James Mathias' Below The Blue Horizon

About:

I am a Canadian. I live in Canada, but as a photographic artist of underwater wildlife I have traveled to many parts of the world, creating a portfolio of the mysterious inhabitants in the depths 'Below the Blue Horizon'. I have journeyed across the globe, from the Pacific to the Atlantic, across the Indian Ocean and to the Caribbean and Red Seas. Art is everywhere for me, my eye finds design covering every surface that exists and for more than 25 years I have aimed my camera at the reefs of the world to capture the complexities of the sea. I have concentrated my attentions in the past years on the small delicate creatures so often overlooked for the superstars of the seas: sharks, whales and dolphins. I have always wanted to capture the movement of the seas. The video capabilities of my new Aquatica-housed Nikon D90 allows me to capture the movements that were missing in my interpretation of life in the seas. Nature has a way of concealing the true identity of animals, fish and invertebrates. The underwater creatures create patterns and textures as camouflage for protection in what is generally a dark, predatory world. Designs that dazzle our eyes in photographs mean survival to these animals. Light is the 'magic', the key to opening up this colourful world. The light provided by the strobes of my camera system gives us glimpses of this unique world. I like to think of it as painting with the light to create images that defy imagination. Wonderful, 'magic' light: the essence of life for these living marine organisms and the powerful punch in underwater imagery. The animals roaming the seascapes represent a world as fascinating as outer space. The need to protect this precious underwater world is urgent: we need our lakes and oceans for life support. With their ability to touch people, underwater images can help promote a greater awareness and understanding of our natural world. Awareness of the reef and rocks is necessary for our survival. I believe we all must be encouraged to save and protect the oceans, lakes, rivers and streams of this planet Earth.