FEATURED UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHER

Born in Varese, Italy, in 1973, where she still lives, Isabella has always loved to swim. She made her first dive with mask and snorkel when she was 16 years old.

A true passion for the ocean drove her to become a scuba instructor and eventually manage her own dive centre, Deep Avenue, in the Italian-speaking side of Mendrisio, Switzerland.

She began taking underwater photos of her scuba diving students in order to reward them with souvenirs of their new adventure. However, this initial business-minded approach soon developed into a true, deep and genuine passion for underwater photography.

“It’s a form of communication, a universal visual language which meets my ambition to express without words the amazing beauty of nature,” says Maffei. “As the sea has its own laws, so does photography, which includes theory and practice together. I had to study and dive to put into practice what I was dreaming in my soul. Sometimes I found myself disappointed but I never gave up, always thinking that I still had a lot to learn to develop my skills.”

Isabella is already working with a number of magazines, combining her passion of photography and writing. “My way to take underwater photography is my way to communicate using a universal visual language,” she says. “It comes from my strong ambition to tell, to describe without words the marine underwater perfection.

“I fancy the idea of shooting dynamic pictures in order to draw the observer inside the image. I love it so much and I can no longer consider a picture as a static, two-dimensional image.

“I want to continue developing and experimenting. I do know it is hard – in photography, nothing can be improvised and rules for a perfect composition must be respected – however, without challenges there can be no gain.”

To see more of Isabellas images and read more about her work subscribe to our latest issue.

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IN THIS ISSUE: Volume 3: Issue 2

Slovenia is a little-known country of two million inhabitants. For years, it has been Venetian, Austro-Hungarian, Yugoslavian before gaining its independence in 1991.

The Republic of Slovenia is now a member of the European Union with one of the most dynamic economies of the continent. It is also the safest country in the world. But beyond all, its nature remains perfectly intact.

The European Green Lung

Slovenia is often considered as the green lung of Europe because it is the third most forested country of the continent. Nearly two-thirds of Slovenia is covered with forests of fir, beech and larch.

The country also brings together a rich biological diversity which results from both Alpine and Mediterranean climates. Slovenia hosts 20,000 plant and animal species , more than 1% of all living beings in the world, among which are the lynx, capercaillie, wolf, chamois and the brown bear.

The Life Aquatic

But Slovenia’s splendour comes from its crystal clear waters. Slovenians like to call their country “the land of a thousand waters”, and for good reason. The surface water represents 12,000 hectares. Water occupies every corner of the country.

On its small territory (only 20,273 square kilometres), stand 300 waterfalls, 87 spas, several mineral and hot springs, seven glacial lakes and a fantastic emerald-green river called the Soča.

Slovenia brings together a total of 27,000 kilometres of limpid and crystalline water, among the purest in Europe.

In addition, its buffering capacity neutralises the influence of acid rain. Water has an ideal pH of seven to eight.

The Slovenian water is so clean and intact that 93 species of wild fish live and breed naturally, with no need for fish stocking. Most of them preserved their original genetic character. A rare exception in Europe.

Yet, between World War I and World War II, the attempt to introduce new species could have had serious adverse consequences. At this time, populations of brown trout were released into the Soča River, which is also a natural reserve for marble trout, the aquatic emblem of Slovenia. This could have significantly endangered the species. Fortunately, the natural obstacles in the depths of the river prevented the brown trout populations from finding their way towards the marble trout reserve. As a result, and in addition to the purity of the water, the marble trout was able to remain in its original form.

To read more head to www.72andrising.com to subscribe now.

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IN THIS ISSUE: Volume 3, Issue 2

The return of the River King

Oxford-based ecologist Shelly Lachish examines the fall and rise of one of Britain’s most playful predators – the humble river otter.   

The sliver of grey drifts gently below the overhanging grass at the far side of the river. Just as I convince myself it’s a floating log, one end swishes quickly from side to side before it duck dives under the water.

For the next ten seconds all is still and calm. Then I see ripples in the middle of the river and out of the muddy waters emerges the grey, whiskered head of a river otter (Lutra lutra). The otter glides its sleek, shiny body along the surface, stealing quick glances up and down the riverbank. I don’t dare move. On the far bank I see a second streamlined form enter the water with torpedo-like precision. Soon the two otters are swimming together in the calm water in front me. As they dive, their nostrils close, their webbed feet hug their flanks, and their body undergoes an undulating motion. Using their hind feet as rudders, they twist and turn sharply in search of food. When they return for air, a stream of bubbles caressing their sinewy bodies, they adopt a leisurely dog paddle, barrel-rolling and floating contentedly on the surface.

These two are clearly masters of their murky, subaquatic realm, and supremely adapted for life in the water. Although they measure just one metre from head to tail and weigh in at less than 10kg, on this English river these much-adored mammals are top of the pecking order. Yet 40 years ago the otter’s reign as King of the River very nearly came to an end.

Throughout the Victorian era otters were a common sight on river courses throughout Britain, but in the mid-1950s their numbers crashed so suddenly and dramatically that they were thought to be on the brink of extinction. Today, however, otters have staged a remarkable comeback and are finally regaining their former crown.

The decline of otters in Britain

British royalty have long been partial to a spot of game hunting. The otter, with its highly prized, thick warm pelt, did not escape the hunters’ attention. As far back as the 12^th century, Britain’s upper elite kept and bred packs of Otterhounds, a breed of dog specifically developed to hunt otters. Large parties of hunters and hounds would scour the riverbanks for otter sign and scent. The hunters would wield “stickles”, or metal-tipped wooden poles. These they plunged repeatedly into the soft riverbank mud to drive the frantic otters into the jaws of the salivating dogs. Once trapped, the “stickle” would then also seal the otter’s fate as the bounty was carried home impaled triumphantly for all to see. This cruel and barbaric “sport” continued well into the 20^th century and was only stopped in 1978. Despite claiming the lives of tens of thousands of otters throughout the British Isles, however, it wasn’t hunting alone that drove otters to within a hair’s breadth of extinction. The real culprit was far more silent and destructive: chemicals.

To read more, head to www.72andrising.com and subscribe now.

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IN THIS ISSUE: Volume 3: Issue 2

Photography with a message by Roland Bach, Shane Gross and commented on by Rico Besserdich.

Photo title: Sad Moments

Photographer: Roland Bach – Menorca, Spain

For more information: facebook.com/MareNostrumPhotography

About the photo:

This Bigscale scorpionfish (Scorpaena scrofa) ended its life trapped in a fisherman’s net in the waters off the Spanish island of Menorca. The net itself began in waters 22m deep and ended at a depth of 12m. The net was placed illegally; the area in which this shot was taken is a nature reserve with any form of fishing strictly prohibited. The person who placed the net was fined €4000 ($4980).

Editor’s comment:

The message of this image can’t be expressed any clearer. The fishing net spans the entire frame, giving the viewer a feeling of “no escape”. This feeling becomes multiplied by the clear blue water in the background, as it stands for the unlimited freedom of the ocean. The net is riddled with non-organic shapes, making it clear that the “freedom of the ocean” is interrupted by man. Probably already dead, the scorpionfish seems to look to the sun, trying to escape to freedom until its very last breath. The beautiful red tones of the fish and the blue water background provide a pleasing colour harmony and contrast. The mostly silver-coloured net then brings all harmony back to sad realism, to a sad moment.

To read full article please head to http://www.72andrising.com to subscribe

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Photoshop with a message

IN THIS ISSUE: Volume 3: Issue 2

Photoshop with a message: Claudia Weber-Gebert

Ocean of tears

“Yes, it makes me cry when I see what is happening to our oceans and to those wonderful creatures living in the water. We have to stop pollution, overfishing, the slaughter of marine animals, the spilling of chemicals into the water, nuclear underwater tests and so on and so on… the list is nearly endless. Protection and preservation is urgent and necessary. If we carry on as we have been, it will soon be too late. Extinct species cannot be replaced – they are gone forever. And if mankind goes on like this without taking care of the environment, soon a lot of species will vanish – not only in the oceans, but on our entire planet. We have to take action before it’s too late.”

“I was born in 1965 in Trier, Germany, and after high school I studied interior design. Since then I’ve been practicing interior design for private and business clients, and in cooperation with architectural offices as a freelancer – always trying to make the impossible become real and finding individual solutions for each client.

“I was ten years old when I got my first camera, and when I started diving in 2010 it was important, of course, to have an underwater camera. The pictures were not what I expected and I thought it was my inability. That first day, water leaked into the housing and my semi-professional camera was destroyed. I was sad – but in fact it was the best day in my career as an underwater photographer. With my new compact camera, suddenly the photos were, not professional, but good – a possibility to improvement… hurray!

“I started to be creative, and made an effort to raise awareness. This world under the water’s surface is so fantastic, and since I would like to still see these wonders in 20 or even 30 years, we all have to do something to conserve this environment. So, in 2012 I started to create manipulated images with the motto “save our seas” – SOS – hoping to take the message around the globe. What a great success it was to win the silver medal in the category “creative manipulated” at the underwaterphotography.com contest in the same year.”

To read the full article please head to http://www.72andrising.com and subscribe

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IN THIS ISSUE: Volume 3: Issue 2

From Freshwater to Safe Water

What does the UN International Year of Water Cooperation actually mean?

Melanie Ryan, Nigel Dobson and Matthew Reddy.

Water, water, everywhere… and not a drop to drink; or so goes the adage. In the 21st century the supposed “blue planet” is becoming less so. Or is it? While water scarcity is apparent to some extent across most of the world, its effects are not felt evenly across all nations or all people. It has become clear over time that those people living in the most impoverished regions in the world are more susceptible to the effects of water scarcity than those who are not.

Defining water scarcity and understanding the complexity of the topic can also be challenging. Water scarcity cannot be singularly defined as access to water. Three quarters of the Earth’s surface is covered with water, yet over 90% of that water is saline and unsuitable for human consumption. This is therefore not considered to be “fresh water”. Of the remaining percentage that is fresh, a portion is stored in our polar caps and glaciers. So once you reach the small percentage of water on Earth that is available, there is still a range of issues related to both water quantity and water quality that affect whether it is suitable for use. It is not merely enough to have physical access to fresh water as a water source.

There is limited merit in having easy access to polluted, undrinkable water that would cause illness or death. Water scarcity, then, is also about access to clean water, water that can sustain a healthy community and environment. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), over three million people a year die of water, hygiene and sanitation issues, and “nearly all deaths, 99%, occur in the developing world“. It all seems so very overwhelming. But there is hope.

Shining examples of this hope can be found in cooperative ventures all over the world – such as the small but long-term project founded under the International RiverFoundation that is addressing the issue of water scarcity in rural Kenya. Located in Sub-Saharan Africa (the continent with the largest number of water-stressed countries in the world), just over 50% of the population in rural Kenya has access to clean water. The issue of access to clean, fresh water is further exacerbated in rural regions and along gender lines. Increasingly, water scarcity is high on the political agenda and under scrutiny in the international arena. Most of the time addressing issues relating to water scarcity falls to developed countries and their leaders, but this isn’t the only solution. 2013 is the UN International Year of Water Cooperation, which makes is an opportune time to look for innovative and effective approaches to this dilemma. The International RiverFoundation’s Kenya project demonstrates how cooperation can go beyond government and national boundaries to help those who need it most to reclaim access to fresh water, which is so vital for human wellbeing.

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“Man likes colour. All photographers are familiar with the delighted exclamation of the viewer, “Oh, this is so colourful!” This also applies to underwater photography, and the task of creating colourful underwater pictures is the goal of many.
But then there’s good old black and white. Yes, even underwater. And even as some of you are now surely shaking your heads wondering what the point could be of depicting a colourful underwater scene or sea creature in black and white, others can be heard quietly whispering about “art” – since black and white photography is the only true “master’s” skill, is it not? No “nice colours” in an image? Well, it must automatically be art, right? Well… not quite. But a general potential does exist. As always, it all depends on the photographer.
Had the American Hannibal Goodwin, inventor of roll film on a celluloid base in the late 1880s, had the opportunity to produce a colour film for stills photography, he certainly would have done so with joy, dismissing black and white photography as “colourless and boring”. But, as it was, the grey tones remained, even in the early days of underwater photography.

By definition, black and white is a “special” category of photography – the term arose only after the invention of colour photography. Previously we spoke simply of “photography”, images that showed their nuances in achromatic, greyscale gradations, including the extreme values of black and white. Such images were originally called greyscale photos.

Grey. Achromatic. Colourless. Doesn’t sound so exciting at first glance, right? Grey weather, grey future, grey hair… the list of greys as a negative expression is long. Or to quote Goethe’s Faust: “All theory, dear friend, is grey but the golden tree of life springs ever green.”

So let us leave now the grey zone and walk towards the light! Because as photographers we first and foremost do one thing: we paint with light. This is photography.”

To read more of this article please head to our website and subscribe.

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There’s something magical about living by the ocean. Maybe it’s the powerful energy created from the endless movement of water that draws us in and keeps us close to its heart. Or the smell of a sea breeze that wafts past and invokes memories of long summer hazes, whirling, breaking water and salty sun kissed skin.

Whatever the magic may be, each and every one of us has a special connection with the ocean. It’s water.  It’s what we’re made up of. It’s a part of us. The ocean is in us. Every one of us. Our connection with the sea is ingrained in us and is represented through the way we live our lives as coastal dwellers. It’s a feeder of good vibes and positive energy. Whether it’s walks on the beach, sunrise surfs , jumping and splashing about in the water or just feeling the sea breeze through our hair, living by the ocean is apart of who we are as east coast locals, as island inhabitants and Australians.

By Ming Nomchong

www.mingnomchong.com

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The hardest thing with all of the sustainable fish guides that are out is that they are usually for a specific region.  This diagram below from Marine Conservation Society puts all of this into one diagram. Print a copy and keep it with you the next time you head out for your groceries!

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SALVOS STORES ANNOUNCES AUSTRALIA’S FIRST EVER ‘VINTAGE TEE DAY’

On Friday 22 March Australia’s largest charity recycler, Salvos Stores, will be hosting the country’s first ever Vintage Tee Day, designed to promote and support sustainable fashion by encouraging everyone to wear a vintage or second hand t-­‐ shirt.

Salvos Stores Chief Executive Officer, Allen Dewhirst, said Salvos Stores is excited about the inaugural event, and encouraged the wider community to get involved in this worthy cause.

“We are extremely passionate about educating people on the importance of recycling and just how much their small involvement can help the environment,” he said.

The event aims to encourage the importance of recycling and Salvos Stores is advocating for individuals to create Vintage Tee Day based events at their workplace, school, university or any other appropriate location.

Dewhirst explained that it takes 2,700 litres to produce just one cotton t-­‐shirt.

“This is an alarming statistic and we want to encourage individuals to reduce their carbon footprint by buying second hand clothing. Our Vintage Tee Day is the perfect way to do this,” he said.

Don’t have a vintage tee? There are over 200 Salvos Stores located in Vic, Tas, NT, WA and SA, so be sure to pop in to a store near you to find an impressive range of pre-­‐loved clothing to choose from.

Did you know Salvos Stores recycles over 55,000 tonnes of goods and re-­‐sells 6.39 million items of clothing every year?

Having made a name for itself as Australia’s leading stockist of pre-­‐loved goods, Salvos Stores has been helping the environment and those underprivileged by recycling and reselling donated items for almost 130 years, becoming an Australian Institution along the way.

Punters can find a large range of clothing, accessories and various other goods from across many different eras at Salvos Stores. All profits go directly to The Salvation Army to assist in funding the various social programs and support offered to those marginalised and disadvantaged.

Do your bit for the environment by wearing your vintage or second hand tee on Friday 22 March. For more information about Salvos Stores visit: www.salvosstores.com.au

SALVOS STORES | VINTAGE TEE DAY| MARCH 22 | VIC, TAS, NT, SA, WA

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