[CREATIVE UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY] – My Journey

MY JOURNEY

FEATURE AND PHOTOGRAPHY MAYA DE ALMEIDA ARAUJO | WWW.M-AYA.COM

Elephant. Copyright © Maya Almeida Araujo All rights reserved.

My journey has not been one of these well planned linear affairs. I was born in Lisbon from mixed Portuguese/Belgian/German blood and went on to study Biology at the Imperial College in London where I have lived the past 25 years. Having graduated with a published research piece in a reputable medical journal under my belt, meant that as a scientist, I had good prospects. Despite this, it became rapidly evident that the research environment did not suit me. I had a growing need for level intensity and engagement with the world which I could not find in the academic sphere.

University was followed by a brief career in the corporate world. I was fortunate to make true friendships that have held over time and circumstance, and enjoyed some success even setting up my own firm. At that stage, diving and image making were amateur pursuits which filled my craving for the natural world, adventure and a more spiritual existence. Over time, this drive, together with some chance encounters, eventually propelled me into full time professional photography.

Early images consisted purely of editorial and natural history work underwater using only natural light. Most of this was done by free diving in order to approach animals in a way that was more familiar to them and in greater harmony. We come from the natural world ourselves and so this wisdom lives within us.

Capturing people came later as a result of a love for dance and the performing arts. The human element brought an unexpected dimension to the creative process, making it more introspective, but also more engaged. Intimacy which arises from a sense of a shared connection. This element has persisted to this day and is something I now seek consciously in my work. I find it in portraiture and in multimedia work through large scale immersive art installations. All of which usually involve water. Photography was how I started, and I now work with light, sound and animation.

The latest piece was launched earlier this year and involved eleven different film crews across various locations using six vessels (two RIBs, one Catamaran, one Fishing vessel, one kayak and one deep water sub) and custom gear. All the captures took place in the Atlantic Ocean and post production took place in London. The result was a site specific art installation for the Lisbon Oceanarium called “ONE” which explores our ancestral connection to the sea.

LINK: www.oceanario.pt/en/exhibitions/onethe-ocean-as-you-never-felt-it/

FINDING YOUR STYLE

What distinguishes creative from editorial photography is that an individual driven by imagination will usually try to control his/her environment in order to produce a personal vision. In other words the source is internal, rather than just a response to surroundings. It is usually an evolution that can only occur once the practitioner is comfortable with his/ her tools.

Water Girl. Copyright © Maya Almeida Araujo All rights reserved.

I find a common mistake new photographers make is to spend too long looking at work created by others in the same field. This is normal at first, but it’s important to learn and to then move on. It’s of course important to keep learning, but not limit oneself by what others have managed to accomplish. To understand that there is nothing lost in trying something new.

I create, but I can talk about what ‘feeds meʼ on a soul level: There are times when I just look for intimacy in the work. Others when I’m infatuated with a character, colour, or movement and feel the need to ‘paintʼ with light. What has been a consistent source of inspiration is music, movement, and the body. To me, these represent Life.

When I made the decision to pursue the field of image making professionally, I looked for mentors who’s work I admired and spent time with manufacturers of lighting equipment in order to add knowledge and discipline to the creative process. Most of the images that arise in my head are non literal, so it was therefore essential to develop technical skills to be able to bring them to life.

COLOUR OR BLACK & WHITE?

These are two different and distinct journeys. Colour is about aesthetics, black and white is all texture and form, and closer to how we see.

Colour for me is about fantasy and creating other dimensions. Black and white is about essence. It is more primal in its rawness which is closer to our subconscious and as a result, is also more intense.

WORKING UNDERWATER

Unlike sound, light travels more slowly through water, presenting creative challenges and opportunities… In this intimate space, one is more focussed. Sensitised to movement and form, and I believe that the creative process becomes more intuitive.

Water Woman. Copyright © Maya Almeida Araujo All rights reserved.

Nowadays, I use strobes in everything. The rigs, cables, lights and trigger mechanisms are all custom built and are usually adapted for different scenes. Locations vary from purpose-built tanks, to pools in private homes or the open ocean. In every instance, the environment is highly controlled and comprised of a tight team of special individuals that I’ve collaborated with from the onset. People who enjoy the shared process of creative experimentation.

Without the right team and technical knowhow, my work would not be possible.

PHOTOGRAPHY OR ART?

Images are a powerful tool for communication. A photographer often responds to a brief or captures an image as it is presented to him. Whereas an artist creates from his own mind and his gift is the ability to translate personal experience into a voice that speaks broadly. One that is hopefully devoid of ego, but rather represents universal concepts.

A wise person once said that, “The Artist is no other than he who unlearns what he has learned, in order to know himself.”

CATHARSIS AND CONNECTION

What I enjoy about the creative process is its ability to push the boundaries of reality. But what I find most rewarding is the touching feedback which I’ve had the fortune to receive from viewers who have taken the time to write to me.

I believe that art has a role to play here. When someone connects deeply and is immersed in a piece, it gives people permission to feel, to surrender. And this reinforces my belief that we are all so much more alike than we imagine.

ADVICE TO YOUNG PHOTOGRAPHERS

Dare to fail. If you work authentically, your work will always be special and the experience in itself will be the reward. Starting out now, I would put less pressure on myself, pause more to try and enjoy the journey.

LINKS & RESOURCES

WEBSITE: www.m-aya.com

BEHIND THE SCENES: https://vimeo.com/387342292

TRAINING: www.creativelive.com

UNDERWATER HOUSINGS: www.seacam.com

SPIRITUAL INSPIRATION: www.eckharttolle.com

LATEST EXHIBIT: www.oceanario.pt/en/exhibitions/onethe-ocean-as-you-never-felt-it/