Capturing the essence of Ship

Telling the story of a wreck through the lens of an underwater photographer.

November 8, 2023
Hoki Maru –  
Captured New Zealand cargo ship M/V  Hauraki sitting upright. Aft holds packed – trucks, bulldozers, tractor, steamroller, depth charges and radial engines. 
Depth 24–50m – TRUK LAGOON.
Hoki Maru – Captured New Zealand cargo ship M/V Hauraki sitting upright. Aft holds packed – trucks, bulldozers, tractor, steamroller, depth charges and radial engines. Depth 24–50m – TRUK LAGOON.
Photographer:

I have been taking underwater images for over 20 years mainly focusing on shipwreck photography.

USS Saratoga – Command Information/Communications Centre. Depth 52m – BIKINI ATOLL
USS Saratoga – Command Information/Communications Centre. Depth 52m – BIKINI ATOLL

This was to help promote Lust4Rust, my dive travel business. Lust4Rust runs dive trips to some of the most well-known wreck locations around the globe. Now that I have thousands of stock images showcasing the different wrecks, I wanted to focus on putting much more into each image. I want to fulfil one objective on each dive – ‘to capture the essence of the wreck I am diving’. It’s about trying to light up large areas inside an engine room or large holds full of cargo. After much trial and error, I discovered that using a range of off board constant lights I could achieve great results.

HIJMS Nagato – A battleship of the Imperial Japanese Navy. She was the first battleship in the world to mount 16-inch guns – BIKINI ATOLL.
HIJMS Nagato – A battleship of the Imperial Japanese Navy. She was the first battleship in the world to mount 16-inch guns – BIKINI ATOLL.

The photographic package I use is – Nikon D810, Sigma 15mm lens, Aquatica housing and assorted Bigblue LED dive lights ranging from 2.8k to 15k lumens. These lights work a treat.
The images in this exposé are a selection of what I have been able to achieve. If you would like to join me on one of my adventures to places like Truk Lagoon, Bikini Atoll, Great Lakes USA, South China Sea, Greece and more locations then contact me through my website http://www.petemesley.com/lust4rust/

Amagisan Maru – 7,620-ton passenger freighter; engine room. Depth 25–55m – TRUK LAGOON
Amagisan Maru – 7,620-ton passenger freighter; engine room. Depth 25–55m – TRUK LAGOON
Nippo Maru – Engine room.  Depth: 51m – TRUK LAGOON.
Nippo Maru – Engine room.  Depth: 51m – TRUK LAGOON.

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Pete Mesley

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Pete is one of the Southern Hemisphere's Most experienced Technical divers. Keep people diving!

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