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My Portfolio
by Steve Jones
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I learned to dive at the age of 14, having first
picked up a camera at the age of 8. But it wasn't until 1992 that I
got a chance to merge these 2 passions when I bought a second hand
Nikonos 3 and a Sunpak 32 strobe, whilst working as a diving
instructor in Port Safaga, Egypt. In 1994 I moved to the
Maldives and also switched to a housed SLR. I was fortunate
that my interest in photography enabled me to act as a guide for
visiting photojournalists to the islands - I learned a lot from
them. I even got to accompany Leni Riefenstahl, a pioneering
and controversial photographer and filmmaker who was no less than 93
years old when I dived with her. Her mind was still
razor-sharp. In 1996 my pictures were published by Germany's
Unterwasser magazine and the following year Dive International
published my first images in the UK press. My association with
the German mags has continued and I'm now a regular contributor to
Tauchen magazine. I'm thrilled
to have won the open portfolio competition - there is no greater
endorsement of your work than having a selection of images voted for
by an audience, all of whom have a keen interest in photography and
many of which continue to inspire me. I'd also like to say
congrats to the runners-up. There were some great entries in
there, and the competition was very close indeed! My website is at
www.millionfish.com
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Image 1: I took this
in October at Ras Mohamed, just at the edge of Shark Reef. A
worthy mention for Alex Mustard here, as I took this shot whilst
working on my technique for improving blue water colour, based on the
article he wrote for Underwater Photography Magazine 'Getting the
blues' issue number 31! Lens was a 10.5 fisheye on a Nikon D2X
and it was lit with twin Subtronic Mega Colors. |
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Image 2: This anemonefish
was taken in Nuweiba in the summer. Unfortunately most of the
images I take of these fish end up deleted, as it's very difficult to
get a shot that everyone else hasn't already taken. It's on fast moving
subjects like these that the auto focus systems on the latest
generation of SLR's really come into their own. I used a 105
Micro Nikkor and lit it with a single Subtronic Mega |
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Image 3: I took this shot on the site known as 'the sinker'
in Nuweiba. It's actually a shipping buoy that was
dropped in water that was too deep, so the buoy itself now lies
in 12 metres. Over the years it has become encrusted in
coral and is home to a school of sweeper. I love this
place, it's absolutely beautiful!
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Image 4: another
from Nuweiba. This shot of a Frogfish was taken on film (Velvia
100) using a Nikkor 14mm. The diver is Simon Appel, owner
of 'Scuba Divers La Sirene' dive centre. He's a keen
photographer, and makes the perfect host for us demanding types!
I'd already taken the shot I wanted and was about to move on when the
Frogfish opened it's mouth. I managed to get 3 frames off,
largely due to the ultra fast recycle time of the Subtronic Mega - when
it fires at less than half power, you can almost shoot
continuously |
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Image 5: another
film shot, again with the Nikkor 14mm. This turtle was completely
unafraid of me and I stayed with her for quite some time. I
noticed she had only 3 flippers, and when I returned to the boat I
found out why. The dive staff had found her caught up in a
plastic bag at the surface a few years earlier. Her flipper was
damaged and she was near death. So they took her back to the island and
nursed her back to health. She was set free on the beach of the
island (a 45 minute boat journey away), and yet when I saw her she was
right on the reef above which she was originally found, in South Ari
Atoll, Maldives |
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Image 6: This shot was
taken at Ras Mohamed in June, using natural light, a 10.5 fisheye and
the Magic Filter. The fish life there in June is incredible at
this site, as many BSoUP members will know. I've used the Magic
filter a lot over the last year, and I consider it a welcome addition
to my kit bag - essential for getting colour into scenes that simply
cannot be lit by strobe. I've just started using the green water
version also. |
