A Conversation With… Kurt Amsler

Alex Mustard · Issue 52, Jan/Feb 2010 · pp. 34–40

Products mentioned: Seacam housings, Seaflash 150 strobes, Nikonos, MotorMarine, Rolleimarin, CalypsoPhot

For this instalment in my Conversation With series you find me on the island of El Hierro out in the Atlantic, which before Columbus sailed to the Americas was thought of as the end of the world. It’s a suitably dramatic destination to meet one of the undoubted legends of underwater photography, Kurt Amsler. We are both here as judges for the El Hierro Open Fotosub competition; and it is certainly a highlight of my year to spend the week together. Despite his long and illustrious career, Kurt’s enthusiasm and passion for underwater photography and the oceans remains undimmed. He is an inspiring person to be around and I honestly could have filled a whole year of this interview series, from the conversations during the week. It is impossible to summarise the multitude of highlights in Kurt’s career here. Suffice to say that he has shot 1000s of stories for magazines, written many books an…