Customer Reviews

My Underwater Photo Journey

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Cathy Church's stunning collection of underwater photographs in this exquisite book literally took my breath away when I first opened it. The eye-popping color alone is enough to astonish anyone--but the appeal of the book that brings me back to it again and again is the author's marvelous choice of subject matter and her passionate observation of detail...whether it is to be found in the simple beauty of an algae leaf or in the natural abstraction of a stonefish portrait. The book is filled with unique creatures such as a seahorse which is the size of a grain of rice as well as captured moments of fascinating sealife behaviors that few people have ever witnessed. Not only are the pictures of marine life extraordinary, but Ms. Church is one of the very few underwater photographers who has turned her lens to "landscapes" beneath the sea--- with dramatic results. The pictures give one the feeling of being there as the photograph was taken. The captions are informative, filled with personal insight and often humorous.

There are many aspects of the book that are special--among the most useful and enjoyable are the online photo lessons that can be accessed for each photograph. These are not your usual dry listings of f-stops and film type (although that is available)...but offer a wealth of information regarding everything from appropriate gear to wear for underwater photography (including tips on subjects such as proper weight balance and fin technique), safety concerns, compositional advice, advantages and disadvantages of different camera equipment and even hints regarding working with various subjects for the best shot! (Trumpetfish "can be maneuvered or slowed down by placing your hand directly in front of their mouth") The information is written in a delightful conversational style and great fun to read.

I originally purchased this book for my husband, but everyone in the family has been enthralled with it. My eight-year old son has proclaimed it as his "most favorite book" and has given names to all of the fish in it.

This is a perfect gift item for anyone-- divers and non-divers alike.

My own experiences eye to eye with fish on the bottom did not prepare me for the breathtakingly beautiful photos of animals and plants taken from inches away by one of the world's greatest underwater photographers, Cathy Church. The clarity of the picture, the designer's eye for color juxtaposition, the artists mind for composition and framing her exotic subjects just blew me away. My own experiences with closeup photos on dry land gave me a huge appreciation for the difficulty Cathy must have had while composing portraits of tiny fish, snails or coral polyps less than an inch in size, while trying to stay put in the natural flow of the sea's currents and waves.

While children will be mesmerized to look face to face, eye to eye with strange and colorful creatures from far away oceans, adults will also be thrilled to see what most will never encounter personally.

Not only is the book a huge collectible for it's beauty and art, but it's the first stage of a comphrehensive, free, instruction method so the reader can learn how to prepare for the same kind of underwater journey. Like every master teacher, Cathy shares with humor and environmental sensitivity how to do what she does with hints with every photo. And even better yet, follows up the basics with much, much more at her website, so on the next dive the reader goes on, they might copy with success what took Cathy years and years of experimentation to achieve.

This book is a treasure, worth twice the modest price, to be kept at home, but shared for a lifetime with children and young adults who will be responsible for protecting and preserving in the future what is a world seldom seen but vital for all life on any part of our increasingly fragile planet.

Make My Underwater Photo Journey by Cathy Church a gift to yourself and your family, then to everyone you know during the holiday season, for birthdays, and especialy to anyone interested in SCUBA, marine biology or environmental issues.
Great photos, text and design all together in one book, plus extended instruction on Cathy's website. What a masterpiece!

My Underwater Photo Journey is a treat for the eye and mind. Each plate is a masterpiece of composition, contrast, and incredible detail. The technical and visual quality of this publication is amazing. In it, you'll find remarkable photography in exotic locations that most of us will be lucky to visit in a lifetime of travel. If you are one of those who are trying to improve your skills at underwater photography, as you turn the pages you'll constantly be wondering, "How did she get such a great shot?" The neat thing is that on her website, the author answers this question for each picture in the book.

When I met Cathy Church at her home base in Grand Cayman, I had some idea about her reputation, but not much. Far from looking down at a beginner, she was a patient and intensely enthusiastic teacher. During the lesson she also dove with me, putting my mind and camera gear through their paces. She went the extra mile by volunteering to come in on her day off, being late for a dinner party just to outfit me properly. I mention all this because her spirit of sharing knowledge with others weaves throughout this wonderful book.

Now that I'm home and savoring her book, I appreciate her talent even more. It's hard to imagine the level of skill that it takes to get so close to her skittish subjects. A creature one inch long can fill half a page. Yet she shares her techniques in an online commentary that backs up each plate. For those of us trying to improve our own skills, the behind the scenes lessons are invaluable. It's like having a personal trainer at your fingertips.

In this day and age much is written about the need to save our oceans and life on the reef. My Underwater Photo Journey provides powerful visual testimony of just why the world beneath the waves is worth protecting. The author, Cathy Church, is a big supporter of the Ocean Conservancy. But the book is far from a sermon, it's a stunning showcase for some of the best underwater imagery you'll find. The book is coffee table sized, with one or more photographs on every page, making a great birthday present or holiday gift for any diver, photographer, traveler, or art lover.

If you have to own only one UW photo book, this is the one. I know I own nearly all of them. Have had the privilege of viewing Cathy's black and white photos with her in the Maldives,
she works the picture more than most not just merely capturing a
shot but sculpting it. This book took my breath away. I hung up my UW camera after viewing this book, this book has what I had been trying to capture for so long

This book is an extraordinary example of beautiful pictures with the highest quality, showing that film is as capable (if not better) as digital systems...