Jungles is the culmination of twenty years of dedicated work by renowned nature photographer Frans Lanting. This profound visual exploration spans the tropical rainforests of Africa, Central and South America, and Asia. With the combined perspective of a photographer, storyteller, and naturalist, Lanting ventured into some of the most remote and inaccessible corners of the tropics—from the lowland forests of the Congo to the cloud forests of the Andes—capturing the breathtaking diversity and ever-changing beauty of the natural world.
Unlike traditional nature photography that often seeks faithful representation, Lanting embraces an impressionistic visual language to convey his personal response to the jungle. He believes that the essence of the rainforest lies in its mystery and concealment, rather than in clear revelation. As such, his images are intentionally layered, atmospheric, and immersive—inviting viewers to wander through a realm of shadow, light, and fleeting color. These photographs are not merely records of reality, but poetic interpretations imbued with emotional resonance.
The book is divided into four thematic chapters, each offering a unique lens into the ecological and philosophical structure of the rainforest. Water and Light explores the interplay of these two elemental forces in shaping life, culminating in an intimate look at the nocturnal creatures of Central America. Color and Camouflage focuses on the adaptive strategies of flora and fauna, tracing a journey deep into the Amazon Basin to document vibrant macaws. Anarchy and Order presents the rainforest as a dynamic system of growth and transformation, leading readers to the highlands of Borneo where vertical life zones unfold layer by layer. Form and Evolution serves as a tribute to the wonders of natural selection, following encounters with primates in the forests of Africa and Madagascar.
From the misty breath of a rainforest at dawn to the brilliant flashes of birds in flight, Jungles is more than a celebration of nature’s visual splendor—it is a contemplative journey into the heart of life on Earth. With poetic sensitivity and profound respect, Frans Lanting reveals the sacred and sublime essence of the tropical jungle, reminding us of the deep interconnectedness between humanity and the natural world. This book is not only a treasure for nature lovers, but a heartfelt homage to the lush, mysterious world of the rainforest.