ALBERTA Sherman Hines. Toronto, McClelland and Stewart, c1981. unpaged, cloth, $24.95. ISBN 0-7710-415-1. Grades 10 and up. Reviewed by Joanna Gerdung. Volume 10 Number 4. 1982 November. Alberta is a collection of over 140 full-colour plates creating a portrait of the mosaic that is Alberta. The author has captivated the spirit of the people and the beauty of the landscape. Sherman Hines has an international reputation and holds master's degrees from both the Canadian and American Associations of Professional Photographers. As a new Albertan, it was a thrill to look at pictures of places I have visited and feel that the mood had been caught in print. The farmland is amply represented by the people, the land, the machinery. The processing used by Mines has given us the stark dark sky against the orange gold of the prairie grasses. Close-ups of grain, stacks of straw, and silhouettes, of machines give one the feel of the big sky country that is the prairie farmer's. The mountains are splendid with such shots as the early morning pink, snowcapped hills forming a background to a cow-dotted plain. Snow-laden trees, snow melting in creeks and waterfalls and glacier lakes make one appreciate the tranquillity of the mountains. The meadows with their flowers and insects are contrasted with the mammals isolated in the mountains. Lest we forget the cities and towns, Hines has given us shots of the Husky Tower against an orange sky, the Muttart Conservatory outlined by the light of a full moon, plus buildings old and new connected to farming. One shot of the Claresholm grain elevators standing like sentinels is reminiscent of the old hand-painted coloured photographs. The people are here too; rodeo hands, the young Ukrainian girls in their native costumes and the ranchers, providing a portrait of Alberta past and present. The machines that are changing the future of Alberta are kept very low key. Irrigation horses, paving machines, and a donkey pump make us realize that Alberta is not only natural beauty, that progress has come to the province. This series of photographs gives one a sense of Alberta, the land, the people, the past, and a brief glimpse into the future. If there is any gap, it is in the lack of representation of big industry and city life. For most that is a bonus as we are treated to the beauty of nature instead. There is no index or list of photographs. It would be more useful for photography classes if some details of aperture and speed were given. The equipment used included ektachrome film, Pentax 6x7 lens, 35mm to 600mm. There is no text other than a foreword by Sid Marty. Sharing this marvelous book of photographs with my colleagues made me want to travel Alberta. Every age would enjoy it for different reasons. Joanna Gerdung, Trochu Valley H. S., Trochu, AB.