For the past decade, I have been experimenting with a variety of techniques to create images that better portray the active world underwater. Most images "freeze" a moment underwater when, in reality, most of what we observe is swimming or moving. Sports photographers have long used the technique of panning with a moving subject or using flash to freeze the movement at the end of an exposure (called rear-curtain sync). Most modern film and digital SLR (single lens reflex) cameras have flashes that allow this "shutter lag" technique to be employed. However, getting it to work underwater is more of a challenge. Not all camera systems will relay the rear-curtain sync signal via underwater sync cords. I have to use Canon topside strobes in housings to do this, but these strobes are way underpowered for wide angle, and I have to shoot tons of images to get a few really strong ones. I use shutter speeds that vary from one second to 1/30. The shutter speed I choose is totally dependent on the speed of the subject. For slow moving subjects you can extend the shutter time,, but a fast- moving penguin swimming underwater would require moving the camera in a sweeping motion with a shutter speed of 1/30th to 1/60th. To me, the biggest compliment is to have people mention that my motion images look more like paintings than photos!

To see more of Stuart's work please visit www.westmorlandphoto.com.