Underwater Photography with Stephen Frink | Art Loft 713 Segment

KEY LARGO, FL - For those who can’t travel the depths of the ocean, photographer Stephen Frink is the conduit. But do the same rules of photography apply on the ocean floor? In his home waters of Key Largo, this artist shows us that "nose to fin" is a good starting point.
"For marine life photography, I think proximity is one of the most important things. And I think you have to be able to project a benign presence," explains Frink. Earning the creature's trust will ensure you are able to approach the animal within what he calls the "field of flight" - the area where an animal is most likely to flee, but also the perfect position to capture your best photograph due to the close proximity. To ensure you are able to safely shoot here, he sets the camera before entering.
From about six feet away, he sets the aperture, the shutter speed, the lens, and the strobes. He formulates the composition in his mind. So that when he enters the three-foot zone, then the two-foot zone, he is able to garner trust with his subject. "Anytime I've taken my eye from the viewfinder and create extreme motion, that's when I may lose my animal," says Frink.
Frink says knowing more about the creatures you are photographing will help identify where to look for them. And knowing which oceans are best for which wildlife ensures the richest shots.
After diving in Florida waters and those all over the world, the artist has also become the teacher. “There's just so many things that are affecting the ocean that a visual communicator can bring to editorial awareness,” says Frink.
He's seen the ebb and flow of our changing oceans and things that threaten to leave a lasting impact like coral bleaching, wasting disease, and overly efficient fishing. It is this dichotomy he says is part of the job, as he captures moments in our oceans that won’t look the same in the future.
BEYOND THE EPISODE:
Stephen Frink on Instagram: @StephenFrink
Website: www.stephenfrink.com

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This is a well done interview. Stephen Frink's photographs are amazing, and his narration is fun and interesting.