Product Description
Still photography and videography enable the diver to permanently capture and later share their experiences of the extraordinary beauty and diversity of the underwater realms. However, in order to produce memorable, high-quality images, it is vital that divers have a thorough understanding of photographic equipment and techniques. Divided into four sections - Introducing Underwater Photography, Still Photography, Videography and The Complete Photographer - this book is a comprehensive guide to understanding the basics of photography, choosing the right photographic equipment, making the best use of that equipment, and using underwater conditions to your best advantage. Detailed tables and charts provide easy reference for correct exposure settings, while diagrams and comparative photographs illustrate technical points such as depth of field, bracketing, and how to avoid parallax error. Video postproduction is also covered. ... Read more

Product Description
Designed to help the underwater photographer make a smooth transition to digital imaging, this book discusses how to digitally refine, correct, and enhance underwater photographs. It details the equipment necessary for digital imaging for underwater photography, and includes a discussion on the essentials of scanning. There is extensive information on Adobe Photoshop, and how it can be used to edit underwater pictures. This book also investigates the ethics of photo manipulation and discusses the future of underwater photography. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (8)

Good for beginners
This book is good for those just entering into digital photography for the underwater world.It should specify that it is for beginners to as to avoid disappointing those who are already experienced in digital photography.

shoot underwater
The book seems to cover some of the basics.It does an ok job of covering the shoot part and and ok job of the editing part.If you are looking for details, I would consider a different book or two books...one specifically about getting the shot and one specifically about fixing the shot.

Good Start
This book is a good start for someone considering underwater photography with a digital camera. It touches on the important aspects of the subject and gives a very basic overview of what is involved. For the serious photographer, I would recommend the authpr's professional guide on the same subject. It has more detail and better images.

I should have read the reviews
It is a complete waste of money, like it sais in one of the reviews.Should have listened!!!This book is completely useless, the authors assume that you already know all about digital imaging and the book is just a review.You won't learn.Don't buy it.

Not what I was expecting at all
When I bought this book, I thought I would learn some ways to enhance my pictures with detailed examples. I was really disappointed when I saw that it wasn't the case. They show what they did with what tool but without any detailed explanations. "Before-and-after-color-balance" wasn't what I had in mind when I bought this book. I didn't need to pay 50$ to know that if I go through photoshop menus and do some tests, I would learn it sooner or later. I really think it should be mentionned that this book is intended for people that have beginner skills with computers. 30% of the book explains how to use a scanner...

The only way I would recommend this book is if you don't know much about computers and have no clue what photoshop is and want to know where the menu for Hue/Saturation is. Otherwise, don't waste any penny on that, instead, go to specialized website, you'll find tutorials that are a 100 times better than this book with real detailed examples. ... Read more

Product Description
Underwater photography is challenging, even in the age ofautofocus and TTL cameras.The author is unique is presenting anin-depth explanation of concepts as they relate to making photographsunderwater.This book illustrates these concepts with brilliant colorphotographs, each of which is accompanied by an explanation of exactlyhow it was accomplished.This book stresses basic knowledge needed toproduce high quality images now and in the future.Both beginning andexperienced underwater photographers will benefit from thepresentation of practical suggestions and realistic solutions formaking photographs with housed 35mm cameras, macro or wide anglelenses, and strobe lighting.

This book includes a glossary of important photographic terms as wellas straightforward and comprehensive explanations of useful opticalconcepts, lenses, cameras, film and strobe lighting.It concludeswith addresses, telephone contact numbers and internet URL's for anumber of important equipment manufacturers, photography supplyhouses, and repair facilities that specialize in underwater equipment. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

A lot to read but not as much to see
Photography improves as you see more pictures and read the different techniques behind them. Unfortunately the photos in this book (only 40 of them) are not the ones I would like to shoot or appreciate if I see in a magazine or in a competition. If the printing quality of the photos were better this could have been a better book.

Great underwater photography handbook
Great reference book on essentials of underwater photography. Compact enough to take with you on your next photo dive in far away places. I especially enjoyed the quick look-up charts on filters, f-stop, strobes and films. Great for beginners, and for those of us that may need a refresher before going for a photo dive after a few years absence.

There is a great discussion on equiptment that is a must read before buying new underwater photographic gear. Beyond being a great reference, Mr. Jackson has supplied us with some wonderful photos (with settings). This is a great gift for the underwater enthusiast as well as yourself. ... Read more

Product Description
For millennia, climatological and geological processes created the necessary conditions for the tropical Indo-Pacific to evolve into the most diverse area among marine ecosystems. The Indonesian-Philippines area is the epicentre of this amazing biodiversity. Award-winning photographer Constantinos Petrinos chose the Lembeh Strait in North Sulawesi, Indonesia to document this fascinating underwater wonderland. He spent 5 months in the region, did 320 dives and took 25,000 slides. "Realm of the Pygmy Seahorse" features 280 of these amazing photographs. Underwater photographers will find a wealth of information on technique. For the naturalist, the rich text explains the spectacular behaviour seen in the photos.

The author attempts to give the reader an insider's view on the daily lives of the animals in this complex ecosystem that features a variety of habitats. Seemingly barren volcanic sand slopes and rubble areas reveal elusive, rare creatures, such as the wonderpus and the mimic octopus. Tiny pygmy seahorses adorn "Muricella" sea fans. Spectacular nudibranchs are everywhere. The rare and unusual seem commonplace. ... Read more

Customer Reviews (2)

spectacular!!!
I have quite a few underwater photography books. None of them even come close to the quality of this book. The author combines his phenomenal photographic talent with interesting text. It does not hurt that he chose the Lembeh Straits in Northern Sulawesi, where rare and unusual marine life is commonplace as the main focus of this work. I am going to keep this one on the coffee table for a long time.

A Book which stands out from the rest.
Generally speaking, too many books of inferior quality are produced at this time. Sadly, a great many of these are of interest to the Scuba Diver - especially some of the so-called "Dive Guides." So, as I hoist a placard demanding better quality books on diving-related subjects, I can think of no finer benchmark for comparison than "Realm of the Pygmy Seahorse" by Constantinos Petrinos.

This is a book which stands out from the rest, it is a large format (12" x 9") and hardback. Constantinos Petrinos is credited with all the text and photography and, because his name is not known to me, if this is his first book then all I can say is he has started at the top.

"Realm of the Pygmy Seahorse" is an exciting and imaginative work which will start your heart racing with the high quality images of all those creatures found in that part of Sulawesi where the central creature - the Pygmy Seahorse, is endemic. The Macro photography is particularly stunning - not just the minute Zebra Crab which actually measures 1.5cm across or the Imperial Shrimp which is only 2cm long (to name but two.), but the close-up of just the eyes of the "Smasher Mantis Shrimp" is macro photography at it's very best.

If this book had been a life-time's work of any author (thankfully that is not the case) then that life would have been well spent with the resultant record of those labours being both well documented and extremely well presented.

Even if you are never likely to visit Sulawesi, you really should consider obtaining a copy for your own enjoyment. You are guaranteed to learn a great deal...

5 stars really is not enough for this particular product.

NM

... Read more

Product Description
An introduction to underwater photographic equipment and techniques with a discussion of past, present, and future developments in the field. ... Read more

Product Description
Explains how to photograph underwater plant and animal life simply and safely while snorkeling. ... Read more

Product Description
One of my favorite kinds of literature is science fiction, stories of the future in which men, aided by science, explore new worlds. The trouble with science fiction is that it is always becoming fact. This book is an example. It tells of a new world that men are now exploring, a world as unlike the one we are used to as is the face of Mars, a world in many respects less known than the surface of the moon; the world under the sea... ... Read more

Product Description
This book is aimed at anyone who is considering or beginning underwater photography, but also has the scope to help the more experienced photographer develop specific techniques, perfect particular subjects, and give advice on entering competitions and selling your work.

The subjects covered by each chapter are designed to allow you to pick your entry level and then aid both the beginner or more experienced photographer to expand and hone their skills within each technique before moving onto the next.

Photography underwater is potentially the most difficult of photographic disciplines, as most techniques that work well on the surface usually fail miserably underwater, and monitoring one's life support system, buoyancy and sea conditions complicate things even more.Using the step-by-step techniques helps the reader find all the information required for a particular technique presented in a relaxed and easy-to-grasp style.

Also Recommended: "Nature Photography," "The Art of Wildlife Photography." ... Read more

Customer Reviews (5)

Good for all skill levels
Also check out the words of Howard Hall - and for some great examples of video underwater, check out Captain Jon Explores the Ocean.

great!
i've taken a few pictures before ive gotten this book. but i loved the way it broke down everything and basically taught u from scratch. everything u need to know about underwater photography. when i got this book it was my bible for about a year i read it in and out multiple times and still use it today as a reference. i think the best part about this book is the pictures. and the fact that he tells u different techniques and shows how it ends up on the exposure. and how every single picture in the book (hundreds) was obtained, from shutter speed to strobe setting was also very helpful. lots of time underwater and film was used to make this book. i suggest this book to anyone who is even thinking of taking a camera below the surface. or someone who already has. because of this my photoalbum is stunning and better than i ever thought it could be.

All-in-one for beginning as well as advanced photographers.
As an amateur surface photographer, I truly enjoyed reading this book. It provides me comprehensive basic knowledge on the subject as well as more in-depth knowledge to build on down the road. The photos throughout the book greatly help convey the author's ideas and the readers to quickly grasp the concept. I recommend this book to anyone considering taking up underwater photography. Note: Since the book was written by a British author, at the beginning I was bit confused with the measuring system (meters instead of feet) and the currency (pounds instead of US dollars). To know the conversion rate at the start would be very helpful.

Beautifully illustrated book
With over 250 photographs and illustrations, each with a fully detailled description on strobe and apperture settings. If you own a housed camera, this book is a must.

Outstanding for advanced land photographers going U/W !
Excellent "how to" guide covering technical and asthetic aspects of U/W photography. The author spends little time on basics and equipment, and plunges into artful considerations: composition, lighting, perspective,using models, etc. A Londoner who competes internationally in U/WPhotography, Webster lays out ideas and creative techniques such as doubleexposures using macro first then wide angle, entering competions, beginnermarketing, etc.A must for U/W housing shooters! ... Read more