The Shark and the Albatross is the story of a cameraman's encounters with animals in remote, exotic and dangerous places.
John Aitchison gives vivid descriptions of the lives of polar bears and penguins, seals and whales, sharks and birds, wolves and lynxes. He records touching moments and dramatic incidents, some ending in success against the odds, others desperately sad when, in spite of preparation for every outcome, disaster strikes. He reveals what happens behind the scenes and beyond the camera, explaining the practicalities and challenges of the filming process and the difficulties of surviving in perilous places. And, as he shows in several incidents of nail-biting tension and hair-raising hilarity, disaster can sometimes strike for film-makers too.
This is natural history writing at its absolute best, evocative, informative and, above all, gripping from first to last.
John Aitchison is a wildlife filmmaker. His many awards include a joint BAFTA and a joint Primetime Creative Emmy both for the cinematography of the BBC series Frozen Planet.
"This is a lovely book, vividly written, giving us a fascinating insight into the world of wild life photography. It is a must for all those who enjoy insights into the natural world."
– Alexander McCall Smith
"In a word, beautiful. John shares the experience of patiently waiting, then the euphoria of capturing the action; capturing the art in nature."
– Bill Oddie
"Nature writing for a technological age, rich with zoom-enabled insights."
– The Independent
"Here you'll find a version of the world which is more real, more intense and, sadly, more beautiful than the one most of us are forced to occupy."
– Adam Nicolson
"A kaleidoscope of brilliant wildlife experiences not to be missed"
– Sir John Lister-Kaye OBE, Conservationist and nature writer