Book Review
“A Wild Life” by Shaun Barnett, published by Potton and Burton, Price $59.99. Release Date; October 1, 2024, reviewed by Tony Orman.
Sadly well known tramper, talented author and gifted photographer Shaun Barnett passed away this year from a brain tumour, aged just 55 years. Shaun qualified with a Bachelor of Science Degree in Zoology and contributed numerous articles to magazines and wrote books, featuring his skills in photography.
A new book is a tribute to the man.
“His legacy is A Wild Life a stunning portfolio of photographs which celebrate his craft and a life passionately devoted to the outdoors,” is how the publishers describe the new book. It lives up to the description so well.
The photographs cover both North and South Islands and I noted with pleasure, with a solid focus on the Tararua Ranges. Shaun had a soft spot for this very underrated wilderness mountain area – and so do I as I spent many weekends in my late teens and early twenties, deerstalking and wilderness trout fishing in the Tararuas..
Also I was delighted to see the Ruahine Ranges feature, another range which I was also familiar with. And I found a strong empathy with the “Top of the South” photos of areas I’ve frequented such as Nelson Lakes National Park with both rod and rifle plus others further south.
But then each reader based on his or her mountain forays, will find photographs of special, personal significance.
Shaun Barnett was an addicted “hut bagger” visiting as many huts as he could. Had he not departed at just age 55, I’m sure there should have been many more added to his tally, such was his zeal, determination and motivation to “bag” more.
“A Wild Life” is a superb coffee table book to dip into every so often and enjoy some superb photographs of wilderness New Zealand.
The cover shot looks like the upper Travers Valley and Travers Hut to me. I’ve followed articles and photos of Shaun Barnett’s over the years. Talented chap.
Shaun Barnett’s knowledge of New Zealand’s backcountry, the landscapes, the tracks and huts and the people involved throughout its history, is possibly unsurpassed. He stands up there alongside another great in John Pascoe. The book is a fitting tribute to a backcountry icon.