Recently, we told you about Cool Waters, Emerald Seas: Diving in Temperate Waters, the new book by Irish photographer John Collins. This breath-taking, 173-page hardcover is a tribute to the marine environment in the world's "cool waters" -- the temperate seas (between 4° and 20° C) sandwiched between the tropics and the polar regions. Recently, I got to see this magnificent book up close, and I was blown away by the beauty of Collins' rich images and the passion in his accompanying narrative. If you believe diving in temperate seas is a dull, lifeless experience, think again: the cool seas are the ocean's most productive, creating a rich, colorful, kaleidoscopic ecosystem brimming with life. The mesmerizing images in Cool Waters prove it.
In order to create Cool Waters, Collins and his Nikon D2 visited Ireland, Scotland, Vancouver, Tasmania, and South Africa. After diving and shooting in these locations, Collins selected 120 "interpretative" images that he felt best demonstrated why cool water is "captivating, wondrous, and worthy of our protection."
What's an "interpretive" image? Rather than worrying about capturing a fish (or a wreck) in profile for easy identification (thus, creating a "documentary" image), Collins shoots portraits of the creatures and the marine-scapes -- interpreting them, capturing them in their element, giving them life and expression. Not only are the colors in the images striking, but the subjects of the shots feel incredibly alive. For example, page 51 features an intriguing image of a scorpion fish carrying a pipefish in its mouth. Looking at the scorpion fish's face, you can literally see it thinking, "What am I going to do with this thing now that I've got it?" Every picture in the book tells a little part of a story, and you want desperately to turn the page to see what happens next.
Cool Waters is divided into six chapters. Each chapter begins with a few thoughtful paragraphs explaining what's special about that chapter, and what Collins finds rewarding about its subject. For example, the first chapter, "Undersea Journeys," tells of Collins' first dive and why he finds the static animals underwater the most enchanting. Collins' writing is clear, descriptive -- even lyrical. Many underwater photographers work with writers who prepare the accompanying text. It's a testament to Collins' passion and skill, therefore, that he wrote the narrative himself. It's rich, evocative, and very descriptive. Reading it makes you feel as though you're diving right alongside Collins.
The next chapter, "Exploring Cool Waters," discuses the three-dimensional freedom diving provides, as well as the productivity of temperate waters. The accompanying images, many of them macro shots, are extraordinary: the bubblegum-pink brooding anemones, for example, are bizarrely beautiful, and the oh-so-delicate lace coral appear to be the most fragile thing on earth. A later chapter discusses the seas' seasonality and boast some amazing shots of anemones and kelp forests ("The Ocean's Rhythms"). Collins also details his visit to Dyer Island to photograph great whites, but "Face to Face" showcases dolphins, seals, and other fish, as well. "Wrecked At Sea" discusses wrecks and explains their importance -- both historically and ecologically. The accompanying photos of the conning tower and the periscope of the U-260, or the Tahsis' loft rifle are absolutely brilliant. The final chapter, "Sea Dreams," is a gallery of images that don't quite fit elsewhere, but are too special to overlook. The macro-macro shots of a biscuit star and of a white-spotted rose anemone have an Alice In Wonderland quality to them and are just so cool!
It's easy to look at a book and point out its flaws or shortcomings. Consequently, the hardest reviews to write are those covering books that are simply excellent. For me, Cool Waters was that kind of review. It's a big, beautiful, bold book with unbelievably rich, incredibly textured photos. The thumbnails featured in this review simply don't do it justice. In fact, the fish portraits are vibrant. The static creatures Collins loves burst with detail. The wreck shots of ancient, useless, "dead" things are, ironically, totally alive. If you like to look at beautiful images, this book is for you. Moreover, if you want to learn what's so special about temperate waters, this book is for you. Finally, if you're a budding photographer and you want to improve your technique, pick up a copy of this book and study the images within; this book is for you, too.
Reading Cool Waters is as close to diving as you can get -- barring an actual dive boat or maybe an IMAX theater. Collins has created a gorgeous, compelling document that clearly shows the beauty of the undersea world -- and that there's a whole lot more to diving than just tropical climes.
