Seconded By: Silke Hullmann,
What propels us to dive? In its most basic form, we dive to observe. To become spectators in a world transcending space and gravity, surrounded by weird and wonderful creatures only imagined in books.
From the moment I laid eyes on these animals, I was gripped by a wave of nostalgia. Patterns and colours brought me back to my childhood, to a place and time where I enjoyed the dreamtime tales of Australia’s first nations people.
Indigenous Australians’ intimate connection with nature has been cemented over thousands of years, reinforcing stable environmental practice that has been built on a foundation of respect for the land. Such practices have been passed down through generations, and celebrated through different creative narratives of art and storytelling.
Colonisation of Australia threw the entire spiritual system into chaos, and saw the rapid decline of our oceans through conducts of overfishing, resource extraction, overpopulation and coastal development, and in most recent times, the pandemic of micro plastics.
This toxic time bomb has revealed alarming implications, which have forced humanity to seek an urgent solution on the back of our own anthropocentrism. In other words; we need to protect our oceans, as WE are suffering.
As an underwater photographer, I witness the struggle of Australian marine life every day. And although I am peering through a lens of human impact, I strive to abstain from reprimanding my viewers.
I don’t want to show our marine life in a state of constant struggle, but rather construct a narrative that will harness a synergy between man and ocean once again. I want to open a visual dialogue that will draw my viewers into the depths of our oceans, and create an opportunity for them to stare into the eye of these creatures, create connection, and if need be, anthropomorphise their behaviour in order to solidify commonality.
Above all, I want my viewers to fall in love with our oceans and their inhabitants. We as human beings will always strive to protect what we love, and will build our actions and decisions around the sustainability of our chosen treasures.
I wish to campaign with zest and enthusiasm, and show the world what we should be defending with outrageous valour. As the page turns and the story evolves, different species alternate their placement at the top of the threatened species podium, many of which reside along our Australian coastal shores. Humpback Whales, Leafy Seadragons, White Seahorses … these are but a few victimised species that have faced near extinction, and succeeded in their recovery through significant determination, and scientific conservation.
In as little as 50 years, we have obliterated 68% of individual wild animals on Earth. With this in mind, I invite you to take a moment, and stare into the eyes of Australia’s remarkable ocean creatures. Recognise their fragility and feel their struggles. Admire their strengths and celebrate their triumphs.
As an underwater photographer, I aim to stage an artistic intervention, and strive to capture a feeling, as a means to reinstate our kinship with the natural world.
This is my mission blue.
Bouquet
A Leafy Seadragon remains still and silent amongst the leafy backdrop of Second Valley. These wonderful creatures are masters of camouflage, and unique to parts of South and Western Australia.
Dappled Dawn
The portrait of a Green turtle, captured in the shallow lagoon of Lady Elliot Island.
Caviar
A male Eastern Gobbleguts carrying eggs in its mouth. When the female is ready to make the transfer, the male opens his mouth near her cloaca orifice, as she pushes the eggs out in a cone-like manner. The male uses the tip wedged in his throat to keep them in position, while still allowing himself to feed, and protect the precious eggs. He will continue to hold the eggs for a month before hatching occurs.
There
A Blenny takes refuge in a discarded snorkel. These wonderful critters often make homes of abandoned bottles, pipes, or shells. Upon closer inspection, you may even find eggs lining the inside of these objects. I found the irony of this item overwhelming and sad, as those who delve into the ocean for pleasure, should be the very ones striving to protect it.
Commander
A Queensland Grouper commands a swarm of marine life at the stern of the infamous Yongala Wreck in Far North Queensland.
Theatre of war
The world’s largest Giant Cuttlefish aggregation graces the shores of Whyalla every winter. Over 100,000 of these gliding giants come together to mate, lay eggs, and flaunt their hypnotic light reflecting cells. With courtship comes conflict, and males battle to win the affection of a wandering female. As a last resort, a Giant cuttlefish may shoot a cloud of black ink as a decoy to make for a hasty escape.
Akhal-Teke
Slow shutter Portrait of a Leafy Seadragon
While you were sleeping
A mother humpback holds up her young, as they both take refuge in the shallows of Lady Elliot Island.
Huntress
Seahorses begin their courtship with an elegant underwater mating dance, and upon meeting a potential mate, both male and female seahorses brighten in colour! Shortly after producing eggs, the female passes them onto the male, where he will hold the eggs in his pouch till they’re ready to pop. This beautiful duo were found mid dance, their colours dynamic and vibrant, ready to latch tails and begin the journey together. Note the hitchhiking skeleton shrimp on the female’s abdomen.
Smorg
This particularly striking Seahorse was an incredible opportunity for a me to showcase it’s distinguished markings, and jaw dropping colour palette played so effortlessly against the surrounding coral tulips. Whilst Seahorses are not rare amongst Sydney dive sites, photographing one that could stand out amongst the rest had always been a dream for me to capture. Choosing to open the aperture all the way down to 3.5 not only engulfed the tulips with a cloud-like effect, but also embraced the ominous green waters of Sydney summer diving. The Seahorses striking red eye, and magnificent posture conveys power and strength, arising from the smokey underbelly of the ocean.
