As the title indicates, this is an essential book for any underwater photographer. Whether you are just starting to explore, or have a great deal of experience with, underwater photography- this book can help you. It is packed with specific suggestions, hints, and instructions to help you get the underwater pictures you have been striving for. In this book, Church brings together decades of professional underwater photography experience with his ability to impart information in a clear, concise, and understandable way. As with Church's other books, the Essential Guide to Composition is practical, well illustrated, and preeminently useful.

Specifically, Church explores the critical techniques of finding underwater subjects, composing images properly, isolating and placing the subject in your pictures, working with patterns, special lighting effects, and timing your shots. In addition, Church explores the five basic wide-angle shots, communicating with your subject (when it happens to be another diver), and how to add "grace" to your images. The text also includes appendices that provide useful references, and tips on choosing the proper distance and focusing.