The History of Underwater Photography
Innovations, Marine Cameras, and Pioneers of the Sea
The photography is a form of art invented relatively recent. The first camera was invented in 1826, and following that innovation, many scientists started developing this instrument to use it in various contexts, environments, and habitats. That is how the first underwater camera was born.
The history of underwater photography is fascinating and full of technological innovation and pioneering spirit. It originated in 1893 when Dr. Louis Boutan, a professor of marine biology at the Sorbonne in Paris, developed the first equipment for taking photographs underwater, including a waterproof housing for his camera and a lighting system based on magnesium lamps.
With this innovative equipment he was able to take the first underwater photograph in history in the waters of Banyuls-sur-Mer. Boutan is still remembered as one of the pioneers of underwater photography.
With this innovative equipment he was able to take the first underwater photograph in history in the waters of Banyuls-sur-Mer. Boutan is still remembered as one of the pioneers of underwater photography.
Following that first great invention, the development of underwater cameras progressed. In 1934, William Harding Longley and Charles Martin of the National Geographic Society took the first color underwater photographs in the Bahamas. They used a mixture of magnesium powder for lighting and obtained extraordinary images that were cutting edge for their time. Shortly after, Hans Hass, a pioneer of marine biology and underwater photography, published "Manta," a book of underwater photographs that became very influential. He used special cameras and housings to explore and document marine life.
The invention of the Aqua-Lung (one of the first underwater breathing apparatuses) further revolutionized underwater photography, allowing photographers to stay underwater for longer periods and take more detailed, in-depth photographs.
In the early 1960s, the first professional underwater cameras came onto the market, such as the Nikon Nikonos, Nemrod Siluro, and Calypso. Later, in the 1980s and 1990s, with the advent of digital single-lens reflex (DSLR) cameras, underwater photography became more accessible and of higher-quality.
Waterproof housings became more advanced, allowing photographers to use sophisticated equipment underwater.
Even today, underwater photography continues to evolve with the use of underwater drones, 360-degree cameras, and advanced lighting technologies. Over the decades, underwater photography has not only helped document the beauty and diversity of marine life but has also played a crucial role in raising awareness and conserving ocean ecosystems.