Behind The Scenes: In depth

with Michael AW

Michael AW has been taking underwater photos since 1985. Experience and an artist’s eye make him one of the world’s best. But in a foreign world, even the best have to work very hard -- and fast. Here, some background from the photographer himself on what it takes to get shots like these. See the full article, Seascapes, by Ken McAlpine in Celebrated Living’s summer 2009 magazine or online.

“Clownfish, better known to the rest of the world as Nemo, are a favorite subject of underwater photographers. For some reason, neither photographer nor the public can get enough of these Nemo fish. For the photographer, the challenge is to not just photograph another clown. The challenge is to shoot an entire family of clowns in perfect focus. The problem is simple; and not so simple. Clownfish are not cooperative models. They seem to preempt your every move. They’ll turn away and disappear inside an anemone. Or worse, they’ll come right at you at fifty miles an hour and sometimes they’ll even bite you on your fingers or on your unprotected face, drawing blood. They are, and I’m not kidding, far more likely to attack you than sharks. This picture of a family of five took my entire career to date -- since 1985 -- to capture them for this portrait with all their eyes in focus. I had 1/250 of a second to shoot it!” Michael AW

“Mandarinfish come out at twilight hour, really not much different than human males hanging out at the pub in the evening to impress females. When I first decided I really wanted to shoot a mandarinfish mating sequence it was 1996. A photographer I really admire told me that often when a female chooses her partner, she tells him ‘You are the One I Want’ with a tiny peck on his cheek or forehead. Does this happen often? Not in front of the camera it doesn’t. For more than 10 years, I faithfully dove in places where Mandarinfish are known to live for, well, The One Shot I Wanted. The reward for 10 years-plus of waiting came one February evening in 2007 at Puerto Galera in the Philippines. Again, the whole thing was over in 1/250th of a second! I didn’t want to wait for a second chance.” Michael AW

From the seafood you eat, to the small actions you take, you can help protect this wondrous world. Here are three great ocean organizations to help you make educated decisions.

Monterey Bay Aquarium Ocean Action (www.montereybayaquarium.org/oa) and their Seafood Watch (www.seafoodwatch.org)

Conservation International (www.conservation.org)

The Nature Conservancy (www.nature.org/earth/oceans)

By Ken McAlpine

As a special offer to Celebrated Living readers, author autographed limited-edition copies of Michael AW’s beautiful book, Phillipines: Heart of the Ocean, can be ordered from one@oneocean.com at $110, airmail delivery included. Part of the proceeds of the limited-edition is designated to support research and conservation projects in the Asia Pacific area. This special limited-edition production is endorsed by President Gloria Arroya, President of the Philippines.