Benjamin Von Wong&#39;s Shark Shepherd photoshoot captures an underwater fantasy

I'm not out there to compete with any photographer except myself to try and make the world a better place.

Best of luck in your photoshoot :)

Jan 21, 2016permalink

DANdeMAN

Thank you for your support but I will need more than luck to pull that one off... I may have to travel to the 4th dimension to make it happen. But seriously, what would be realy spectacular? Seeing a combination of fire & water, like a flametrower underwater (if at all possible) in wathever scene that would be appropriate... Brain fart? May be. Good luck on your next venture. :^)

Jan 21, 2016permalink

MPS Photographic

With an iPhone and no post-processing, to boot! ;)

Jan 22, 2016permalink

rbach44

There is a problem I see in these pieces that I see often in this style, and that is the editing. To me it seems overdone an gives it a fake look, which is a shame because of all of the effort put in to do it all in camera. I don’t mean the subject matter either, I mean the soft-focusish filters, the HDRish feel, and all that wide angle perspective distortion all just doesn’t work for me. They seem like they could all use lot of burning and dodging too on those burning highlights too.

There are a lot of people saying it looks like CGI and I agree. I see it in the climate change series too: cool concept with a ton of work put in to NOT fake things, then a ton of editing that then makes it look fake. I feel there would be much more of an impact if they were edited to look like the beautiful pictures they are rather than some 3D composite from deviantart. I would love to see the raw files for these.

But what do I know, I’m just some photographer, no one is writing articles about me.

Jan 20, 2016permalink

Jonathan Lee

one day rbach44, your work will be put in the headlines. from time to time, there are reader showcase here. you can be next to share the world your vision.

Jan 21, 2016permalink

Nat Whilk

Jonathan: Do you believe in general, that in order to justifiably critique members of a class, one must oneself be a member of that class? If I'm not an author, may I critique their work? If I'm not a presidential candidate may I critique Donald Trump or Hillary Clinton?

Jan 21, 2016permalink

Jonathan Lee

Good question, Nat. I believe in freedom of speech. when i'm pi$$ed, someone will want to wear ear plug. lol.

Jan 22, 2016permalink

Bakman_29

Photographers can see this overshopped stuff, normal mortals cannot comprehend and just think in "ahhh wow". There are so many photoshopgraphers that only survive because of photoshop.
When it comes down to photography, it is mediocre at best. Especially in "fashion" and glamour.

Jan 22, 2016permalink

Arizona Sunset

Really interesting, beautiful.

Reminds me of a more creative, tasteful, calming PETA campaign for factory farmed animals, but in a good way.

Jan 20, 2016permalink

Benjamin, all the best with this endeavour. It's great to see talent being put to use for an important cause. I can't believe in this day and age we are still having to chase hunters of shark fins, rays, elephant ivory, rhino horn and many others. Would be interesting to hear your thoughts on advocacy through art, potentials and pitfalls, promotion vs preaching etc. It would be something I would love to do but wouldn't know where to begin.

Jan 20, 2016permalink

To be honest I'm still trying to figure out how I can leverage my art into making a difference.

This year is a year of experimentation for me - of trying to get out there and do things that are exciting, yes, but also meaningful.

Jan 21, 2016permalink

It's going to be quite a journey for you then. I look forward to seeing where your travels lead. Indeed it's you and your story, and how you achieve your images as much as the work itself that creates the interest, the connection. Meaningful. That's actually a tricky one to pin down and will change for you over time.

Jan 21, 2016permalink

Spectro

Wong uses earth themes a lot. Fire and ice, Wong does a lot of that. I guess he could do some earth shots of the northern Nevada gold mines, back to his roots. Been following him on flickr for quite a while, but he hasn't uploaded much these days. I did work in a under ground gold mine in Elko as a summer job and the underground mine are actually cool.

Jan 20, 2016permalink

Been trying to make work that is more meaningful. Turns out it's a lot harder to travel to an exotic country to champion a cause than it is to find a pretty model and a cool location. XD

On the flip side, I do sometimes kick myself in the butt for spending more time in preproduction and emails , preparing press releases, etc... instead of getting out there to shoot more.

One day I'll have a team....

Jan 20, 2016permalink

Spectro

keep up the good work. Being original is always a change to be inspired. Plus shooting image sooc without Photoshopping sharks or other stuffs like other digital artist is purer photography. You are on the edge of that style of keeping it real and fantasy (but not Photoshopping item too much in).

Also fire and "water" not ice.

Jan 20, 2016permalink

https://www.change.org/p/yb-datuk-seri-panglima-masidi-manjun-minister-of-tourism-culture-and-environment-support-a-no-shark-and-ray-kill-policy-the-creation-of-a-malaysian-shark-sanctuary

Hey Brittany, thank you for sharing my project :)

I would really appreciate if you took the time to link to the petition - It's nice to share the process but the purpose of the entire photoshoot was to hopefully get people to support the creation of shark sanctuaries.

Thank you and hope you have a great day!

Jan 20, 2016permalink

Allison Johnson

Thanks Benjamin, a link has been added to the petition.

Jan 20, 2016permalink

Thanks!! very appreciated :D

Jan 21, 2016permalink

justmeMN

Photos aside, he clearly puts in a lot of hard work trying to be creative. That alone is meritorious.

Jan 20, 2016permalink

Kawika Nui

"a less-often seen side of sharks as peaceful creatures"
Sharks, like some dogs, are very peaceful until they're not.

Jan 20, 2016permalink

Thankfully we don't decide to kill 100 million dogs a year by cutting off their legs and letting them bleed to death while suffocating on their own blood.

Did you know dogs kill more people in the US a year than sharks do in the entire world?

Jan 20, 2016*permalink

Steve in GA

Art, like beauty, is in the eye of the beholder.

But, as for Mr. VonWong's mission to make us like sharks, I can only paraphrase lines from movies: "Sometimes you eat the shark, sometimes the shark eats you." And, "Sometimes they go away, sometimes they don't go away."

Jan 20, 2016*permalink

There are 440 species of sharks, some of which don't have teeth.

That quote summarizes the problem with stereotyping and highlights the reason why they need to be protected.

100 million sharks were killed last year. 90% of the shark population disappeared in the last 100 years.

Jan 20, 2016permalink

Steve in GA

Occasionally, even a zealous missionary needs to step back, take a deep breath and have a good laugh.

Jan 21, 2016permalink

Dennis

The thing that strikes me about photography like this (not so much the underwater scenes, but others on his site) is that they look like stills from a CGI-enhanced movie. I look at something like "Lookout" (near the bottom of his home page) and can't help but think that movies like Avatar or Peter Jackson's Tolkien catastrophes consists of 100,000 shots like this (or better). I don't find them any more interesting/engaging than I would a random still frame taken from a movie. String thousands of them together, add dialogue and a soundtrack, and you might have something interesting.

He's obviously skilled and apparently successful. And I'm sure people who like his work would wonder what I find interesting in some of the photography I enjoy.

Jan 20, 2016*permalink

Considering that 90% of my work is self-funded on a shoestring personal budget, I take the comparison to Avatar or Peter Jackson's Tolkien where the coffee budget was 380,000$ as a high compliment!!

Jan 20, 2016permalink

Seeky

I understand what you mean but simultaneously disagree somewhat. Yes, some of the images look a bit like CGI, but I don't think "Lookout" is one of them. It is actually nicely layered, something you rarely see in CGI. In addition to that, a well composed and executed image can do more that adding thousands of shots in front and after the frame creating a movie. With a single frame, your imagination can take over, while in a movie the director guides the viewers.
On another note, people looking for the "film look" in the future, may look back at CGI and find that nostalgic.

Jan 20, 2016*permalink

Dennis

Hah ! I was under the impression this was commercial work. That's some drive you have, to do that kind of work self-funded. More power to you !

Jan 21, 2016permalink

PhotoKhan

Very strong, engaging stuff.
My admiration goes as much to the creator, the photographer, as to those who worked in this underwater production, most especially the model.
Girl of steel, me thinks.

Jan 20, 2016permalink

Amber Bourke is a phenomenal freediver.

here is her fan page -> https://www.facebook.com/ambernerissabourke/?fref=ts

Jan 20, 2016permalink

Light Pilgrim

I have read all comments and wanted to share some of mine. I have seen his work about 1-2 years ago and was very inspired because it was different. I think his videos and his passion that you see is what makes him special to me. He is not a Landscape photographer, but I know he is also an inspiration for big name landscape photographers, such as Marc Adamus. What makes him different is his ultimate passion and his kind heart. He is using his talent to make a different and he is inspiring many people around him.

See this video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w9iWW5HhCRo

It was an interesting experience for me to witness how others perceive him.

His editing style is not that much relevant. Some people like it, some don't. I think you also need to consider the demand. This particular style could be something that others want to pay for. It was always like this - artists simply answer the demand and in some cases create it.

Appreciate the personality.

Jan 20, 2016permalink

Thanks for sharing that ! It made me smile :)

Jan 20, 2016permalink

I should probably reach out to Marc haha, you're not the first to mention his name. I'm curious to know what he says about me !

Jan 20, 2016permalink

Light Pilgrim

Jan 21, 2016permalink

Elliot234567

I have tremendous respect for anyone who actually makes something or completes a project, so I give him that, but these images as well as the ones I looked at on his site simply do not elicit an emotional response from me. They are vaguely interesting to look at but have no impact or meaning to me. I am disinterested.

Jan 20, 2016permalink

mgblack74

So I guess when you drink beer it's not Dos Equis?

Jan 20, 2016permalink

Aroart

I find it rather amusing how many photographers think there so artistic and creative when most take snap shots with high end gear and mess around in photo shop a little ... Its funny how they say there telling a story when all there doing is documenting an event.. Von Wong is a true artistic photographer his images are worthy of fantasy art and graphic novel covers..

Jan 20, 2016permalink

fmian

I find it amusing how so many people try to make a point with words but end up with a whole bunch of grammatical errors.
I'm having a hard time reading what you've typed.

Jan 20, 2016permalink

King Penguin

Ad hominem 'fmian', ad hominem

Jan 20, 2016permalink

Yes, there are photographers, and then there are artists and some of the artists use photographic cameras to do their art, and some photographers use as well cameras to photograph someone else art.

That is the thing, photography as is isn't art, neither is art as is photography. Two separated things.

Just like if you are a painter, you can be a landscape painter, portrait painter, composition painter etc, you can be a photographer who is a landscape photographer, portrait photographer.... etc.

And photographer can have artistic eye, by not doing anything by themselves they can still capture amazing photographs from what they see. Just like a painter can have artistic eye, by not inventing anything by themselves but they can still paint what they see in amazing way.

But the difference between painter and the photographer is that the photographer works often with other people who create and visualize and brainstorm together.
While painter usually works alone.

Jan 20, 2016permalink

jtan163

I find it amusing you have "art" in your handle and no URL or galleries, and apparently no idea of what art is.

Von Wong is creative and this work is artistic but the message about shark's is coarse and I don't think particulalry great as visual art (but who am I? No one right? YMMV).

The value is for a company that want's to produce an difficult to produce image they know they can go to VonWong and say, here's $200,000 please make us a photo like this and he will.

His value is as a determined problem solver with the judgement to be able to assess the possible from the currently not possible, and the engineering and people skills to then get it done safely.
That's where my admiration for Von Wong comes from.
Not sure if he is a commercial photographer in the traditional sense, but it you want companies to give you $100Ks that's what it takes.
Epic image engineer. His words. Technician? for sure.
Artist? - all photographers are.

Jan 20, 2016permalink

alexne

I don't think Von Wong's has made a name for himself by making things look real. I think "Cool" is what he goes after.

Jan 20, 2016*permalink

Yes, he doesn't make realistic looking photographs, but that is one genre in the photography that you can make something unreal. Just like illustrators, comic artists etc are there to create something unreal with visually interesting style.

Von Wong has made the name already for himself with style that many other has used as well to make their names. It isn't bad thing or negative thing, it is just that he is good in that and he likes it.

Jan 20, 2016permalink

Actually, I think what really made my name was not so much the final results as much as the process. I don't think my work is particularly better than anyone else's except that the process and how I get there is usually accompanied by a full blog writeup and behind the scene video that strives to take the viewer on an emotional journey. As with a lot of my work - they wouldn't be nearly as exciting without a Behind the Scene video.

Jan 20, 2016permalink

jtan163

@VonWong - please let me be the first to say (in this venue) well done, nice process and write up! :-)

Jan 20, 2016*permalink

Aw thank you jtan :)

Jan 20, 2016permalink

Well, yes I do agree that the background thing is very nice addition there. Especially on the modern era where your gallery is web and your description is as well in the web.
Like when you stand in the gallery listen the photographers describing their work to the photo that is hanging next to them, it gets fairly boring soon unless the photographer knows that they can be opened up to own stories.

In my humble opinion is that after watching (cathed on ;) ) few videos from your work, it became little too overwhelming because they were so tight about the process (in very good manner I mean) and I liked more about simply browse your photos as I have use to do so first.
But I really liked that You did not talk about the gear so much, just basically mentioning the flashes the idea and then just the work. But the interesting part as well was that You have left away the computer part like some sketch artists does those speedruns when they draw. :)

Jan 21, 2016permalink

pictureAngst

I've seen a few different approaches to swimming safely with sharks, mostly involving clothing that mimics the appearance of deadly or unsavoury creatures.

This is the first approach I've seen that employs clothing designed to make the shark think "WTF???"

Jan 20, 2016permalink

I thought the dress would scare the sharks away - turns out they couldn't be bothered.

Jan 20, 2016permalink

ArnelG

Always on the creative edge. Great images, Von Wong.

Jan 20, 2016permalink

thank you

Jan 20, 2016permalink

fmian

While I appreciate Von Wong's creativity and how he pushes boundaries (usually of safety)... is it just me or do the images, especially the model and the dress look totally manipulated/illustrated. Not photo realistic at all. The look is of the environment being captured with a camera and the model/dress being inserted by hand.
Why go to all the trouble if the end result looks faked?

Jan 20, 2016permalink

Though I'd agree the images almost look too good, knowing how and why they are made makes me appreciate them more.

Jan 20, 2016permalink

Terry Breedlove

I was thinking the same thing. He could have photoshopped her in and got the same look. Great try but failed.

Jan 20, 2016permalink

No, photoshopping them would be missing the point. They are real, and that adds a great deal to the context. Indeed the fact that they are real is the point.

Jan 20, 2016*permalink

Terry Breedlove

Point is it looks almost unreal because of the editing.

Jan 20, 2016permalink

Point is we're talking about the images and help push the sharkshepherd site (which is a good thing) :-)

Jan 20, 2016permalink

CheersUK

I think people are missing the point. I can understand if his images are "just not your thing", but I tend to think of him as an artist using his camera as an artistic tool.
He certainly creates something unique, which appeals to me and the camera is just one step of his creative process.

Jan 20, 2016permalink

fmian

Yeah, what I'm getting at is that it doesn't sit right visually.
I don't even know if it's edited or not. Maybe they looked like this straight out of camera. Maybe it's just the lighting making it look that way.
Bottom line is it could have been lit/edited/shot/created in a way where the subject and environment were seamless to give realism to the final product.
Not my cup of tea, but it may taste fine for others. That's cool. I still have respect for what Von Wong does.

Jan 20, 2016permalink

Terry Breedlove

That is a good thing but still the editing sucks and this is a photographry web site. So we are commenting on the photographry.

Jan 20, 2016permalink

He has taken the raw image and styled it to be consistent with his previous work, and expression of what he wants to achieve with it. He is very successful, and so would want to give this image the same success and impact that has worked for him in the past to promote a cause that seems to be close to his heart.

But like any image and style of photography it comes down to personal taste. It's a great shot, is it over-cooked? To me no, but to you yes, which is cool :-)

Interesting discussion btw, thanks DPReview for posting this.

Jan 20, 2016*permalink

He seems to use the photography as a starting point like a real world, and the photoshop is his tool like canvas and brushes are for painter.

And then he sketches with the camera the look he is after, getting enough details and shapes to the image that he can take to the photoshop and start working with it to create his art.

The camera is like a sketching dummy, and then you just do your style around it.

Jan 20, 2016permalink

mgblack74

Because women in white dresses holding a shepherding cane corralling sharks is real? So should be documented as such? Lol. Von Wong is a master at the fantastical. Conceptualizing and bringing to fruition photos with such imagination and technical ability that they scream "they can't be real". I can't imagine the images he got were easy to get. Sure. You could cgi everything in, but then he would be a digital illustrator, not a photographer.

Jan 20, 2016permalink

The purpose of the photograph was to ignite a conversation around sharks, and hopefully get more signatures for a petition to champion their protection (www.sharkshepherds.com)

To do that, the photo had to be interesting enough and the approach unique so that people would pay attention to it.

As far as the editing goes, I'm not a huge fan of human skin being blue so I took the creative liberty of manually bringing those back up to "surface tones".

In case you were curious, here's a GIF of RAW->Lightroom -> Photoshop

--> http://gph.is/1nkHSBi?tc=1

My general goal is to create a pretty final result that gets people to dream. To dream of travel, of adventure, of creativity. I want people to be transported, but I also want them wondering how it was done. Is it real? Is it fake?

After that - you can't please everyone. That's just the way it is :)

Jan 20, 2016permalink

It is nice to see the GIF about the original and the step between final work. As yet that as well shows how you need to make the photograph as it is difficult to get everything in the camera at once. Like in this case it was little surprising how low light situation it was, as the video gives little different immersion of it that it is difficult to remember that sometimes the photograph is far from the final one.

Jan 20, 2016permalink