Customer Reviews

Beneath the Sea in 3-D

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book was put out by Chronicle Books, which is the same company that released CALIFORNIA IN DEPTH few years back. The book contains a set of prism lenses built into a special flap connected to the front cover which allows the reader to see the stereo pairs in the book in all of their optimally magnified glory. The views are a collection of the authors best underwater stereo photography work from such places as the south pacific islands of Fiji and Borneo, marine parks in various Carribean islands and off the coast of California. As you peer throught the viewer, you find that it's very easy to lose yourself in that "other" world. In my opinion, one of the best features of the book is that the author decided to include his personal thoughts about the pictures he chose to include. A good example is an image of a Sea Turtle skeleton found deep in an underwater cavern. Apparently the darkness and the twists of the cave walls confused the animal, and it could not escape. Nearby (not in the picture), the author also found the skeletons of a dolphin and a marlin that suffered the same fate. He recounts: "Even with dive lights, I found the intricately chambered cave highly disorienting. When I turned my lights off in the deep recess and imagined being lost there, it was truly terrifying." To sum up, I really treasure this book and hope that Mark chooses to make another one like it in the very near future.

I ordered this book primarily for the benefit of my 7 year old son. We're doing a research project on oceans, and while we have a few good resources, I felt this one, with its 3d imagery, would more likely capture and hold his attention. What I didn't realize was how thoroughly it would capture and hold mine. For me, 3D had always meant multicolored plastic glasses and headaches. Though the book was described as stereoscopic, I didn't understand what that meant. Stereography was something new for me, even if as a form of photography it is over 150 years old.

This is not a matter of red and blue separations; the 3D results from the human eye's trick of blending 2 photos taken (simultaneously) an eye's width apart. Photographer Mark Blum is a pioneer in the art of underwater 3d photography, and his work is beautifully displayed here. Everyone I've shown this book to has been fascinated by it, and I fully expect that when we've finished with our project the book will find its way to permanent display in my home.

BENEATH THE SEA IN 3-D

I highly recommended this book for school children and adults alike.

I was introduced to one of Blum's books by a friend and liked it so much that I sought out and bought all of his 3D books. I find the price so reasonable that I've since bought more to give as gifts.

I enjoy looking at the 3-D photos as much as my seven year old son so I already know several adults as well as children who will be getting this book as a gift.

The technical quality of the photos and printing of the books is very good. A magnifying, stereo viewer is built into a unique bi-fold cover of the book A little research showed that this idea is well over a hundred years old (like stereo photography) but I still find it very innovative because it is so rare and unusual.

The photographer has an inspired eye and top technical skill. The underwater photography is amazing. I think the dimension of the ocean really goes well with 3D photos. The colors and forms of the undersea world show so amazingly well in 3D and Blum went all over the world making these photos.

The writing accompanying each image adds to the photos with just the right amount of scientific and general information to serve both young and old reader. I like this book very much and I hope you find this review helpful. I recommend looking for the other 3-D books by Blum. They are all great!

Everybody that has seen my copy of Beneath the Sea in 3-D is entranced by it. The superb quality of the photography alone is worth the money. But add the astounding 3-D effect and it is just plain irresistible. My kids love it (ages 7, 11 and 17), and I love it. Great for all ages. The captions add fascinating facts about the animals and the circumstances of the photos. This is a great book! I'm ordering Mark Blum's other books, too! By all means, buy it!

The publisher has unfortunately tried to market these fabulous works as childrens books (not that they aren't wonderful for kids as well), but these photos are truely amazing both in the quality of the photography, but also in the presentation. They are printed on very high quality coated paper with a STURDY set of lenses built right into the hard cover, which allows you to view them in all their splendor without any additional equipment.

These are not red/blue lenses! The images are presented in true color stereo pairs and when viewed, merge into a single, dynamic 3D image - WOW! I can't say enough about the overall quality of viewing for ADULTS as well as children.

The price is another thing that confuses me. I don't know why these are so inexpensive? I urge anyone who loves nature to buy all of the books in this series!

This is an amazing book! Makes me want to take up scuba diving. I've never seen such good 3D, not to mention that it's real photos from underwater with incredible colors. Get this book! And I'm going to go get the rest of the books by this author.

As a diver, I found it thrilling to look at beautiful fish, coral, and other sea animals at my leisure. The photography is excellent. For non-divers, here's a chance to get an idea of how beautiful the underwater world really is. I am buying extra copies for friends.

What a treat for those of us who aren't able to dive into the sea ourselves! Buy this book and it's like you are really there.

I just want to offer a hint... To retain the amazing sharpness of the photographs, teach yourself how to see the 3D image without the plastic lenses. Just practice gazing off into the distance while noticing that the two images before you are now three images...whereupon you bring your gaze down onto the middle image, which will be in 3D. Or, if you know how to look at those 3D posters that were so popular at one time, you can do the same here.

We were visiting a museum one day and one of their interactive rooms had Bugs in 3-D. It is like the old stereoscope viewers in that it shows the photos as if they were three dimensional.
The book has a built in double magnifying glass (the glasses are part of the cover that folds out for use). Each page has two pictures of the same underwater scene. If you hold the book at a 90 degree angle, and look through the "glasses" the photos become three dimensional (and very close up!). You can see the scales on the fish. It sounds creepy but it is very interesting!
Using this book gives you the benefit of looking at these sea creatures very close up without having to actually have them in front of you. The photos are beautifully done and very colorful. The text that accompanies each page is educational.
I would highly recommend this book as well as any others in this series by Mark Blum. We now have three in the series. If you can't get it new, a used copy is still wonderful.

Not only is this book good for kids... Adults will enjoy it as well! Great 3D effect!