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Scubaverse Underwater Photographer Interview: Janice Carter

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In an ongoing series, Scubaverse.com’s Underwater Photography Editors Nick and Caroline Robertson-Brown talk to underwater photographers from around the world that they admire.

I started diving as a way to find myself again after 8.5 years of spinal surgeries which included a fusion and an artificial disc in my lumbar spine. I always loved the water so I decided to get back to the basics of what I loved. Over the years I have enjoyed helping others find passion and healing by volunteering my time with multiple Girl Scout troops, S.H.A.R.K. (Sheriff’s High Adventure for Responsible Kids), dive clubs and wounded Veteran programs.

I’ve been very lucky to have traveled all around the world to experience amazing cultures and places to dive. I have been working and traveling with Scuba Diver Girls for a few years as their photographer and am a Sea & Sea Alpha Alumni which is a great honor. Amongst some wonderful accolades, I’ve been lucky enough to have my work in a National Geographic program with Sylvia Earle and will soon announce another amazing accomplishment equally as great.

I’ve always been an artist and I think it’s just my passion and how I look at things that helps make an interesting photo. I currently live in Southern California but my heart lives in many places around the world and below the surface.

You can see more of my work here and I love meeting new dive buddies so stop by and say “Hi” sometime! Instagram: www.instagram.com/ScubaChickPhotography Facebook: www.facebook.com/ScubaChickPhotography Website: www.ScubaChickPhotography.com


N&C: How did your underwater photography start?

JC: It all started my first day in the ocean in my open water class when a large school of fish surrounded me. It was an immediate sense of awe and something inside me screamed that I needed to photograph this amazing new world. My Mom was a photographer and I dabbled with it a little, but never found inspiration until that day when the ocean gave it to me.

N&C: What is your favourite u/w camera equipment (past & present) & why?

JC: I absolutely love my Sea & Sea gear! I’ve lugged it all over the world for years and it’s even affectionately nicknamed my “baby”. I currently use a Nikon D7000 with either a Tokina 10-17 wide angle lens or a 105 macro lens and Sea & Sea housing and YS-D1 strobes.

N&C: What would be your advice to anyone new to underwater photography?

JC: The first thing is to make sure you are knowledgeable and comfortable diving before you ever put a camera in your hands. It’s important for so many reasons to also have your buoyancy on point. So often you see those “photographers” damaging the reef or putting themselves at risk, because they simply don’t have the dive skills.

For a new photographer, its helpful to remember to get close and fill your frame with the subject if possible (without disturbing anything obviously). Make it the star of the photo and think about the composition.

Another major help is to use lighting. At depth you lose your colors so adding back a full spectrum of light will really help your images pop and not be all blue tones. If you can’t afford a strobe maybe try your dive light and see what you can come up with. Remember, never light straight at a subject from the lens or you will highlight the detritus in the water, light the subject from the sides!

My final bit of advice is to have fun and just keep practicing. I never took any classes (except the basic PADI photographer class) or learned from anyone. I simply just kept trying and working at it. Keep in mind you can find lots of information online to help you improve.

N&C: What, or who, has been your single biggest inspiration for your underwater photography?

JC: That’s a hard question because I’m pretty much self-taught as an underwater photographer but I’d say my biggest inspiration for photography itself would be my Mom who passed away when I was 17. I’ll always remember her dark room and her love of doing her photos. What inspired me to do underwater photography was simply my love of the ocean and everything in it.

N&C: What image are you most proud of and why?

JC: That’s just almost an impossible question for me to answer but I have one that sticks in my mind. I love many images for many different reasons but I tend to love very close up and personal images. For example, the shark image I took right before he tried to bite my strobe or the turtle intensely looking at his reflection in my dome port. But I still think one of my favorite images is this one (even though it’s before we got in the water to dive). These Wounded Warriors gave so much and I love having them in my life.

N&C: Where is your favourite dive location, and is it for the photography?

JC: I have a few that I really enjoyed but I have to say my favorite dive location so far is Yap. The diving was so pristine and beautiful with Sharks and Mantas and the best night dive I’ve ever done. I also thought the people and culture were so amazing. I tend to love more off-the-grid locations that aren’t as touched by civilization.

N&C: What are you views on marine life manipulation, moving subjects?

JC: It’s just absolutely a no-no! Many times, I couldn’t get the shot because of the position of the subject, but that is never an excuse to move an animal for an image. Laying on or damaging coral, or other fragile sea life to get a shot is not ok. We have to respect our environment and protect it as best we can.

N&C: What do you look for when you are making your images?

JC: I’m just looking for a moment. Sometimes you get lucky and a special moment happens underwater. To be in the right place at the right time to capture that moment is what I want. It’s those handful of dives, out of thousands, that you will never forget.

N&C: What motivates you to take u/w photos?

JC: Pure passion is what motivates me! I love bringing back images to share that bring a smile to someone’s face or makes a difference in their life somehow. Sometimes it’s the person who thanks me for bringing back a piece of something they can’t see anymore, and sometimes it’s bringing back a sense of peace to someone who has lost someone they can’t see anymore. I’ve heard so many stories about how an image has affected another, either by a smile or by something more. That’s why I do it. I also hope my photos gives an insight into our blue planet, so people think more about taking better care of it for our future.

N&C: If you could photograph any one thing/place what or where would that be?

JC: Well, thats a pretty easy answer for me. I’d love to go down and see/photograph the Titanic. I know it’s been done, but I’d just love to be that deep (12,500 feet) in the ocean and see something few people will ever see in person. Something that will soon not exist except in a photograph or in a book.

Nick and Caroline (Frogfish Photography) are a married couple of conservation driven underwater photo-journalists and authors. Both have honours degrees from Manchester University, in Environmental Biology and Biology respectively, with Nick being a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, a former high school science teacher with a DipEd in Teaching Studies. Caroline has an MSc in Animal Behaviour specializing in Caribbean Ecology. They are multiple award-winning photographers and along with 4 published books, feature regularly in the diving, wildlife and international press They are the Underwater Photography and Deputy Editors at Scubaverse and Dive Travel Adventures. Winners of the Caribbean Tourism Organization Photo-journalist of the Year for a feature on Shark Diving in The Bahamas, and they have been placed in every year they have entered. Nick and Caroline regularly use their free time to visit schools, both in the UK and on their travels, to discuss the important issues of marine conservation, sharks and plastic pollution. They are ambassadors for Sharks4Kids and founders of SeaStraw. They are Dive Ambassadors for The Islands of The Bahamas and are supported by Mares, Paralenz, Nauticam and Olympus. To find out more visit www.frogfishphotography.com

Gear News

Introducing the TR-80, IR-50 and CS-30 Regulators from DYNAMICNORD

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Whether you are a beginner or a professional diver – with the three new main regulators from DYNAMICNORD, everyone will find their favourite regulator. They all look super stylish.

Excellent performance with the TR-80

Quality and performance are the be-all and end-all for regulators. It is not for nothing that the TR stands for Tec Reg. The innovative design of the TR-80 guarantees absolute reliability – even in ice-cold waters.

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Perfect breathing effort at 0.8 J/l / certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / structural design made of solid brass for best cold protection / membrane-compensated design with dry seal of the first stage / reduced exhalation effort thanks to optimized exhalation membrane and bubble deflector / adjustable Venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort / innovative design of the front cover prevents free-flow in strong currents or when diving with scooters / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 LP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.

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Amazing underwater adventures with the IR-50

The IR-50 is the top regulator for advanced and experienced divers. Natural breathing is the essence of this regulator.

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Ideal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / compensated membrane / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort/ outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.

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The Workhorse – our CS-30

For diving centres and diving beginners – the workhorse stands for strong construction, reliability and robustness. Perfect for your training.

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Optimal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /recommended for diving in waters above 10 degrees / non-compensated piston / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) / outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 1 HP and 3 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.

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Octopus OP-30

The OP-30 is the ideal addition to all DYNAMICNORD regulators. It is identical in construction to the CS-30.

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The TR-80, IR-50, CS-30 (DIN & INT) regulators and the Octopus OP-30 are available from DYNAMICNORD dealers and in the online store.

DYNAMICNORD – Your Outdoor Companion.

www.dynamicnord.com

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Marine Life & Conservation

Paul Watson Released as Denmark Blocks Japan’s Extradition Bid

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paul watson

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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