Basic Skills

Jamie Hall · Issue 142, Jan/Feb 2025 · pp. 55–59

In 2015, I was asked by a friend if I would like to do some underwater photography and videography for a conservation team that were removing some ‘ghost gear’ (abandoned fishing nets and other marine debris which threatens marine life) from the local harbour in Wellington, New Zealand. Little did I know, this was to be the start of my underwater photography journey. Since I was a teenager, I’d taken photos and videos of my holidays and done some basic editing, but I didn’t have a passion for it at that time. However, once I was underwater with a camera in my hand, everything changed. As a dive instructor, I’ve been blessed to experience some amazing and wonderful interactions with underwater wildlife. Friends and family would often ask questions and want to know more about some of the encounters, which led me to capture some of these moments to share. There are, of course, some unique c…