RAPHAËL, PHOTOGRAPHER FOR SUBEA

He's keen on scuba diving. Learn more about him …

My parents tell me that as a child, after watching the Cousteau team documentaries, I decided to become a diver. I had to wait a few years before I was first able to get certified in Belgium at the age of 13 or 14.
I dived every weekend in a quarry. From time to time, we also dived in Zeeland (the North Sea) with friends.

HOW WERE YOU INTRODUCED TO UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY ?

At the time, a friend took underwater photographs and I regularly went with him. Through saving and working during the holidays, I managed to buy myself a second-hand Nikonos and later a Nikon f801 with its housing. All the images were taken on slides.

IS THERE AN UNDERWATER SUBJECT THAT YOU PARTICULARLY ENJOY PHOTOGRAPHING?

I became a professional photographer and my passion for the marine or underwater world remained. Underwater photography enables me to discover and work in places that are little or less known to the general public. There's more to my everyday job than taking underwater pictures, and I feel privileged every time I'm doing a story.

WHAT WAS YOUR LAST PHOTO SHOOT FOR SUBEA ?

A story to share ?

My last shoot for Subea was carried out near La Londe in September 2016. The organisation was complicated by disastrous climatic conditions. However, the responsiveness of the group and of the people in charge of the diving club enabled us to take advantage of nice weather when shooting the “snorkeling hike" segment and of a dark, post-storm background for the spearfishing segment. That makes for a happy customer :-)

WHAT ADVICE WOULD YOU GIVE TO SOMEONE INTERESTED IN UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY?

The first thing, which seems obvious, is to perfect your diving skills and tmake sure that you can stabilise perfectly. Then, always ask yourself why you're taking this or that shot. What's the intention behind my photo? Lastly, enjoy your dive wherever you are.

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