Animal Kingdom: A Collection of Portraits

"The Animal Kingdom" is a book everyone should care about--its photographs are not just stunning but also truly moving. Ford captures the beauty and power of animals as well as the delicacy and fragility of our fellow creatures on the planet: something we all need to be more appreciative--and aware--of in the face of vanishing species. These are photographs to cherish, to feel connected to, and to make us all embrace the world's inhabitants (four legs or two). This is a book that every home should have and it is one you will go back to again and again. Exceptional!

This is a beautiful book with artistic, thoughtful photographs of animals and birds big and small. You can truly see what the animals are feeling and thinking in each shot. I love the white background of the cover since it makes it perfect for any decor. Even the back cover photo is great. My favorite photo (today) is Eloise the Elephant's eye--SO telling. After buying my own copy I realized this is the easiest, most well priced, Christmas gift I could find this season! All ages, male or female, it's perfect. And it goes in any room...as a coffee table book or in a nursery.

Awsome. Thank you,

We love everything about this collection of portraits. It's a big hit with family members of all ages, from grandparents to toddlers. It's a fun way for me and my girls to learn about animals that they don't necessarily see in children's books. It's beautiful, inspiring and fun. A true masterpiece. We will be buying copies as Christmas gifts for friends and family members.

I bought this item as a coffee table book for my daughter. And as such, the photos are remarkable. I will say, however, that similar quality photos of the various animals in their natural habitat would have been much more interesting. For example, I have a really great pic of me (from professional team portraits) in my high school football uniform. I also have a really great one of me catching a pass during a game. The latter of the two is way more interesting to look at. So as I said, the pics in the book are of the highest quality, but their "portrait" or "studio" style is not as engaging as "real life" might be. You might keep that in mind when perusing the various animal photo books here. Also, as a brief aside, I found the video provided showing the production of the photos to be more interesting than the final snapshots, as they give some insight into the animals' personalities :)

When I was looking for art for new construction house my interior designer showed Mr. Ford’s work. I ended up buying one of his highland cows for my den. Love it. This Father’s Day I gave this book to my husband. He thought it was so cool to have the book with our cow in it. The whole family sat around and looked at all the pictures. Putting these magnificent animals on simple backgrounds really allows you to see them. The eyes are captivating. I highly recommend this lovely book.

I've been a fan of Randal Ford's photography for years. Animal Kingdom is exactly what I would expect from him -- beautiful photography that captures the personality of the subject. One of my favorite parts is the bio on each animal. The problem arises when you try to find a place in your home to display. No place seems to do it justice as you want any guest in your home to easily access it. It is an amazing conversations starter.

A portrait is more than a snap of a person; it is a visual encapsulation of who that person is. Likewise the animal portraits collected in this lovely book are more than just a series of animal pics. While I don't believe in a "soul" it's hard not to feel that you're able to see deeper than skin deep in these portraits. If you get this book, take the time to view it in peace and quiet and give yourself the time to really reflect on the images. They are even more profound than they first seem.