Size Matters: Photographing the Wreck of the Vrouw Maria

Jukka Nurminen · Issue 9, Oct/Nov 2002 · pp. 54–57

Products mentioned: Nikonos RS, 13mm fisheye lens, Fuji Provia F 400

It is an inescapable fact that successful underwater photography is heavily dependant on technology. Not only do our cameras have to withstand and function in a hostile environment, but also many of the images we conjure up in our minds can only be captured on film with the right kit. Quite simply, unlike many branches of photography, good equipment yields good shots. But what do we do when it just isn’t possible to produce the image we want with conventional kit? We have two choices: we can either throw in the towel or we can persevere, get inventive, play and experiment. These are surely some of the most exciting times to be an underwater photographer. Most underwater photographs are taken of small areas, in shallow, bright conditions. A pretty biased view of the oceans! This article is about redressing the balance and tells the tale of how Finnish photographer, Jukka Nurminen, went ab…