Written Evidence
The question that guided my investigation was, how can I document and present the critical connection between humans and the ocean? Instead of focusing on the devastating harm being caused to our ocean, I decided to explore the beautiful interactions to show what is at stake. My exploration occurred both above and below water, with equipment playing a significant role in my growth. Once upgrading to an Aquatech housing for my DSLR, it took much practice to adjust to the lack of light and control while underwater. My 8inch dome allowed for more creative freedom with the ability to capture both above and below water in a single image. With my investigation relying on access to the ocean, weather conditions constantly tested my determination. Photographing marine life required many attempts before achieving the desired flat water conditions, and poor water clarity proved to be a challenge for my camera's focus on translucent subjects. Much of my revision occurred while editing. I used Lightroom to adjust exposure, colors, contrasts, and Photoshop to combine images and remove distracting backgrounds. I had to revise my editing style to fit the color and lighting of underwater photos.
