01

THE PROJECT

This jewel of the ocean must become a beacon of hope to the rest of the world that sustainable protection of the ocean is possible. Shawn Heinrichs is an incredibly dedicated conservationist who uses every visual tool available to him to bring home his message. He has spent years focused on the atrocities perpetrated against wildlife – chasing down shark finners and the black market trade. But now he has turned his lens towards the beauty. He believes connection breeds compassion – once people feel touched, they can’t help but want to assist.

02

THE FILM

The movie sees Shawn work with the incredible manta rays of Raja Ampat which is unforgettable. I never knew how sentient and intelligent these magnificent creatures are. Shawn has a unique approach to presenting the wonder of these animals, and that’s by including human subjects with them in his photographs. Mantas, unlike other fish, are inquisitive and even playful with humans underwater. They are very special animals and, thankfully, are being largely protected now around the world due to the direct efforts of Shawn and his partners.

The other impactful moment for me was filming in the incredible jellyfish lake. The lake we hiked to was in the middle of one of the local islands. The water within it has been separated from the ocean for thousands of years and has formed its own endemic creatures, the most striking being countless stingless jellyfish. Submersing ourselves in this phenomenon was like entering another world. I immediately remembered the film Avatar – except this world was no fantasy. It’s a reminder of how incredible our planet is, and how much there is still yet to explore.

03

THE LOCATION

Located off the northwest tip New Guinea in Indonesia’s West Papua province, Raja Ampat is an archipelago comprising over 1,500 small islands and four main islands of Misool, Salawati, Batanta, Waigeo and Kofiau. Most of the archipelago is in the Southern Hemisphere, with a few small islands northwest of Waigeo such as Sajang Island in the Northern Hemisphere. Some of the islands are the northernmost parts of the Australian continent.

04

BEHIND THE SCENES

With any expeditions to remote places, local knowledge and support is vital. We are often working under tight time pressures which doesn’t give you the flexibility to chew up days working it out on the ground – you have to hit the ground running. Before any trip even begins we start by researching the best operators in a given area. Our first questions relate to timing. What is the best season for weather conditions and chances of encountering our given subject? Picking the right season is crucial for many migratory species of animals. Weather also plays a part. The oceans, the currents, water visibility, precipitation and wind are all elements that will either impede or aid your hunt for sightings. For the more accessible places, avoiding peak tourist volumes when possible will also help. Everyone’s dream scenario is great wildlife encounters without others. Shawn’s contacts in Raja Ampat are invaluable. He has spent over a decade working this area and brought every resource available to help make our shoot a success.

The first step in producing good underwater images is, firstly, become a good diver. The diving should be a natural state of being for you, allowing you to concentrate on the shooting. Diving has many challenges. Before even entering the water, having a pre-dive checklist of your camera and housing is recommended. Unlike shooting on the surface, where you can easily replace a dead battery, clean a spot off your lens or sensor, or switch your lens from Auto to manual focus, underwater all these practises become impossible. Having a rigorous checking procedure will ensure your dives are not cut short, or worse destroyed, by sensor dirt or a flooded housing.