Emirati's book on underwater photography

UAE national Ali Bin Thalith's first book on underwater photography titled Truly, Madly, Deeply showcases the wonders of marine wealth in different parts of the world

Emirati photographer Ali bin Thalith's first underwater photography book titled Truly, Madly, Deeply features 100 colour images of marine life in some of the world's most exotic deep-sea locations.
This book brings to life, in seven distinct chapters, over 20 years of Thalith's work covering the oceans from the Maldives to Malaysia, from Indonesia and the Philippines to the Bahamas and beyond.
The photographs in the book feature aquatic life that inhabits the depths of the ocean. "Capturing these images can be a challenge for most professional photographers as one has to be good at diving and good in photography to get perfect underwater shots," Thalith says.
Born in Dubai, Thalith grew up in the emirate in the early 70s when it had a thriving fishing tradition. It was while learning to dive and handling his first camera, a Nikon FM2, at the age of 18, that his passion for marine photography was ignited. "My brother gave me my first camera in 1992. Since my childhood I have been around my two older brothers (who are both photographers) and often judged their works," Thalith adds.
"I started taking photos using an analogue camera with film rolls, which turned out to be very expensive. My mom then asked me to slow down on my spending for developing films. I was showing her my book and I asked my mother, 'Do you remember what you told me then?' My mother replied, 'this is my investment,'" Thalith recollected from his interactions with his mother.
Animals, wildlife and sea creatures are his subjects for photography. "Every underwater/wildlife photographic experience to me is equally exciting. I am truly appreciative of the fact that I can connect with nature in every single one of my photos," he says.
"I want to share my theme, my feelings with you guys through my book. In the Bahamas, I was surrounded by more than 72 Caribbean sharks. They are very friendly but not vegetarian," he jokes, "and in Malta I was face-to-face with tuna weighing around 400 kg. And it is rare to catch a deer swimming," Thalith explains the story behind the photographs.
What are the fundamentals that Thalith follows in photography? "I always read and research about the subject and location(s) I am about to shoot. This includes reading as many books and online articles. In my opinion, it is essential to have the best possible understanding to get the best possible results. I will study the geography of the place where I plan to shoot. Once that is complete and I am satisfied that I fulfilled all these requirements, I am then ready to photograph," he says.
Thwalith believes that his next photograph is always going to be his favourite one. This attitude, according to him, helps him maintain a high standard and raises the bar for the quality of photographs he hopes to shoot. Two photographers in particular - Dr Alex Mustard and David Doubilet - have both had a profound impact on Thalith's career and approach to underwater photography.
Today Thalith's mission is to raise awareness of local wildlife in the UAE through photography. "Documenting our wildlife is a huge passion of mine and I hope to take it to the next level in the coming period," he stresses.
Testimonials in the book are from the Shaikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Dr Alexander Mustard, Steve McCurry, Reza Deghati, and Caroline Metcalfe. "Shaikh Hamdan learnt about my passion for photography and he wanted me to shoot an elephant swimming in India. I could not sleep for two days and this is what I got," he adds, pointing to a photograph of an elephant swimming.
In line with his passion for photography, Thalith is also the current Secretary General of the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award (HIPA).

How has your book been faring after the launch? Fantastic! I never expected to receive such feedback from people from all walks of life. It has been an absolute pleasure. Are any more books being planned? For sure, I hope that Truly, Madly, Deeply can be a good pedestal to start from. As a photographer, what would you consider your strengths? Attention to detail and patience. What's the best advice on photography that you've received? Continue to learn more to perfect your skills. How do you educate yourself to take better pictures? By continuously reading books and articles on photography and wildlife. What is the one thing you wish you knew when you started taking photos? The importance that education and knowledge play in capturing the right photograph. I eventually found out that skill is only a fraction of the secret to capturing the perfect photograph.

Truly, Madly, Deeply is priced at Dhs300 for the regular edition and Dhs900 for the special edition, and can be purchased on the website www.alibinthalith.com and through email (info@alibinthalith.com)

Shots from Truly, Madly, Deeply that feature aquatic life photographed by Ali bin Thalith from some of the most exotic deep-sea locations around the world