If beauty can function as political statement, "Archipelago," the latest book by environmental photographers Susan Middleton and David Liittschwager, could go down as one of the most articulate arguments for the protection of endangered species in the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands.

Working closely with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, the state's Department of Land and Natural Resources, and National Oceanic Service Coral Reef Ecosystem Reserve, Middleton and Liittschwager spent the better part of 2003 and 2004 traveling throughout the tightly restricted 1,200-mile expanse of islands and ocean that is the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands, photographing plant and animal life.

The result: stunning photographs of the native plants and animals that have evolved in the remote habitat.

"It's a part of Hawai'i that people have never seen and likely will never see," Middleton said. "Being there, I felt like Alice going through the looking glass. I felt a kind of emotional connection, a realization that this place is truly a treasure and the best thing to do would be to protect it."

Middleton and Liittschwager went to great lengths to drive home both the wonder and reality of what they had witnessed in their journeys — not just bizarre life forms that seem plucked from science fiction, but the devastating effect that even indirect human contact can have.

Along with the isolated portraits of sea birds, rare corals, anemones and other life forms, the authors also captured horrific images of beaches strewn with tide-washed refuse.

One sequence of photos shows a dead albatross cut open to reveal more than 12 ounces of plastic it had swallowed. In a photo that underscores the book's dual purposes as art and education, the photographers arranged the bottle caps and other plastic pieces retrieved from the bird like a mosaic or a macabre mandala. (The pieces are part of a display at the Bishop Museum exhibit.)

"It was those 12.2 ounces of plastic that killed the bird," Middleton said. "You can see these creatures that are exquisitely beautiful and unusual and unexpected, but you are also confronted by the threat to that place — and that threat has everything to do with human impact."

Middleton and Liittschwager have been chronicling the plight of endangered plants and animals for some 20 years. Their publications include "Here Today: Portraits of our Vanishing Species," and "Witness: Endangered Species of of North America."

Their latest project grew out of an earlier book, "Remains of a Rainbow: Rare Plants and Animals of Hawai'i," which focused on the main Hawaiian islands.

"When we were doing that book, we had an opportunity to go to Laysan," Middleton said. "We camped there for a week and the experience and the photos that we took were utterly different. This truly was a place where wildlife reigns."

It would take a year of concentrated effort to raise funds for the new book, obtain specialized permits, coordinate with state and federal agencies, and work out the logistics of travel within the remote area.

Trips to Midway, which has its own airfield, were relatively easy. Middleton and Liittschwager were able to fly in equipment for their six trips there. Travel to other key areas was less assured. Often they would have to leave O'ahu or California with little advance notice to catch a ride on a research boat or plane.

The photographers went along on the inaugural voyage of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration ship Hi'ialaka'i though the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands. On the trip, chief scientist Randy Kosaki would retrieve rare specimens for them to photograph in a specially designed wet lab.

"I think it was fun for them," Middleton said. "They're all hardcore scientists, but we're photographers and artists with the point of view of trying to create images that capture the beauty and wonder of these creatures."

Middleton and Liittschwager used neutral white or black backgrounds to capture the intricate anatomical detail of their subjects, producing photos both artful and scientifically useful.

The photographers and scientists said they made sure the organisms were none the worse for wear after the shoots.

"Our protocol was always to return them healthy to their homes," Middleton said.

While the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands have benefited from environmental legislation over the years — starting in 1909, when Teddy Roosevelt established the area as a national wildlife refuge — Middleton said more layers of state and federal protection need to be enacted to protect the area from human incursion.

In that regard, Middleton and Liittschwager's work is similar to that of fellow photographer Subhankar Banerjee, who chronicled the people, animals and landscape of the Alaska's Arctic National Wildlife Refuge in an effort to raise awareness about impending federal legislation that would open portions of the reserve to oil exploration. While Banerjee's project may have come too late to alter plans for the Alaskan refuge, "Archipelago" may have political influence.

Gov. Linda Lingle recently created a state Northwestern Hawaiian Islands marine refuge. Rules designate a "no-take" marine refuge in all state waters, which bans nearly all commercial and recreational fishing, with the exception of traditional Native Hawaiian practices.

"I was pleasantly surprised that she signed that bill," Middleton said. "It was unexpected and wonderful. What it does is it raises the bar for federal action."

U.S. Rep. Ed Case recently introduced the Northwestern Hawaiian Islands National Marine Refuge Act of 2005, which would establish the area as the country's first national marine refuge. The area is also in the process of being designated a national marine sanctuary.

Middleton said she'd be thrilled if "Archipelago" motivates further political action.

"I hope people will find pleasure in the book and feel a passionate connection to this place," she said. "The creatures there are different life forms, but they're just like us. They're part of the same life force.

"This is real life."

Reach Michael Tsai at mtsai@honoluluadvertiser.com.