Captured by the Sea

Captured by the Sea is a collection of photographs that documents the intersection of people and coastal environments around the world. Jessica Cantlin works as a silent observer of human behavior, discreetly telling the story of the people and landscapes that she photographs. Cantlin studies color, texture, facial expressions, and body language, bringing significance to spontaneous and fleeting moments. It is the juxtaposition of these details, woven into the layers of Cantlin’s photographs, that makes them transportive. Captured by the Sea is by no means the first book of beach photography to hit the market. However, by focusing on people and culture, instead of a row of pretty umbrellas, Cantlin conveys that beach culture is not defined by class, race, or age, but is something that draws on everyone, and is unifying in its ritual. At some point, we are all captured by the sea.