Expressions of Surprise, Spirit, and Complete Contentment
Published about 2 months ago • 3 min read
Just jump in, you might have fun along the way
Seth Casteel's photo "Otto" is part of his show "Underwater Dogs"
Through the lens of an underwater camera, Seth Casteel transformed everyday pet photography into an art form that captures pure wonder. His groundbreaking series reveals dogs in their most joyful moments – suspended in water, faces contorted in glee, creating images that blur the line between portrait and performance art.
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You know how I'm always encouraging you to look at the world with fresh eyes? Well, today I want to share something that perfectly captures that spirit of wonder in a surprising way. Ever seen a dog's face underwater? Not just any underwater dog photo – I'm talking about Seth Casteel's incredible art that shows our four-legged friends in a whole new light!
Duchess, 2012, Digital photographic print.
The photo shoot was meant to be “On-land”, but Buster decided he would rather be in the pool. As I watched him dive in over and over again chasing his favorite mini tennis ball, I thought, “What does he look like under there!!”. -Casteel
Casteel's work perfectly embodies the spirit of wonder and creativity I aim to share with my audience. His innovative approach to capturing these magical moments underwater demonstrates how art can surprise, delight, and inspire us to see the world differently.
"Dogs have wild instincts and have a need to explore them. The water is simply one of the best ways for them to do this. Curious - Playful - Focused - Primal. All of the dogs featured in this project chose to participate of their own free will. Before meeting me, most of them had never been underwater before and some had never even been swimming. Dogs prove to us that if you just jump in, you might have fun along the way. Dogs inspire us! "- Seth Casteel
Be the person your dog thinks you are: A quote by C.J. Frick
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Some people are using AI tool called Midjourney to create look alike Casteel images. What is the impact on art and artists if AI can generate styles and subject matter of actual artists?
A few years ago, award-winning animal photographer Seth Casteel became an overnight sensation when his photos of dogs underwater went viral. What followed was a book deal that resulted in the New York Times best-seller Underwater Dogs. With everything living in the cloud, why are people buying his books?
Each photograph tells a unique story, capturing expressions of surprise, spirit, and complete contentment. These images reveal the pure, unfiltered joy of dogs at play, reminding us of the simple pleasures in life and the authentic emotions animals express. When was the last time you felt a sense of uninhibited exuberance?
Do
Watch the pets and people in your life for unconstrained joy. Try to recognize it in yourself!
Born in 1982 from Decatur, Illinois, Casteel is a self-taught professional photographer and an award-winning photographer. He is a New York Times Best Selling Author of Underwater Dogs, Underwater Puppies, Underwater Babies, Pounce, Big Dog Little Dog and five children’s books. In February of 2012, Seth’s series of photos showcasing dogs diving into swimming pools became an Internet sensation overnight, reaching over 100 million people in less than 24 hours. This sudden attention resulted in a publishing deal with Little, Brown and Company. Now with over half a million copies in print around the world, Underwater Dogs is one of the best selling photography books of all-time.
What does Underwater Dogs mean to you?
It is one of my life’s pursuits to explore the emotion of dogs and is my belief that they have a range of emotions similar to human beings. Buster helped me to realize that many dogs have an incredible connection with the water that goes back thousands of years when dogs were wolves. Today, in many homes, dogs enjoy a life of luxury - sleeping in bed with us, fancy treats, the pet salon. As much as they enjoy these things, dogs have wild instincts and have a need to explore them. The water is simply one of the best ways for them to do this. Curious - Playful - Focused - Primal. All of the dogs featured in this project chose to participate of their own free will. Before meeting me, most of them had never been underwater before and some had never even been swimming. Dogs prove to us that if you just jump in, you might have fun along the way. Dogs inspire us! Interview on NPR
Casteel founded a non-profit organization, One Picture Saves a Life, to improve the image of animal rescue and adoption initiatives through photography.
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