Le Notre's Gardens Hardcover – November 3, 1999

I own 50-100 nice photo books, including Michael Kenna’s “Retrospective Two.” This was one of the first photo books I ever saw, and shown to me by my photography teacher, in High School. It made an impression, and I can imagine it vividly. It’s a book I cherish.

Michael Kenna captures what we see in such a way that it makes you stop an look into the picture , the mystical use of early morning light and into the night , just love the texture you get from film and appreciate the skill needed to get the results

I enjoyed the artist rendition of black and white images. They aren't necessarily sharp but have sharp and soft areas complimenting elements in the compositions. The photos are inspiring.

I thought there would be more photos in this book

I am a huge Michael Kenna fan, so I am glad I own this book! It is lovely and intriguing.

I am very lucky indeed to have been able to see many of Michael Kenna's photographs at live exhibitions, both in Washington, D.C. and in New York City. Any art book is a "poor" substitution for the real thing, but there are some books that can give you true, beautiful examples of specific art works that then, hopefully, can someday be seen live. Kenna is a British photographer, in his 50's, who now lives in San Francisco....and seems to concentrate, in large part, on landscapes as his subjects. His images in this book are of the gardens created by Andre Le Notre, "the most important garden designer of the court of Louis XIV." In approximately 6o plates on 80 pages, we are taken to 10 different locations in France including the Tuileries in Paris and Versailles and Fontainebleau. The photographs are nothing short of breathtaking, obviously taken at dawn or dusk when the natural light is almost unreal. These images evoke mysterious, art movie settings---one almost expects a stranger to appear from one of the designed paths or pools or from behind one of the symmetrical trees or shrubs. All of it: the photographs, the accompanying essay, the way the book is put together with obvious care and love is magnificent magic.

A beautiful book that is full of some of Michael Kenna's finest images. Truely beautiful black and white printing. Michael Kenna is a master in his own time. Some of the fimest landscape I have ever seen. A must have for photography lovers!!