Underwater Dogs [Hardcover]

Seth Casteel (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 23, 2012

The exuberant, exhilarating photographs of dogs underwater that have become a sensation

From the water's surface, it's a simple exercise: a dog's leap, a splash, and then a wet head surfacing with a ball, triumphant.

But beneath the water is a chaotic ballet of bared teeth and bubbles, paddling paws, fur and ears billowing in the currents. From leaping Lab to diving Dachshund, the water is where a dog's distinct personality shines through; some lounge in the current, paddling slowly, but others arch their bodies to cut through the water with the focus and determination of a shark.

In more than eighty portraits, award-winning pet photographer and animal rights activist Seth Casteel captures new sides of our old friends with vibrant underwater photography that makes it impossible to look away. Each image bubbles with exuberance and life, a striking reminder that even in the most loveable and domesticated dog, there are more primal forces at work. In Underwater Dogs, Seth Casteel gives playful and energetic testament to the rough-and-tumble joy that our dogs bring into our lives.

Editorial Reviews

Review

Included in O, The Oprah Magazine's holiday gift guide, Entertainment Weekly's best-selling gift books list, and The Star-Ledger's holiday gift guide.

Seth Casteel's photographs are "a global phenomenon." -- Wired

"Surprising and funny." -- New York Times

"A great coffee table book." -- The Huffington Post

"These pictures are amazing and sometimes terrifying." -- The New York Times Book Review's "Inside the List"

"The arresting portraits in Seth Casteel's Underwater Dogs reveal what's happening below the surface. Teeth gnashing, paws paddling, primal and hilarious, these canines bubble with irresistible energy." -- O, The Oprah Magazine

"Seth Casteel's photos of dogs diving into swimming pools in hot pursuit of neon tennis balls have been a sensation." -- Washington Post

"Wide-eyed, wet-haired dog portraiture." -- Los Angeles Times

"The gorgeous, energetic snapshots are special in that they capture our pets in a primal state we rarely get to see." -- Entertainment Weekly's Shelf Life

"Different from anything you've seen before." -- CNN.com

"Alternately gorgeous and terrifying, but always visually sumptuous." -- Entertainment Weekly

"It's impossible to look at Under­water Dogs without smiling.... A delight-inducing book." -- BookPage

"Every image in this fetching work bubbles with life, reminding the reader that even in the most lovable and domesticated dog, there may be more primal forces at work." -- Publishers Weekly

"The most popular photography book of 2012." -- The San Francisco Chronicle

"If you're as much of a sucker for great animal photos as I am, you'll love this different take on man's best friend." -- Melanie Stetson Freeman, Christian Science Monitor

"Alternately humorous, rejuvenating, and even a little scary, these pictures of man's best friend in man's most essential liquid make us wonder why someone didn't think of taking pictures like this sooner." -- Complex.com

"Award-winning photographer Casteel captures his range of subjects with great affection and the variety of expressions and acrobatic poses will keep you chuckling for hours." -- The Daily Mail

"These aqua-doggies are guaranteed to bring a smile to almost any face as they become a whimsically single-minded parade of bared teeth and whooshing paws going after the balls and other objects that Casteel tossed into his pool just before clicking away on his underwater camera." -- American Profile

"Now we know exactly what to put on our holiday wish list!" -- pawnation.com

"... it's the gleeful images of dogs plunging into swimming pools, chomping after their favorite toys, that have put Casteel on the map as one of this country's premier - and innovative - pet photographers." -- petsugar.com

"Photographer Seth Casteel has done an unimaginable thing: he's created an entire photography book of dogs from an underwater perspective, and the photos are simply stunning.... Casteel is not only an animal lover but also an animal rescuer, and his genuine love of dogs shines through in his work." -- Babble Pets

"Dogs expressing their graceful and goofy selves while swimming." -- vetstreet.com

About the Author

Seth Casteel is an award-winning photographer with a passion for working with animals. His series of underwater dog photographs have brought him worldwide attention, entertaining and bewildering millions of animal lovers. As an established member of the animal rescue community, Seth has been recognized by TIME Magazine, The Today Show, and The Humane Society of the United States for his efforts, and his underwater dog photographs have been featured in The New York Times, on Animal Planet, and in hundreds of other outlets.

He is based in Los Angeles and Chicago and is the proud "dad" to two dogs, Nala the mini-labradoodle and Fritz, the Norwich Terrier.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 144 pages
• Publisher: Little, Brown and Company (October 23, 2012)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 9780316227704
• ISBN-13: 978-0316227704
• ASIN: 0316227706
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 0.8 x 10.5 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (287 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #2,276 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
  • #1 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Portraits
  • #2 in Books > Arts & Photography > Photography > Nature & Wildlife
  • #3 in Books > Arts & Photography > Individual Artists

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars If you're a dog lover - you need this book! October 11, 2012

By D. Fluharty

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I received my copy of "Underwater Dogs" on Tuesday and I without a doubt think this is the best dog photography book I have ever seen and I actually own quite a few as I am a huge dog lover. The pictures in this book are unlike anything I have ever seen up until a few months ago when I, like thousands of other people, discovered Seth Casteel's website and his amazing underwater photos. Not only are the photos themselves so unique but the clarity of them are incredible and the colors just pop!! The expressions on these waterloving dogs are something out of a Dr. Suess book. Who knew dogs looked like this underwater? I will tell you who knew, Seth! And he captures these expressions with amazing skills and what is one heck of a good camera. These pictures are as professional as you can get and yet there is such a playfulness that it keeps it from being unlike any other dog portrait book. As for the actual book itself I was impressed at how well the book is made. A book of this quality could easily sell for 2 - 3 times this Amazon price. At $12 this book is a steal and I, for one, plan to "steal" about a dozen more copies to give as Christmas presents to my dogloving friends and family. The other thing I really like about this book is that it is a true coffee table book. Some coffee table books have way too much writing. Guests sitting on your couch dont' want to read a War and Peace novel. They want a book they can flip through and look at pictures. But as fun and entertaining as these pictures are I don't think anyone could just flip through this one. They will have to look at each and every page as every page offers an entirely different view of the underwater life of dogs.... Some are wide mouthed, all teeth and look like sharks honing in on their prey which most of the time is a tennis ball. Others look serenely under the water as if they are trying to discover some secrets of the deep. While others have goofy grins that seem to stretch for miles under the distortion of the water. There is even one very interesting photo of a yellow dog where somehow Seth captures the image of the dog's face in a bubble that the dog himself is breathing out under water. I think other photographers could take thousands of underwater photos and never capture an image as unique as that. How he did it I don't know but I do know this. Seth Casteel has mastered the art of photographing dogs. His "land" portraits are just as impressive and I am so glad he included at the back of the book a small portrait of each dog so you can see what they really look like. This book is an absolute must if you love dogs and I think should be one of the best selling Christmas presents under $25 for this coming season. Bravo, Mr. Casteel, your book is utterly fantastic and as a fellow doglover, I thank you for showing those of us with waterloving dogs what they really look like down there in the deep end. Read more ›

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars The Best Photography of Dogs October 11, 2012

By GypsyMom

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I preordered this book well before the release date knowing that the photographer always was posting beautiful shots on his website and facebook page. When the book arrived on my doorstep I was anxious to see if it would live up to my expectations. I COULD NOT BELIEVE MY EYES. The images that are in this book are by far the best animal photography I have ever seen. They are real, inspiring, funny, adorable, & true to the spirit of each dog. I have never been moved as much as with these images, most made me laugh out loud, some brought tears to my eye - not in a bad way but because the photographers ability to allow you to connect with each image is so strong. This is a must have for any dog lover! I went back and purchased copies for all my family. An inspiration and feel good book that will have you amazed at the photographers talent and the dogs amazing love of the water!

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars I could not wipe the smile off my face! October 25, 2012

By Outta Control

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I just received this book a few hours ago. I had seen a few of the pictures on CNN and my local news but having the entire book to view is incredible.

This proves that not all ideas have already been taken.

The photography is excellent. I cannot imagine the number of shots that had to be taken to get these images.

If you are looking for a great Christmas present, this is it.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Very nice, but the images could be larger December 9, 2012

By Moris

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

The idea is of taking underwater pix of dogs is revolutionary and the purchase is certainly worth it. Yet, my mistake, I hadn't realized that the book's dimensions do not allow any larger picture. Double-page images being cut right in the middle due to the binding, the pictures appear less beautiful than they could.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars Great photos- but they need to republish it with photos off-centered so the dogs' faces can be seen! December 8, 2012

By nomdeplume

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This book has some very funny and beautiful photographs of these dogs. It is one of those books that is not only good for the intended recipient, but also will entertain any guests one may have.

One issue I had with this book was the layout. Some photos are centered, which means that due to the binding the photos are essentially disfigured by the layout. You can't see the whole expression of the dog, despite the fact it was enlarged around two pages for the purpose of highlighting that photo. Other photos were off-center, or covered one page, which made it much more fitting for the format.

If they would change the centering so that photos were not cut off by the binding, or bind it differently, that would improve the quality of the printing and make all the photographs equally visible.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Underwater Dogs December 6, 2012

By Susan Melvin

Format:Hardcover

I went through the book in about 30 minutes and enjoyed it and will probably look at again before loaning it out to the other dog lovers I know who will appreciate it also.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars Underwater Dogs December 12, 2012

By Gale D Hurley

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

I felt a lot of the pictures were too similar but the photography was fun. I appreciate that it was sent in time for Christmas.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful

3.0 out of 5 stars It will make you smile February 9, 2013

By J. Wildman

Format:Hardcover|Amazon Verified Purchase

This was bought as a Christmas gift for a dog-loving family. It made the recipients smile, and was passed around the room, with everyone wanting a look. Its a great "coffee table" addition.