Presented by Ian Robertson

September 10, 2011 at 3:30pm

Presentation Theatre, Perth Scuba, Unit 4, 180 Bannister Road Canning Vale

Ian learned to dive in 1959, and started underwater photography in the mid 1960′s with a Nikonos I and a bulb flash .  He learned technical photography, air survey, military photography and photo processing in the Royal Rhodesian Air Force.  Ian has used photography extensively on all scales, from microscopy to landscape photography, in his career as a research geologist.  On migrating to Australia, he moved up to the Nikonos V and in 2009 began digital photography,  These days, Ian is never seen in the water without a camera.  Although he enjoys shooting macro, Ian’s real love is still wide angle because of the compositional creativity it offers.

Ian has drawn from Jim Church, de Couet and Green and Martin Edge and renowned land photographers and painters as well as his own experience.  He looks at the interplay of various compositional guidelines that contribute to a pleasing picture.  These include format, points of interest, structure, framing, balance, eye line, perspective, silhouettes, neutral space and complimentary colours.  Ian shows how using opportunities, choice of background, forced perspective, action, anticipation, lighting and these guidelines can be woven together to produce a great picture.  Common mistakes and things to avoid are drawn from his own experience.  Ian has tried to be analytical so that experienced photographers as well as new photographers can benefit and develop their skills and style.

This is an Underwater Festival 2011 special presentation by the WA Underwater Photographic Society and Perth Scuba.