Radiant: Farm Animals Up Close and Personal by Traer Scott is a combination of photography and animal memoirs. Gregarious or shy, curious or placid, playful or retiring, all the animals in Traer Scott's newest collection have one thing in common: a sparkling personality! This whimsical, soulful, and personal photo collection focuses on the lives of the farm animals we often take for granted. Scott introduces us to barnyard animals both familiar and lesser known, from cows, pigs, sheep, and chickens to Dolly the woolly llama, Bianca the Sicilian miniature donkey, Percy the Indian peafowl, and Justice the yak. Some of the animals are kept as pets; others are denizens of farm sanctuaries that Scott has visited. She shares her anecdotes about a Texas longhorn steer whose best friends are a trio of goats, a turkey who likes to snack on grapes and watermelon, and many others. Lively captions provide information on each breed, to round out this enchanting tribute to our four-legged (and winged) friends from the farm.

Radiant: Farm Animals Up Close and Personal is a wonderful look at the personalities and lives of various animals that have found their way to animal sanctuaries and loving homes. Some have lived through horrible situations, abuse, or health complications while others have known nothing but loving care. The variety of animals, and their stories, made this book perfect for reading as a whole, or four browsing through to find a specific animal or story that really captures the heart or attention in the moment. I enjoyed reading about the happy endings some of the abused animals found, and the work that people are doing to save animals in need and to preserve and protect species that are on the decline. I have already been working to reduce my carbon footprint and the affect my lifestyle has on the world and animals we share it with. However, while this book does not chide people for their choices, it does encourage them to be more thoughtful and aware of how their choices can have an impact, and that small changes can help. Small changes add up, and I am planning on continuing to make some of those small changes to continue decreasing the negative impact I make, and to increase the positive.

I really like that there is a list of the animal sanctuaries and related organizations at the end of the book. I encourage readers to look through that list and find one reasonable close to you, or doing work that means something to you, and follow up on the contact information given to see how you might be able to help. Not all of us can give monetarily, or help muck stalls or whatever. However I bet there is some way we can all support these organizations and help their work- such as organizing field trips, fundraisers, or simply just helping to spread the word about what their biggest need might be at the moment.

The animals in this book's photographs are luminous, amused, goofy, regal, and more. A main part of the author's focus is clearly highlighting the humanitarian and environmental problems of factory farms, but even omnivores will enjoy the beautiful photos and charming descriptions of the farm animals depicted in the book.

Radiant by Traer Scott is a gorgeous collection of photos depicting a variety of livestock breeds, showcased in examples from numerous animal sanctuaries. Along with each picture is a small blurb with facts about the individual animal shown, and the breed itself. In addition to cows, sheep, and chickens, there are goats, turkeys, llama and alpaca, and even a peafowl, a water buffalo, and a yak. I admit, I was surprised to see donkeys, but no horses, though you could make a beautiful photo collection just from horses! I grew up on a horse farm, so I'm partial to the big creatures. As Scott makes a case for, farm animals have every bit the personality that cats, dogs, and other pets do. Sometimes moreso. This book is perfect for animal lovers, and photo junkies, as well as making a great coffee table piece.

***Many thanks to Netgalley and Princeton Architectural Press for providing an egalley in exchange for a fair and honest review.

Do cows have personality?

I found myself drawn to this Radiant by Traer Scott, having grown up on an organic subsistence farm long before most even knew there was such a thing. (I blame my mother!) For many, Scott’s book will be an eye-opening book to the inner life of farm animals, for me it was a nostalgic reminder of all the unique personalities that critters on our farm displayed. I’ll never forget trying to convince pigs to move in a specific direction; they were more attracted by lying in the cool water of a stream or rooting in the mud or pasture. And they were too danged smart by half! Scott catches all that insouciance in his many pictures of our porcine friends and his description of the various breeds he portrays.

Scott’s photographs are graced by curious cows, attitudinal alpacas, diminutive donkeys, garrulous goats, cantankerous chickens, and much, much more. In all his pictures, the personality and presence of these animals is accented and celebrated. I find myself thinking that all this nostalgic knowledge is why families find themselves drawn to petting zoos; we have lost a vital connection to the animals that accompany us on our stay on this planet. While we benefit from their existence, they are relegated to factory farms that most of us will never see or even consider.

Scott’s photographs are a vicarious journey through the characters on a farm. Each picture is accompanied with some facts about the breed and a brief biography of the specific animal pictured. These animals live in sanctuaries, some born there, but many more rescued from abusive conditions. In addition, the introduction of the book includes facts about how farm animals have personalities just as their domestic cousins such as dogs and cats do and an overview of animal husbandry in its present form as factory farms. (While not all farms are factory farms, the vast majority of meat produced comes from them.) This overview contains facts about the factory farm’s impact on the environment, on the animals so raised, etc. Scott also includes additional information about different animals that he encountered on his journey to capture all these animals in photos, and the peace and contentment that he found when encountering these characters in sanctuaries. It is a brief glimpse into his pilgrimage that could stand as a book in its own right if it were expanded.

As someone raised on a farm, I do wish Scott had included pictures of some of these animals in their first days of life. For instance, while I consider adult pigs rather homely, baby pigs are some of the very cutest beings on the planet. You just want to hold and cuddle them as they nuzzle and wiggle, and they’re just as smart and trainable as their parents, while being way more cuddly. Another baby/parent paradox is the Muscovy duck; while their head’s red bare flesh makes them one of the least attractive ducks, their chicks are the most adorable of all the duck breeds that we raised, incredibly yellow and fluffy. I also would have liked to see some of the breeds that we felt had outstanding personalities along with unique beauty, such as Indian Runner ducks and crested bantam chickens. But I guess I want all that because Scott’s beautiful photographs remind me of all the beauty and personality of the animals on our farm. And nostalgia for a time when our handful of cows had a hundred acres to roam, as did our chickens, ducks, and other livestock, is not a bad thing. While we benefited from their eggs, milk, etc., and even their manure, they were a cared for and respected part our family farm and were left to freely range as they would through meadows, woods, pond, and streams. I wish all farm animals had that freedom.

Highly recommended for those who love farms, animals, or who want an eye-open gaze into the personalities of animals we take for granted and yet so many of us never see or touch in person. Scott’s book is a reminder that we owe these animals that we bring into existence the respect and care they deserve.

I received this book as an Advanced Reader Copy (ARC) from the publisher through NetGalley. My opinions are my own.

This is a glorious book, not only are the photos fabulous but each animal has a story and a personality. I love the facts that there is a bit of history about the breeds, it just added another aspect to the book. How could not these animals touch your heart, and how grateful I am of these organisations that give joy and health to these lovely animals.

There is nothing not to love about this book! The book begins with information about the impact (both on the animals themselves and on the environment) of factory farming. Not everyone is willing to go vegan, but we can all make decisions that impact the world around us in a less harmful way. I love that all animals featured here are living the good life in either a sanctuary, as a companion animal or on a hobby farm. We get a glimpse into each personality as well as a bit of information about the breed. Add to that beautiful photographs of each animal, capturing that unique personality. All animals are worthy of love and respect, even those many refer to as "food". The book concludes with a list of farm animal sanctuaries - perfect if you're interested in donating, visiting or volunteering!

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this wonderful book! All comments are my own, unbiased opinion.

This charming series of close up and personal portraits of farm animals will please the young and young at heart. Many of the creatures are elderly and they live at a sanctuary; while we see most of them with a white or black backdrop they are clearly well fed and cared for.

Each animal has a paragraph about its breed origins and then about the individual. We go from cattle to goats to ducks to donkeys to alpacas to turkeys and back to cattle; no horses but apparently the photographer/ author previously created a book on horses and this is a balance.

This should make us think a little more about the animals we farm and how we farm them. I like that some breeds are heritage varieties which were in danger of dying out and have been preserved. Indeed, one variety was created recently to be a sheep that did not need shearing as it just grows hair like the original Middle Eastern sheep. We can learn a lot.

I downloaded an e-ARC from Net Galley. This is an unbiased review.

Radiant, Farm Animals Up Close and Personal by Traer Scott is a great book of beautiful photos of a wide variety of farm animals. The photos are indeed up close and personal (aka VERY cute!!) Along with each photo is information about the animal. Fans of farming life and farm animals in general would love this book!

Radiant
Farm Animals Up Close and Personal
by Traer Scott
This is a touching book I requested from NetGalley and the review is voluntary. This book has outstanding photography of wonderful animals! It appears as if the reader can look into their soul and see what they have been through, what they are feeling, and touch that gentleness that lies there beneath the mud, wool, and hay. Some of those eyes sparkle with mischief, some with new hope, and others just laughter. This book is a book of love for animals! These animals are in sanctuaries and all come with their individual story which makes it even more special. They are not just a bunch of animals, they are special individuals who light up a page and will touch your heart.

Loved it!! A great coffee table book with beautiful pictures of every day and rarer farm animals in all their beautiful glory!!!

A beautiful collections of images!
Who doesn't love farm animals and I would have to agree with the author's daughter Donkey's ARE the best!
Along with each animals portrait is a brief history of the breed as well as the animals personality. I love that we got to know each of the animals in more depth than just a picture.

Traer Scott is a photographer based in Rhode Island with a special interest in animals, both domesticated and wild. In Radiant: Farm Animals Up Close and Personal she offers a visual exploration of farm animals as individual beings with their own history and personality. When she first started on her project, she says in the Introduction, she tried googling a particular breed of cow along with the world “personality”. Lots of results came up, but invariably the word “personality” would be missing. Indeed, farm animals are not supposed to have personalities even though, as any farmer would tell you, each cow or sheep is different.

In her book Scott makes a case for acknowledging the individuality of farm animals and changing our eating habits accordingly. She does not necessarily advocate veganism/vegetarianism, but she does call for reducing our meat consumption in line with recent UN recommendations urging the world to eat less meat as “cattle-rearing generates more global warming greenhouse gasses, as measured in CO2 equivalent, than transportation”. The numbers she quotes are staggering and point to a serious problem at the heart of our eating habits fostered by an industry responsible for abominable conditions.

The animals Scott photographs – cows, chickens, sheep, llamas, geese, pigs, alpacas and others – are not working animals or animals raised for milking/consumption. They are animals living in sanctuaries, a lot of them with a history of mistreatment by humans. Scott has chosen to portray them as individuals giving their name, breed, and a brief bio. This reminds me of other photobooks, such as Humans of New York, where portraits of ordinary New Yorkers are accompanied by short stories and interviews. But if each and every human deserves to have his/her photograph taken, why not animals? And so we have Archie, the Saanen Goat, Bobbert the Huacaya Alpaca, Henri, the Slate Heritage Breed turkey, and many others. As the title of the photobook suggests, these are intimate close-ups of the subjects photographed against a monochromatic backdrop in front of which the photographer must have had a lot of fun (and a fair bit of trouble too!) getting her models to pose.

My personal response to the book was very positive. I loved both the idea and the implementation. The technical quality of the photography is extremely high, and the thinking that underpins it resonates with me deeply. It makes a lot of sense, I think, to cut right down on one’s meat consumption in light of the shameful practices rampant within the farming industry. I recommend Radiant to photobook enthusiasts, vegetarians/vegans, animal activists, and anyone with an interest in animals and their welfare. It’d also make a wonderful present if you’re looking to convince a close friend or family member to change their eating habits.

Thanks to Princeton Architectural Press and Netgalley for the advance digital copy!

Who could ever guess that an art book on farm animals could be so charming or so beautiful? But this newest collection by photographer Traer Scott is all that and more. Through her lovely shots and lively anecdotes you fall in love with Dolly the wooly llama, Bianca the Sicilian miniature donkey, Percy the Indian peafowl, and Justice the yak. Some of the animals are pets, others reside on farm sanctuaries Scott has visited. She tells us about a Texas longhorn steer whose best friends are a trio of goats, a turkey who likes to eat watermelon, and many others. Fun captions introduce each breed in this genuinely enchanting tribute to our animal friends from the farm. 5/5

Pub Date 18 Sept 2018

Thanks to Princeton Architectural Press and NetGalley for the review copy. Opinions are fully mine.

#Radiant #NetGalley

Radiant, Farm Animals Up Close and Personal by Traer Scott is a fascinating small book consisting of charming photographs of a variety of farm animals who are now residents at several animal sanctuaries in the United States. Each photograph is accompanied by a short explanation of the particular breed of animal, it’s primary use, and a description of the specific animal depicted. The end result is a compilation of up-close views of some animals we typically are more accustomed to seeing on working farms.

In its hardcover form, this would be a unique gift for large animal veterinarians, photographers or other individuals who are interested in a coffee table book that is just a bit out of the ordinary. The short bites of information are engaging and contain just enough information to inform the reader without becoming tedious. The book challenges the reader’s notion that farm animals are lacking in personalities, providing photographs and narratives that assert the opposite. While it is not intended to be a book advocating veganism, Radiant does invite the reader to consider and perhaps modify how they think about animals that are typically part of the food chain.

In addition to the great photographs and bits of information provided, there is a list of some animal sanctuaries by state at the end of the book. For anyone who might want to pursue obtaining more information or increasing their photography skills, this is an added bonus. Thanks to NetGalley and Princeton Architectural Press for providing me with an advanced digital copy of this book in exchange for an unbiased review.

If you are a dedicated carnivore, but have a tender heart toward animals, you probably want to avoid Traer Scott's Radiant: Farm Animals Up Close and Personal. Scott's collection of photographs of a variety of farm animals will make you want to cuddle these animals, not eat them. As he points out, we don't typically think of farm animals as having personality, but spending time around them he discovered the intelligence of pigs, the friendliness and warmth of cows, and the social nature of chickens.

Many of the pictures are exactly what you would visualize as stereotypical farm animals, but a few, like the llamas and alpacas, won't be in any danger of showing up at the butcher. In fact, all of the animals in Radiant were photographed at animal sanctuaries, where they can live out their lives without fear of the slaughterhouse.

Scott presents these photographs as a counterpoint to the factory farms so prevalent today. He doesn't spend a lot of time on factory farms, but it's enough to make you think twice about the meat you eat from the supermarket or fast food restaurant. Ecological or ethical questions aside, you will enjoy the simple beauty of these animals. They may not be exotic, but Scott's photography captures their individual looks and unique characteristics in a very appealing way.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

Thanks to Netgalley and the publisher for an arc of this book In exchange for an honest review.
This is a wonderful book, filled with facts, photos and interesting facts.
I was amazed to hear how affectionate turkeys could be!
The information on factory farming is fascinating and also shocking .
Aswell as cows, llamas, alpacas, ducks, chickens, geese , pigs, goats , sheep, turkey and donkeys are also covered.
The photos are beautiful and really capture each animal and their personality , the photos combined with the facts on the species and the particular animal, history, usage and even favourite foods, really makes you fall in love with each one.
I have to say Lola is absolutely gorgeous.
This is a perfect book for any animal lover.

What a joy to read. Not only do you get these stunning photographs of animals with beautiful character (just wait till you meet Gertrude), the athour behind the project gives information about the spiecies and their purpose.

With a front cover like this I could not pass up the opportunity to read this book. Cows are my favourite animal, and once I read the synopsis I knew I’d love it. Cute, quirky photographs with wonderful anecdotes to add to the mix. I did however have to read this book on my kindle app on my iPad, a small black and white kindle just did not do the awesome pictures any justice at all. I can imagine a wonderful large hard backed black glossy book would be just perfect for the coffee table. The photography was incredible, my only grouch is, I would have loved to have seen more pictures, maybe one close up and one full body shot of some of the animals. The stories supporting each animal were the perfect accompaniment. I loved it.

When we think of lovable animals, we tend to visualize cats, dogs, hedgehogs, and other small, furry critters. But, in this beautifully illustrated book by Traer Scott, we are treated to something a little different. Readers will be enthralled by the up-close portraits of various farm animals and learn not only each individual's story, but a little about the history of the breed as well. Informative, engaging, and a very quick read, this is a wonderful piece to have on hand in your Adult Non-Fiction area for farming and husbandry. This is a book that animal lovers are sure to find fascinating.

Tribut für Nutztiere

Nutztiere sind mehr als nur Fleisch, Milch oder Nahrungsmittel.
Die Liebe zu diesen „Tieren auf dem Bauernhof“ strahlt durch jedes Wort und Foto in diesem Buch. Herzergreifend schöne Fotos und Momente eingefangen und um die Geschichte der geretteten Tiere ergänzt.
Unterhaltsam und lehrreich.