Synopses & Reviews
A photographic tribute to the untamed heart of Central Park.
Central Park is Manhattans crown jewel, a refreshing retreat for city dwellers and a must-see destination for tourists. For photographer Robert A. McCabe, Central Park is defined by its Ramblethirty-eight densely forested acres replete with stunning lake views, enormous granite boulders, a canopy of trees, winding paths and streams, and bridges rustic and ornate. McCabes images in The Ramble in Central Park capture this wooded labyrinth in all its off-the-beaten-path glory, and in its most photogenic seasons.
The Ramble in Central Park is organized into four parts, each depicting one section of the Ramble: the East, the South, Gill Creek Valley, and the West. The photographs are accompanied by a specially commissioned map of the Ramble, reproduced in whole and in detail, and by a series of essays from writers including E. B. White, Marie Winn, and Elizabeth Barlow Rogers, on topics ranging from the Rambles creation to its plant and bird life. An introduction by Central Park Conservancy President Douglas Blonsky describes the recent renovation and continued preservation of the Ramble.
This beautifully photographed and printed book will appeal to nature lovers, bird watchers, and New York residents and visitors alike. It is the perfect souvenir of a visit to Central Park and the Ramble.
Review
Praise for
The Ramble in Central ParkSplendidly soulful photographs of my favorite part of Central Park”
Dominique Browning, The New York Times
Amply and beautifully illustrated”
New York Daily News
McCabes photographs show that even in the heart of the city, the desire to get lost in the wild, however briefly, remains strong.”
ARTnews
A Foreword Reviews Nature Book of the Year
Synopsis
For many New Yorkers, Central Park is Manhattan's crown jewel and what makes the city livable year round. For tourists, this urban oasis is a must-see destination on any sightseeing visit. For acclaimed photographer Robert A. McCabe, Central Park is defined by its Ramble--a densely forested thirty-eight acres replete with stunning lake vistas, enormous granite boulders, a canopy of trees, winding paths and streams, and ornate and rustic bridges. McCabe's photographs in The Ramble in Central Park: A Wilderness West of Fifth have captured this wooded labyrinth in its off-the-beaten-path glory in its most photogenic seasons. The Ramble in Central Park is primarily organized by four regions, supplemented by one large map by Christopher Kaeser of the entire area and four close-ups of each section. The text is a series of essays by writers including The New Yorker's E. B. White and C. Stevens. Topics cover the history of the park's creation by Frederick Law Olmsted and Calvert Vaux, and the failed attempt of Robert Moses to essentially eliminate the Ramble in the 1950s, as well as the Ramble's 250 species of woodland birds and the area's remarkable geology and plant life. A compelling introduction by Central Park Conservancy President and Administrator Douglas Blonsky describes the recent renovation and continued protection of the Ramble. This photography book should appeal to nature lovers, bird watchers, and New York residents and visitors alike. It is the perfect tourist souvenir before or after a visit to Central Park and The Ramble.
Synopsis
A photographic tribute to the untamed heart of Central Park
About the Author
Robert A. McCabes books include
DeepFreeze! A Photographers Antarctic Odyssey in the Year 1959, Weekend in Havana (Abbeville, 2007),
Metamorphosis, On the Road with a Rollei in the 50s, and
Greece: Images of an Enchanted Land 19541965. His photographs have been exhibited in the United States, Greece, and France, and have appeared in numerous publications. He is currently working on a book of color photographs of Greece taken for the National Geographic Society in 1957, and a book of photographs of Mycenae from 1955. McCabe lives in New York City, Paris, and Athens.
Central Park Conservancy President Douglas Blonsky has been with the Central Park Conservancy since 1985. He was appointed President in 2004.Under Blonskys leadership the Conservancy has completed such noteworthy restoration projects as the Great Lawn, The Ramble, Harlem Meer, Merchants Gate, Mall, Conservatory Water, etc. Regina Alvarez is the Central Park Conservancy Director of Horticulture and Woodland Management. Phil Jeffrey is a structural biologist, photographer, and a Central Park birding expert. Sidney Horenstein is a geologist and educator emeritus at the American Museum of Natural History. Elizabeth Barlow Rogers is the president of the Foundation for Landscape Studies. Cal Vornberger is the author and photographer of Birds of Central Park. Elwyn Brooks E. B.” White is a longtime contributor to The New Yorker and the author of Charlotte's Web and Stuart Little. White also coauthored the widely used writing guide, The Elements of Style. C. Stevens is a writer for The New Yorker. Marie Winn is the author of Central Park in the Dark and Red-Tails in Love.