Cover by Peter A. Reiserer
FROM THE EDITORS
There’s a sentiment out there in the photographic world that the digital revolution has simplified things. Just get yourself the latest Nikon 800 or Canon 5D MkIII with a fancy housing, and all the different features of these state-of-the-art instruments will have you shooting cutting edge imagery in no time. But photographic equipment is no different than any tool – harnessing its power takes more than simply owning one.
In the hands of renowned photographers, who think first and shoot afterwards, fancy equipment does help to produce their innovative ideas – but it’s the inspiration that commands the equipment. Just have a look at the work of Tobias Friedrich (“360˚: The Cutting Edge”), Keri Wilk (“How to Shoot with a Snoot”) and Imran Ahmad (“Lighting the Surreal”) – three photographers who continue to push the boundaries of what we consider “cutting edge” underwater photography.
Even if you go back 20 years, you‘ll find photographers like Peter Alexander Reiserer, who used cutting edge ideas to produce pictures that are still compelling and avant-garde today (“Ahead of His Time”). And although his lighting was, admittedly, pretty advanced for the day, Reiserer still produced timeless images without the help of today’s digital paraphernalia.
So it’s not about the number of pixels, nor the sheer number of picture programs or filters that you use – it’s still your cutting edge ideas and knowledge of photography that will help your images stand the test of time.
Matt Weiss, Editor (Americas)
Diego A. Garcia, Editor (Asia-Pacific and Australia)
Dietmar Fuchs, Editor (Europe and Africa)
CONTENTS
Features
DESTINATION AMERICAS
WHEN PENGUINS FLY...
By Joseph Tepper
Of all the amazing animals one can photograph in the Galapagos Islands, one soars above the rest
DESTINATION ASIA
SHOOTING BIG IN THE LAND OF SMALL
By Andy Sallmon and Allison Vitsky Sallmon
An intrepid photo-duo take their wide-angle lenses to a macro heaven
Portfolios
GALLERY
STATE OF THE ART
By Various Contributors
Taking stock of the latest techniques and technologies in underwater photography today
PHOTO PIONEER
AHEAD OF HIS TIME
By Javier Pierro Ruis and Alain Sebastian Wienkoop
Peter A. Reiserer was one of the first underwater photographers to bring commercial studio ideas underwater
COMPETITION
UNDERWATER COMPETITION 2012
Winning images from DEEP Indonesia
Techniques
SHUTTERBUG
LIGHTING THE SURREAL
By Imran Ahmad
Mixing film and classic photo techniques for a new look in underwater images
DSLR SHOOTER
HOW TO SHOOT WITH A SNOOT
By Keri Wilk
Take control of your lighting techniques with this illuminating device
GOING PRO
360°: THE CUTTING EDGE
By Tobias Friedrich
Panoramic images take on a new meaning with digital technology
