In Review: Two Worlds, Above and Below the Sea

National Geographic first published the photographic images of artist David Doubilet in 1972 and his work on and in the water has blazed the trail ever since. Transcending the world of photography by fusing art and cutting edge technology, his work captures an underwater world, of which many of us can only dream. This book is a long awaited collection of his work, curated from his 50 year career, unifying life above and below the waves.

Marrying the images to form one single shot, he invites us to bear witness to how our world relates to another life-sustaining world, one that is usually out of sight. Issues of conservation, pollution and global warming emerge from the images. As Doubilet says, ‘When I began making images underwater we felt that the seas were infinite and invincible - but subtle, and then cataclysmic environmental changes have reshaped that reality.’ It is his grasp of the visual narrative that drives the intensity of these images, providing a fascinating and thought provoking vision of one of the Earth’s great resources and inviting us into a new contemplation of how our worlds connect.

The ocean covers more than 70% of our planet, yet we see very little of it. This book offers an insight into the rich diversity of life above and below the waves, and the impact of the collision of those two worlds. Doubilet admits the greatest challenge is finding the moments that tell a compelling story where what is happening above the sea complements the drama below. The ability to capture these moments is why he is so revered.