15th Annual Smithsonian Magazine Photo Contest Natural World
What Lies Below

To achieve a unique perspective while free diving in Belize, I free-dove 40 feet below the oceans surface and looked up at this enigmatic figure, suspended in seemingly weightless space. In taking the photograph, I focused on how the water's textured surface appears to disconnect the subject from its surroundings and increase the depth of the landscape. The sun's bright white rays juxtaposed against the ocean's ominous, dark blue depths evoke a duality vertically across the landscape of light versus dark, leaving the subject suspended in between these two opposing forces. Indeed, this image shows the presence of light as both a symbolic guiding archetype and as a physical phenomenon, diffracting through the ocean's blue surface to evoke mood, rich color, and ultimately a landscape of unique beauty. The warm waters of Belize proved to be one of the most enjoyable and relaxing trips thus far, offering a great balance between leisure and aquatic adventure.

Photo Detail
Date Taken: 07.2017
Date Uploaded: 11.2017
Photo Location: Ambergris Caye, Belize
Camera: Hero3-Black Edition
Copyright: © Tim Guiteras