Doug A. Sloss

Doug shoots and writes about underwater and topside photography for a living. Once a long time resident photo-pro and dive instructor in Micronesia, his work is regularly published in many diving magazines around the world and he currently serves as Field Editor for Scuba Diving Australasia where he authors his monthly column “The Photo Shop.”

One of Doug’s passions is teaching and inspiring other photographers. He has taught hundreds of people how to shoot underwater photography and edit their images and many more through his popular movie-based DVDs. His latest release “Photoshop CS4 for the Underwater Photographer” guides shooters of all levels through the essential and creative workflows needed to produce beautiful underwater images.

When he is not out diving or teaching workshops, he lives in the Rockies near Denver, Colorado and in Rimini, Italy with his wife Lorenza and their little man Sam.

For more about Doug, information about his workshops, tutorials and to see his work, check out www.underwaterphotoshop.com

These days, even the most remote places of the world are beginning to cater to the dive photographer and they are doing it in style. Shops and liveaboards which offer lots of space for camera equipment, charging stations and big rinse tanks, with a staff experienced in handling expensive photo gear is always a huge plus. When these luxuries are not available, safety and a good reliable local always seem to do the job. Having worked on liveaboards for years, I really seek out an operation that shares my own philosophies on diving and photographing the underwater world. These include knowledgeable guides that love their job have experience in the area they work in and have a knack for showing clients the unique and interesting marine life of that given area regardless of how many times they have seen it themselves. They also allow people the freedom to to discover, study, and photograph the creatures they come across as opposed to shuffling a tightly knit group of divers! down the reef like they are finishing off an open water class. I love it when a guide gives me the freedom to explore a reef on my own, especially if I'm working wide angle scenics and enjoy it even more when they shadow me for the small stuff, pointing out the incredible little wonders, then drift away on a quest for the next treasure, allowing me the chance to get the shot and observe some animal behavior. Amazing marine life is everywhere, and the great dive locations are now getting easier to get to, with lots of choices between operators becoming more common, so why settle for second best. That's why I dive with friendly operators that offer plenty of diving freedom, experienced guides, and great food.