Coral Seas (Hardcover)

~ Roger Steene (Author)

Editorial Reviews

From Library Journal

Magnificent color photographs of the flora and fauna of the coral reef fill this large-format volume. Steene (Coral Reefs: Nature's Richest Realm, Crawford, 1990) is an experienced diver and underwater photographer who works with ichthyologists and marine biologists on Australia's Great Barrier Reef and elsewhere in the Pacific. An associate of the Australian Museum in Sydney and the Western Australian Museum in Perth, he has had several new species named after him. His brief text discusses coral reef conservation, the hazards and rewards of diving, and technical details of photography. Readership for this book will include underwater photographers, scuba divers, and the general public interested in marine biology. An index would have been useful for locating photographs of specific organisms. For public and academic libraries with large collections in related areas.?Judith Barnett, Pell Marine Science Lib., Univ. of Rhode Island, Kingston
Copyright 1998 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

... about one man's astounding vision ... these photographs are a triumph of patience, talent and countless hours beneath the sea. -- Stephen Fink, Rodale Scuba Diving, March 2000

No sci-fi monster dreamed up by a special effects team can hold a tentacle to the gorgeous menagerie of undersea fauna in this book. Every page is a visual feast, and the caption for each photograph contains nuggets of information about the animals' lifestyle and behavior that complement the image. -- Washington Post

Roger Steene is one of the most technically proficient and aesthetically sensit ive underwater photographers working today. It's no surprise, then, that 'Coral Seas' includes crisp portraits of brilliantly colored fishes, shy spidery crustaceans and as lew of bizarre creatures 'new to science'-all the dazzling, eye-popping images you'd expect form coffee-table books of this sort. Unlike authors of similar books, Steene also provides spectacular photos taken through the lens of a microscope... -- Los Angeles Times

This is an ambitious look at the immense variety of the life in oceans around the world. -- Seattle Times, Dec 5, 1999

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 272 pages
• Publisher: Firefly Books (October 1, 1998)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1552092909
• ISBN-13: 978-1552092903
• Product Dimensions: 12.8 x 11.1 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 5.4 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,206,188 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spectacular photos,Must-have book, September 28, 1999

By	Angel Lee "Liocorno Amethyst Moonstone" (Cleveland, OH United States) - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)

This is a must-have coffee table book for any sea life or aquarium enthusiast. It is packed with spectacular full-color photos of the many beautiful, unusual & fascinating creatures of the reef.

A vast array of fish & invertebrates are included. Some of my favorites include a multicolored shore crab, bright red nudibranch & a translucent blue jellyfish. I also love the blue & white aeolid sea slug.

The odd-looking weedy scorpionfish, fingered dragonet & snapping shrimps really grab your attention. The numerous corals & octopi are also a treat. All the images are clear & many give very close up looks at the organisms.

Captions below give brief information on the creatures, such as defense methods, eating habits & mating rituals. Each is also identified by its both its Latin & common name. This is a gorgeous and informative book.

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars absolutely stunning macro photography, December 26, 1998

By	[e-mail] (Florida, USA) - See all my reviews

Roger Steene is an Ausie and sometimes the way he describes marine life (in person) might seem a little over exaggerated. He told me about the octopi that imitated other marine animals, but I took the description with a grain of salt until I saw the actual photos in his new book "Coral Seas." It is simple fantastic. The full frame, macro shots of rare species photographed on beautiful, complimentary backgrounds show the special skills this man has for illustrating the wonderous living animals that live in the sea. Many people will never get to the distant places where Roger took the pictures or have the sharpness of eye nor the skill in finding these rare marine animals. Therefore this book is a must in everyones library.Wilt Nelson

8 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It's a masterpiece, January 6, 1999

By	Kenting (San Jose Area, CA USA) - See all my reviews

Steene's photography is some of the best I've seen. I just received my copy of this book yesterday, and the pages are absolutely luminous with color. In terms of composition, artistic sensibility, and scientific interest, this book has to rank at the top of the field. I recommend it to anyone with an interest in South Pacific underwater photography.