52 Assignments: Underwater Photography by Alex Mustard

For underwater photographers out there, a new book by Alex Mustard is always something to look forward to. But this is something completely new. A book to help people improve their underwater photography one assignment at a time. There are 52 different assignments in the book ranging from Black and White Wreck, Posing a Model, Off-Camera Strobes and everything in-between. You can tick each one off as you feel that you have successfully completed it. Start at the beginning and work through methodically or see what your next dive is going to be and select an assignment to suit. This book is going to be popular with both those just starting out in underwater photography and seasoned pros alike.

I am going to try the latter this week. If the weather holds, then I am planning to dive the wreck of the James Eagan Layne. So I plan on completing assignment number 9 – Black and White Wrecks. The handy assignment key says that the elements I will be working with are Lighting, Wreck, Wide Angle and Computer Editing. I hope this dive should tick all those boxes.

The book is a hardback, but is of a suitable size and weight that it can be tucked into your hand luggage if you are heading overseas, to set yourself some underwater photography tasks wherever you travel. Each task is clearly defined and what I love is that they are not too overwhelming. Clearly setting out manageable tasks and useful tips to try out to get a particular result. By the time you have worked your way through and ticked off all 52 assignments you will have an invaluable set of skills to call upon.

The book breaks the mould of traditional underwater photography guides. Gone are the sometimes daunting, long chapters on techniques, settings and equipment. This offers a much more accessible and refreshing approach. Simple, useful, practical skills to try whatever camera you are taking on your dive. I love this idea and am looking forward to picking out an assignment that will fit each of the dives I have coming up.

I hope to do a follow up review of the book once I have worked through some of the assignments, with images to show how I have got on. Watch this space.

What the publisher says:

52 Assignments: Underwater Photography is a year’s worth of inspiring weekly assignments to kick-start your creativity.

This collection of photographic workshop assignments is designed to build core skills, expand horizons and kickstart creativity. The book takes readers on an underwater adventure with assignments designed to teach valuable lessons and produce stunning images. It has a year’s worth of weekly challenges and concepts for conceiving and composing powerful, dynamic underwater photographs and videos. Complete the assignments weekly over a year, or dip in every time you need to bring a new concept or creative approach to underwater photography.

About the Author:

Dr Alexander Mustard MBE, has been widely regarded as one of the world’s leading underwater photographers for the last 20 years. He has pioneered many techniques within underwater photography, which he shares through magazine articles, talks and workshops. His photographs have won many awards including, on five occasions, the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year. He has also won multiple categories in the British Wildlife Photography Awards. In 2013, Alex was named GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year for his image Night Moves. He has a PhD in marine ecology and still occasionally publishes peer-reviewed papers. He is based in the UK.

Book Details

Publisher: Ammonite Press

Hardcover

Price: £12.99

ISBN: 9781781454893

Published: October 2024