Today we're talking to underwater photographer Brent Durand. Brent shares his journey from landscape photography to capturing stunning marine life, offering insights into his favorite diving spots, essential camera equipment, and the challenges and magical moments that come with living behind the lens underwater.
Who is Brent Durand?
Brent Durand is an avid diver, author, photographer and surfer. A long-time beach diver, Brent continually explores above and below the California coast. His work is published worldwide in print, advertising and online in various outdoor industries. He has a reputation for writing insightful yet simple photography tutorials and is currently publishing a complete video tutorial series for underwater photographers as well as a website full of educational articles. Check out Brent's website and follow him on Instagram.
How did you get into underwater photography?
I got very into landscape photography, shooting ocean sunsets and then packing camera gear for nighttime beach dives after work. One day I borrowed a camera to take underwater photos. Then I started searching the internet for used gear and putting together a basic system. I was hooked!
What came first: diving or photography?
I received my certification in 1997, and years later I did a lot of diving while also photographing landscapes before taking a camera underwater. So technically diving came first!
What's in your underwater photography gear?
Canon 5D Mk IV, Sea & Sea MDX-5D Mk IV bodies, a Sea & Sea YS-D1 and a YS-D2 flash, iTorch v10 focus light, and Light & Motion and Kraken Sports video lights. You can watch my detailed camera gear video on my Underwater Camera Gear page.
Favorite place for diving and underwater photography?
Simply! California's Channel Islands. I dive the islands about once a year and it is simply breathtaking.
The most challenging dive?
There are a number of challenging dives, but one that stands out is in Southern California. It was a new moon night and I headed to an offshore peak in Malibu. The southerly wind was making the surface choppy and a thick marine layer had formed, so my compass and kick estimates were the only frame of reference. On the descent the surf was choppy and visibility wasn't great, so I found the most sheltered area I could find and worked on lighting some common macro subjects.
What are your diving ambitions?
My diving ambitions are pretty simple: to have fun diving and look for magical moments underwater.
What underwater locations or species are still on your photography wish list and why?
My diving trips are 100 percent based on where the work takes me, so I don't judge places or animals – I'm just excited to go somewhere and photograph everything. I've had magical moments with sea lions, seals, spotted dolphins and manta rays that I dream of repeating, but sign me up for any location, any species, any temperature, any time!
What advice do you wish you had as a novice underwater photographer?
I wish I had received a more detailed explanation of the camera settings as they differ from top-down photography. Underwater setting groups are different than the ones you might use above, and an experienced photographer can quickly create great underwater images from this starting point because they already know the relationship between exposure variables, depth of field, and lighting.
The hairiest moment while taking photos underwater?
As a new diver, I had already done a few shallow shore dives and ended up on a dive boat out on Catalina Island. 80 feet deep was far more than the 35 I was used to, and this realization set in at depth and resulted in me spinning around rather suddenly looking for the anchor line as soon as my tank pressure dropped below half. Another diver had noticed this and later asked if I had panicked. I took this seriously and thought about it, realizing that I had probably experienced mild nitrogen narcosis, become nervous about the depth, and then suddenly acted. Since then, it has been important to me to be very calm, calm and calculated underwater and to keep a cool head even in rescue situations. We are all constantly learning.
What is your most memorable dive and why?
This is a difficult question as so many moments stand out, so I'll go with the most recent one. Seeing several thresher sharks while diving in Puerto Galera, Philippines. They are such majestic fish. I recently posted a video on my Facebook page.
FAQs
How did Brent Durand get started with underwater photography?
He started out as a landscape photographer and then borrowed a camera for nighttime beach dives. He soon built a simple underwater system and was hooked.
Did Brent Durand start diving or photography first?
He became certified as a diver in 1997, years before he took a camera underwater, so diving came first.
What's included in Brent Durand's underwater photography kit?
His kit includes a Canon 5D Mk IV with Sea & Sea body, YS-D1 and YS-D2 flashes, iTorch focus light, and Light & Motion and Kraken Sports video lights.
What are Brent Durand's favorite diving spots?
He enjoys California's Channel Islands and has captured magical moments with sea lions, seals, spotted dolphins, manta rays and thresher sharks.
What advice does Brent Durand give to novice underwater photographers?
Keep in mind that the settings of an underwater camera are different from photography from above, and mastering exposure, depth of field, and lighting is crucial.
What are some of Brent Durand's most challenging dives?
He leads night dives with poor visibility and heavy waves, such as off Malibu, where careful navigation and lighting were essential.
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