No 9 “Then & Now” December 15 2013
Cover by Sid Macken
FROM THE EDITORS
It was Isaac Newton who wrote, “If I have seen further, it is by standing on the shoulders of giants.” In this issue we journey into the past, and pay tribute to some of the giants of underwater exploration and photography.
Pioneers like Hans Hass and Jacques-Yves Cousteau, among others, made the sport and the art form what they are today. They inspired and educated generations of divers and photographers, and their legacies live on, as Philippe Cousteau reveals, sharing his thoughts on bringing his grandfather’s legacy into the modern world ("Cousteau Then and Now").
In the old days, divers committed to bringing back images of the underwater world had to first imagine and then develop equipment to use. Now, just decades later, we reap the benefits of their pioneering work. We have cameras that enable us to shoot thousands of images on a single dive, sub-marine video lights that light up the reefs for hours at a time and reveal hidden ultraviolet seascapes never imagined in days gone by. In this issue’s centrepiece we showcase the photographers who launched genres of underwater photography, and contrast them with some of the figures leading the way in the same categories today ("Then & Now"). We also celebrate 40 years of the world’s best underwater images at Antibes ("40 Years of Antibes").
Many of our ocean-going legends also became dedicated advocates for the protection of our marine ecosystems as they watched the environment that captured their hearts deteriorate over the years. Venerable marine biologists reminisce about the reefs of their youth ("Reefs Then and Now"), and we share a tale of hope - the recovery of a once lost shark population under good management ("Defending the Sanctuary").
While we can never go back, we can certainly stand on the shoulders of these giants as we forge into the future, and continue to apply, in the here and now, the lessons learnt back then.
Matt Weiss, Editor (Americas)
Alice Grainger, Editor (Asia-Pacific and Australia)
Dietmar Fuchs, Editor (Europe & Africa)