Silent Kingdom - (Hardcover)

Book Synopsis

Silent Kingdom reveals the world beneath the waves in an ethereal collection of black-and-white underwater photography.

Through stunning black-and-white images, award-winning photographer Christian Vizl uses a masterful control of light and shadow to portray the creatures of the sea as they are rarely seen, at home in the ethereal world beneath the waves.

From capturing the ferocity of sharks to the playful dance of dolphins, Vizl turns aquatic creatures and marine seascapes into visions of sublime grace and beauty suspended in time and space. With each turn of the page, venture deeper into the one realm in which humans do not reign and discover an unforgettable world that few have ever seen.

Though the ocean covers over 70 percent of planet Earth, over 80 percent of that vast wilderness remains unexplored. As human activity begins to impact these once-untouched regions, it is more important now than ever to acknowledge both the beauty and value of our seas and the necessity of preserving one of the last true wild frontiers of our world.

Silent Kingdom is both an ode both to the beauty of the ocean and the magnificent creatures that inhabit it and a call to action to preserve the fragile underwater world of our planet.

Winner of the Premier Print Award - 2019 Prize for Special Innovation in Printing and Second Place winner of the 2019 Sony World Photography Awards, Natural World & Wildlife category.

Review Quotes

"Silent Kingdom is a breath of fresh air. The photography work is exceptional and demonstrates a master's touch. Christian Vizl shows us his unique style, and it shines in this book. The included essays are thoughtful and timely, even if we did nitpick about how they flow as part of the book. There are many images in this book that will blow you away, and those alone are worth the price of admission." -- "Dive Photo Guide"

"Absolutely stunning, dreamlike black-and-white photography, Vizl's masterful use of light and shadow is unparalleled, capturing aquatic creatures and marine seascapes with a level of emotion and grace few, if any, have achieved before." -- "Field Mag"

"Christian Vizl's book comes closer to inspiring [moments of transcendence]. "Silent Kingdom: A World Beneath the Waves," a collection of black-and-white photographs taken mostly in the waters off Vizl's native Mexico, offers a different kind of portraiture. What, we wonder, is the character of this sea lion; what kind of individual is this hammerhead shark; what is on the mind of this blenny? That Vizl's images prompt such questions without excessive anthropomorphism is part of his book's generosity." -- "New York Times Book Review"

"That we can, and should, revel in his photography should also remind us that the oceans are ailing, polluted with plastics and struggling with ocean acidification and warming." -- "National Parks Traveler"

"Vizl manages to capture the elegance of life below sea level by using his keen eye for symmetry and composition."-- "My Modern Met"

About the Author

CHRISTIAN VIZL was born in Mexico City and has been a photographer for three decades. He has won dozens of professional photography awards, including Wildlife Photographer of the Year and International Photographer of the Year, and his images have been published in numerous publications, including National Geographic and Ocean Geographic.