Demonstration of Technical and Visual Skills,
Materials, techniques, observational skills, visual awareness, design and compositional skills (40%)
1. Removing nets from the wall
The introductory image of this series had to include a ghost net in all its glory. This first image is a really poignant shot, showcasing the scale of a single net found underwater. When composing the shot, I positioned myself as close to the wall as I could, shooting out and up to ensure the net and divers would be silhouetted against the light. The net mimics the shape of the wall it has been removed from, and I felt it was important to keep the wall within the composition so that the viewer is in no doubt where it came from.
I like the connotation of the dark versus the light; the dark side being where the nets had been caught against the coral on the wall, to the light side where the divers are removing the hazard. I chose this particular shot over the others from the same burst so as to include the slight bit of motion blur captured on the diver’s fin, to avoid the image looking too static. In the foreground, the diver’s position is perfectly placed within the rule of thirds.
2. Ocean floor collection
This image was taken at depth, during quite a lot of activity which has stirred up the silt from the bottom, creating a visible haze or ghost-like appearance to the image. In the foreground, part of the net is pulled upwards by a buoy that is still attached – the consequence is that the ghost net has taken on an almost life-like or alien form as if living up to its name.
The image also indicates the scale of the nets; size is accentuated not only by positioning myself close to the net with the divers in the background but also from having the net bleed off the top and bottom of the frame. Similarly to image number one, the work being done by the divers is very apparent, however, the netting is the primary subject. This image has a slightly eerie, other-world feeling to it, which hints towards the dangers of the netting.
3. Diver heading to surface
This image was shot much closer to the surface where there is more natural light, hence the shutter speed was faster. The diver has found a small section of netting that he was able to remove and simply carry back to the surface without the aid of lifting equipment. This image shows that any diver can make a difference on any dive by simply carrying a light-weight mesh bag.
This image works so well in relaying how easy it can be to help, partly because the diver appears so effortless underwater, I have captured a moment in between fin kicks, where the diver appears to be floating. Although the diver is invariably the subject of the shot, his face is hidden from view and the focus on him is soft, the focus of this image is the mesh bag that he is carrying which is the important element of the composition.
4. Nets lifting to surface
This is the first image of the sequence that uses the half + half style, with the image ‘split’ favouring the underwater world. Subsequently, this image represents the transition from the first three images which were all taken underwater, to the following images where the focus is the activity above the surface.
The pensive look on the men’s faces as they wait to see what is coming up from depth, adds to the tension of this image. The man’s hand, visible in the top left adds interest to the foreground and suggests the readying for action.
The composition of this shot is however, a little troubling, it would have worked better had I captured this from a slightly wider view point without cutting off the bottom of the bundle being lifted to the surface. I decided to include it in the series because it is quite symbolic of the greater issue; the people above the surface don’t know what is below, the viewpoint is from the divers’ perspective, who are fully aware of what lurks beneath.
5. Pulling nets onto the boat
This is perhaps the most expressive image of the set as it signifies the exact moment that this particular ghost net ends its reign of terror in the ocean. Right in the centre of the image is a trail of water drops as the ocean lets the net go. Although we know that the net is being removed from the ocean, this trail of water is absolute confirmation of the direction of travel, so it has huge significance within the narrative of the image.
I wanted to be as close as possible to the boat as the net was hoisted onboard the boat, my intent was to capture the action from the surface but looking upwards to the people and the net as it was removed, however, it was not safe to be that close. The flurry of activity is heightened by the water droplets caught on the dome port, creating a real-life atmosphere, effectively placing the viewer right there in the water.
6. Diver on the surface
This is the strongest image of the series, and one of the last few images taken on the trip. The diver in the foreground is the main subject however the waterline draws your eye from his hand to the flurry of activity on the boat, where his work is being continued. The ‘waterline’ of this image is perfect, not only does it give equal weight to above and below the surface, it allows us to see the diver in both spheres, without any distortion.
This is the only image in which the people are identifiable, and, although this shot clearly illustrates the work being carried out, the focus for the first time is the people. Appropriately, it is a great image to end the series with.
Quality of Outcome
Content, application of knowledge, presentation of work in a coherent manner, discernment, conceptualisation of thoughts, communication of ideas (20%)
Working in the space of the decisive moment, my role was not only to capture images that let the viewer see what ghost nets look like in the ocean but also to also illustrate the work being undertaken by scuba divers to help clear the nets from their resting places.
As the diver’s faces would not be visible underwater, I would not be able to capture facial expressions, rather I would have to use the overall composition to convey the story. Each image is symbolic of a slightly different stage of the cleanup process, and each one captures a decisive moment significant to what is being achieved at that time. For most of the images, I have been able to freeze the action with fast shutter speeds.
My intent is that the content of this set is both informative and thought-provoking. The overarching theme is of the valuable work that can be done when a group of people join forces to make things happen. The selection of images flows when viewed in sequence from one through to six, and there is almost a sense of all the images having been captured in just one dive, which is not the case.
Demonstration of Creativity
Imagination, experimentation, invention (20%)
I do not usually shoot still images while scuba diving, so this assignment was truly experimental for me. After some investigation, I learned how to create a specific type of image that I have been an admirer of for some time, where the surface of the water effectively slices along the middle of the composition, allowing the viewer to see above and below the water. It is achieved using a dome port, so I used one for the first time on this assignment which gave the desired result of connecting both worlds.
Positioning and timing are inherently more difficult when shooting while scuba diving. On land, it is much easier to position and reposition. You can be nimble and dart from place to place easily, walking into position, crouching or stretching at will, or indeed just waiting. Underwater, it is all so much more difficult – not only do you have your buoyancy to contend with, all movements are slower underwater. Currents can often make it difficult to move in certain directions, and all the while you need to remain in tune with your surroundings from a safety perspective, as well as watching your air consumption and being alert to your dive buddy’s needs. To some extent, I am slightly amazed that any of my images have turned out. I took 97 different shots, but with burst mode set to 10 per capture, I effectively shot 970 images. My success rate was very low on this assignment, which makes me even more proud of the ones that were successful.
Context
Reflection, research, critical thinking (20%)
I found little in the way of imagery similar to my intended series, so my research took me to photographers whose concepts were completely staged but incredibly bold. I admire the structure of each of the series I looked at, and I understand how the ideas span raising awareness of the issue yet remain firmly rooted in the art of portraiture or still life. I hope that I can develop my conceptual thinking to the point where I can create imagery of a similar nature in the future.
As this assignment falls under ‘the decisive moment’, my approach was to keep within the realms of candid photography, while raising awareness of the issue of ghost nets. Upon reflection, I think I have chosen the right subject matter for me to focus on, and, I am pleased with the collection as a whole. The images speak loudly for the issue. I am particularly happy that I have captured a general feeling of action and motion throughout the collection.
The GoPro shoots with a slight fish-eye distortion which has unfortunately taken its toll on a couple of the chosen images, most notably on the diver’s tanks; they appear to curve ever-so-slightly.
The weakest link of this assignment with regard to the assessment criteria is the sharpness of my images. In contrast to assignment two where I spent a lot of time ensuring I achieved tack-sharp images, I was unable to replicate that level of output quality using my GoPro, coupled with shooting in this specific underwater environment. I would have preferred to shoot with a dSLR, however, I do not have an underwater housing for my camera. I looked into hiring equipment for the trip, but unfortunately, it was far too expensive. Within the capabilities of my equipment, I think I have achieved a good set of images that effectively raise awareness of ghost nets in our oceans.
Caroline's Learning Log 