Australian photographer Matthew Smith captured photos life above and below sea level. He named this project over/under. Photographing these types of images present some unique technical challenges. There’s a difference in lighting and focus between the two areas, so Smith uses a strobe light for the underwater part of the photo. It helps mitigate the darker scenery with its low contrast and saturation.
About the Project
For me, one of the most wondrous parts of any dive is the moment that the water engulfs my mask as my head slips below the surface. I think it’s the suspense of the unknown of what lies beneath, the transitional part of moving from one element to the next that feels so magical and the thought of what alien creatures I might encounter. That is what draws me to taking half over half underwater images. It’s maybe the best way I can communicate to a non-diver what it’s all about, to marry a wet and unfamiliar world with a dry and more familiar one.
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(View photos on Boredpanda)
