I am 34 years old, and have been an avid diver for
half that time (since the age of 17) and a divemaster since 2000. I was
born and bred in Australia, where I've done most of my diving, but moved to
London 7 years ago to work as a lawyer for an investment bank in the City.
I have dabbled in underwater photography from time to time, but never with
any real consistency until purchasing a digital SLR with an Ikelite
underwater system at the end of 2005. I have never had any photographic
tuition or taken any courses, so have learnt just by trial and error
(particularly the latter!). Special mention should go to my wife Jessamy
though, for her buddying, modelling, encouragement and shrewd critiquing.
A bit about my portfolio - all photos were taken with a Canon 20D with 60mm
macro lens in an Ikelite housing with a single DS-125 substrobe. Three were
taken on my first trip with this rig to the Great Barrier Reef in December
2005, and the other three were taken on my last trip to the Maldives in
July this year. I suspect it goes without saying, but my aim with this
portfolio was to present, in the strongest and simplest way I could, the
spectacular kaleidoscope of colours and patterns of the reef fish which
have so enthralled me since I was a teenager.
Image 1 - Parrotfish in the Maldives, July 2007. 1/100 at f16.
Image 2 - Big Eye on the Great Barrier Reef, December 2005. 1/80 at f11.
This is one of my favourite shots. I could tell this guy was curious about
me but wary at the same time. While I pretended to look the other way he
came closer and closer. Sometimes when I look at this photo I fancy I can
see the look of surprise in his face when I turned suddenly to snap this
portrait.
Image 3 - Midnight Snapper on the Great Barrier Reef, December 2005. 1/80
at f8.
Image 4 - Clown Triggerfish in the Maldives, July 2007. 1/100 at f13.
Image 5 - Yellow Boxfish on the Great Barrier Reef, December 2005. 1/100 at
f9.
Image 6 - Oriental Sweetlip in the Maldives, July 2007. 1/100 at f11.
