11 and the war in Afghanistan for the Imperial War Museum in London. They visited a diverse range of locations, including Bagram, the main Amer... read more

'There is not a 'them' and an 'us'; there is really only 'us.' One People illustrates this thought through a collection of glorious photographs, accompanied by thoughtful essays, that capture the universality of the human experience in the very different contexts of our diverse world. In this book we present people in all stages of our common life cycle, reflecting a moment, emotion, ritual, or intimacy that, be it mundane or extraordinary, is recognisable across cultures and language barriers. Regardless of nationality or belie... read more

This work provides an unparalleled view of our planet. See the world in more detail than ever before. View the latest spectacular satellite images of the Earth's surface and explore a detailed map at the same scale without turning the page. Discover the Earth in its entirety, from its impressive physical characteristics including the Great Barrier Reef and the Rift Valley to the living world and its natural phenomena. Special features on major cities from New York to Moscow reveal mankind's impact and show how the world is changing... read more

South Africa Chic is the authoritative guide to this magnificent country

Beautiful, elegant Italy is the land of design and fashion, a very special tourist destination, emulating the Grand Tour of the 19th century. The spectacular ruins of Roman and Greek civilisation, the sumptuous artistic splendours of the renaissance palaces and baroque churches, the impressive mountain scenery of the Alps, the reflections on the Mediterranean beaches, are all to be enjoyed. Italy is a mixture of modern cities and stunning rural landscapes, avant-garde technology and rich, genuine folklore, the heir to traditions ha... read more

Clusters of white cottages huddled between hills of an unbelievably rich green, villages of a single street, dazzling in their array of colour washes and picturesque shop-fronts such are the villages of Ireland, which to this day are living, working communities. The most beautiful of these villages are captured here in Christopher Fitz-Simon's sensitive commentaries and Hugh Palmer's evocative photographs. This is a journey full of rural gems, some famous, others less so. Here are the coloured coastal villages of Cork, their vibran... read more

Explore the British countryside with the experts.No organisation knows more about the British countryside than the National Trust, the custodians of some of our most beautiful stretches of land and coastline. Drawing on the expertise of the NT's wardens, conservationists and working farmers, this stunningly illustrated book is a comprehensive guide to the country's natural heritage, including in-depth features on native flora and fauna, ancient monuments in the landscape, countryside walks, and today's environmental and economic is... read more

In 2002, Walkley Award-winning photojournalist Megan Lewis went to live with the Martu people - one of the last Indigenous groups in Australias vast Western Desert to come into contact with Europeans.

From Earth we have looked deep into the universe, embarking on a journey of discovery that has revealed the cosmos to be richer than we could ever imagine. But what happens when we reverse the process, when we look back on Earth from the heavens? We see a familiar planet from a new perspective. With the satellite's all-seeing eye we can uncover cities swallowed by shifting sands or dense jungle; we can gaze into the eye of the hurricane or the maw of the volcano; we can watch forests disappear and ice sheets melt.

A Moving Experience is a photographic record and travel journal of places to stay that move, from one location to another. 'Moving hotels', on wheels, on water, and on wings, from the classic to the unexpected and even the yet to come are shown in Grant Sheehan's photographs, and the experience of the trip, the sights and the travellers encountered along the way are described by writer Shelley-Maree Cassidy. In the book you will discover a wide range of choices for a hotel room with a constantly changing view, both in this worl... read more

Natural disasters, climate change, the exploitation of the world's resources and human development are changing our planet at a relentless pace. Now, using one hundred and fifty stunning images from the air, land and space, Fragile Earth brings together the most dramatic natural and man-made events. You can trace, building-by-building, the path Hurricane Katrina took through New Orleans; or see clearly the damage done to the presidential palace in Baghdad during the war in Iraq. Each set of carefully selected 'before and after' pic... read more