National Geographic Photographer Publishes Evolutionary Anthology

December 17, 2016 5:00 am EST
Southern cassowary (Robert Clark/Published by Phaidon)
Southern cassowary (Robert Clark/Published by Phaidon)
Jellyfish (Robert Clark/Published by Phaidon)
Jellyfish (Robert Clark/Published by Phaidon)

 

Robert Clark has photographed more than 40 stories for National Geographic. One of these assignments, for a story on evolutionary theory, sparked an insatiable interest in Clark, who since then, has amassed a vast catalog of images exploring the topic.

Now, for the first time ever, Clark’s evolution project has been published in a 200-image book with accompanying writing from David Quammen. A stunning celebration of nature, Evolution: A Visual Record features images of fossils, birds, insects, mammals, humans, and plants complemented by fact-filled captions. Among the book’s highlights are photos of 120,000-year-old ancient human footprints and a whale skeleton with its hind legs (see below). It also focuses on vulnerable species and some conservation success stories as well.

Published by Phaidon, Evolution sells for $39.95. Copies can be purchased here. Enjoy some of Robert Clark’s arresting images from the book below.

From left: The five-toed foot of a saltwater crocodile and the tail of the same creature (Robert Clark/Published by Phaidon)
From left: The five-toed foot of a saltwater crocodile and the tail of the same creature (Robert Clark/Published by Phaidon)
Southern cassowary (Robert Clark/Published by Phaidon)
Southern cassowary (Robert Clark/Published by Phaidon)
Angraecum sesquipe¬dale, now commonly known as Darwin’s orchid, a species from Madagascar (Robert Clark/Published by Phaidon)
Angraecum sesquipe-dale, now commonly known as Darwin’s orchid, a species from Madagascar (Robert Clark/Published by Phaidon)
Remains of Homo naledi from the Rising Star Cave in South Africa (Robert Clark/Published by Phaidon)
Remains of Homo naledi from the Rising Star Cave in South Africa (Robert Clark/Published by Phaidon)
The skeleton of a prehistoric whale (Robert Clark/Published by Phaidon)
The skeleton of a prehistoric whale (Robert Clark/Published by Phaidon)
True leaf insect or “walking leaf” (Robert Clark/Published by Phaidon)
True leaf insect or ‘walking leaf’ (Robert Clark/Published by Phaidon)
Naked mole rat (Robert Clark/Published by Phaidon)
Naked mole rat (Robert Clark/Published by Phaidon)
An anhinga wing (Robert Clark/Published by Phaidon)
An anhinga wing (Robert Clark/Published by Phaidon)
(Robert Clark/Published by Phaidon)
(Robert Clark/Published by Phaidon)

Meet your guide

COVERAGE

From literary events and music festivals, to the gallery scene and film screenings, Minh Tran sorts cultural signal from noise every Tuesday and Friday.