Nature Photographer Galen Rowell's New Book ''California the Beautiful'' Available at Auto Club Offices

    LOS ANGELES--Aug. 19, 2002--"California the Beautiful: Spirit and Place," a new book photographed by the late nature photographer Galen Rowell is available through Auto Club offices.
    The Automobile Club of Southern California, in cooperation with the northern California State Automobile Association (CSAA), released the book, which was published this month.
    Galen Rowell, 62, along with his wife, photographer Barbara Rowell, 54, were killed in a plane crash last week in the eastern Sierra Nevada. His interest in photography grew from his passion for climbing. An accomplished climber, Rowell was able to shoot from extraordinary vantages that few top-notch photographers ever reach. His work had been featured in every major mountain climbing and nature magazine, including National Geographic. Rowell has been compared to Ansel Adams.
    "The book is a 160-page tribute and celebration of the diverse natural beauty of the Golden State and through the dynamic voices of its writers, a portrait of the ever-renewing spirit it has come to embody. It's testimony to Galen Rowell as well," said Stephanie Jones of the Auto Club's Travel Publications and Information.
    The small, but exquisitely printed, volume blends full-color images from the award-winning photographer with excerpts from the work of California writers ranging from John Muir to Maya Angelou. "California is a place where you can find whatever you come looking for," writes Wallace Stegner. Among other writers offering praise are Mary Austin, Ray Bradbury, Joan Didion, Robertson Jeffers, Gretel Ehrich, Jack London, David Brower, Deena Metzer, and Gary Snyder. The text was compiled and edited by Peter Beren of CSAA.
    In "California the Beautiful," Galen Rowell's images capture the beauty of sunrise in the Anza-Borrego Desert, alpenglow on the White Mountains in the Eastern Sierra, sunset over Mt. Shasta, and Yosemite Falls by moonlight. They reveal a mountain lion kitten near Mono Lake, Tule elk at Point Reyes National Seashore and snow geese in the Klamath Wildlife Refuge.
    Galen Rowell was the author of 18 books on photography and his pictures appeared in many national magazines as well. The "California the Beautiful" book was inspired by the "North America the Beautiful" book produced for the national AAA organization. Rowell wrote about and photographed many beautiful scenes throughout North America for that large-format book.
    His works have been exhibited at New York's Nikon House and International Center for Photography; Chicago's Field Museum, San Francisco's Academy of Sciences, Yosemite's Ansel Adams Gallery, The Smithsonian Institution in Washington, D.C. and many other domestic and foreign venues.
    "California the Beautiful: Spirit and Place" is available at AAA offices for $13.50, and other retail outlets for a listed cost of $16.95.
    The Automobile Club of Southern California, the largest AAA affiliate, has been serving members since 1900. Today, the Auto Club's members benefit by the organization's roadside assistance service, insurance products and services, travel agency, financial products, automotive pricing, buying and financing, automotive testing and analysis, trip planning services, and highway and transportation safety programs. Information about these products and services is available on the Auto Club's web site at www.aaa-calif.com.