Peter Martinez is the Wave Dancer, a surfer in modern day California. He is also a Native American (Noqoto tribe) whose job is to dress up as an "Indian Chief" for his tribe's casino. Not able to conform to the rules of the casino he soon finds himself without a job - fired by his mother. At the core of the story is a battle between environmental protection and an oil company, (appropriately named ENRG) who want to develop part of their … [Read more...]
Downhills Don’t Come Free by Jerry Holl
At age 57 Jerry Holl quit his corporate career, trading in a suit and a tie for bicycle apparel and deciding he would bike solo from Anchorage Alaska through British Columbia, Washington, Oregon and California to the Mexico border. And this proposed journey of 3,600 miles was by a man who had spent little time on a bicycle and had not trained prior to his ride. Nor did he have any training on basic bike repairs. Jumping into the saddle he … [Read more...]
Los Angeles by Serge Ramelli
This book showed up one day, still warm from sitting in the California sun. It is an impressive collection of epic photographs of this great city. The lightning in Ramelli's captures makes the City of Angels pop in a way not always seen. From downtown to the beaches, to architecture - these are inspiring photographs of America's second largest city. The photographs are laid out as double page spreads - providing maximum effect on the use of … [Read more...]
Angel on the Wing by Joan M. Zellar
In February 1965 American Airlines Flight number 320 was on its way from Chicago on New York. On its final approach into LaGuardia something went extremely wrong and the plane crashed into the frigid East River. 65 passengers died that evening but stewardess Joan Zeller somehow survived. Joan was inspired to write this book after coming across a forum online that discussed the crash and connected survivors and their families. This is her … [Read more...]
Mountain Lines by Jonathan Arlan
Author Jonathan Arlan is bored; bouncing around from New York, to Tokyo ultimately to Europe - he becomes a wanderer. Eventually he spots a map while in Serbia. For some reason it 'speaks' to him - a red line that runs from Lake Geneva through the Alps ending in the Mediterranean Sea indicating a route of about 400 miles. His curiosity peaked, Not a likely candidate to make this walk (no prior outdoor experience, long hikes or knowledge of … [Read more...]
The Cubans by Jay Seldin
Everything Cuba is on the tips of traveler's tongues from the states these days with the thawing of decades of strained relations. Photographer Jay Seldin's timely book of black and white photography documents an intimate look into the lives of Cubans. Cuba is cursorily known for vintage cars, futbol, older buildings, images of Castro and Che but his photographs in this book are exclusively of the Cuban people. They represent young and old; … [Read more...]
Ride of Your Life by Ran Zilca
Author Ran Zilca sets out on a journey, not a long one but a journey nonetheless. A journey doesn't need to involve months or years but it should involve elements of being able to revitalize oneself and see things from a new perspective. This book is both a travel memoir based on the experiences and people that Ran meets as he makes his way from New York to California solo on the back of a Yamaha V-Star 950. Remarkably Ran had never owned a … [Read more...]
2 Years 4 Months 2 Hours by Chiara B. Townley
2 Years 4 Months 2 Hours is story of love based on passion and persistence. It all started when a young Italian woman (author Chiara B. Townley) working in a hotel in London spots a young American guy (Tyler Townley) staying at the hotel. They share a glance at one point but never speak. She then writes him a note which her co-worker personally delivers on her day off. Their relationship starts there - and is built over time based on this … [Read more...]
Inside Tracks: Robyn Davidson’s Solo Journey Across the Outback
This sizable photo epic by acclaimed author and photographer Rick Smolan details a 1,700 mile trek from Alice Springs (interior Australia) to the ocean along the shores of Western Australia made by Australian Robyn Davidson in 1977. This trek was made mostly solo but with several camels and her dog and at one point an Aboriginal man. "Tracks", a movie about this epic journey was released in 2013. This book contains both photographs from the … [Read more...]
Learning to Breathe
Long time Photojournalist Alison Wright has traveled to the far corners of the planet photographing endangered cultures and people. Her work has been dangerous at times - including covering demonstrations that became violent in Nepal. And she has certainly been involved in a number of mishaps in her career. But this story is not about those adventures. It is about a horrific crash involving a bus she was in and a logging truck on a windy … [Read more...]