You will read here about my influences, my photographic tastes and especially the artistic journey that lives in me and drives me every day:
MY ARTISTIC APPROACH IN MACRO AND SUPER MACRO UNDERWATER PHOTO
As I worked in video production (see my biographie), I stayed away from photography for a long time. Of course, like everyone else, I used to take “MacDonal” photos, souvenir photos : we dive with a digital camera and we take pictures of almost everything we meet, we fill memory cards with photos without much interest.
Since my first dives, I have been fascinated with marine biology, and particularly the “small”, ie macro and super-macro fauna. I wasn’t able with my first cameras (Canon Powershoot 90 & 95) to take quality underwater photos of these tiny creatures. I only got average photos, which all looked the same: I didn't have "the thing."
© Violet Ting
From 2013, I started to hear on social media about many photographers, mostly Asian and extremely creative in macro-photography : Ivan Manzanares, Jerome Kim, Ken Thongpila, Kelvin Tan, Kenji Cheow, Tim Ho, Scott Gutsy, Zul Ng, to name just a few
Above all, I was struck by the breathtaking images from the gang of "talent killers" : Ipah Uid Lynn, Vania Kam, Violet Ting et Lilian Koh. Their own very “girly” approach to light and composition, as well as their creativity, never ceased to amaze me.
In 2014, I moved to Philippines and bought a TG4. I moved in 2016 to Anilao, a totally lost place, but one of the world's Mecca for macro diving. I had the chance to dive with local guides as well as with my idols, who frequently stayed there. I soaked up their passion and knowledge like a sponge, which they generously shared after our dives or at trade shows in Manila, Singapore or Hong Kong.
During a photo workshop in Romblon, Jerome Kim gave me, among other tips, the four main rules of good macro underwater photography:
the subject,
the background,
the patience,
the idea.
© Tim Ho
© Ipad Uid Lynn
© Lilian Koh
My personal style soon grew largely on artistic lighting, attempting to reproduce and adapt the pastel lights of Violet, the detail precision of Lilian or the creative exuberances of Ipah.
Timor 2018
Anilao 2018
I put all this into practice by diving with my referent guide, Herbert « Eagle Eye » Almiro at Planet Dive, which was my dive base in Anilao. Along him, I experimented, around selected subjects (hairy, skeleton, and other humpback shrimps), all the ideas that crossed my mind or that I dreamt of at night. I ended 2016 on a high note, winning with my compact camera, the champion title in macro category for my my first competition in Anilao. 2016 was a really a crucial year for me.
At the dawn of 2017, my artistic approach took a whole new turn. I mastered the functions of my GH4, added flashes (initially mismatched), expanded the color torches. I was using Ipah CD backdrops (the first was given to me by Jojo Lau), another excellent Singaporean photographer), and I was testing multiple macro lenses. My underwater photos became “bling bling” as Jerome Kim emphasized ! But, after his remarks, I also improved in the more traditional photographic technique. I took care of my bokeh, my compositions, the focus precision. I brought more softness to my lighting (big up to Ivan Manzanares), the first very dark backgrounds appeared on my pictures, which I was unable to accomplish beforehand without snoot.
The many cruises organized with Asiaqua my own diving travel agency, gave me the opportunity to take beautiful wide-angle pictures during dives on prestigious dive spots: : Tubbataha Reef, Raja Ampat, The Banda Sea, Socorro… I worked on the light, visibility of sun rays, my technique was improving.
Anilao 2017
During 2018 and 2019, I have been asserting my own style. I was starting to be more selective about the macro subjects I photographed, and I knew exactly what type of image I was looking for. I experimented with different color lighting, finally acquired a snoot and optimized my color torches for a never-used before technique that I am, to this day, the only one to use.
In June 2018, I left Philippines for Indonesia. I had originally planned to stay in Philippines for a year only, lived there for four years, including two and a half years in Anilao. The fantastic human and underwater encounters I made there remain unforgettable. It was four years of intense learning, and material incidents (the drowning of two strobes and loss of several pieces of equipment) that earned me the nickname "Tom Thumb".
I then shot smaller and smaller subjects: Ghost, Hairy or Sashimi shrimps. Shellfish were becoming my favorite models, like nudibranchs, which I greatly liked to portray "front face". Thanks to these unique underwater photos, I stood out at the SEA competitions, where with my little mirrorless camera I ranked 3rd among competitors much more experienced than me and equipped with the latest Reflex.
Then, years 2020 and 2021 were quieter and less productive: travel restrictions and consequently, less diving and therefore less underwater photography! However, living in Bali, I had the opportunity to escape to go to Tulamben. I dived there regularly, along with either Ajiex Dharma, Wayan John or Gede Ardah as guides.
Thanks to them, I took very beautiful images of living creatures that I coveted for a long time : Cyerce Kikutarobabai, Ghost shrimp, Phylodesmium et autres Trinchesia. At the end of 2020, in Lembeh, along with Hisros Tempone, I was perfecting my recent bulbous light background technique on magnificent subjects: Xeno crabe, Goby, Tozuma...
Doto Tulamben 2018
Rynopias, Anilao 2018
Diversidoris Crocea Anilao Septembre 2017
Dear Reader, I take this opportunity to mention my “assistant spotter guides” to send them my deepest gratitude. Without their help, professionalism and keen gaze, I would not have been able to capture my macro subjects for these stunning underwater shots !
I tend to consider my artistic journey to be constantly evolving. I do not consider myself a "professional", but simply as a sea enthusiast who aspires to reveal its secrets to a wide audience. I meditate, like a mantra, the ultimate advice from my “Sifu” Jerome Kim: “Keep it simple, you only take pictures, nothing more".
For the pleasure of your eyes, I treat each "critter", each subject, like a jewel, I provide them with the most beautiful casket, the most beautiful light. My purpose is to convey emotions and feelings to you.
Hoping that these underwater photos also make you want to protect the sea and its inhabitants, no matter how small they are.