Pat Baker's Underwater Photography Museum & Library

Pat Baker · Issue 116, Sep/Oct 2020 · pp. 70–74

Products mentioned: Lewis Photo-Marine 1, Lewis Photo-Marine 2, Hans Hass RolleiMarine, Calypso-Phot, Nikonos 1, Nikonos 3, GoPro Hero3+, GoPro Hero HD 3D, Pentax 6x7, Sea-Tite housing, Nikon SLR housings (F to D7000), Kodak CK Special, Éclair ACL, Beaulieu 16R, Bolex H16, Fuji W3, Sea&Sea W16 lenses, Sony APS mirrorless, JVC GS-TD1, Amphibico housing, Sony HVR-A1P, UW-Nikkor 15mm lens, Sony Alpha 6300, Lumix macro stereo lens, Olympus Tough 8100, PT048 housing, HugyPhot housing, Exa camera, Exacta 24mm lens, Olympus SLR housing, Tussey housing, Leica MD 35mm

Ten years old in 1954, I first “discovered” the Underwater World – not in the actual sea but via a surprisingly comprehensive diving book section of Chelsea Public Library and the gallery displays in The Natural History Museum. These wonderful, and free, institutions were both within walking distance of my family’s Chelsea home. Additional inspiration came from knowledge of the exploits of World War II “frogmen” and, even more, Walt Disney’s 1954 film interpretation of Jules Verne’s Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea. Six years later came another passion, for the art, the processes and equipment of photography. This led, in 1963, to the decision to become a professional photographer, enrolling for 3 years study at The Polytechnic School of Photography (Regent Street) and qualifying in Photography - Scientific and Technical, a good grounding, I secretly hoped, if ever I could discover …