Female Divers in Jeju Island | South Korea

After donning her wet suit, flippers, and goggles, the female diver exits the boat and dives into the frigid waters offthe coast of Jeju Island in South Korea.

- By Jose Jeuland

Her grace and agility in the water vastly differ from her slow, stiff movements back on land. Any sign of her feeling the effects of her 60 years of age seems to melt away as she dives downwards, propelling her body in short, powerful strokes. In black and white, I capture her in the water mid-way to the ocean floor, suspended between two worlds.

Jose Jeuland © All rights reserved.

Black and White Photography Underwater

In general, black and white photography is less commonly used for underwater shots. After all, color photography lends itself well to underwater images. Locations like oceans or lakes, with their stunning scenery, rely on color photography to best show offtheir charms. For example, the brilliant blue of the water and the profusion of color from exotic fish or beautiful coral are big reasons photographers are attracted to the ocean. Many iconic photos are taken underwater also feature a sunburst- where the sun is in the frame, and its rays pierce the ocean's surface to create a thorny halo of light. When a sunburst is well photographed, this often casts the scene of the photo in a wonderfully softand diffused light and highlights everything in beautiful color. In black and white photography, the visual impact of a sunburst is less dramatic, producing a more muted tone in the images. On the other hand, black and white photography is more unforgiving underwater. When shooting underwater, conditions are far more challenging to control, and it takes more skill, faster reflexes, and of course, greater luck to capture a good shot.

Jose Jeuland © All rights reserved.