National Geographic’s ‘Wild Seas’ Fills Us with Awe [REVIEW]

I am amazed when I talk to people who have never been to the ocean. Then again, I have always felt like a product of the sea myself. From my childhood in Southern California to my time working in Massachusetts as an adult, the sea has beckoned to me like a siren. I love the feel of the sand underfoot and the waves on my toes. Even the briny scent of ocean air is heady to me. But most of all, I am fascinated by the creatures that live beneath the surface in all their technicolor splendor, whether they are breathtakingly beautiful or look like something out of the Alien movies. I love them all, which is exactly why I think everyone needs a copy of photographer Thomas Peschak’s stunning new book, Wild Seas. In it, he captures our imagination with 200 unforgettable photographs you need to see to believe.

Those landlubbers who have never had an opportunity to play in and explore the ocean may not quite understand what is happening to our planet’s seas and marine wildlife. Yet, much like the legendary Jacques Cousteau, Thomas Peschak’s own passion for the deep blue sea has led him to share his findings with the rest of us.

“You can’t fall in love with something you don’t know exists. As a photographer, I am a matchmaker. I introduce people to wildlife that lies hidden beneath the ocean’s surface.”

Thomas Peschak, Wild Seas

And what a matchmaker Peschak is! If this book were a dating app, you would undoubtedly have a hard time deciding whether to swipe left or right. Each photo is a stunner, and exposes us to images most people will never see in their lifetime. Can you image coming face to face with a gray whale or walking among the giant tortoises in the Galapogos? After all, these aren’t your run-of-the-mill fish we find within this book’s pages! Instead, Peschak includes everything from sea snakes and marine iguanas to reef mantas gorging themselves on prey. Each photo makes us want to set sail with scuba gear in tow.

“I am inspired by love and fear—love for our planet’s wild seas and fear that future generations will not get to experience them the way I have.”

Thomas Peschak, Wild Seas

Peschak has indeed had a fascinating career, first as a marine biologist intent on conserving our oceans, but then as a photographer who teaches us why the oceans matter, why they are worth saving, and how quickly they can bounce back if we nurture them with a little TLC. He totally immerses us in the wild places he loves, and his photos inspire us, fill us with awe, and make us all wish we were nature photographers. He takes us to remote spots around the globe, where we can watch hatchling turtles in Costa Rica, duck for cover as Cape gannets fly low over our heads and laugh as we watch macaroni penguins waddle uphill in South Africa.

Peschak even helps us gain an appreciation (and a healthy respect) for sharks. They are not always the maneaters Jaws taught us they were, but they are a vital element in each ocean habitat. Peschak’s nighttime photographs of Galapagos sharks are simply mesmerizing, and the pics he took of great whites while in his kayak will have you biting your nails. Images like this fill every page, and they make us yearn for a trip to the farthest reaches of the planet, eager to discover our own coastal gems.

If you love wildlife, enchanting photography, or are just concerned about conserving our planet’s most precious resources, Peschak’s Wild Seas is a must for your personal library. It will also serve as a great teaching tool for the whole family, particularly all those kids (young and old alike) who dream of leaving daily life behind and having their own adventure on the high seas.

ABOUT THE AUTHORS

WILD SEAS
By Thomas Peschak
240 pp. National Geographic. $50.

Purchase Wild Seas direct from Jathan & Heather Books or from one of these fine online retailers: Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Half Price Books, IndieBound, Powell’s, Target, or Walmart.

Wild Seas is brought to you in association with TLC Book Tours.