No 2 “Let There Be Light” January 14 2015

 Cover by Shawn Heinrichs

FROM THE EDITORS

Is there anything better than diving in water where the light shines through the blue as far as you can see? Incredible viz is like having a super power – it makes gliding around the reefs feel as if you’re flying through the air. And it’s only possible when nothing gets in the way of the light.

It’s extraordinary that the quality of light is also always unique wherever you go. From the Red Sea to the Cayman Islands, the water might be just as clear, but it’s never quite the same.

But the significance of light underwater doesn’t begin and end with amazing visibility. I mean, this is one of the very basic elements of life we’re talking about…

Light in the ocean doesn’t only rain down from above. Our seas are also full of flashy, fluorescent, photon-emitting creatures. We simply had to go and get the low down on the science behind the blinking, winking critters that could teach science fiction a thing or two, and the insider tips on how to shoot them.

Light is also the very foundation of photography (“photo” does mean “light”, after all). So we tried to get at it from every angle – technical, experimental, and philosophical, and we went to the master, Ernie H. Brooks II himself, for the definitive word on light in underwater shooting.

We also talked to Shawn Heinrichs, whose beautiful, immediately recognizable, and challenging images are shining a light on the threats facing our marine fauna. Yes, this issue really is an homage to light underwater in every sense; to making it, manipulating it, capturing it, and swimming through it.

Shine on!

Alice Grainger (Editor)
Matt Weiss (Features Editor, Americas)

 

CONTENTS

12 MASTER CLASS
By Alex Griffin
Weighty Issues

14 OCEAN WATCH
By Laura Robson
Making Waves in Madagascar

24 AFRICA
THE ORIGINAL CORAL KINGDOM
By Simon Rogerson
The cruising sharks and vibrant reefs of Egypt’s Southern Red Sea

32 ASIA
FLASHY CREATURES
By Lindsey Dougherty
The science behind the creatures lighting up Asia’s seas

38 AMERICAS: LOGBOOK
CAYMAN’S CLARITY
By Nina Baxa and Len De Vries
Visibility so good it might go to your head

44 EUROPE
A THOUSAND AND ONE BLUES
By Rico Besserdich
Turkey’s Aegean Sea puts the “Turk” in turquoise

48 OCEANIA: LOGBOOK
LIGHT UP THE KNIGHTS
By Justin Gilligan
The world-class reputation of New Zealand’s Poor Knights is well deserved

50 SUBJECT SPOTLIGHT
FLASHLIGHT FISH

52 THE WORLD OF
Underwater Light

54 THE PIONEER OF PIONEERS, PART 2
By Leslie Leaney
The second installment in the story of the life and career of Hans Hass

64 INTERVIEW WITH A PRO
SHAWN HEINRICHS
Making powerful images in the name of conservation

72 NOVICE
STROBE STARTER
By Mark Fuller
One of the hardest things about using strobes for the first time is getting the positioning right; make it easy with these basic tips

>> READ THIS ARTICLE ON DivePhotoGuide.com!

78 INTERMEDIATE
INTO THE FLUORO DIMENSION
By Mike Bartick
There is a hidden fluorescent universe down there and, if you haven’t already, it’s high time you found it

82 PRO
“LIGHT... THE CORNERSTONE OF IMAGE CAPTURE”
By Ernie H. Brooks II
A vital message for every shooter from one of the world’s most highly esteemed underwater photographers

86 IMAGE LAB
BAN THE CYAN
By Erin Quigley

88 PHOTO CLINIC
STANLEY BYSSHE