Reviews of Books by Lucian Niemeyer

Chesapeake Country,  Abbeville Press 1990, with a text by Eugene Meyer. Niemeyer's first book, this popular book is always sold out. Two calendars and a postcard book followed the three printings. The 4th printing came out in July of 2000.

• Washington Times, Gene Mueller states; "Beg, borrow or buy a copy of Chesapeake Country. Luxuriate in the soft color photos by the wonderfully skilled Mr. Niemeyer. Read the caring descriptions and historical tidbits by Mr. Meyer."
• Richmond Times Dispatch, "Lucian Niemeyer is a color photographer devoted to the grand style. His 196 photographs are filled with clarity and detail. He reveals the working nature of the Bay and there are many glimmering bits of the Chesapeake's history, waterscape and wildlife, waterfowl, wild plants and man shaped details such as fences and walls are captured with a sense of art, as well as documentation, and a keen sense of the fragile ecology."
• Southern Living, "Meyer's rich narrative chronicles the history of the Bay and it's environs. As for Mr. Niemeyer's photography, it is utterly superb. His camera captures the essence of each scene, whether a Skipjack at sunrise, or a Green heron on the prowl."
• The Abilene Reporter News, headlined "Beauty of Chesapeake Bay comes out in Niemeyer photos."

Old Order Amish, JHU Press 1993, with a text by Donald Kraybill. Entered the market as a hardcopy and a softcopy was released in 1997. Six printings.

• Mennonite Weekly Review, Gerald Studer states; "The photographs by Lucian Niemeyer are extraordinary in their full color. The text by Donald Kraybill is a model of brilliance and brevity. The design is grand in size and composition. This is a coffee table piece par excellence. It deserves serious attention for its sharply focused message."
• Philadelphia Inquirer, "Their ways are plain and still a puzzle to modern society. Old Order Amish can help to answer some of these questions. The combined talents of Niemeyer and Kraybill result in a portrayal of the Amish that goes a long way beyond the superficial."
• Parade, "Even more impressive is Old Order Amish. This handsome book delves deeply into family life, philosophy and customs."
• The Society for German American Studies, "A genuinely stunning success possible only to the most intimate of insiders. This book belongs in every library and in millions of American homes."

Long Legged Wading Birds of the North American Wetlands, Stackpole Books 1993, with a text by Mark Riegner. Winner of a Philadelphia Book Fair award. Audubon calls it a "classic natural history." Russell Peterson, former president of Audubon and Governor of Delaware wrote a forward for the book.

• Arts in Review, Charles Lee states, "Niemeyer has an eye more dramatic then Audubon."
• Birders World, Jerome Jackson states, "This is not merely a coffee table book. The authors take us on a journey of the wetlands. Niemeyer's photography is worth the price of the book. For those who admire our wading birds, I can think of no better a volume."
• The University of Mass., "Long Legged Wading Birds is a large and handsome volume, lavishly illustrated with breathtaking photographs. We recommend it as an ideal gift for birders."

Shenandoah, Daughter of the Stars, LSU Press 1994 with a text by Julia Davis. Condensed from a book written by Ms. Davis in 1945.

• North Carolina Historical Review, "It is difficult to say which is more breathtaking, the approximately 200 stunning photographs by Lucian Niemeyer or author Julia Davis's passionate textual depiction of her native region.
• Baltimore Sun, "It is a great history picture book for anyone who has ridden along the Skyline Drive. This book combines Lucian Niemeyer's exquisite photography of landscape and culture with a historical account to the present day. The simple flowing language and unaffected photographs form a touching beautiful story."
• West Virginia History, Presents the beauty and history of the Shenandoah with beautiful photographs as a compliment to Virginia's famous valley."
• The Book World, "An excellent oversize coffee table book. Some of the most splendid color photographs ever made greet the eye in Shenandoah. The US on a halfshell. No sauce needed."

Where Water Meets Land, York Graphics 1996 with an introduction. Softbound with 96 full color photographs.

• Reviewers Bookwatch, "...packed with color photos complimenting studies of the wetlands and their wildlife with numerous and excellent nature shots."

Okefenokee  University Press of Mississippi 2002 with text by Dr. George Folkerts

• Library Journal, "Folkert's writing is as artistic and inspiring as Niemeyer's gorgeous photos". Strongly recommended for southeast public and academic libraries"
• Savannah Morning News, Niemeyer of Santa Fe ( his other books include striking collections of images of the Chesapeake, the Shenandoah Valley, the Amish culture and the nations wetlands) creates a vibrant portrait of an American treasure.
• New York Times " Okefenokee A lovely illuminating evocation of the Swamp by Lucian Niemeyer".

Schooner Sultana Cornell Maritime Press 2002 with a text by Drew McMullen

• Maritime Life & Traditions, "Schooner Sultana is a remarkable book of human relationships, history, the transformation of dreams to reality and yes, boat building. To those thousands lucky enough to have been there, as well as to the millions who were not, I commend this book".
• Bay Times, Jack Shaum says "Sultana is a visual delight. It is a visual feast with page after page of beautiful color photographs by award winning photographer Lucian Niemeyer. McMullen's text is crisp and lively and succeeds admirably. It is a terrific addition to the lore of the Chesapeake Bay".
• Coffee table books often receive almost no respect, but this one is an outstanding exception. Highly recommended. Nautical Research Journal

New Mexico The University of New Mexico Press 2004 with a text by Art Gomez.

• Mobile Register. "A comprehensive photographic overview of modern New Mexico. ... With its stunning images and brisk prose, this is the essential book for New Mexico lovers." ...There is a nice balance of natural wonders and human endeavor and one comes away with the impression of a place and people powerfully interwoven. From first to last, this book is a visual feast that deftly captures and reflects the numerous aspects of New Mexico."
• Farmington Daily Times Leslie Doran says "New Mexico, Images of a land and its people is a wonderful feat. Although on the surface it looks to be a classic coffee table book, it turns out to be much, much more."
• New Pages  Tim Davis states "The prestigious University of New Mexico Press has outdone itself. Always a publisher of wonderful books, this latest offering from Niemeyer and Gomez exceeds even UNMP's high standards for excellence. You will treasure this beautiful book!"
• Western Books  Meghan Saar states " If you've ever wondered what makes New Mexico so enchanting, catch a glimpse of the awe-inspiring beauty captured by Lucian Niemeyer's camera. The photos are bound to have you calling up your travel agent for the first flight out to this border state, and Art Gomez's historical treatise is sure to excite you the entire plane ride over. A National Park Service historian and Santa Fe resident. Gomez has written a well-crafted testament extolling his love of the land's natural features and his heartfelt appreciation of the Hispanics, Anglos and Paleo, Plains and Pueblo Indians who forged communities that thrived in this compelling landscape".

Desert Wetlands   The University of New Mexico Press  2005  with a text by Thomas Fleischner

• Library Bookwatch  " A must for any collection focused on ecology and desert environments".
• Tucson Weekly  Jarret Keene writes "Gorgeous, gorgeous stuff. Desert Wetlands isn't just about visual splendor. There is some fascinating text by Thomas Lowe Fleischner".
• Durango Herald Judith Reynolds writes " Desert Wetlands is a serious environmental book wrapped in disarmingly beautiful imagery".
• Sunday Republican, Waterbury Ct.  " Lucian Niemeyer's photographs capture all the beauty of the southwest and their wetlands".
• American Birding Association  " Desert Wetlands is an appealing photo essay with an extensive accompanying text".
• Niemeyer's Desert Wetlands is luminous. The visually inclined will feast at this photographic table, as each plate is more astonishing than the next and each is worthy of prolonged attention  Southwest Book Views
• Collen Olinger of the Los Alamos Monitor says "Desert Wetlands is a beautiful paean to the almost surrealistic beauty of natural water in an arid setting. ..... "Desert Wetlands" is a jewel.
• Charles Bennett of the New Mexico Magazine states " The stunning 157 full-color photographs really make this book special".

Africa, The Holocausts of Rwanda and Sudan The University of New Mexico Press 2006

• New Mexican  Managing editor Rob Dean  " Wow! I was mesmerized but not surprised. Your Africa book is a triumph, but then again I know the heart and craft you put into your work. You succeed so completely in telling us and showing us all that each human being is precious, that each human spirit deserves hope and that brutality diminishes us all".
• The Chronicle of Higher Education  "The photographer Lucian Niemeyer documents the continents horror".
• ForeWord Magazine  Peter Skinner writes " The author brings a clarity of vision to his searing book; Its four accounts-a focused taxonomy of horror-numb the mind." "Niemeyer strives to waken the world's conscience."

Maine, A Portrait  DownEast Books 2006 

•  Acadia Visitor Cyndi Wood states " It seems that around every corner in Maine there is a postcard perfect scene just waiting to be captured by someone's camera. As one would expect under such conditions, the competition among photographers to produce an outstanding book is fierce. It takes a truly breathtaking body of work to pass muster. In Maine, A Portrait, Lucian Niemeyer has achieved such a collection. It takes an honest look at the state's natural beauty".
• Hannah Merker in the Maine Sunday Telegram says "The best of photographic essays speak of craft, an attuning of the photographer with the medium he has chosen to express a story, an aspect of his world. With an artist such as Lucian Niemeyer, the public is especially gifted by the intimate verbal expression accompanying the books in which he relates his photographic narratives...How fortunate Niemeyer has turned such a knowing lens on America's most northeastern state... Lucian Niemeyer gives us a gift of the verbal with perceptive articulation of the visual".

Images of a Vanished Era 1898 - 1924 The Photographs of Walter C Schneider Univ. of Missouri Press 2007

• Phil Angelo of the Kankakee Sunday Journal states " Schneider embodied the best in what would be called the art and craft of photojournalism. He told the truth, even though it hurt. The book is flat out beautiful. The commentary on Schneider's life and local history (by Lucian Niemeyer) is very well done". 
• The Wall Street Journal  Kent Owen states " The book offers a richly textured, affectionate panorama of Midwestern America during the decades leading up to World War 1 and into the 1920s". The editors note "Bravo to Lucian Niemeyer on his newly edited book of photographs by Walter C Schneider, Images of a Vanished Era, 1898 - 1924". 
• Midwest Book Review states " These are impressive photographic images that on occasion rise to the level of fine quality art. An important addition for professional, academic, and community libraries. It is highly recommended reading".
• Terry England of the Santa Fe  New Mexican states "Schneider left us an indelible record of a place and time that never will be repeated. If who we are now depends on knowing what came before, this is a good place to find out".
• Shutterbug names Images of a Vanished Era 1898 - 1924 as one of the best books of 2007.

Anhinga taken with a Leica R-3 and a 400mm lens on Kodachrome 200asa

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Last updated: January 11, 2008.