News
Alex Mustard’s long-awaited new book ‘Underwater Photography Masterclass’ to be released in April
Soar Through Underwater Realms. Capture Untold Sights.
Published by Ammonite Press • April 2016 • RRP £19.99 (Pre-Order here)
Take a voyage into the deep blue seas with this astonishing new book by one of the world’s leading underwater photographers, Alex Mustard. There is a fascinating alien world just waiting to be photographed and Underwater Photography Masterclass can teach you how to capture the amazing creatures and landscapes that lie beneath the surface.
From information about diving equipment and cameras, to crucial advice on understanding and controlling light underwater, this book provides all the background you need before you take the plunge. Alex explains with humour and in straightforward language all of the technical aspects of shooting underwater. Topics covered include wide-angle and macro lighting techniques for subjects as diverse as sea slugs, sharks and shipwrecks. But he also advises readers on how to dive for your images – time is always limited underwater and stunning pictures come when you prepare and maintain equipment properly and know what is the perfect photographic technique for different subjects.
This isn’t just a guide either, as it is packed with stunning photographs from around the world; from shoals of fish in the Egyptian sea and gangs of spider-crabs in the UK to sunken wrecks in Grand Cayman and macro shots of pygmy sea-horses in Bali and Bigfin Reef Squid in West Papua.
Alex Mustard aims to expand your horizons of what underwater photography can be and fill you with ideas for the new types of images that you can produce. Underwater Photography Masterclass will help you create the underwater images you’ve dreamed of and make you a better, more knowledgeable photographer at the same time.
• Stunning underwater images from a world renowned underwater photographer
• Information on the equipment and skills you’ll need before you start
• In-depth explanations to help you master lighting underwater
Here is a trailer for ‘Underwater Photography Masterclass’:
And here are some photos from the book with descriptions from Alex:
Stingrays At Dawn: A split level image of two southern stingrays (Dasyatis americana) swimming over a sand bar in the early morning. The female (left) is much larger than the male (right), although the perspective of the photo accentuates the difference. Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands. British West Indies. Caribbean Sea. Alex Mustard: “You need to get up pretty early to be out in the middle of the sea in time for sunrise. But the rewards are surely worth it. I placed my camera half in and half out of the water, and positioned my flashes down beneath the surface to illuminate this pair of stingrays against the coming dawn.”
Nudibranch Portrait: A high magnification photo of a nudibranch (Nembrotha kubaryana), showing orange mouth parts and sensory rhinophores, and green gills (out of focus). Bitung, North Sulawesi, Indonesia. Lembeh Strait, Molucca Sea. Alex Mustard: “Photographing nudibranchs or sealsugs is all about colour. But since they have only very rudimentary eyes, they do not get to enjoy these colours themselves. Although they certainly benefit from them because they warn potential predators of their toxicity. This species has fluorescent pigments in their orange, making them glow underwater. I photographed this tiny individual at very high magnification to fill the frame with colour. This photo was awarded in the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.”
World War II bike: A backlit photo of a British World War II BSA M20 motorbike inside Hold 2 of the wreck of the Thistlegorm, with Red Sea soldierfish (crimson soldierfish: Myripristis murdjan).. Sha’ab Ali, Red Sea. Sinai, Egypt. Alex Mustard: “The British military transport ship SS Thistlegorm is a remarkable underwater museum, her holds packed with a range of British military vehicles, which have remained underwater for 75 years since she was sunk by German bomber during the Second World War. Here I placed two flashguns behind the motorbike to reveal its outline against the darkness of the ship’s internals.”
Pre-Order Underwater Photography by Alex Mustard here.
About the author
Dr Alex Mustard is one of the world’s leading underwater photographers and has been a pioneering voice in this field for the past 10 years. He has pioneered many techniques within underwater photography, which he shares through magazine articles, talks and workshops. His photographs have won many awards including, on six occasions, the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year. In 2013, Alex was named GDT European Wildlife Photographer of the Year for his image Night Moves. His last book, Reefs Revealed, won the International Grand Prize for the best book of underwater photographs. He is the inventor of the Magic Filters, filters designed specifically for available light underwater photography with digital cameras. He also runs highly popular underwater photography workshops at top diving destinations around the world. Previously, he worked as a marine biologist at the UK’s National Oceanography Centre in Southampton.
You can visit Alex’s website here.
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Renowned anti-whaling activist Paul Watson has been released from custody in Greenland after spending five months in detention. Denmark’s Justice Ministry rejected Japan’s request for his extradition, citing insufficient guarantees that his time already served in custody would be credited against any potential sentence.
The 74-year-old Canadian-American was arrested on July 21 in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, when his ship docked to refuel. His arrest was based on a 2012 Japanese warrant related to a 2010 encounter in Antarctic waters. Japan alleged Watson obstructed operations and caused damage to a whaling research ship during efforts to disrupt illegal whaling. Watson has consistently denied these claims, maintaining his commitment to marine conservation.
Denmark, which oversees extradition matters for Greenland, concluded that while the legal conditions for extradition were met, the lack of assurances from Japan regarding time-served credit made extradition untenable.
In a video shared by his foundation, Watson expressed gratitude and relief, saying, “After five months, it’s good to be out… and good to know they’re not sending me to Japan.” He added that the most difficult part of his time in custody was being separated from his two young sons.
Watson is a pioneering figure in marine conservation, known for founding the Captain Paul Watson Foundation in 2022 after decades of activism with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. His bold efforts to defend marine life have earned him widespread support, including from celebrities and conservationists. His work has also been featured in the acclaimed reality TV series Whale Wars.
Watson’s lawyer, Jonas Christoffersen, praised the decision, stating, “We are happy and relieved that Paul Watson is now free.” He added that Watson is eager to reunite with his family and continue his vital work.
The arrest occurred while Watson’s vessel, the M/Y John Paul DeJoria, was en route to the North Pacific with a team of 26 volunteers to intercept a Japanese whaling ship. His foundation described the arrest as politically motivated and emphasized that Watson’s actions were focused on ending illegal whaling practices.
Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after leaving the International Whaling Commission, asserting that whale meat is a cultural tradition. Conservationists, however, continue to challenge these practices, highlighting their impact on marine ecosystems.
Despite the challenges, Watson remains steadfast in his mission to protect marine life and bring attention to whaling practices. His dedication to ocean conservation has made him a globally respected advocate for the environment.
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