Location
Taveuni Island, Northern Division, Fiji
Photographs on this site made in Taveuni Island, Northern Division, Fiji.
Field notes
Working this place
Two Worlds, One Tide
Submerged at the shifting boundary where the ocean meets the air, a breathtaking duality unfolds along a remote Pacific coastline. Below the surface, an underwater paradise thrives in crystal-clear water, where golden sunbeams pierce the shallows to trace patterns over ancient brain corals and ripples of fine white sand. Just inches above, the tropical world stands tall under a brilliant blue sky, lined with towering palms that sway over a rugged, rocky shore. Drifting quietly in the swell, the lens captures this simultaneous glimpse of Fiji's hidden marine treasures and its sun-drenched canopy, suspended in a singular, perfect balance of land and sea.
How to capture
To successfully execute an over-under (split-shot) photograph like this, you must use a specialized underwater housing paired with a large dome port, ideally 8 to 10 inches in diameter. The large dome pushes the water's meniscus further away from the lens, making the water line thinner and easier to manage. Shoot with an ultra-wide angle lens at a narrow aperture between f/11 and f/16 to maximize depth of field, keeping both the close-up coral below and the distant palm trees above in sharp focus. Additionally, apply an anti-fog or water-shedding solution to the top half of the dome to prevent stray water droplets from ruining the topside portion of the frame.
