When my good friend John Thet – the respected publisher of Scuba Diver AustralAsia, Asian Diver and Asian Geographic magazines – approached me about collaborating on a global underwater photography print magazine, I was hesitant. As the editor and publisher of DivePhotoGuide.com, a leading underwater photography media company, I never expected to enter the print world, and John’s idea to have three international editors, working in three different time zones, sounded like a logistical nightmare. The idea was crazy enough for me to try, so I hopped on board.
Matt Weiss, Editor (Americas)
Welcome to our inaugural edition! For me personally, this magazine is part of a journey that began 15 years ago, when I first went from a newbie, to an open water diver, to a divemaster in three months.
Three hundred dives later, I was hired by a tv crew and whirled away on a 10-episode underwater adventure show. And it was during those years when I first had a video camera thrust into my hands, and came to love it. From video, to slide film, to digital hybrids, writing about my adventures all the while, I soon found myself editor of Scuba Diver AustralAsia magazine.
Diego A. Garcia, Editor (Asia-Pacific and Australia)
I have seen my share in underwater photography over the last 25 years as editor in chief of Aquanaut (1988-1993) and Unterwasser (1994-2011). Those who know me, know that I‘m much more of an editor than a photographer, so my aim is not so much the improvement of image quality, but to improve the image of our guild’s work as a whole. When I founded Edition Fifty Fathoms with the help of underwater photographer Marc A. Hayek, CEO of Blancpain, we created an art collection from elite underwater photographers from all over the world. Our goal was to push underwater photography to the zenith of all photography – a place where it belongs given that it’s among the most difficult (and sometimes most dangerous) forms of photography.
Dietmar Fuchs, Editor (Europe and Africa)
CONTENTS
Features
DESTINATION EUROPE
SWEET WATER OF THE ALPS By Harald Hois & Gerald Kapfer
Shooting the crystal clear waters of Europe’s iconic mountains
CROCODILES
PHOTO-HUNTING THE BEASTS By Various Contributors
Intriguing tales and killer shots from those who dare to swim with crocs!
DESTINATION AMERICAS
SEEING THE LIGHT By Matt Weiss
Sunrays take centre frame in the ancient sinkholes of Mayan worship
Techniques
SHUTTERBUG
GOOD THINGS, SMALL PACKAGES By William Tan
Just bought your first underwater cam? Compact cameras can produce stunning macro results, if you know how to use them
VIDEOLOGY
MAKING THE SWITCH By Steve De Neef
From stills to motion pictures – What you need to know to start shooting HD video on your DSLR
DSLR SHOOTER
SO CLOSE, YET SO FAR By Alex mustard
The wide-angle close-up shot may seem perplexing, but is easier than you think
