Photo / Video News & Reviews
Scubaverse Underwater Photographer Interview: Pete Bullen
In an ongoing series, Scubaverse.com’s Underwater Photography Editors Nick and Caroline Robertson-Brown talk to underwater photographers from around the world that they admire. This interview is with Pete Bullen.
I took my first photograph on a little plastic Ilford copy of a box brownie. I’d been given it for Christmas and was instantly hooked. On Boxing Day it snowed heavily and I was struck by how beautiful the fields, trees etc. looked covered in pristine snow and wanted to capture it. I cocked it up and every shot was vastly overexposed but I still remember the feelings; wanting to capture that moment of beauty, the agony of waiting for the exposed film to come back and the let-down of the poor exposure. But the feeling of wanting to capture beauty has never left me and 50 years later I still take photographs for the same fundamental reasons.
Nowadays I share my love of photography both on land and underwater by offering private guiding and coaching to beginners and improvers here on Gozo, Malta, where I live. I have offices in two dive centres on the island and my guests get all the benefits of a well-run dive centre with the added benefits of private guiding at photographer’s pace to the best sites at the best times. You can find out more about my work at www.oceanfoto.co.uk, www.facebook.com/pete.bullen1, on Instagram: @Oceanfoto and TripAdvisor: www.tripadvisor.co.uk/Attraction_Review-g190317-d12498897-Reviews-Oceanfoto-Victoria_Island_of_Gozo.html
N/C: How did your underwater photography start?
PB: Being a keen land photographer it was natural for me to extend that interest below the waves very (too) quickly after I learned to dive. I started with a Sea & Sea MX5, then borrowed a Fuji F30, moved on to a Canon G9 and finally moved to M4/3 mirrorless cameras. Nowadays I shoot Olympus EM5, EM5Mk2, EPL5 plus a variety of lenses, strobes, snoots etc.
N/C: What is your favourite u/w camera equipment (past & present) & why?
PB: I love my EM5, the weight and size together with its excellent performance make it my go to camera although if I’m planning a super small macro shoot I may well take my EPL5 as its smaller format can help me get closer to the little stuff.
N/C: What would be your advice to anyone new to underwater photography?
PB: To get great shots that you can repeat you need all the skills; you have to have excellent buoyancy control, you have to understand both how your camera works and what its limitations are. Learn patience and take full control! I almost never shoot in any mode other than manual and that includes manual control of the strobe(s).
N/C: What, or who, has been your single biggest inspiration for your underwater photography?
PB: Alex Mustard is my hero, full stop, he’s a wonderful photographer, a fantastic eye and he understands the animals and environment he works with/in.
N/C: What image are you most proud of and why?
PB: I took a commissioned shot for one of our local dive centres that wanted to advertise their offering of both Freediving and Scuba. We shot it under the Azure window, I nailed it with only 5 exposures and we also rescued an idiot who had thought jumping off the Azure window was a good idea. He broke his back in three places and we probably saved his life. I love the shot plus the memories around it.
N/C: Where is your favourite dive location, and is it for the photography?
PB: I’ve dived in far too many places around the world to really have a favourite but besides Gozo, which I obviously love, I have had some great holidays at Marsa Shagra. I love the freedom to go back to the same spot and the same fish time and time again. Getting to know your subjects and planning around sunlight and angles thereof is a great way to work.
N/C: What are you views on marine life manipulation, moving subjects?
PB: Don’t do it! If you have to move a subject to get the shot then move on and find a shot that is natural. I’ll wait 15 minutes for a seahorse to lift its head if I have to.
N/C: What do you look for when you are making your images?
PB: I think that photographs should fall into one of three categories, they should either tell a story, have an artistic “wow” factor or be good for species ID, I always ask myself why I am taking the shot and if the framing/subject etc. doesn’t meet one of those categories it’s not worth taking.
N/C: What motivates you to take u/w photos?
PB: It’s a fantastic world down there, we owe it to the rest of the world to show how beautiful and delicate it is. I try to be an ambassador for a world that can’t speak for itself.
N/C: If you could photograph any one thing/place what or where would that be?
PB: I have been trying for 6 years to photograph one of our fairly rare Mola Mola, the only one I’ve ever seen was in Swanage bay, swimming round the Fleur, I was a baby diver with less than 20 dives to my name and no camera. One day I’ll get a good series of shots!
Blogs
Diver Discovering Whale Skeletons Beneath Ice Judged World’s Best Underwater Photograph
An emotive photograph showing a freediver examining the aftermath of whaling sees
Alex Dawson from Sweden named Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024. Dawson’s
photograph ‘Whale Bones’ triumphed over 6500 underwater pictures entered by underwater
photographers from around the world.
“Whale Bones was photographed in the toughest conditions,” explains chair of judging
panel Alex Mustard, “as a breath-hold diver descends below the Greenland ice sheet to bear
witness to the carcasses. The composition invites us to consider our impact on the great
creatures of this planet. Since the rise of humans, wild animals have declined by 85%. Today,
just 4% of mammals are wildlife, the remaining 96% are humans and our livestock. Our way
needs to change to find a balance with nature.”
Whales dominated the winning pictures this year with Spanish photographer Rafael
Fernandez Caballero winning two categories with his revealing photos of these ocean giants:
a close up of a grey whale’s eye and an action shot of a Bryde’s whale engulfing an entire bait
ball, both taken in Magdalena Bay, Baja California, Mexico. Fernandez Caballero took ‘Grey
Whale Connection’ while drifting in a small boat, holding his camera over the side in the water
to photograph the curious whale. ‘The End Of A Baitball’ required Fernandez Caballero to dive
down and be in exactly the right place at the moment the whale lunged. “The photo shows
the high speed attack,” he said, “with the whale engulfing hundreds of kilograms of sardines
in one bite — simply unforgettable to see predation on such a scale.”
Lisa Stengel from the United States was named Up & Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024 for her image of a mahi-mahi catching a sardine, in Mexico. Stengel used both a very fast shutter speed and her hearing to catch the moment. “If you listen there’s an enormous amount of sound in the ocean,” she explained. “The action was too fast to see, so I honed in on the sound of the attacks with my camera to capture this special moment.”
“It is such an exciting time in underwater photography because photographers are capturing such amazing new images, by visiting new locations and using the latest cameras,”
commented judge Alex Mustard. “Until this year I’d hardly ever see a photo of a mahi mahi,
now Lisa has photographed one hunting, action that plays out in the blink of an eye.”
The Underwater Photographer of the Year contest is based in the UK, and Jenny Stock,
was named as British Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024 for her image “Star
Attraction”, which finds beauty in species of British wildlife that are often overlooked.
Exploring the west coast of Scotland, Stock explained “in the dark green depths my torch
picked out the vivid colours of a living carpet of thousands of brittle stars, each with a
different pattern. I was happily snapping away, when I spotted this purple sea urchin and I
got really excited.”
In the same contest, Portuguese photographer, Nuno Sá, was named ‘Save Our Seas
Foundation’ Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year 2024, with his photo ‘Saving
Goliath’, taken in Portugal. Sá’s photo shows beachgoers trying to save a stranded sperm
whale. The picture gives us hope that people do care and want to help the oceans, but also
warns us that bigger changes are needed. “The whale had been struck by a ship and its fate
was sealed,” explains Sá. “An estimated 20,000 whales are killed every year, and many more
injured, after being struck by ships-and few people even realise that it happens.”
More winning images can be found at www.underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com.
About Underwater Photographer of the Year
Underwater Photographer of the Year is an annual competition, based in the UK, that celebrates photography beneath the surface of the ocean, lakes, rivers and even swimming pools, and attracts entries from all around the world. The contest has 13 categories, testing photographers with themes such as Macro, Wide Angle, Behaviour and Wreck photography, as well as four categories for photos taken specifically in British waters. The winners were announced in an award ceremony in Mayfair, London, hosted by The Crown Estate. This year’s UPY judges were experienced underwater photographers Peter Rowlands, Tobias Friedrich and Dr Alexander Mustard MBE.
Header image: Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024 winner Alex Dawson
News
World’s Best Underwater Photographers Unveil Breathtaking Images at World Shootout 2023
The winners of the prestigious World Shootout 2023 underwater photography competition were announced at this year’s BOOT Show, captivating audiences at the world’s largest diving and water sports exhibition in Dusseldorf, Germany. Hundreds of photographers from 54 countries competed across nine categories, pushing the boundaries of creativity and technical skill.
Grand Prize Winners
- Picture of the Year: Spanish photographer Eduardo Acevedo “secured” the top Honor with the prestigious prize the “boot Dusseldorf Director’s Prize, earning an Andromeda statuette and a €2,000 cash prize.
- Best 5 Images Portfolio: Luc Rooman from Belgium triumphed in this category, winning a dream 4-week diving trip for two to Papua New Guinea, valued at $18,900.
- Amateur Photographer: Alexandra Ceurvorst from the USA impressed the judges with her talent, taking home the 1,000 € cash prize award.
Celebrating Diversity and Innovation
This year’s competition saw 11,680 entries from 964 photographers, showcasing a remarkable spectrum of skills and perspectives. From the intricate wonders of Macro photography to the beauty of “Black Water”, the “Underwater Fashion” category added a touch of artistry and innovation, while the ever-important ” Environmental & Conservation” category served as a powerful reminder of the need to protect these fragile ecosystems.
Looking Ahead: AI and Ocean Conservation
World Shootout founder and producer David Pilosof unveiled an exciting addition for the 2024 competition: this year the Environmental category will be focusing on the impact of plastic on our oceans and future.
This category will embrace the potential of AI or other editing software as a tool to amplify the conservation message.
Entrants will submit campaigns of three original underwater photographs dealing with plastic pollution, along with their final AI assistance processing. This innovative approach encourages artistic expression while raising awareness about a critical environmental issue.
Explore the Stunning Collection
Discover the complete album of competition entries by clicking here.
For Low-resolution photos of finalist entries in eight categories, click here.
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