Emirati launches underwater photography book

Dubai: An Emirati underwater photographer has released a book and photo exhibition featuring high-definition images of sea creatures and coral reefs from around the world to increase awareness about marine life conservation.

Ali Khalifa Bin Thalith, a professional documentary film photographer and director and currently the secretary-general of the Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA), on Monday released his book titled ‘Truly, Madly, Deeply’ that contains at least 100 images of his diving exploits in the UAE, Oman, and other popular diving sites. Many of his photos are also being exhibited at Dubai Mall from December 14 to 20.

“The book captures my feelings [when I’m underwater]. It’s called ‘Truly, Madly, Deeply’ because it’s my true feelings when I’m diving. ‘Madly’ is all [about how] my body is [mad for diving] and ‘deeply’ because I go deep [to get these pictures]. So this book reflects my situation under water,” Bin Thalith told Gulf News during the launch.

“Inside the book is 10 years worth of my life achievement in diving in Anilao, Batangas in the Philippines, and many places around the world, more than 40 destinations including Indonesia, Malaysia, the Bahamas.”

Bin Thalith, whose father and grandfather were pearl divers, grew up by the sea in Jumeirah where their family home was just 30 metres from the shore. Like other Emirati children back then, the sea was their playground.

In 1994, Bin Thalith learned to dive. He has also been a photography enthusiast from an early age. Ten years after learning how to dive, he combined his love for diving and photography, travelling to various parts of the world to capture life in the deep.

The images tell of a vibrant marine life unknown to many. The pictures feature dancing squids and floating flatworms, miniscule sea creatures such as the ladybug amphibug from the Komodo National Park and the skeleton shrimp from Batangas, and polka dotted creatures.

Bin Thalith also had images of him swimming with giant fish like the yellowfin tuna. He also captured an image of a diver being swarmed by Caribbean reef sharks and an image of Shaikh Hamdan Bin Mohammad Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Dubai Crown Prince, swimming with an Asian elephant in India.

But Bin Thalith said there is more to just immortalising the beauty of marine life.

“I am an underwater photographer where I try to create awareness that we should protect our environment. The planet is not for one person or for fishermen only; it’s for everyone. We should protect it. Otherwise, they won’t be there anymore in 20 years.”

Details

What: Underwater Photography Exhibition by Ali Bin Thalith

Where: Grand Atrium, The Dubai Mall

When:December 14 to 20, 2015