SUBCQUATIC PHOTOGRAPHY: INITIATION AND TECHNIQUES FOR ALL

Robert Pakiela, Nicolas Barraqué and Dominique Barray publish at Turtle Prod a new work devoted to underwater photography: "Underwater photography, initiation and techniques for all". By taking the basics of the technique, but also by going around all the themes to explore. With a leitmotif: be based on examples.

RESUME THE BASICS

Digital has become widespread, making underwater photography seems more and more simple, and image hunters are more and more numerous. But in fact, some people put their hands in the water, having forgotten the basics of photographic technique. The book therefore takes up in the introduction all the concepts essential to the practice of photography: diaphragm, colors, sensitive support, speed ... An elementary reminder which is not useless, whether one is a beginner or not.

MULTIPLY THE PRACTICAL ADVICE

Page after page, the authors rely on practical, simple and effective advice, such as for shooting divers: “… the glass of the mask must be directed towards the flash, towards a particular subject or towards the objective, but never between the illumination and the optical axis. If this is the case, there is a burst of light on the glass of the mask: this is called “mask breakdown”. Likewise, it is advisable not to have a too lateral gaze which prevents the penetration of light. The shadow of the mask's skirt can indeed hide an eye. “A diver without gaze is a diver who seems dead”. When the dive is done without a hood, the mask strap must be placed under the hair, putting it around the neck when entering the water (…) To position himself correctly, the model can try to see himself on the device dome… ”

METHOD AND TIPS

Throughout the chapter devoted to the different types of shots: atmospheric photos, macro, half air, half water, play with reflections ... the explanations thus multiply the little tips and tricks to be able to achieve the image that the we wanted to do, in every detail: how to mix natural light and artificial light on a wreck, how to photograph fluorescent corals using filters, how to balance the masses in a mood photo… The goal is to answer all the questions what a photographer can pose to his subject.

LOOKING FORWARD TO EXAMPLES

This is undoubtedly the main interest of this book: beautiful images, but which are dissected to explain point by point how they were made. Light, framing, composition, distance of the subjects… everything goes there, which allows the apprentice photographer to immediately visualize the techniques used, but also to compare with his own images. The explanations are based on concrete, which makes things much clearer. Small icons, which represent speed, focal length, type of camera, type of flash and location of the shot, also allow you to have an overall view of the image parameters at a glance eye.

BEYOND SHOOTING

As the book is based on the use of digital devices, the authors have also decided to also deal with technical issues related to the medium: digital graphics chain, image storage and processing, then sharing, everything is again dealt with in detail: from calibrating the screen before making any adjustments to choosing the format, including compression or the elimination of “dust” that appears on the images.

THE GENERALIZATION OF DIGITAL SIMPLIFIED SHOOTING, BUT WHAT ARE THE PITCHES RELATED TO THIS TECHNIQUE?

Robert Pakiela: “Digital technology has brought many facilities, particularly for learning during internships. Many photographers have been born and production has never been greater in number and perhaps at the expense of quality. The realization is often done without taking its time since the number of possible shots is increased tenfold. We can notice a decrease in vertical images due to the difficulty of managing light variations. But the dynamics of the sensors is progressing, this drawback tends to disappear. Conversely, we can afford impossible images and this is perhaps a compensation. Photographers can use their camera body to the limit of their ability due to the number of photos available and the resulting images are sometimes extraordinary. ”

YOU REALLY TAKE BACK THE BASICS OF PHOTOGRAPHY AT THE BEGINNING OF THE BOOK: WHAT PRIMORIAL ADVICE WILL YOU GIVE TO A TRUE BEGINNER?

Robert Pakiela: “The primary advice is that of proximity! I regularly ask my trainees to "get into the subject" and this regardless of the material used. This advice requires working as closely as possible with the perspective we have, but also buying equipment accordingly. Whether for the optics, the arms, the lighting, the technique or even the way of diving, this leitmotif has an obvious impact on the quality of the images. ”

YOU THEREFORE DEAL WITH PHOTOGRAPHIC THEMES: WHAT WAS FOR YOU, WHEN YOU BEGIN, YOUR BIGGEST TECHNICAL CHALLENGE?

Robert Pakiela: “My biggest technical challenge was that generated by the practice of competition. When I started out, many renowned photographers produced magnificent images. This sports school brought me adaptability and technical and artistic research. Confronting amicably with fellow photographers remains a pleasure despite the years that pass by. ”

THE PHOTO YOU WOULD DREAM OF TAKING TODAY?

Robert Pakiela: “Today, I am still progressing but there is not really a photo that I dream of taking. I rather hope to discover new landscapes as rich as possible or particular subjects that make me dream. My current wish is to rub shoulders with mammals like whales and sea lions. Robert Pakiela ”

ROBERT PAKIELA

From a very young age, Robert PAKIELA practices photography. In 1979, he started scuba diving and wanted to link his two passions by manufacturing his first waterproof case. Gradually, over the course of numerous journeys, he equipped himself with waterproof boxes by construction, such as the Nikonos and then the Nikon RS, to finally use a box with a terrestrial box and two flashes. Autodidact, during underwater competitions he has been practicing since 1986 where he obtains several titles (three times French Champion and six times Vice-Champion of France as well as 4th in creativity at the 2000 World Championship), Robert improves his technique and works both in fresh water and in the sea. Within the French Federation of Underwater Sports and Studies and the World Confederation of Underwater Activities, he begins an associative life as vice-president and president of the commissions audiovisual. As such, he organizes national and international competitions (creator of the first Tunisian international competition CORALIS and of the first World Swimming Pool Photo Championship in Paris). Teacher and loving to transmit his knowledge, he passes the various diplomas of underwater photographer monitor in order to share his passion during federal or private internships. He exhibits in various places and, every year, animates practical and theoretical internships in France or abroad as an audiovisual instructor. Since January 2005, he has been editor-in-chief of the review AquaMonde, the magazine for underwater travel and imagery.

NICOLAS BARRAQUE

After his first bubbles on the wreck of the Peccorella in Porto-Vecchio in 1979, his first Nikonos bought in Djibouti in 1984, the diving virus associated with underwater photography has not left him. Professional since 2000, he always has as much pleasure in sharing through the image the most unusual moments he can meet, from the Mediterranean which he appreciates more and more, to the depths of the Pacific, passing by the essential Red Sea. He still finds time with the association “Déclic Bleu Méditerranée” to raise awareness of the marine environment and introduce novices aged 7 to 77 to discover the beauty of the Mediterranean sea through his photos. He is a collaborator of numerous reviews and also co-author of several books including “La Corse - 100 unavoidable dives and our other favorites”, awarded a Palme d'Or at the World Festival of Underwater Images. To sum up, despite more than 30 years of diving, his passion is intact and he hopes to share it with you for many more years.

DOMINIQUE BARRAY

Passionate about the underwater world since always and after having “frogged” in apnea all his childhood, he went to scuba diving, to climb the ladder until a 2nd degree federal tutoring in 1979. His other passion for photography obviously leads to investing in a venerable Nikonos 3 and to martyring many Ektachromes. It was with the arrival of “digital” that he rediscovered underwater shooting and the joys of macro and ambiance. Member of “Déclic Bleu Méditerranée”, the emulation due to this “proud” team of photographers friends allowed him to progress and to be able to share his best shots through multiple exhibitions, articles and publications, among others, the book “Secrets of the Golden Islands”. He also takes part in numerous national and international competitions where he is regularly awarded.

Text: Isabelle Croizeau