420 Dive Log Australasia OCTOBER 2026

small area intimately can be more productive than continually searching unfamiliar water for something new. Before the shutter Underwater photography does not begin with an expensive camera. It begins before I press the shutter—with confidence in the water, safe freediving practices, patience, preparation and an understanding of the environment I am entering. The ability to descend comfortably, remain calm at depth and position myself without unnecessary movement is more useful to me than any isolated technical specification. No camera can compensate for a rushed approach, poor buoyancy or an inability to remain still long enough to compose properly. Just as importantly, no photograph is worth compromising safety or overstaying a dive. Subject knowledge shapes the encounter as

much as freediving ability. The more time I spend observing marine animals, the better I become at recognising their behaviour and anticipating what may happen next. I learn when to approach, when to remain motionless and when to leave the animal alone. Proximity is central to underwater photography, but it should never come at the cost of frightening, chasing or disturbing the subject. The Olympus Tough TG-6 is the tool that records these encounters, but it does not create them. It cannot decide where I should position myself, recognise that an animal is about to move or understand when patience will achieve more than pursuit. A larger camera may offer greater resolution, faster autofocus and better performance in difficult light, but it cannot replace water skills, fieldcraft or respect for marine life. The equipment matters, but it is the final link in a much longer chain. The photograph begins with the person behind the camera.

A three-metre wobbegong shark resting on the sand, photographed with a single strobe during one of my night dives. Here, I also used the TG-6 at its widest native focal length. I generally avoid using a wide-angle lens on night dives. DIVE LOG Australasia #420 October’ 26 58 www.divelog.net.au