Nigel Motyer has been taking underwater photos around his native Ireland for 40 years. Finally, he has collected his favourite images in a dazzling new book. Interview by Simon Rogerson
PHOTOSPECIAL
Little cuttles – actually squid – mating off Inis Meáin
Beneath Irish Seas
Nigel Motyer has been taking underwater photos around his native Ireland for 40 years. Finally, he has collected his favourite images in a dazzling new book. Interview by Simon Rogerson
How did you get started in diving? My older brother took me to a dive club’ s discover scuba session in a local pool. He wasn’ t grabbed by it, but I was blown away by the idea of breathing underwater. I was only 15, so they told me to come back in a year— which I did. I’ m still diving with some of those same people, 40 years later.
What led you to photography? It was my first trip to the Red Sea in 1985. My dive buddy had a Nikonos V [ a high quality, pre-digital, underwater camera manufactured by Nikon ] and he used all his film, so he offered to let me use his camera for our last dive.
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I still have those prints; only one of the 36 was properly in focus – but I absolutely loved it.
What photographic kit did you start off with, and what do you use today? I didn’ t have much money, but I wanted a Nikonos V. I entered a competition for business ideas that awarded shopping vouchers as prizes. I submitted loads and got enough to buy the camera. I also bought a second-hand SB101 flash [ part of the Nikonos underwater system ], which I flooded on the first dive. Progress was slow until I found Peter Rowlands’ Underwater Photography
Dalkey Island with Dublin Bay in the background
Handbook at the library – an absolute game changer. I later met Peter in the Red Sea; he was incredibly encouraging and got me into housed cameras and became the first person to publish my work. I owe him a lot. I’ ve used lots of Nikon systems and I only upgrade when the technology is worth the benefit. These days I use a Nikon Z8 in a Nauticam housing – a system far more capable than I am!
Tell us about your other diving equipment. Any favourite non-camera kit? My compressor. Being away so much, it used to be hard to get fills. Having a compressor at home is a huge time-saver.
What tips would you offer someone starting out in underwater photography today? Shoot as often as possible but review your images critically. Learn from your mistakes, but don’ t keep the rubbish. If I haven’ t shot in a while, I repeat old errors. But when I shoot consistently, my keeper rate improves