Why do you shoot underwater?

[adamhanlon 0]

In a recent conversation with a friend, who is also a very talented underwater photographer, he was extolling the virtues of an arcane technique to create unique images. Upon querying his motivation for wanting to do so, he explained that it would give him a good chance of winning competitions.

 

It was at that point that I realised that the motivations for shooting underwater vary widely. I have to be honest and say that my primary motivation is to generate images that I can sell to put food on my table. I do enter a few contests, and have had some great results. However my best selling image, that has made me a reasonable amount of money, has never get through the first round in any contests that I have entered it into!

 

So, when you are shooting, do you do so with the intention of winning contests, or of selling the image/footage? Or have I got it all wrong and the two goals are not mutually exclusive?

 

I would be fascinated to hear how other view this. It is a real conundrum for me!

 

Adam

[Steve Williams 0]

There is a third option Adam; to capture the love of the ocean and it's creatures, to share the images and educate the folks who might never get a chance to put their eyes underwater. I was lucky enough to win the second contest I ever entered. Wasn't really much fun. I've never entered another, figured I'd go out on top.

 

I've sold a few images for books, had a cover or two and even had some images grace a deck of playing cards. But the thrill of those accomplishments in no way compares to the feeling that goes though you when you see a child's eyes light up the first time they see a new creature or a really look at a shot of a dolphin or shark or _____________ that they connect with.

 

I'm convinced the folks who do this well are passionate about saving the ocean and our planet. They may not start out there but the good ones who stick with it over the long haul all have that in common.

 

Oh yeah, as I'm reminded over and over again by our friends here, it's also a heck of a lot of fun.

 

Cheers,

Steve

[newmanl 15]

Hi Adam, Steve,

 

I'm in the same boat as Steve on this - although the photo contest I won wasn't for u/w images. In terms of u/w images, I've had a few published in newspapers and magazines, and others used in ads, banners, and educational graphics. As requested, I've also given a few to good friends to decorate their office space or homes.

 

I shoot to try to have other folks see the ocean and any other u/w environment the way I do - with a sense of wonder, amazement and with a great deal of respect. I also shoot because I really enjoy being u/w and being able to produce tangible memories makes it even better!

 

That said, I have no issue at all with those that are able to make a living, or some part of it, from u/w photography. In my very humble opinion, shooting to win contests is the least noble of the reasons to go to such a place.

 

Cheers,

 

Lee

[TimG 62]

Yeah, I think I'm with Steve: it's all about, for me, the love of the ocean and capturing images which make me smile with pleasure. If someone else likes them, so much the better. I do enjoy too the combination of art (pretentious, moi?) and technology.

 

I've entered a couple of competitions, won or been placed in a couple of them; and sell a fair few pics every month - although I think the money I make from them barely pays for the electricity to power my iMac. But there it something very satisfying about other people appreciating what has taken so much time and effort to create.

 

I have nothing but admiration for someone (Adam) who is doing this to put food on the table. Damn hard way to make a living. Kudos to you!

[SwiftFF5 136]

I'm nowhere to close to being at the level that you folks are discussing, and really appreciate that you give help and advice to those of us who are less talented. I simply shoot to be able to document what I see, and to share it with the folks that I have been traveling with (as well as anyone else who would like to see my work). It is just about the pleasure of seeing a different world.

[adamhanlon 0]

Thank you all for your input. I think that loving the natural world may be a pre requisite for being successful?

 

So, if we are attempting to capture images of the natural world faithfully, should we use creative techniques that "enhance" our images of it?

 

When you produce a stunning image, do you think of the in terms of it being solely a personal achievement, or do you think about sharing it? I think I may know the answer but it is worth asking still.

 

Fun? Fiddlesticks, it is all work! Thank you for reminding me Steve!

 

Adam

[TimG 62]

Interesting thought, Adam.

 

But define "creative". Can't it all be a bit impressionistic? How we as individuals want to see something? What may seem an enhancement to one person might seem like manipulation to another? I'm sure we all have loads of pics which we think are great and creative and others think are rubbish or "unrealistic". You might like van Gogh but hate Picasso. They are both done with a brush and a paint set. And an idea.

 

I think I might have to go and lie down after writing that. Or have another espresso.

 

I'm always delighted when someone sees one of my images and does the Wow-thing. Even better if they want to buy a copy. So it has to be sharing.....

[adamhanlon 0]

OK, hope you are back from your lie down Tim!

 

Take for example twisting the camera at slow shutter speeds.

 

I really like the effect, but there is no doubt that it distorts the reality of what we see....

 

Can/should we enhance natural beauty? Uh oh, I feel another coffee fueled moment

 

Similarly, the public appetite (outside of underwater photography-centric circles) does seem to favor faithful renditions of nature. To be blunt, these images sell, whereas more creative (and arguably more beautiful) images do not! So if we are planning to sell images and are shooting accordingly, should we ignore more creative techniques in favor of shooting technically perfect image of what we actually see?

 

Adam

[TimG 62]

I'm not sure what you lads are taking up there in Lancaster, but here in Amsterdam I've just polished off an espresso....

 

I've never tried slow shutter twist n'roll. But it sounds amazing. I do know what you mean though. I've taken several pics where I've deliberately shot for just some small detail in a fish (fins of zebra lion fish are some of may favourite) because, for me, they capture the colour and beauty of the underwater world. For me they are pieces of art. I'm sure twist n'roll can be the same.

 

Are you/we enhancing natural beauty or distorting it? Who cares. Do you like what you have achieved? Does it give you pleasure? Isn't that what it's all about: creating something which brings you - and hopefully others - joy?

 

Totally agree on the art v sales thought. I can sell a woman-diver-on-a-wreck shot. But the incredible colours in a fin? Not so much. Maybe in the days of Athena Arts I might have..... So those are for me. Those are the ones that make me smile. But then I do smile when I see the woman-diver image sell.

 

Life eh? Grab an espresso, Adam. Or is one man's espresso another man's Nescafe?

[jdeverich 1]

As my camera batteries are emptied so are mine recharged. It's a hobby and a pashion, both helps me relax and occasionally challenges and frusrates. I share some pictures online and in competitions to see how my photography can improve one gauge is how much people enjoy the images so I guess number of likes, oooh's and ahhs from friends and family. Also appreciate some constructive critisism so I can improve and get motiviated to go back and make the next shot better.

[tdpriest 115]

I began by wanting to show non-divers what I enjoyed, no what I loved, about being underwater. I don't know if I succeeded, but I've just put a summary of my underwater photographer's life on Flickr.

[errbrr 73]

Awesome photos Tim.

 

Perhaps it reflects the diving I'm doing at the moment, but I find that I'm shooting to tell the story of the dive trip. Which means not just the underwater pretty shots, but also the getting in/getting out images, and getting prepared images, and all the bits that go with it. The shots of sea lions playing underwater that I took on the weekend are nice, but having the shot of the boat we got there on, and going snorkelling to get the shot of the sea lions hauling out when they got bored, and the shot of them harassing divers underwater for fun - all those images are part of communicating the experience of diving with sea lions.

 

I'm definitely driven by sharing what I'm taken. As well as showing what we saw when we got there, I want to show how we did the dives, the effort that went in, and the fun that was had between times. To tell the story to those who may not have the chance to experience the same.

[Cal 5]

For me, It's a mixture. I'm a marine biologist and I shoot to showcase what we have in our local waters. That being said, I also shoot underwater to win comps and obtain commercial work. Being an underwater photographer is a nice niche for commercial work and winning comps helps me to obtain clients. I've got nearly 40 international photography awards under my belt and almost every one of them has lead to interesting leads / exposure / clients.

[coinee 17]

I had a long conversation with underwater photographers/photo journalists last week, and we ended up on the topic of conservation: Giving people an emotional connection to what's in our oceans (or fresh water, for that matter) makes them more receptive to conservation efforts. Just look at shark finning, for example. After 'Jaws' was released the public opinion was 'only a dead shark is a good shark'. I still get questions from people these days when I post a picture of diving with sharks about how dangerous that is, which makes me laugh a lot when the picture is of a 50cm baby black-tip... But mostly I get adjectives like 'graceful', 'beautiful', 'majestic'. Rest assured, these people will not be buying shark-fin soup ever again. That's how we gradually make perceptions change with our work, and that makes it meaningful. Also, underwater life is just gorgeous. (Comment does not apply to painted frogfish and moray eels.)

[TimG 62]

Can we add Sea Moths to that Gorgeous Exclusion List please, Fabian? What on earth are they all about?

 

Your "Jaws" point is an excellent one.

[r4e 24]

I shoot mainly u/w video plus the occasional stills in order to share with everybody the art, "the feeling of diving" and "being there" at exotic dive locations. Most of my exotic dive locations do not contain colorful fishes or other fauna. I am trying to capture the "other worldly" feeling of being able to witness rare scenery whether it is a deep mine, Siberian cave or a long lost sea wreck still intact after centuries under water. Instead of documenting the entire journey, i.e. pre and post dive, my shots concentrate on the good parts.

 

For the "why" question, the answer is that I just enjoy capturing the scenery for my later viewing and sharing with the public. My message is that you should not miss the experiences and opportunities diving might enable.

 

Occasionally I have considered sending something to competitions, but, the timetables rarely match. However for me, it would be very strange to actually plan to shoot competition material and use this a target/discipline for the dive.

 

Of course, I do envy the pictures of many pros and competition winners.

 

The only semiprofessional shooting I do is related to documenting marine archaelogy findings. Here clear presentation and measurements is more important than artistic values.

[tdpriest 115]

... underwater life is just gorgeous. (Comment does not apply to painted frogfish and moray eels.)

 

Shame on you! I'm very fond of painted frogfish and moray eels: they are often gorgeous!

 

I shall miss visiting them...

[adamhanlon 0]

I think the point about using images to create a call to action for conservation is an interesting one. The images that are most effective at stirring people to act are often not the beautifully composed artistic images, but are shocking depictions of the brutality of what we are actually doing to the marine environment.

 

These are normally pretty documentary in style...

[bvanant 195]

My wife just finished a long (for her) documentary of some of the little stuff that lives in the ocean for a kindergarten class. We met the teacher on a trip to the Sea of Cortez and they decided to do a small film suitable for 5 year olds. It turned out great (we will send Steve a copy for the Fin Foundation) and the kids loved it; getting to the young ones early about the cool stuff in the ocean hopefully can get them to think about things in the right way.

Bill

[adamhanlon 0]

Education is definitely an area that needs inspiring images, particularly with the young. I blame Cousteau for my addiction and I suspect that he has influenced many of us. His style was very documentary however.

 

I guess that the nub of the "I take images because they remind me/inspire others" motivation is that the tendency is to depict reality, rather than to stylize ("improve") what we see with creative techniques?

 

Adam

[TimG 62]

Yeah, I blame Cousteau too. And, for those old enough (my dad told me about them, of course) Hans and Lotte Hass.....

[Alison Perkins 29]

I got into underwater photography because I really enjoyed the challenge of trying to capture the beauty I was seeing underwater in a photograph. I want my photos to be as beautiful as what I see. Mostly I fail miserably as the natural world I observe is much more beautiful than my captures. :-) So the challenge continues and I find this very stimulating, and rewarding on occasion when I get it right.

 

Recently though, I have seen a very distinct change, or growth, in my motivations for shooting underwater. Increasingly what I'm dipping into is documentation. This can vary:

• documenting an interesting/unusual/rare/new species or behaviour
• documenting a site of scientific/archaeological interest for scientists who aren't divers
• recording "before" in case there is an "after" - to show change over time to natural environments

 

I think if you tried to make money from this type of underwater photography you could probably quite literally die of starvation. However, I am finding it to be very rewarding in its own right. I feel like I'm contributing to something bigger, the advancement of knowledge. It's not glamorous but I think it's really cool.

 

In 2009 I took a photo of a pair of sundial snails spawning. I was excited about:

 

a) spotting them

b) getting a photo

c) finding someone who cared enough to identify them

 

A couple of days ago I received a request from a scientist who is studying these molluscs and apparently there are very few photos of their egg masses. Getting my geek on!

 

I'm still aspiring to take the "wow" magical photos but I'm also finding great pleasure in taking underwater photos that would struggle to get a like on facebook. It doesn't have to be popular to be interesting.

[adamhanlon 0]

I think this is a really well-made point:

 

 

It doesn't have to be popular to be interesting

 

Our collective obsession with macro imagery bears witness to this!

 

Adam