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diving malapascua photography evolution

What makes an incredible underwater shot? Composition? Lighting? Action? Well actually we would say buoyancy and respect for the environment – that’s what really makes a shot special!

Matt and David are both accomplished underwater photographers and we like nothing more then welcoming photographers to our little corner of the Philippines. However we have also witnessed a distinct and disturbing change in diver behaviour due to the proliferation of digital cameras in the hands of everyone from Open Water students to the most experienced divers.

Sadly photographers tend to self obsess about ‘the shot’. Having a camera seems to imbue certain divers with a belief that they are now more important then divers with no camera and therefore must spend longer with the Ornate Ghost Pipefish or must move closer to that Thresher Shark. Unless you are a professional photographer on a professional shoot, then you are just a diver with a camera so please remember to pace your dive with others in mind.

malapascua diving philippines
Crinoid Shrimp – More than 10 brain cells

All tech students at Evolution will know the following training analogy – all divers have 10 brain cells. On a good day we can cruise the reef using perhaps 3 or 4 of those ten brain cells to manage our buoyancy and fin technique. Now put a camera in the hands of that diver, add a couple of strobes and suddenly the diver has assigned 8 or 9 brain cells to the camera and ‘the shot’. So what happens their buoyancy? We’ve all seen that person thrashing in the coral or sand trying to capture a seahorse. Buoyancy is a critical attribute of successful photography and before a diver starts using an underwater camera they should acknowledge and admit that their buoyancy will suffer so they must compensate with extra training and practice.

Here at Evolution we have seen it all. We had one diver who was a thoroughly nice chap, but had fashioned a home made ice pick from steel and used it to get himself purchase in the coral so he could balance his camera for ‘the shot’. More Alpine climber then diver he would hack into the reef leaving gouges and coral dust clouds behind him. Now you may be shaking your head in dismay but the ubiquitous pointer stick dangling from almost every photographers BCD is used in much the same way. Underwater photographers capture our marine ecosystem and play a fascinating role in promoting our sport but . . . not if they leave the reef pockmarked and pulverized by errant fins and frequent anchoring with a pointer stick.

Some divers with cameras also suffer a little from tunnel vision. I know my SPG says 40 bar but just a few more minutes might get me ‘the shot’. They also increasingly dive like solo divers, losing the group, ignoring their buddies and ignoring their life support system. But real solo divers have appropriate training and redundant breathing supplies as well as a heightened sense of focus.

We would ask all budding photographers to take your new passion in steps. Challenge yourself to have no environmental impact – no shot is worth it. Challenge yourself to have actual neutral buoyancy at all times. Challenge yourself not so use a pointer stick. Be considerate to others. If you can do that you will have succeeded in the ultimate challenge – every shot you capture will have merit.

malapascua resort evolutionEvolution offers a range of photography classes including ones with bespoke buoyancy training for camera users.

We can also offer private guiding for photographers and from September 17th to September 22 2014 this year we have our incredible annual Marine and Photography Workshop for beginners and seasoned snappers alike hosted by Biologist and accomplished photographer Dr Klaus Siefel.

For more info just email us on info@evolution.com.ph

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