Hockey in the Capital District, New York (Images of Sports Series) Book

The Vale is the part of the Kashmir region where China, India and Pakistan come together. The resulting confluence of ethnicity, culture and religion shows in the photos. The landscape is striking. Life is both picturesque and harsh. People look either old or young.

I appreciate that the author and publisher let the photos speak for themselves. There is a short introduction. The photos are tersely labeled.

The large format and the glossy paper bring out the beauty of the land, the people and their way of life. There is a good balance of landscape and people. People are shown at home, at work, at leisure and in their worship.

I have never met anyone from Kashmir; nor have I met anyone who has traveled there. Kashmir features in the news only as a place name where larger powers vie for control. I cannot name a political leader or any celebrity from Kashmir. These may be clues to the isolation of this area.

The photos are gorgeous and will certainly adorn any coffee table and engage readers and browsers.