"The Original Element: Underwater in Belize
and the Maldives"
A photographic series for the show Elemental Light
Heliconian Hall, May 2016
Our show theme, “Elemental Light”, inspired me to dive back into my archive of underwater photographs. I have been an avid snorkeller all my life, free-diving rather than using a scuba tank to glimpse the beauties of the original element. I have been lucky enough to snorkel amongst some of the world’s loveliest coral, including the Seychelles, the Great Barrier Reef, the Red Sea, around the Caribbean, and – three times – the Maldives. In 2007 I began taking pictures underwater, and this Series was photographed in two places: an island off the coast of Belize, Central America and in the Lhaviyani Atoll of the Maldives, a string of coral-studded islands that straddle the equator in the Indian Ocean, west of India and Sri Lanka.
It is quite difficult to focus the camera while swimming underwater, rather than holding still with a tank on your back. My technique is to position myself vertically upside down, with the weight of my legs and weight belt over me, which allows me to hold still long enough to focus properly. (it took a while for me to realize I didn’t have to be upright to take the picture, but could rotate it on the computer!). I hope I have captured the immediacy and serendipity of the magical reef world and its denizens, viewed on a single breath of air.
It is quite difficult to focus the camera while swimming underwater, rather than holding still with a tank on your back. My technique is to position myself vertically upside down, with the weight of my legs and weight belt over me, which allows me to hold still long enough to focus properly. (it took a while for me to realize I didn’t have to be upright to take the picture, but could rotate it on the computer!). I hope I have captured the immediacy and serendipity of the magical reef world and its denizens, viewed on a single breath of air.
"Black-tailed Snappers, Kuredu Island, Maldives"
"Emperor Angel Fish, Lhaviyani Atoll, Maldives"
"Brittlestars, Sponges and Soft Corals, René’s Island, Belize"
“Surfacing, Lhaviyani Atoll, Maldives”
“Purple Sea Fan, René’s Island, Belize"
“Moon Jellyfish, René’a Island, Belize”
“Lettuce Coral, Sapodilla Cay, Belize”
“Stony and Soft Corals, René’s Island, Belize”
“Unicorn Fish, Kuredu Island, Maldives”
"Green Sea Turtle, Kuredu Island, Maldives”
“Batfish, Kuredu Island, Maldives”