The first underwater photograph was taken by William Thompson in 1856. He simply lowered a camera encased in a wooden box down into the water with a pole. He used a collodion wet plate process to take the photo, so it all had to be done quite fast. The pictures were never published, however, and Thompson is often overshadowed by his predecessor, Louis Boutan. Boutan took his photos while diving and was the first to publish his underwater photographs that were taken in 1893. He performed much research in the field of underwater photography, developing camera encasings, diving equipment, and other tools to use on underwater expeditions.
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| The first published underwater photograph, 1893. Louis Boutan. |
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| The first underwater color photograph, 1926. Longley and Martin. |
The first color photograph was taken by W. H. Longley and Charles Martin in 1926. They used waterproof encasements for their photographic equipment and a magnesium powder flash on the surface of the water to illuminate their subjects.
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| Magnesium powder flash |
One of the major difficulties of underwater photography is lighting. As photographers move deeper into the water, color and contrast is lost due to the water absorbing longer wavelengths of sunlight. This means the reds and oranges are taken out, and everything is left a blue-green color. As we look farther away horizontally or vertically, subjects appear more indistinct. Often the solution to this problem is photographing the subject as closely as possible, or using a flash. Flashes were used to help with color, contrast, and general visibility. As noted previously, a magnesium powder flash ignited on the surface was an early technique; in later years, photographers used interchangeable bulbs until battery-operated flashes were available.
Another major difficulty of underwater photography is the possibility of disrupting the natural state of the ecosystem. Most often, divers simply take cameras with them into the deep, so good scuba training is definitely an asset. Underwater photography has had a major impact on the development of scuba gear and professional training. Another possible solution to minimize disruption is to send out automated or robotic cameras. For example, in 1944, an underwater camera with automated technology was released. This camera had a trigger that hung down from the camera; the camera was lowered into the water and as soon as the trigger touched the ocean floor, the camera would start snapping pictures. After it was finished taking pictures, a float would bring the equipment back to the surface. An example of a robotic (or remotely operated vehicle) camera would be the Argo, which found the R.M.S. Titanic.
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| Jacques Cousteau |
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| Photo by Marden |
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| Photo by Marden |
A year later, in 1957, Cousteau introduced a new camera, the Calypso. The Calypso was an amphibious camera, meaning it could function properly both in and out of water. It used 35mm film and became very popular. It was later purchased by Nikon and with an improved shutter speed it became the best-selling underwater camera series.
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| Calypso camera |
Another contributor to the field was David Doubilet. He began photographing for National Geographic in the 1970s and shot more than 60 stories for the publication. In addition to his mastery of underwater lighting, Doubilet also solved another problem: because camera film cannot be changed underwater, he simply takes multiple cameras with him on each expedition. He also pushed conservation efforts and is a founder of the International League of Conservation Photographers.
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| Photo by Doubilet |
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| Photo by Doubilet |
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| "Bow railing of R.M.S. 'Titanic' illuminated by Mir 1 submersible..." 1985, Kristof |
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| "Interior of a first class cabin in the shipwrecked R.M.S. 'Titanic.'" 1985, Kristof |
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| Sea Nettle, Kristof |
Today, underwater photography seems ubiquitous and simplistic. Amateurs can easily acquire equipment to encase their digital cameras or cell phones and instantly become underwater photographers. However, while new techniques were being developed, the advancements in technology were experimental and the success of their labors was often incremental. Eventually, though, the art of underwater photography was mastered and a whole new world was opened up. Some sources say that there are two million different species of marine life in the world's oceans; few of these may have been discovered and it would be very difficult to share any discoveries without underwater photography. Additionally, we wouldn't know the geographical layout of the world under the sea. Due to other technologies, professionals could be aware of the vast hills and valleys down below, but it would be difficult to actually visualize the terrain. Underwater photography may also help us find, visualize, and better understand geological phenomena. Because of underwater photography, discoveries of shipwrecks like the Titanic have been made and shared with the world, completely changing history. Thanks to underwater photography, animators could accurately depict the ocean for the children's film Finding Nemo. Most importantly, by being able to view underwater ecosystems, we are more conscientious of the consequences of our actions. The technological advancements required by the development of underwater photography not only enabled photographers to produce other-wordly images that had a great impact on some fields already mentioned, but also benefited the overall field of technology, furthering the development of heavy-duty equipment, protective gear, and automated exploring.
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References
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