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Scubaverse Underwater Photographer Interview: Susannah H. Snowden-Smith

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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 US photographer Susannah H. Snowden-Smith.

I’ve been diving for over 25 years, and photographing even longer. I started my professional photography career as a photojournalist. During my time at the newspaper I started photographing ancient shipwreck excavations part of the year. Combining my passions for diving and photography had always been the goal. With that in mind, three years ago, my husband and I moved to Grand Cayman so I could shoot underwater full-time.

My dad was an avid amateur photographer and I loved watching him shoot with his Olympus film camera. In my family, each of us got a camera when we turned ten. My sisters were all using 110 film cartridges in those skinny little cameras. But when the time came for me to get a camera of my own, I wanted “a camera like Dad has” and so my first camera was a 35mm, $35, point and shoot.

I worked as a photojournalist in the States for many years.   In this work, I always sought out the unique angle, the interesting shot; my images were often referred to as “artistic”. I have taken this artistic approach with me to my underwater work (more on that in question 8, below). To date, I have photographed five underwater excavations all over the world. Since moving to Grand Cayman, I’ve expanded my underwater photography from specializing in underwater archaeology to include marine life, macro, fluorescence, modern wrecks, sharks, over-under shots…I love it all, and love shooting it all! I sell my underwater fine art photographs on Cayman and in the States.

One of my proudest moments was having one of my underwater photographs from a 7th-Century BC Phoenician shipwreck displayed as part of an exhibit in the Metropolitan Museum Of Art. I also landed the cover of Archaeology Magazine (May-June 2016 issue).

I’ve placed in the Underwater Photographer Of The Year contest twice now (2016 and 2017). Seeing my Kittiwake photograph in newspapers around the world was a huge high! And I was “Wrecks Of The World” Champion for 2016: I worked really hard, shooting new images for the contest each month, so having all that hard work pay off was extremely gratifying. I also won all six places in the Scubashooters “Half & Half” contest last August. Split shots are one of my favourite types of shooting, so again, to have these images recognized was really gratifying.

Cayman is my backyard, so I dive here when I’m not traveling. I’ve dived and photographed in Sri Lanka, the Mediterranean, the Red Sea, the Maldives, Rhode Island, Thailand, the Bahamas… But I have so many more places I want to shoot!

You can find out more about my work at www.SusannahPhotography.com. Follow me on Instagram: SusannahPhotography and on Facebook: Susannah H. Snowden-Smith Photography.


N/C: How did your underwater photography start?

S H. S-S: My first underwater camera was a Sea&Sea Motormarine 35 when I was about 12. I’d saved up all my money for it! I took photographs in the local pool, trying to get interesting shots; this involved a lot of photographs of orange golf balls. Thinking back, I guess liked the contrast against the blue pool water. (My mom was not as impressed with the film processing costs and I soon took over paying for them 😉

Around that same time, in 6th-grade, we studied a small segment on underwater archaeology. I was fascinated and set a goal of working in underwater archaeology! I’ve since been the underwater photographer on five shipwreck excavations, from 7th C. Phoenician to 18th C. Ottoman. From underwater archaeology I’ve expanded into photographing marine life, macro, fluorescence, modern wrecks, sharks, over-under shots… I’m loving shooting everything from hammerhead sharks down to dwarf frogfish.

N/C: What is your favourite u/w camera equipment (past & present) & why?

S H. S-S: My Subal D500 housing and Sea&Sea YS-250s are favourites. I love the way the Subal housing feels in my hand. It’s ergonomic, the buttons are where I expect them to be, and it’s rugged. My Sea&Sea YS-250 strobes give out a huge amount of light and the quick recycling is a huge asset.

I love shooting and experimenting with remote strobes. I also love my Nightsea fluorescence kit.

I had a Sea&Sea MDX40 housing that I used for many years. It was very good to me, enabling me to make many images I am proud of.

N/C: What would be your advice to anyone new to underwater photography?

S H. S-S: Stick with it! It’s not going to be instant gratification, and there is so much to learn. I like to tell my students: you’re going to take half of what you know about land photography and chuck it out the window! Underwater photography has a steep learning curve, but the rewards are huge!

N/C: What, or who, has been your single biggest inspiration for your underwater photography?

S H. S-S: Alex Mustard and his work have been a big inspiration for me. I admire his creativity and how he’s always pushing the envelope of ingenuity. I find daily inspriration on Wetpixel, Scubashooters, UWPhotographers and from the scores of underwater photographers who are in my Facebook feed.

N/C: What image are you most proud of and why?

S H. S-S: That’s a hard one. I have photographs that mean a lot to me from different phases of my underwater photo career. I’ve included some of my favourite images for this article, but there are many more that I’m attached to.

N/C: Where is your favourite dive location, and is it for the photography?

S H. S-S: Photography and diving are inseparable for me: anywhere I love to dive, I love to photograph. I have so many favourite places, and so many more that I want to explore (see below). I love shooting in my Cayman backyard but I can’t wait to explore more of the world. I’m excited to get to SE Asia, hopefully soon, for the photo opportunities.

N/C: What are you views on marine life manipulation, moving subjects?

S H. S-S: I’ve been reading a lot about this recently. Horrifying!

N/C: What do you look for when you are making your images?

S H. S-S: As noted above, I am always seeking out the unique angle or interesting way to shoot an image. When I was a photojournalist, I had to photograph the same events over and over again, e.g. the same parade each year. So the challenge was how to cover the same event but come back with fresh, different images each time. Newspaper readers who saw me shoot would joke that I could often be found climbing a tree, or lying on the ground in the middle of a parade. And it was true: I would do whatever it took in order to get the creative shot I had in my mind’s eye. I apply this same creative eye to my underwater work. I’m always asking myself, “how can I make this photo more interesting? How can I take a photo of this subject in a way that I’ve not conceived of before?”

For this, Cayman has been really good for me, pushing me forward in my work. Just like my time as a photojournalist, I’m often shooting the same subjects over and over, which forces me to try and look for a different, more creative image each time. It also means I can experiment to my heart’s content. So when I have with a new lighting technique I want to employ, I can try it out right away.

N/C: What motivates you to take u/w photos?

S H. S-S: A desire to produce creative and unique images. Pushing myself to always improve. Sharing the excitement of the underwater world.

N/C: If you could photograph any one thing/place what or where would that be?

S H. S-S: I have many places and things I’d like to photograph, so narrowing that down to one is impossible. But in the immediate future, I’d like to dive and photograph the wrecks of Truk Lagoon, macro life in the Philippines and Indo, whales and whale sharks…! 😀 I’m looking forward to it all!!

 

Nick and Caroline (Frogfish Photography) are a married couple of conservation driven underwater photo-journalists and authors. Both have honours degrees from Manchester University, in Environmental Biology and Biology respectively, with Nick being a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, a former high school science teacher with a DipEd in Teaching Studies. Caroline has an MSc in Animal Behaviour specializing in Caribbean Ecology. They are multiple award-winning photographers and along with 4 published books, feature regularly in the diving, wildlife and international press They are the Underwater Photography and Deputy Editors at Scubaverse and Dive Travel Adventures. Winners of the Caribbean Tourism Organization Photo-journalist of the Year for a feature on Shark Diving in The Bahamas, and they have been placed in every year they have entered.Nick and Caroline regularly use their free time to visit schools, both in the UK and on their travels, to discuss the important issues of marine conservation, sharks and plastic pollution. They are ambassadors for Sharks4Kids and founders of SeaStraw. They are Dive Ambassadors for The Islands of The Bahamas and are supported by Mares, Paralenz, Nauticam and Olympus. To find out more visit www.frogfishphotography.com

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PADI Launches World’s First Scuba Technician Distinctive Specialty Course with Octo Diver

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Scuba Technician

Octo Diver, in collaboration with PADI, have introduced the first-ever PADI Scuba Technician Distinctive Specialty Course, designed to raise the standard of dive equipment knowledge and safety in the scuba diving industry.

Scuba Technician

This 7-day hands-on course is open to all certified divers, dive professionals, and dive centre/resort staff, and focuses on vital life-support equipment servicing.

The course modules include:

  • Scuba Regulator Servicing (Diaphragm & Piston types)

  • 2nd Stage Servicing (Balanced & Unbalanced)

  • K-Valve Cylinder Valve Maintenance

  • Scuba Cylinder Visual Inspection

  • Power Inflator Servicing

  • Oxygen Cleaning for Scuba Equipment

  • Scuba Compressor Service & Maintenance

  • Standard Service & Repair Reporting

It is developed by Octo Diver’s professional team, led by a certified PADI Scuba Technician Instructor with a background in mechanical and aerospace engineering and over 15 years of experience in the diving industry.

Scuba Technician

This professional-level course can be conducted at Octo Diver’s classroom in Kuala Terengganu, Malaysia, or hosted at dive centers worldwide. Hosting dive centers receive exclusive benefits, including high commission, special course rates, and free seats.

Upon completion, students will receive certification from PADI along with official technician credentials.

Octo Diver is currently looking for dive centers and resorts globally to host this course. Let’s work together to make diving safer and more professional — Be a Certified PADI Scuba Technician.

For more information, visit www.Scuba-Technician.com

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Nabucco’s Spice Island Resort – A Hidden Gem in the Northern Moluccas

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Northern Moluccas

Far from the usual tourist trails, on a small island in the Northern Moluccas, lies a place of extraordinary beauty: Nabucco’s Spice Island Resort. Nestled between dense tropical jungle and a powdery white sand beach, the resort offers a peaceful escape immersed in nature at its purest. With panoramic views of the turquoise sea and direct access to some of Indonesia’s most untouched reefs, it’s a dream come true for those seeking tranquility above and adventure below the surface.

Northern Moluccas

The resort features just 16 spacious beachfront bungalows, each only steps from the ocean. At its heart is a beautifully designed open-air restaurant, built entirely from natural materials, where guests can enjoy a diverse selection of Indonesian and international cuisine.

Northern Moluccas

But what truly sets Nabucco’s Spice Island Resort apart is the underwater world that surrounds it. The reefs of the Northern Moluccas are among the most pristine and biodiverse in all of Indonesia – and remarkably, they remain largely untouched. Thanks to the remote location, dive boats are often the only ones around, giving divers the rare privilege of exploring vibrant coral gardens, dramatic walls, and colorful drop-offs in complete solitude.

Northern Moluccas

Marine life here is nothing short of spectacular. Blacktip reef sharks are spotted on nearly every dive, while nutrient-rich walls attract sea turtles, schools of jacks, and bumphead parrotfish. For macro enthusiasts, the area is a treasure trove of rare and photogenic species, including pygmy seahorses, ghost pipefish, nudibranchs, frogfish, leaf scorpionfish, and several types of octopus and shrimp.

Northern Moluccas

One of the region’s most extraordinary highlights is the Halmahera Walking Shark, a rare species endemic to this part of Indonesia. First described by scientists only in recent years, this small shark is unlike anything else in the ocean. Rather than swimming, it uses its muscular pectoral and pelvic fins to “walk” along the seabed. These elusive yet fascinating creatures are most often encountered on night dives – and witnessing one in the wild is a truly unforgettable experience.

Northern Moluccas

The reefscapes surrounding Spice Island Resort are equally impressive. Flourishing hard coral formations spread across the seabed, interspersed with vivid sponges, large sea fans, and colorful soft corals. The biodiversity is astonishing, and the visual spectacle underwater is a dream for photographers. Most importantly, the reefs here are healthy—a rare treasure in today’s marine environment. With minimal tourism and careful management, the ecosystem remains intact, vibrant, and teeming with life.

Northern Moluccas

Nabucco’s Spice Island Resort is more than just a dive destination – it’s a retreat for those seeking peace and a haven for underwater explorers looking to experience the authentic magic of Indonesia’s last true frontier.

Book your next diving adventure at Nabucco’s Spice Island Resort with Extra Divers!

info@extradivers.org

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