New Generation of Underwater Photographers.

They have come a long way, and when one looks at their work, we "oldies", meaning those stubborn seniors who still cling to film and all the rest of it, are full of envy at the new photographers' seemingly unlimited possibilities of bringing home spectacular images.  

Mind you, there aren't many dinosaurs left - I would think that you won't find more than perhaps ten underwater photographers who still use the venerable Nikonos  V. Of those very few, probably no more than five free-dive while photographing, using available light only. They are the laughable, nutty purists, me included, a soon to be extinct species.

Virtually every professional and amateur underwater photographer has now gone digital or else started out using digital equipment.  Contrary to the old photographers who used rolls of film, and were thus rather limited (one roll of 35mm film yielded 36 images), the digital photographers are in a position to shoot "indiscriminately" underwater, often switching on their machine gun-type shutter mode which enables them to expose up to eight frames per second.

Imagine: One second - trrrrrrrrrrrrrr, and all you've got to do then is to choose the best image out of eight. It is not unusual for a digital photographer to "expose" 200 or 300 images on one single tank dive. 

You could say that with such technical feasibilities, it is almost impossible NOT to get master shots, if only by sheer luck. True, but these pros have a different notion about their work. They are pragmatic and think it's the result that counts - period.  Right they are!

What is it that we oldies have to ruminate about such things? Are we not flexible enough to adapt to, and gracefully accept, the new times and the progress that came with it anymore?  Most likely so. Well, then I guess it's time for us to go... Not sure whether:  
:-(     or   :-)

Raul Boesel Jr. is a young underwater photographer and an excellent free-diver. He loves the ocean with an almost uncontrollable enthusiasm, and feels it running through his veins. Even though there is growing competition out in the blue jungle, I could see Raul becoming a widely renowned underwater photographer one day. All he has to do is never be satisfied with his work - the relentless pursuit of excellence is the main driving force behind success. 

Here is a marvelous, rather unique pic Raul took close to Tiger Beach a few weeks ago:

 

Not bad at all, huh?....

I've definitely done worse than this.

Tiger Beach - simply magic!
Photo: Wolfgang Leander (2009)
Click to enlarge

This is one of those images I had not thought to be worth digitalizing when I went through my films last year. Yesterday, a quiet Sunday in quiet Cochabamba, was the perfect day to review my old negatives once again to see whether I had not overlooked a decent shot.

I am glad I 'discovered' the photograph as I believe it captures the essence of that uniquely minimalistic dive site that is Tiger Beach: No pretty corals or rocks on the bottom, incredibly clear water, a vast, flat sandy area, an underwater beach, indeed, and - well, a few scuba divers which in this case served as a welcome compositional element.

In about two weeks I will be back at Tiger Beach with two or three of my good old Nikonos V cameras. While there is now an almost over-flowing abundance of good tiger shark photographs, I am hoping to get THE shot of my life which I know won't happen. Being quite hard on myself when it comes to delivering quality I will never be completely satisfied with my work.

What can I do? - that is what being a damned perfectionist is all about. This obsession isn't all that bad, though - it keeps me going which is perhaps the best post-operative cancer therapy there is.

Mike Ellis 2.0

We wrote about Mike Ellis in the past and his photography...since then, Mike has launched a new site showcasing his work, not just underwater.  

Pretty impressive stuff: http://onaiaphoto.com.  

Mike has the good fortune to be "out there" a lot - and while he spends a lot of time on photography - he spends more time helping and giving people advice on how to get better shots - and take his word for it - even if you have an ego, listen to him.

Fiona Ayerst and Amanda Cotton: Two world-class underwater photographers.

Photo: Fiona Ayerst

The better an image, the less it needs to be explained....which is how I would describe Fiona Ayerst's photography.

Click here to enjoy Fiona's remarkable work.

Photo: Amanda Cotton

While Amanda Cotton is a highly talented and rigorously trained photographer, Fiona, a very successful ex-lawyer, became a self-taught photographer when she realized that an office job, no matter how demanding and rewarding financially, wasn't her thing in the long run.

Now, don't think that as an autodidact Fiona is less professional than Amanda - she is not!!

When I met Fiona for the first time in South Africa some two years ago, I could not believe how much photographic stuff she brought along for just ONE day of diving with the tiger sharks of Aliwal Shoal, and told her so. She, in turn, looked at my "equipment", a good old Nikonos V, with what I first thought was disdain but then she explained to me that although she began her new career with a Nikonos V she had to go digital as a pro.

Both Fiona and Amanda are award-winning photographers. I expect them to become two of the world's ten best underwater photographers in the not too distant future.

What is truly amazing, yet not surprising to me, is that both ladies developed into ardent shark conservationists as they began "shooting" sharks.

Since we already have so many "Sharkmen", I would love to see more "Sharkladies" that are cut of the same cloth as Amanda and Fiona.

DeeperBlue - Second Article

Absolute Elegance: Caribbean Reef Shark (Abacos / Bahamas 2003)
Photo by Wolfgang Leander

Click on image to enlarge

The second article on freediving with sharks is up on DeeperBlue - give it a read.

This chapter focuses more on the transformation of shark photography and change of protagonists - from Caribbean Reefs to Tiger Sharks...

A good photograph should be in your head before you squeeze the shutter....

Mutual respect
Click on image to enlarge

.... but in order to get a perfect shot you need luck, lots of it.

I think I was extremely lucky to have captured this minimalistic image.

It is the most harmonious graphic composition of mutually respectful interaction between man and shark I have ever managed to record on film.

The elegant freediver is my buddy Roger Horrocks, and the shark is one of the many playful black tip sharks of Aliwal Shoal (South Africa).

Have a look at Roger's new website, and enjoy his fabulous photographs.

Why do I post my pics in the Internet?

Jennifer Mah (self-portrait)


THAT'S WHY:

Hi, Wolfgang:

I apologize, but I don't have any real questions.

I just stumbled upon your website, and couldn't leave without writing you. I just find what you do so inspiring and so beautiful. Your photos are brilliant, and the way you interact with sharks amazes me.

I want so badly to break into underwater photography, but underwater housing is just so expensive!

Anyway, you've inspired me more than I can express in an email, and just thought I should let you know.

Jennifer Mah

Jennifer Mah is a 19 year old student from the UK. She loves sharks, and is an avid photographer.

If Jen feels that my underwater photography inspires her, then she should know that it is folks like her who inspire me to keep going.

Newest photos from South Africa

Have a look at Wolfgang's latest photos from South Africa:

http://flickr.com/photos/oceanicdreams

Felix did it!!

After Felix flooded his video camera, I gave him, full of compassion, one of my Nikonos V so he would have something to do underwater. I thought, OK, a beginner - what can you expect? Let him just play with the toy and have some fun.

Felix photographed sharks for the first time in his life - and look what came out!! Not only did he take some excellent shots such as the ones featured here but two of his pics have already been printed in a rather traditional London newspaper ("The Jewish Chronicle").

It took me decades before my shark photographs were good enough to be regarded as acceptable - and here comes my little boy, grabs a camera, shoots big tiger shark mamas on film - and gets published. Damn!!!

Well, some have to work hard, others are - what should I say? - lucky? talented? I guess Felix is a talented lucky duck. Whatever - I am mighty proud of him.... :-)

Roger Horrocks

Beauty, originally uploaded by Pelagic Drifter.

I came across Roger's photography today on Flickr which lead me to his website, http://www.rogerhorrocks.com, excellent photography. Have a look, you will not be disappointed. Apparently my dad has been in touch with him and the two may free dive together in April - what a team...

Congratulations on your work and passion.