Environmentally friendly underwater photography

Alex Mustard · Issue 6, Apr/May 2002 · pp. 18–21

Products mentioned: Nikon F100, 105mm lens, YS120, Velvia 50, Nikonos V, 15mm lens, Fuji Sensia 100, 28-70mm lens, Elitechrome 100 Extracolour

As I write this I am on a plane heading across the Atlantic to warmer climes. And I am green with envy. The reason is that I have just put down the latest issue of Ocean Realm with a portfolio of their best images from the last sixteen years. I would love to have shots of that quality in my portfolio. I would do anything! But is this a good attitude? From an environmental standpoint, how far should I go to get a shot? Underwater photographers have a pretty environmentally unfriendly reputation in the diving world when it comes to looking after the marine environment. Ask any diver and I am sure they will have stories of the photographer on their recent dive trip who smashed corals and terrorized the fish. We all know it is perfectly possible to take wonderful underwater pictures without harming the environment (the Ocean Realm shots are great examples), but our bad reputation is beginnin…