Photographer Seth Casteel has unveiled his newest photobook, Underwater Babies, aimed at raising awareness over water safety for children.
In his latest project, Casteel visited 18 swimming classes for infants in 10 different states. He joined 4.5- to 17-month-old babies in their swimming lessons in order to capture their delightful moments in the water.
Casteel said he could only go underwater once or twice and for only a couple of seconds at a time. In all, Casteel was able to photograph 750 babies in their underwater adventures.
The renowned photographer shared his two important goals in mind for his book - to celebrate babies and to save their lives.
"Babies bring us joy and they inspire us!" Casteel said. "The images within also encourage us to have a conversation about water. The water is a wonderful place, but can also be a dangerous one."
Casteel explained that the photobook is a celebration of babies with a very serious message about ensuring water safety for infants and children.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reported that drowning ranks fifth among the major causes of accidental injury and death in the United States — with children at the highest risk, especially between the ages of one to four years old.
A study by the National Institute of Child Health and Human Development in Bethesda, Maryland explored the relationship between swimming lessons and child drowning. The researchers identified drowning cases from the offices of medical examiners and coroners in six different states. They found that participating in formal swimming lessons can reduce the risk of drowning for 1- to 4-year-olds by as much as 88 percent.
"Nobody is immune to tragedy, but by taking the proper steps, we can help to prevent one from happening," Casteel elaborated. "I hope these photos inspire a conversation among parents, which may present an opportunity to educate them about the lessons and the associated benefits."
Underwater Babies is available for purchase on Amazon. The book includes high quality images of 67 adorable babies.
