The Book Has Arrived!!!

[grouper52]

"O frabjous day, callooh, callay!!!

Over a thousand copies of Gnarly Branches, Ancient Trees: The Life and Work of Dan Robinson - Bonsai Pioneer have arrived safely at Elandan Gardens today for sale and shipment! With Dan's blessing and cooperation, I wrote the book over the past few years and published it, and I and Victrinia Ridgeway did the photography. Walter Pall contributed the outstanding Foreword.

If you would like to order a copy from Elandan Gardens, you can do so through their web site, http://www.elandangardens.com./gnarlybranches/gnarly_branches.html All books ordered through Elandan Gardens will be signed by Dan and Vic and I (unless you specify otherwise).

Stone Lantern http://www.stonelantern.com/ will also carry the book, and their copies are due to arrive the week of October 11th. Wayne Schoech, of Stone Lantern Publishing, said in his pre-review of the book, "This will surely be one of the most important (and beautiful) bonsai books ever published." I hope you will find this to be true, and I hope that the book will bring you inspiration, instruction and enjoyment for all your years in bonsai.

Will Hiltz (G52)

 

[bisjoe]

Congratulations on reaching the end of a long, hard road Will. I can't wait to see you, Dan and Vic tomorrow and get my copy! Enjoy this first weekend as an author, you surely deserve it.

 

[grouper52]

Congratulations on reaching the end of a long, hard road Will. I can't wait to see you, Dan and Vic tomorrow and get my copy! Enjoy this first weekend as an author, you surely deserve it.

Thanks, Joe. We'll all be there around noon signing books - see you then!

Will

 

[Attila Soos]

I just ordered mine.

You guys are the best!

 

[grouper52]

I just ordered mine.

You guys are the best!

Attila,

Yours was personally signed by the three of us this afternoon. It'll be on its way in one or two days. Hope you enjoy it.

Will

 

[bisjoe]

Hopefully their hands held out for the rest of the signing. They were making good progress when I was there this afternoon. I am enjoying my copy. Great to see you again, Will!

Joe

 

[grouper52]

Just an update:

All the advance sales from the US and around the world were sent out by Elandan on Monday and Tuesday, so those in the US who ordered through them should receive them at the end of this week or sometime next week. The international orders will arrive after that, depending on the speed of the postal services.

If you haven't ordered, the process is now up and running smoothly, so the books should reach you in a timely manner.

Stone Lantern should receive their copies next week, and will probably send them out shortly thereafter.

Will/G52

 

[yenling83]

I really haven't seen many of Dan's Trees. Could you possibly post one or two teaser pictures so we could get a sample?

 

[rockm]

Yenling,
Here's Dan's website:
http://elandangardens.com/museum/museum.htm

Although Vic has much better pictures.

 

[grouper52]

Rockm, thanks.

I'm sorry to disappoint folks who would like to see more photos from the book. I have allowed a few photos to be posted in a few places for promotional purposes, but I am not posting further photos. A number of folks in the know have also suggested this approach, confirming with their own experiences my concerns about the propensity of digital files to be rapidly pirated into the public domain.

Because I used High Dynamic Range photography and other labor intensive techniques to achieve the images of Dan's trees, I spent a minimum of about 5 hours on each photo, pre and post production, sometimes up to three times that or more. Many of Vic's photos were also labor intensive. I'm proud that my efforts have produced some of the most unique and stunning bonsai photos you will ever see - photos worthy of the effort and artistry Dan has brought to his creations. If people want to see them, they will simply need to see them on the printed page. That's why I went to all the effort in the first place. I hope you will get the book and enjoy the photos the way they were meant to be enjoyed.

Will Hiltz

 

[yenling83]

I'm totally cool with and respect that. Sorry I probably should not have even asked. I'm really glad to see you complete this project, and will have to put an order in. Thanks

 

[grouper52]

I'm totally cool with and respect that. Sorry I probably should not have even asked. I'm really glad to see you complete this project, and will have to put an order in. Thanks

Thanks for understanding. I didn't mean to come across as standoffish, but just wanted to explain why I'm not doing so.

Elandan Garden's site and Stone Lantern's pre-review has a few images and spreads from the book that might give you a taste of the photos, and Dan's trees are also featured all over the Elandan site. (those photos on Elandan's site have already been pirated, BTW, with one featured as the logo tree recently for some site overseas somewhere. )

Will

 

[Attila Soos]

Because I used High Dynamic Range photography and other labor intensive techniques to achieve the images of Dan's trees, I spent a minimum of about 5 hours on each photo, pre and post production, sometimes up to three times that or more.

That's amazing. I could have never imagined that a photo can require so much work. But it's good to know why your pictures are so much better than mine.

 

[Attila Soos]

Well, now at least I understand why taking outdoor pictures in an overcast situation leads to higher quality. Just like HDR photography, it has to do with reducing the contrasts, and increasing the nuances.

 

[grouper52]

Well, now at least I understand why taking outdoor pictures in an overcast situation leads to higher quality. Just like HDR photography, it has to do with reducing the contrasts, and increasing the nuances.

Using ambient light in shade at twilight is a big step in the right direction most of the time, but the HDR technique and software is then what brings out the nuances and the incredible lighting effects I was able to achieve. Unfortunately, the HDR software creates a huge amount of artifact, and this has to be cleaned up, and the cleanup often has to be done down at the level of pixel-by-pixel cleanup around the edge of each and every needle or leaf! That's most of the work, but then the black background also has to be uniform in every little interstices within the tree's outline. And then, since Dan didn't want to de-wire his trees for the photography, and I wanted them looking at least somewhat decent, I had to erase all the guy wires and get creative with the clone tool on all the wire-wrapped branches so they'd look presentable.

A lot of work! But I think it was worth it, and I hope you do too. My only complaint about the book's photos is that occasionally the process of transferring the files onto the printed page resulted in just a bit too much over-saturation of the greens on the foliage on certain conifers. They only sent me a couple of "wet proofs" during the printing process, and it was not evident on any of those pages, so I had no idea it happened on certain pages. A review of the original files showed no such tendency towards such over-saturation, so there was no way I could have known about this ahead of time. I also notice that this phenomenon seems somewhat variable from book to book, so it's probably some artifact of the printing process. Still, probably no one but me a few purists will even notice it, and it takes away little from the photos, IMO - I keep hearing the word "stunning" over and over again when peoples see it, and I hope you think so too.

Will

 

[bisjoe]

Stunning is a good word for it. I showed my copy to an accountant friend today who has only a slight
interest in bonsai and she asked me to e-mail her a link to the site where she could order one.

 

[Just Duane]

Wow

I recieved my book today! Its a super busy time for me at work, so I just skimmed through, but I LIKE WHAT I SEE!! I cant wait to have some time to drink it all in. I know i'll love it! Good job Dan, Will & Vic!
Thank you!

 

[BonsaiRic]

I too want to say AMAZING work by Dan, Will, and Vic!! This book is an inspiration. Thanks for your hard work and contribution to Bonsai!

This will bring motivation and enjoyment during our upcoming Ohio winter.
Eric

 

[lightwatchertoo]

This is my 80th bonsai book and it is wonderful.
It immediately became my favorite.

An interesting story of a man with a special vision and his pursuit to follow that vision.

Wonderful photographs and the kind of bonsai that reach my heart.

Walter Pall's introduction says it all because he sees it all.

These two men have shown the world that a bonsai tree should look like a natural tree and not a plastic replica of formal japanese approved styles.

 

[grouper52]

Thanks for the kind words, you all.

Walter's Foreword, indeed, adds greatly to an understanding of Dan's work. I was very fortunate to get him to write it.

International sales and non-bonsai sales are surprisingly brisk. I appreciate all the enthusiastic feedback we're getting from all quarters.

Will Hiltz