Underwater photography is being enjoyed by steadily increasing number of photographers, amateurs and professionals lately. It’s always easy to perceive instinctively the dreamlike sensation of being submerged, feeling enveloped by cool water as the visuals become magnified, altered or dulled. The captured moments are atmospheric, at times almost alien world with the movement in a growing silence.
Qatar Photographic Society and Msheireb Museums recently organised a two-day workshop on ‘Diving & Underwater (UW) Photography.’ The workshop was divided into two sessions, Arabic and English.
The workshop was centred around the diving industry and the history of UW photography with an insight to the required equipment, including particular kind of cameras, light systems, strobes, variety of lens and camera set-up, for perfect shots. The other advanced equipment that can improve the UW photography, includes re-breathers MK6 /Mk7 and DPV underwater scooters.
Khaled Zaki, the instructor, consultant for diving & UW photography, conducted the workshop. His work speaks volume of his talent that reveals enormous structures of waves, above and below the surface – against a backdrop in which sea and sky are almost indistinguishable. He has helped and certified thousands of divers in the last two decades and himself holds a number of titles and prizes in diving training and UW filming. He has an extensive experience of working with a couple of marine documentary films, including BBC network, National Geographic, Qatar TV, Alrayan TV and Al Kass TV. Recently a collection of his photos were also chosen for post stamps for Qpost.
Talking to Community about the workshop, Zaki said, “At the workshop we have an interesting activity for scuba diving and UW photography. Scuba diving has actually become a huge business industry. It has been the fastest growing sport for the last 20 years now. There are about 20 million professional divers around the world today. It is a sport and at the same time a social activity, a life style, a trend and a fashion. Scuba diving has also been helping many countries in promoting tourism.”
“I told the participants that scuba diving is education. It is an adventure. It is daring, relaxing, discovering and bold. Every year about 1.1 million people venture into it. About 64 percent of the divers are male and the rest are female,” he added.
Zaki further said, “I introduced a new technology for scuba diving which is re-breather. It is a close circuit. When you dive, you do not have bubbles coming out of the oxygen system. We also discussed about the new advanced dive computer, the M28, will tell you all the details about dive and it has got GPS and Bluetooth connection like an iPad. You can know the water temperature. After diving, you can connect the device with your tab, laptop or PC via Bluetooth and download the data you have collected while being under water. We also showed some new technologies about the underwater scooter. It is a machine used to move quickly under the water.”
He added, “We also discussed some history of UW photography, the old technologies earlier used, and the new equipment available in the market. It is interesting to explore marine life. I shared some tips with the participants about the UW photography. I also showed some of my videos and photos that I captured at different places around the world. I told them about the new marine pockets that can help the divers in carrying their cell phones with them. They can go with their phones as deep as 10 to 20 metre.”
He said, “The UW photography is a good activity to share photos of marine life with your family and friends. Today it is very easy to learn diving and UW photography. There are many associations and federations. One of the most known is Professional Association of Diving Instructors (PADI). You can get internationally recognised diving license. The number of divers is increasing manifold in Qatar. The modern equipment is available here and there are some advanced courses for better and professional diving.”
Demitrios Zapaniotis, a Greek expatriate working with hospitality industry, said, “It was very interesting to attend the workshop. I know Khaled well and learnt a lot of new things about the diving and UW photography. I love swimming but have no experience of scuba diving.”
Nadim Sleilaty is from Lebanon and has been working in the banking sector for eight years. He said, “I decided to attend the workshop as it was done by Qatar Photographic Society. It was easy to access the venue and it was only for three hours. I am a PADI licensed professional diver. I have already learnt a lot from Khaled. I would love to attend such workshops in future.”
MAESTRO: Khaled Zaki has an extensive experience of working with a couple of marine documentary films, including BBC network, National Geographic, Qatar TV, Alrayan TV and Al Kass TV.
