Today I thought I would take some time to talk about a genre of photography that is so distinct from the rest, that it may as well be deemed a different type of art all together- underwater photography. Underwater photography has always been a skill that I hope to master one day, for many reasons – it gives me the opportunity to travel, explore the depths of the ocean, become one with nature, and come face to face with unique and beautiful animals. But most importantly, it takes me to a whole different world – this was something I came to realize when I went scuba diving off the coast of Cancun. There is simply nothing like it.
The moment you go under the surface, you are visiting a whole new world. A world that is absent of all the chaos above. A world with no politics, wars, or poverty. A world where the only sound you hear is the sound of your heartbeat – a reminder of your own mortality and how the problems you carry are too insignificant to waste your life over. A world where the only pressure that exists comes from the water above you and not the deadlines in front of you. Underwater photography is being able to capture these ideas in the form of images, and transcend them past the boundaries of worlds, between air and water, chaos and calm, yin and yang.
I will be honest. When I first began writing this piece, it was with the intent of commentating on an underwater photograph. However, as I started forming my thoughts, I realized it would be impossible without discussing the very nature of underwater photography. Skipping this step would be a disservice to the art as it places an initial emphasis on the commonalities between photographic elements under the water’s surface and above it. But as we know, the true beauty is in the differences. This is why I chose to introduce the genre with its unique background rather than its common conceptual elements via commentary.
So, regardless of whether you are a photographer or viewer, what are your thoughts on underwater photography? Do you prefer it over other types of photography? If not, what do you like more and why? Let me know in the comments below!
Lastly, stay tuned, as the next post WILL be a commentary on a gorgeous underwater photograph.
P.S. Hope you like sea turtles 😉
Love the introduction. Thanks for sharing. Greetings from London.