Light in the sea

It is very easy to mention David Doubilet in the same breath as National Geographic as though that says it all. Of course his work has appeared in that illustrious magazine for many years and, well, perhaps it does. Light in the Sea is a large coffee-table book measuring 12in x 12in and is packed with a collection of photographs taken in, on, around, above and, of course, below the surface of the sea. It is, however, far more than just another collection of photographs of fish, corals and other sea creatures - this is an complete exercise in what to aim for when taking similar photographs. I am studiously avoiding such words as "Outstanding" or "Excellent" when describing the pictures contained in this book. This is because there are many outstanding and excellent photographers out there - but David Doubilet is a cut above the rest and in a class of his own. His photographs need no such description. There is far more to Underwater Photography than taking good photographs underwater and, having studied the many images in this book, I would suggest "Light in the Sea" is the template on which any aspiring underwater photographer should model their own abilities. Sea Creatures are photographed from every position - with wide-angle lens and with macro-lens, from above the surface, from below the surface - and even from half in and half out of the water. Islands are shown with rows of coconut trees along the shores in the background and rows of corals underwater in the foreground - and all in a single photograph. Even that well-known rocky promontory in Egypt called Ras Mohammed is photographed from a new and exciting angle. This is a book where every photograph is an abject lesson in photography with each one making the statement; "this is what you should aim to achieve when taking a photograph like this." This is a book where the Master has demonstrated his art to the student and I salute the author. NM

Light in the Sea is a book that revolutionized the techniques of underwater photography. It belongs to the most beautifull books I`ve ever seen. Doubilet is a photographer that has done a pair of other good books and written a lot of articles for National Geographic. His photos looks more like paintings than photos and that`s what`s making the book so good. Among my favourite pics are the Izu Peninsula coral reefs and also the Caribbean which is my favourite underwater area. His ways to capture the animals is unique,although there are other good photographers too,such as Roger Steene and Chris Newbert. But Doubilet is the best. The only thing which made me disappointed is that it is so short,just 160 pages. A 400-page photo book would be better. Fortunatley,I also own his other book that has 240 pages of beautifull photos. But don`t forget this,it is fantastic,I promise you that!

This book was a gift, and one I'm eternally grateful for. David Doubilet takes you on a photographic journey from the cold waters of British Colmbia to dive with giant octopus to the waters of the Great Barrier Reef, Palau, the Red Sea and the underwater volcanic sands of the Izu Penninsular, Japan. Amazing shots of Great White sharks and WWII wrecks, the incredible compositions and imagination of his photography will pluck you out of your chair and dunk you in the ocean! The supporting text just adds to the effect and compliments the photos beautifully. It's so real that I use it as a substitute for diving when I can't get out there. This man knows how to use a camera, and has a real feel for the sea. If you find it, grab it!