A circle of barracuda swirls around Dinah Halstead in Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea. Schools of barracuda often form circles in the sea as a defensive behavior. Dinah extended her hand as they swam around her, creating a gesture that makes the picture stronger. —David Doubilet
PHOTOGRAPH BY DAVID DOUBILET
Without photography, the world beneath the ocean’s surface would remain an unseen mystery for most of us. Thank goodness for David Doubilet.
Pioneering underwater photographer David Doubilet—whose first photo was published in National Geographic in 1972—has dedicated his life to capturing the action, drama, and poetry of our oceans and bringing those images back to the surface for those of us who might never see those sights with our own eyes.
I asked Doubilet, who’s at this very moment in the Philippines exploring coral in marine protected areas, what got him started and what keeps him swimming, looking, and sharing stories from our quickly changing seas. An edited version of our exchange is published below, along with some of his most memorable images from his career.
What first drew you to underwater photography?
When I was about ten I obsessed over a picture in National Geographicmagazine showing Luis Marden standing with Capt. Jacques Cousteau on the deck of the Calypso. Cousteau was a legend, an international star. Luis Marden was a National Geographic underwater photographer and my hero—I wanted to be like Luis Marden and bring back pictures from a secret world.
What was the first photograph you took underwater?
My first pictures were pathetic, dark failures of fish butts and human feet. I later graduated to using a pre-World War II Leica in a real aluminum housing and spent every waking moment I could shooting underwater in New Jersey or the Bahamas. I think I took my first successful pictures of divers decompressing in Small Hope Bay when I was 13. I won a very cool medal for third place that I still have for sentimental reasons.
Written by Becky Harlan. To read the full article, click here. Fotility Photography & Videography is a San Diego published photographer that specializes in portrait, engagement, event, graduation, headshots, portfolio, product/promo shoots, real estate and restaurant photography. For more information and for bookings, please visit his website at www.jerryroxas.photpgraphy.