Cover by Mallory Morrison
FROM THE EDITORS
Photography, like all art, is about making something that is truly unique. Whether that means achieving technical perfection, using cutting edge technology, or traveling to places that are nearly impossible to reach, for photographers to make art, the goal is to take a photo no one else can take. Take a look at the images of photographers like Mallory Morrison, Zena Holloway, and Elena Kalis, who use water as a medium that helps them achieve their concepts for their commercial, fashion or personal projects. Other underwater photographers travel to exotic destinations like the Red Sea, Komodo and Port Hardy, because they are the prime habitat for photographing the wonderfully unique colors of the ocean. Regardless of how a photographer may treat water — be it as a habitat, medium, or muse — make no mistake that underwater photography is art and it is beautiful.
Matt Weiss, Editor (Americas)
Don’t recognise your copy of Scuba Diver magazine? We wanted to do something completely different for this beauty-inspired issue, the first time in our history that we’ve released a horizontal cover. Many of you may be unaware, but Scuba Diver was first printed in 1981 under the title The Scuba Diver.
Since then, the magazine evolved and changed, becoming Scuba Diver AustralAsia, and of course, just last year, we added the unique photography title Scuba Diver Through The Lens, which you’re holding in your hands right now! As you flip through these pages keep this history in mind as you appreciate the legacy of photographic and journalistic excellence that has brought us to this remarkable collection of images and stories from around the world.
Diego A. Garcia, Editor (Asia-Pacific and Australia)
Each new year is heralded by great diving expos around the world, but the coming ADEX 2012 in Singapore is my favourite. And it’s the first time that each of us three editors will be present, on our never-ending quest for the best pictures done under water. Taking pictures can be documentary – that’s what most of us do, getting our fellow divers and our deep sea adventures framed. But some of us want more: We express our creativity in underwater scenes of pure art and beauty. In this issue we put three of the finest “Art” photographers together to prove to all of us, that the underwater realm offers the creative photographer much more than a real world – it offers magic! Enjoy the new Scuba Diver Through The Lens.
Dietmar Fuchs, Editor (Europe and Africa)
CONTENTS
Features
ASSIGNMENT
SHOOTING RED
By Udo Kefrig and Rose Jones
How to photograph long-wavelength colours
DESTINATION ASIA
WHERE MYTH BECOMES REALITY
By Joseph Tepper
Indonesia’s Komodo Island may appear mythical, but it’s as real as it gets
DESTINATION AMERICAS
PORT HARDY
By Todd Mintz and Rand McMeins
Canada’s west coast province of British Columbia is truly “Supernatural”
Portfolios
PROS AT WORK
THE FAIRY QUEEN ZENA
Photo taleteller Zena Holloway brings us into her own personal fantasy world
ELENA'S WONDERLAND
Elena Kalis reminds us of the innocence of childhood and the wonder of Alice
MAGIC OF MALLORY
Mallory Morrison has made a career out of making people look natural underwater
COMPETITION
OUR WORLD UNDERWATER 2012
Winning images from the one of the world’s largest competitions
Techniques
SHUTTERBUG
NUDIES IN NORWAY
By Christian Skauge
If you can stop your hands from shivering, Norway’s nudibranchs make stunning macro photos
DSLR SHOOTER
MODEL PHOTOGRAPHY
By Wolfgang Pölzer
How to work with divers for best results in your wide-angle images
GOING PRO
FASHION H.2.O.
By Aaron Wong
Secrets of the professional underwater fashion shoot
