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Featured Underwater Photographer – Lisa de Luca
One of the best ways to learn photography is to see other photographers’ work. Mozaik looks for some of the best underwater photographers in the world, and showcases their work, along with the gear they use, to help other aspiring photographers improve, learn new skills and get inspired.
This week we will feature the talented Lisa De Luca!
About Lisa
Growing up on the Northern Beaches of Sydney means most of us from here have the ocean in our blood. It’s an incredible privilege for which I am thankful every day, and I couldn’t imagine being apart from the sea. Being in the sea, on it, under it and over it is essential to me and my wellbeing. The connection to the creatures who call the ocean home is the most important part of that and hence, conservation of the sea and land is not an option, it’s a necessity. Having worked with First Nations Peoples for 35 years, both saltwater and river people, they have taught me to love the land and sea with every cell of my being. She is our Mother and we must look after her, as she looks after us. I have been taught that every creature here on Earth is interconnected and we must behave towards each other and every other sentient being in a way that honours this connection.
I learned to dive many years ago, but life got in the way until about 7 years ago when I found myself doing a re-fresher course and diving at least 3 to 5 times a week. Cephalopods, especially cuttlefish and octopuses fascinate me. Their beauty and intelligence never cease to amaze me every time I see them. Often I’ll dive before work. There is nothing quite like that peace and silence to prepare you for the rest of the day. After a dive – especially with sharks and octopuses – I walk around with a smile on my face that not many things can wipe away. I try to convey that connection in my photography.
My underwater photography journey started with a little Olympus compact camera. It – and the size of my credit card bill – grew to where I take a Canon 5D mark IV camera down with me in an Aquatica housing and Ikelite DS161 strobes.
Lisa‘s Gear
Wide Angle
- Canon 5D mark IV camera
- Aquatica housing and ports
- Canon 8-15mm f/4L fisheye lens (my favourite!)
- Canon 17-40mm f/4L lens
- 2 x Ikelite DS161 strobes
Macro
- Canon 5D mark IV camera
- Aquatica housing and ports
- Canon 100mm Macro lens
- Kenzo extension tubes
- Aquatica diopter
- 2 x Ikelite DS161 strobes
- Sola torch
Lisa’s Work
A rare and endangered baby White’s Seahorse perches on his swing in the sun. This species of seahorse is the only endangered seahorse in Australia. The main cause for the decline in seahorse numbers around the east coast has been their loss of habitat. Thanks to the efforts of local divers and marine biologists around Clifton Gardens, the White’s Seahorses are making a comeback. You will often see them in their glory along the nets that partition the pool from the rest of Sydney Harbour, or hanging out in the beautiful corals attached to the pylons under the pier. I actually yelped for joy when I saw this healthy baby sitting on his swing in the sun on one of the overhead ropes, using it like his own personal monkey bar playground.
As the Southern Ocean goes into Autumn and Winter, the water temps are steadily dropping. The icy tones really resonated with me during this dive. I created this photo by focusing on the Grey Nurse Shark’s eye and using a slow shutter speed, slightly panning the camera. I was hoping to create the effect of the shark coming through a wave or through the coastal shelf.
Follow Lisa
Instagram : @cuttlefish2018
- Featured Underwater Photographer – David Ktorza – February 28, 2024
- Featured Underwater Photographer – Pablo Zavala – January 16, 2024
- Featured Underwater Photographer – Esteban Expósito – January 9, 2024
