Sea

by Mark Laita

Internationally award-winning photographer Mark Laita has focused his vast technical and artistic expertise on the creatures of the deep. In Sea, with cutting-edge photographic techniques, Laita unveils the full splendor and otherworldliness of the ocean’s inhabitants in an entirely new and thrilling way. Rippling reflections, stark backdrops, and surprising angles lay bare the astonishing beauty of the life that teems under the water’s surface. Leaping from the pages are piggybacking sea horses, iridescent jellyfish, ethereal but menacing stingrays, and deadly puffer fish. Laita’s masterful photography reveals their extraordinary colors, textures, and personalities to us as never before.

Genres: Photography, Nonfiction, Nature, Art

200 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2011

Reviews

[Preeti · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've had this book for a while, and I remember when I bought it, how excited I was. And of course it sat on my shelf even though it is full of photography, and barely any words. It wouldn't take long to get through really. It's a coffee table book, but perfect if you are into photography and undersea animals.

There's a short intro in the beginning of the book, on how Laita photographed (most of) the creatures: in his studio in tanks. It's similar to the technique used by David Liittschwager and Susan Middleton in Archipelago: Portraits of Life in the World's Most Remote Island Sanctuary. It really brings out the details and stunning colors of the marine life, though sometimes I was wondering, are these even real!? Nature is just gorgeous and Laita's photography really highlights this.

[Kala · Rating 3 out of 5]

What 3.5 stars

[Fromwordstoworlds · Rating 4 out of 5]

I am not a good swimmer and I am afraid of water. The infinity of the ocean scares me as everything else that I cannot understand or anticipate. I admire Australia’s wilderness and its pristine landscapes but I will always feel powerless and inefficient when trying to embrace its magnificence.

So when I came across Mark Laita’s Sea I was once again confirmed that our planet is more dynamic and more impressive than we think. Set against a black background there is a parade of bright, splendid sea creatures that define the elegance and diversity of the ocean but also its strangeness and secrecy.

To capture the unaltered colours and textures of these beautiful wild creatures Laita recreated the sea in his studio using custom-built fish tanks and to photograph the larger species he worked at the Georgia Aquarium in Atlanta, which is the biggest aquarium in the world.

See full review on blog:
https://fromwordstoworlds.wordpress.c...

[Melody · Rating 4 out of 5]

Technically brilliant, full of beautiful aquatic animals. If I'd seen this book before Serpentine, I'd probably have given it five stars. However, I did see Serpentine first, and I love it best. It's undoubtedly harder to pose fish than serpents. And snakes, to my eye, are far more lovely than fish.

Still, absolutely gorgeous. Laita's eye is something very special.

[Nate · Rating 4 out of 5]

Another beautiful book by Laita. And definitely better than "Serpentine". But, again, to say that I "read" this book is a stretch....however, I did spend about an hour gushing over the beautiful photographs. Sure will be a shame in 40 years when our oceans are lifeless. :(

[Red · Rating 5 out of 5]

Drop-dead gorgeous photos of marine life.

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

Gorgeous!

[Anya · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful photographs, excellent composition, and a brilliant way of displaying the true colours of sea creatures without the distortion of the water.