Search - At Close Range With National Geographic on DVD

Bringing the world into focus one image at a time

Kyle Tolle | Phoenix, Arizona USA | 08/18/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"National Geographic photographer Joel Sartore has, in his words, the best and worst job in the world. Examining all the elements of his career isn't as easy as one might expect but this PBS documentary offers a detailed look from many different perspectives.

Usually given 8 weeks in the field and up to 12 weeks on rare occasions for specific story related photo shoots, a constant pressure is there to produce the unique, beautiful, and riveting pictures that National Geographic is known for. The expectations are stringent but the rewards can be many when you see the final layouts in the magazine.

Traveling to far reaching locales throughout the world is a necessity but it also comes with risks that are oftentimes unavoidable. Serious physical demands, regional illnesses, unpredictable weather and wildlife, and harsh terrain are all by-products in the search for that perfect shot.

Deciding on the images that will eventually appear in publication is the job of photo editors at National Geographic headquarters in Washington D.C. Looking at accumulated pictures for a story, sometimes comprising hundreds of rolls of film and taking a full week to accomplish, meticulous care and attention to detail are the orders of the day when deciding what will be the very best and final pictures the public will see.

What might be the most challenging aspect of this profession is the time spent away from family and the difficulties it can cause. Finding a happy medium between work and home life is not always easy but it is definitely necessary. Paul Sartore and his wife share their feelings on this dilemma near the end of the program.

`At Close Range with National Geographic' is an engaging and interesting feature and one that helped renew my appreciation for their outstanding magazine. Although I would have preferred a bigger selection of pictures to view (many fine photographs are shown here by the way), what's offered is a nice treat and I've got no complaints.
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