Photographer Q&A: Rafael Fernández Caballero

Q: How did you begin underwater pictures?

A: I used to be actually fortunate as a result of my father is an underwater photographer too, so all my life I’ve been in a technique linked with underwater pictures. But it was at 15-years-old after I began to take footage severely underwater.

Q: What got here first – diving or pictures? 

A: It is prime to be a very good diver first. There are two major causes. The first is that if you’re not a very good diver, you’ll not be a very good underwater photographer when diving. You must be 100 per cent snug and have absolute management in an effort to be inventive or take into consideration good footage underwater. The different cause is the environmental safety. If we don’t dive correctly with a digital camera, we’d destroy lots of life and corals.

Nevertheless, with new applied sciences akin to GoPro and actions akin to freediving, I’d say that we will obtain nice photos even when we aren’t divers or if we aren’t skilled divers.

Q: What’s in your underwater pictures kitbag?

A: My major digital camera is the Nikon D850 in an Isotta housing. With that I do largely footage and in addition some 4K movies. I take advantage of two Orcatorch torches of 10,500 lumens and two Sea and Sea D2 strobes for lighting video and pictures. I additionally use a GoPro 8 to get some movies or ‘making-of’ footage.

With the digital camera, I take advantage of a fisheye lens (8-15mm) for all my wide-angle footage and a macro lens (105mm) for all the opposite footage of fish and tiny beings. I take advantage of an Isotta 6,5” glass dome and a port for macro with a macro moist lens +12. With that I’ve virtually every part coated. I take advantage of completely different Isotta equipment and arms as properly.

I contemplate diving gear as part of my underwater photograph kitbag too, in order that’s why being geared up with the very best model and materials of Aqualung is likely one of the most necessary issues when taking footage underwater.

Q: Favourite location?

A: I like many locations for underwater pictures. In truth, what I like probably the most is the range amongst all scuba diving locations around the globe (chilly water, tropical reefs, pacific reefs, open ocean and many others).

But If I had to decide on one, I’d say with none doubt the strait of Gibraltar. That is like my courtyard and it’s actually shocking to see all that life within the Mediterranean in my very own nation, so I really feel it’s like dwelling. The diving there may be superb, particularly in Ceuta the place it is stuffed with gorgonias, color and life, however it is usually an incredible place for whales and massive animals.

Q: Most difficult dive? 

A: All the dangerous conditions akin to large currents, deep dives or poor visibility are the plain difficult dives. But for me, probably the most difficult dives are those by which I’ve just one or a couple of probabilities to {photograph} one animal akin to leaping with whales or diving with sharks. In these conditions the problem depends upon the animals and in your behaviour. That play between you and them is probably the most difficult, lovely and unknown factor that you would be able to expertise to take an underwater image.

Q: Who are your diving inspirations? 

A: I largely admire different underwater photographers and videographers, and I may say many names from Spain and different international locations, but when I needed to say one it could be Paul Nicklen.
There are additionally different diving inspirations associated to individuals who research and work for environmental safety akin to Jacques Cousteau, the shark skilled Gador Muntaner and plenty of different heroes.

Q: What’s in your underwater pictures wishlist?

A: There many species on that record, largely species which might be endangered or which might be disappearing in a selected space. The cause for that’s to inform that story and attempt to elevate consciousness. Some particular places can be the Antartica, some contemporary water lakes and a few locations not so widespread. In phrases of species, emblematic ones such because the blue whale.

Q: Top recommendation for novice underwater photographers?

A: I’ve been fortunate sufficient to have the very best recommendation from a very good underwater photographer at dwelling – my father. But I’d say that attempting to do one thing that nobody has executed earlier than, doing various things and being affected person might be a number of the greatest recommendation in an effort to be a exceptional underwater photographer.

Q: Hairiest second when taking pictures underwater?

A: While doing work with cetaceans in Tarifa with the ministry permissions, I’ve had some scary moments with pilot whales. They are very territorial so typically get near you and begin to transfer their tail in an effort to first warn you and afterwards, hit you. Luckily I’ve been very cautious and as quickly as I noticed the primary warnings, I bought out of the water. We speak about peaceable wildlife, however in the long run we’re speaking about WILD life, so must at all times respect that mind-set. 

Q: What is your most-memorable diving expertise?

A: Many dives have been memorable, but when I needed to say at some point I’d select one in Faial, within the Azores Islands. I couldn’t dive as a result of my flight was leaving at 4pm, so we went to snorkel and freedive at condor financial institution, a submarine mountain in the midst of the ocean. That day we have been swimming the entire time with 4 blue sharks getting actually shut and noticed lots of of dolphins and whales round.

An enormous whale got here to take a look at us whereas we have been near the boat, and on the finish, a faculty of massive dolphinfish have been doing circles round us. The beauty of the ocean is that any day might be surprising and memorable.

Rafael Fernández Caballero

Since he was a baby, Rafael Fernández Caballero’s life has been linked with the ocean and the world of underwater imagery. At 25-years-old, he’s absolutely devoted to skilled underwater pictures and video, with the intention of displaying the fantastic thing about our ocean to boost consciousness concerning the significance of defending it. He additionally runs workshops and photo-courses all around the world. He is an engineer specialising in renewable energies, a industrial diver and CMAS teacher.

Rafael has been the winner of many worldwide underwater pictures competitions since 2012, together with the world and the European Championship, and has been on the jury of many others. He works on underwater video tasks, each creating and directing them.

He has been revealed in prestigious pictures magazines and his work has been seen in a number of exhibitions, scientific books and promoting campaigns. In addition, he’s a world ambassador of various and necessary manufacturers within the diving and picture sector, akin to Aqualung, Isotta, Orcatorch, Blueforce and Kanau.

See extra of Rafael’s work at on instagram at @rafafdezjr

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