Photography Research Paper
Marine Photographer:
Hi there, thanks for the kind words happy to help. How long have you been into photography? Since 1990, I’ve always been interested in photography since the age of 10 and when I took up diving there was no question that I would be taking a camera in the water to bring back the amazing scenes and show people my discoveries. How did you get your start in photography? As a youngster I always had the idea I would like to draw and was complete crap! I picked up a camera one day and realized I could express my artistic self through a camera.
I’ve never looked back. I remember the first time someone referred to me as an artist as being very significant. What are your key interests within the business? Although I am not a professional my work has been published, and I have worked intermittently on professional projects on land and underwater. I associate with a quite a few professionals. I am always interested to see what sells in the market. You’d be surprised by what sells, opposed to what people like to hang on their walls. Pricing yourself in the market is important. Many pros complain people give their images away and devalue the market.
I am always interested in what companies are willing to pay for. I often consult with professionals before I sell images to magazines. Where do you do most of your work? The majority of my work is done in UK waters. I live and work in the UK so it makes sense to take advantage of all the area has to offer. I do work overseas periodically, but I prefer cooler climates. One goal I have is to dive under sea ice in the Arctic, or Antarctic. What do you enjoy most about this type of photography? Being underwater is like no other environment, there’s no distraction with mobile phones, and people talking.
I like the challenge of being able to dive in harsh environments and show people the beauty, especially in the UK, as many feel it’s often dark and gloomy and there’s no colour. What is the most important thing to remember to get a good image? The single most important element in getting a good underwater picture is to get close to your subject, generally a maximum of three feet for most subjects, sometimes inches away. It depends on the size of the subject you are shooting. Obviously a 30 foot basking shark is different than a one inch shrimp.
The other thing is all about understanding light, whether you are using artificial light,, or natural light, or balancing the two. The next thing to consider is the background and whether the subject is accessible or not. We try very hard as underwater photographers to not damage the environment for the sake of a picture. What is your favorite photograph of your own and why? I don’t have one particular favourite. This changes all the time as the obsession to keep creating new material. I like the close up pictures of Lemon sharks I have done in black and white. There are so many others, hard to say really.
Some the ones which has won national competitions are no longer my favourites as I think I can do better now. What types of equipment would you recommend for use under-water? My wife shoots with a Canon S95 and a simple housing, and make great pictures. I use a Nikon D300, Inon Z240 Strobes, and a variety of lenses. My my most used lenses are the Nikkor 60 mm macro for close up and small subjects. For wide angle work I use a Tokina 10-17mm. I’d like to stress good pictures are not about the equipment, it’s all about the photographer. People often look at a good image and say you must have a good camera.
This isn’t the case. The camera is a the tool, the photogapher is the craftsman. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to get good pictures. You have to invest the time, understand the local conditions, and know your subject. What is your favorite object to take pictures of under water? There are too many to list. I like sharks, shrimps, seals, sea slugs, fish, divers, wrecks when the visibility permits. What challenges are presented when taking photo’s under-water? First of all, we aren’t designed to be underwater. We are land creatures. So the first challenge is you need to be a skilled diver.
All your equipment, bouyancy control in the water, air management needs to be spot on, otherwise you will never make a good image. Then there’s the currents, tide, visibility, the cold, and the weather. Then there’s the subject, most of which are always moving, and hardly ever where you want them, when you want them. I can honestly say making pictures underwater is probably more challenging than any other environment. I think this is why I am so obsessive about doing it, it’s not easy. I really hope this helps you. Am happy to discuss further after work of course. If you need some images I will help you out. Don’t hesitate to call me.
Bibliography
- URL (www. robertbaileyphotography. com). Robert Bailey, 11-27-12 Bailey, Robert. Underwater photographer. 11-27-12
