Overview

This Is Mars offers a thrilling visual experience of the surface of the red planet. The multi-award-winning French editor and designer Xavier Barral has chosen and composed photographic frames, drawn from the comprehensive photographic map of Mars made by the U.S. observation satellite MRO (Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter), to revel in the wonder of Mars. What Yann Arthus-Bertrand did with a light aircraft for The Earth from the Air , Barral does for Mars-by scouring tens of thousands of gigabytes of satellite photographs available from NASA, seeking out the most distinct images of the planet's surface. The result is visionary-a great science book, a unique artist's book, and a stunning object. The photographs are accompanied by an introduction from research scientist Alfred S. McEwen, principle investigator of the HiRISE telescope; an essay by astrophysicist Francis Rocard, who explains the story of Mars's origins and its evolution; and a timeline by geophysicist Nicolas Mangold, who demystifies some of Mars's geological history. Now available as a mid-sized, accessibly priced edition, This Is Mars will excite lovers of great photobooks, and everyone curious about the universe and beyond.

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9781597114158

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Reviews

The photographs are credited to NASA/MRO (Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter). Its the most sophisticated camera mankind has ever built and these photos are some of the highest resolution images ever taken. These images are not intented to be art they are scientific documents, yet they are as great as any art I have seen. For us in the creative world obsessed with photography and art, these images are a strong tonic reminding us of how big and still unknown the universe is. Alexander Galan, <i>WESC</i></p> Who knew the red planet could look so gorgeous in black and white? <i>Slate</i></p> This book is a perfect marriage of science and art. <i>Telegraph</i></p> This is a giant leap for a photo book. <i>Telegraph</i></p> <i>This is Mars</i> celebrates the art of exploration. <i>The Washington Post</i></p> As well as the jaw-dropping imagery that reside on its glossy pages, the design of This is Mars has been impeccably thought out. <i>It's Nice That</i></p>

In amazingly clear images captured by a HiRISE camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, we see our neighbor planet's surface in all its ruggled glory - craters, mountain ranges, chasms, and canyons that resemble microscopic specimens. The back of the book is thick with scientific data.--Jack Crager American Photo This Is Mars assembles 150 images of the red planet (albeit in black and white), taken by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter over the past few years. Put together by designer Xavier Barral, they create a compelling portrait of the geology of an alien world.--Jonathan Bell Wallpaper* THIS IS MARS...offers all the photographic evidence you need to feel the excitement behind NASA's literally other-worldly expeditions.--Jordan Kushins Gizmodo I am completely blown away by this atlas of the surface of Mars...Stunning, curious and abstract images of the planet's surface reveal its three-billion-year history. Extraordinary images of the dunes of Noachis Terra and Velles Marineris canyons are breathtaking. This book is a perfect marriage of science and art. This is an extraordinary book, and takes photographs of the earth from above to a new level. This is a giant leap for a photo book and makes you wonder if perhaps there is someone out there photographing us.--Cheryl Newman The Telegraph 'This Is Mars' celebrates the art of exploration.--May-Ying Lam The Washington Post A journey through Mars' impressive landscape has been made possible through a series of incredible images that reveal its surface in unprecedented detail. The images allow you to plummet into the breathtaking depths of its darkest canyons, float over its black dunes and revel in the beauty of the red planet's spiralling whirlwinds.--Ellie Zolfagharifard Daily Mail It's a lavish book of eye-popping images.--Rebecca Horne WIRED Rawlife Who knew the red planet could look so gorgeous in black and white?--David Rosenberg & Jordan G. Teicher Slate The photographs are credited to NASA/MRO (Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter). Its the most sophisticated camera mankind has ever built and these photos are some of the highest resolution images ever taken. These images are not intented to be art - they are scientific documents, yet they are as great as any art I have seen. For us in the creative world obsessed with photography and art, these images are a strong tonic reminding us of how big and still unknown the universe is.--Alexander Galan WESC The photographs are credited to NASA/MRO (Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter). Its the most sophisticated camera mankind has ever built and these photos are some of the highest resolution images ever taken. These images are not intented to be art they are scientific documents, yet they are as great as any art I have seen. For us in the creative world obsessed with photography and art, these images are a strong tonic reminding us of how big and still unknown the universe is. Alexander Galan, WESC Who knew the red planet could look so gorgeous in black and white? Slate This book is a perfect marriage of science and art. Telegraph This is a giant leap for a photo book. Telegraph This is Mars celebrates the art of exploration. The Washington Post As well as the jaw-dropping imagery that reside on its glossy pages, the design of This is Mars has been impeccably thought out. It's Nice That The photographs are credited to NASA/MRO (Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter). Its the most sophisticated camera mankind has ever built and these photos are some of the highest resolution images ever taken. These images are not intented to be art they are scientific documents, yet they are as great as any art I have seen. For us in the creative world obsessed with photography and art, these images are a strong tonic reminding us of how big and still unknown the universe is. Alexander Galan, WESC Who knew the red planet could look so gorgeous in black and white? Slate This book is a perfect marriage of science and art. Telegraph This is a giant leap for a photo book. Telegraph This is Mars celebrates the art of exploration. The Washington Post As well as the jaw-dropping imagery that reside on its glossy pages, the design of This is Mars has been impeccably thought out. It's Nice That

I am completely blown away by this atlas of the surface of Mars...Stunning, curious and abstract images of the planet's surface reveal its three-billion-year history. Extraordinary images of the dunes of Noachis Terra and Velles Marineris canyons are breathtaking. This book is a perfect marriage of science and art. This is an extraordinary book, and takes photographs of the earth from above to a new level. This is a giant leap for a photo book and makes you wonder if perhaps there is someone out there photographing us.--Cheryl Newman The Telegraph In amazingly clear images captured by a HiRISE camera on the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter, we see our neighbor planet's surface in all its ruggled glory - craters, mountain ranges, chasms, and canyons that resemble microscopic specimens. The back of the book is thick with scientific data.--Jack Crager American Photo This Is Mars assembles 150 images of the red planet (albeit in black and white), taken by the Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter over the past few years. Put together by designer Xavier Barral, they create a compelling portrait of the geology of an alien world.--Jonathan Bell Wallpaper* 'This Is Mars' celebrates the art of exploration.--May-Ying Lam The Washington Post THIS IS MARS...offers all the photographic evidence you need to feel the excitement behind NASA's literally other-worldly expeditions.--Jordan Kushins Gizmodo A journey through Mars' impressive landscape has been made possible through a series of incredible images that reveal its surface in unprecedented detail. The images allow you to plummet into the breathtaking depths of its darkest canyons, float over its black dunes and revel in the beauty of the red planet's spiralling whirlwinds.--Ellie Zolfagharifard Daily Mail It's a lavish book of eye-popping images.--Rebecca Horne WIRED Rawlife Who knew the red planet could look so gorgeous in black and white?--David Rosenberg & Jordan G. Teicher Slate The photographs are credited to NASA/MRO (Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter). Its the most sophisticated camera mankind has ever built and these photos are some of the highest resolution images ever taken. These images are not intented to be art - they are scientific documents, yet they are as great as any art I have seen. For us in the creative world obsessed with photography and art, these images are a strong tonic reminding us of how big and still unknown the universe is.--Alexander Galan WESC The photographs are credited to NASA/MRO (Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter). Its the most sophisticated camera mankind has ever built and these photos are some of the highest resolution images ever taken. These images are not intented to be art they are scientific documents, yet they are as great as any art I have seen. For us in the creative world obsessed with photography and art, these images are a strong tonic reminding us of how big and still unknown the universe is. Alexander Galan, WESC Who knew the red planet could look so gorgeous in black and white? Slate This book is a perfect marriage of science and art. Telegraph This is a giant leap for a photo book. Telegraph This is Mars celebrates the art of exploration. The Washington Post As well as the jaw-dropping imagery that reside on its glossy pages, the design of This is Mars has been impeccably thought out. It's Nice That The photographs are credited to NASA/MRO (Mars Reconnaissance Orbiter). Its the most sophisticated camera mankind has ever built and these photos are some of the highest resolution images ever taken. These images are not intented to be art they are scientific documents, yet they are as great as any art I have seen. For us in the creative world obsessed with photography and art, these images are a strong tonic reminding us of how big and still unknown the universe is. Alexander Galan, WESC Who knew the red planet could look so gorgeous in black and white? Slate This book is a perfect marriage of science and art. Telegraph This is a giant leap for a photo book. Telegraph This is Mars celebrates the art of exploration. The Washington Post As well as the jaw-dropping imagery that reside on its glossy pages, the design of This is Mars has been impeccably thought out. It's Nice That

Author Information

Xavier Barral is a photographer, former art director, and founder of Paris-based publishers Éditions Xavier Barral. Among other awards, he has received the Art Book Prize at the Frankfurt Book Fair for Andy Warhol, cinéma, published by Éditions Carré. Éditions Xavier Barral was established in 2002. Dr. Alfred S. McEwen is professor in the Department of Planetary Sciences, University of Arizona, and director of the Planetary Image Research Lab (PIRL). Francis Rocard is an astrophysicist and leader of the Centre national d’études spatiales (CNES) Mars exploration program. Nicolas Mangold is a geophysicist based in Nantes, France.

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