David Doubilet defines “photographer” this way: “an explorer who takes a camera.”

        Exploring underwater environments is the 54-year-old photographer's specialty. His pictures have illustrated than 50 National Geographic articles, and his assignments have taken him all over the globe.

        He will describe his work and share images of his undersea adventures when he delivers the Jan. 11 kickoff talk in the “Live ... from National Geographic” lecture series at the Aronoff Center for the Arts.

IF YOU GO

David Doubilet | ZOOM |    What: ""Live . . . from National Geographic” lecture series.     Schedule:    • Jan. 11: “Diving Down Under” with underwater photographer David Doubilet.     • Feb. 15: “Crossing the Heart of Africa” with biologist Nick Nichols and photographer Mike Fay.     • March 15: “Hunting Dinosaurs in the Sahara” with paleontologist Paul Sereno.     • April 12: “Exploring the Blue Nile” with photographer Nevada Wier and science writer Virginia Morell.     When: All lectures are at 7:30 p.m. at the Aronoff Center for the Arts.    Tickets: Single event — $23.75 or $21.25' $12.50 or $11.25 students. Series — $84 or $74' $44 or $39 students. Available at Aronoff Center or Music Hall box offices. Or call 241-7469.    Online: www.nationalgeographic.com/ lectures/cincinnati.html.

        The Enquirer's John Johnston spoke by phone to Mr. Doubilet, who lives in Elberon, N.J.

        Question: You grew up in New Jersey. How did you get your start as an underwater photographer?

        Answer: I started diving — snorkeling, really — when I was about 10 years old. I was fascinated with the ocean. I also had asthma when I was a child, so I was not very good on land. Every breath was torture. When I could go under the water, my lungs and my body would be suspended, the pressure would be taken off, and I could breath. My first real underwater camera was a Brownie Hawkeye and a rubber bag that anesthesiologists used for breathing. The first pictures I took with that contraption were really horrible.

        Q: What challenges are peculiar to underwater photography?

        A: Everything underwater is a challenge. An underwater photographer has to be, by definition, a good diver. An underwater photographer has to know the territory. You have to know where the images are, what does what to whom, how the light falls.

        Q: What about underwater photography appeals to you?

        A: If I was really honest, I would say what I really like to do is make these pictures, and look for the sheer aesthetics. On the other hand, I work for National Geographic, so the real impetus is to tell a story. So when you look through a story on, say, the Great Barrier Reef, you'll come away with a feeling of the mood of this place. That's the hardest job of all.

        Q: You've photographed sharks. Any close calls?

        A: Lots of times. In my last shark story (South Africa, summer 1999), I was in the (protective) cage and it was going back and forth as the boat swung in a very strong wind. I'd open the door to photograph a shark and the current would pick me up and push me outside the cage. My assistant would grab me from time to time and pull me back in.

        Q: What's your favorite underwater location?

        A: The richest coral in the world, and the richest reefs with the most diverse and most interesting animal life, are all in Papua New Guinea.

        Q: How much evidence do you see that mankind has adversely affected the oceans?

        A: There's been a huge change. There's less and less fish. In the '70s and '80s, we were so concerned about water pollution, sewage, silt runoff and dredging that we missed one of the major things that was happening to our environment, which is simply overfishing. And we're now in a terribly strained catchup position of ever achieving any kind of permanent fish stocks anywhere in the world.
       

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