Underwater photography is a "totally different world", literally and figuratively. Bill was a painter but he could never convey the beauty or wonder of life under the sea. "The non diving public have no idea what's under there". So Bill had to learn to take photos under water. Bill came to photograhy because of his diving, he really wanted to share what he saw in the deep.

He was very quick to set this landlubber straight. The rules of photography under water are entirely different.

Anglerfish

Under water there is no telephoto, you can only shoot wide angle,you always use flash, you shoot within a 2 metre radius of where you are and after descending 20 metres there is no red or orange or yellow; just blue, purple and green. That's not even beginning to talk about particles and movement.

"You have to be a bloody good diver before you can take good photos under water." Bill is a macro photographer, the things he shoots are tiny. Not only does he have to spot his subject, he then has to contend with the movement; both his and the subject. Bill focusses using his breathing, he controls his buoyancy to get close enough for the shot.

Fish'n'Whips

Blue Ring Warning

Inner Space

My Home

Red Indian Fish

When Bill started, he was using slides and if he only got 2 or 3 good ones he was disappointed. That was until he read about the professionals. "I used to beat myself up, I'm self taught. I saw an artcle about underwater photography and realised I wasn't too bad. I became a bit more ambitious and kept at it."

Bill is a Nikon fan; they made the first underwater camera. He wore his first one out. When he started they used flash bulbs which had to be inserted underwater. Digital technology has helped make it a little easier.

This Red Indian Fish was not coloured as Bill found it. He took this at about 20 metres. Finding the fish was a major task in itself. The colours are camouflage at this depth remembering that red, orange and yellow are the first colours to go.

When Bill and Kaye moved to Newcastle they joined the Belmont 16s Camera Club. Then Bill decided it was time to learn black and white so he went to TAFE. He set up his own dark room.Although Bill admires black and white, colour is his preferred medium.

Bill has been involved in the executive of our club and was the first to recognise the need for training. He knew that people came to camera clubs to develop their photographic and photoshop skills so he began leading training nights. He is pleased to see how far we have come in developing photography in our members.

Aquatic Interlude

Diver and Zero

Diving into History

Spinecheek Clown

Although sharks are effective in black and white Bill sees the world in colour.

This shark looks scary but Bill assured me "They're like a big Golden Retreiver those things.I rubbed her belly from under her jaw all the way to her tailfin. She was over 8 ft."

Patrolling Her Domain

Butterfly Feeding

Bill believes that looking at other photographer's work is important to developing a personal vision.

He personally likes looking at wildlife photographers and finds the work of Robert Capa and Dorothea Lange stimulating.

Bill enjoys the challenges of photography, capturing an amazing shot or showing his world.

He rarely crops in photoshop, usually in camera. he agrees with Capa's view, " If your photos aren't good enough, you're not close enough."

Bill's photos are more than good enough!

Swan Sunset

Stairway to Heaven

Received a bronze medal in FCC Top Shot

Red Sash

Street Beggar