Bulfinch, New York. 2005. Hardcover. With Dust jacket. ISBN: 0821261738. Stated first edition. 154 pages. Copy is in excellent condition and in pristine condition. Pages are crisp and clean with a tight spine. Very light shelfwear. DJ is complete and not price clipped with minor scuffing. SIGNED by the photographer on the title page. Lavishly printed. Very interesting presentation.  

From Publishers Weekly
This oversized collection of Schatz's photographs of exotic flowers serves as a venue not only for Schatz's technical skill, but his eye for composition and color. A brilliant sense of texture is realized in Schatz's ability to create the look of feathers-and even fabric-with these heavily stylized flora. Shot using a powerful macro lens and bold lighting, the flowers fairly glow with color and, when set against stark monochrome backgrounds, the images exude on a nearly spectral feel. Each of the full-sized photographs has a corresponding thumbnail in the book's quasi-index, with both common and Latin names listed. Though many of the images appear to be digitally enhanced, Schatz doesn't discuss his process in detail, which may cause some hard-line photography purists to balk. Greenthumbs will appreciate the way Schatz transforms common flowers (roses, tulips, carnations and the like) into stunning studies of form, line and light, bringing a fresh perspective to mundane objects. His photographs of exotic flowers are similarly beautiful, making this a gift for flower or fine photography enthusiasts.

Book Description
A breathtaking collection of close up flower photographs in the tradition of Mapplethorpe and Penn, with an intensity and beauty that is uniquely Schatz. In BOTANICA, award-winning photographer Howard Schatz puts an entirely new twist on the age old tradition of depicting flowers in art. The flowers in BOTANICA emanate colors and textures so rich that youll be tempted to lift them off the page. Some of the close-up images are eye-popping in their extreme detail, while others are kaleidoscopic compositions of synesthetic color. From the exoticangels trumpets, passionflowers, and pincushionsto the familiarlilies, roses, and begoniasthe flowers Schatz photographs have never looked quite like this before, and yet it is their natural beauty that shines through every page of this sumptuous, oversize volume. Annotations at the back of the book, accompanied by miniature reproductions of the full-page plates, identify each variety and provide both common and Latin names. Schatzs unique presentation and photographic style make this a compelling gift for both flower lovers and connoisseurs of fine photography.