Trials and tribulations of an underwater photojournalist

Jack Jackson · Issue 9, Oct/Nov 2002 · pp. 25–29

Products mentioned: Nikon, Nikonos V, Subal aluminium housing, Sea & Sea flash guns, Subtronic flash gun, Sigma rectilinear lens, Micro-Nikkor lens

Underwater photographers are predominantly subject to Murphy's (Sod's) Law - What can go wrong will go wrong; this is bad enough over a two-week trip but when you take several weeks away from a repair- facility things inevitably get worse. The only way around this is multiple redundancy (backup). I set off on most of my trips with three Nikon land cameras; two Nikonos underwater cameras; two Subal aluminium underwater housings; three Sea & Sea and one Subtronic underwater flash guns, two Nikon land flash guns and a Subal aluminium housing for taking these underwater. Add a laptop computer, various lenses, base plates, strobe arms, spare synchronization cables, chargers, batteries and battery packs to cover regular power failures, underwater torches, film and diving equipment and I have to arrange for extra checked baggage plus over 20 kilograms of hand baggage with an airline. Some under…