Cheryl Walsh: The Dream Catcher of Underwater Photography

　　In the vast world of photography, there are countless artists chasing light and shadow, but Cheryl Walsh has taken a unique approach, diving into the deep underwater world, capturing the dreamlike scenes with her lens, and showing us an unprecedented and wonderful field.

　　Cheryl Walsh's photography career started in a variety of ways. She has been involved in many subjects such as weddings, children, models, and families. However, in the process of taking portraits of high school students, she ushered in a major turning point in her photography career. At that time, she felt limited by the traditional way of shooting proms, especially when she saw that the girls were wearing swimsuits, which were more to cater to the eyes of the viewers rather than to truly record the experience of important moments in their lives. She was determined to change this situation. So, she boldly tried to shoot a high school student underwater in a prom dress. This innovative move not only opened the door to underwater photography for her, but also allowed her to find a unique creative direction, and Alt-Senior was born.

　　Underwater photography seems to be full of romance and mystery, but in fact it is full of difficulties. Cheryl faced many challenges when she first started. The underwater environment is highly seasonal, with only a short period of time from June to September or October each year, and only two or three shoots per week. Moreover, it takes years to learn how to capture the exact image you want underwater. Post-processing is just as important in underwater photography as the shooting process itself. Cheryl is constantly experimenting, growing and learning, and controlling the shooting environment as much as possible is the key to her success. She only shoots in her own swimming pool, which is equipped with special filters, has very low chlorine content and is just the right depth. The pool water must be extremely pure and clear. She also has strict pre-shooting requirements for her models, and their clothes must be spotless. Comfortable and appropriate equipment, such as the right weights, masks, clothing, underwater camera housings, backdrops, etc., these seemingly insignificant details can make the difference between the success or failure of a shoot. Despite the many complexities involved in underwater photography, she is drawn to it and it is this love that keeps her going when she sits at the bottom of the pool and feels the tranquility and peace.

　　Cheryl has her own preferences when it comes to her photography gear. She uses a Canon 5D Mark III camera with a variety of L lenses, and often uses a 16 - 35mm 2.8L lens for underwater photography, and an Ewa Marine underwater camera housing (she owns two different models). For fill light, she uses a Canon Speedlight flash in her underwater gear bag with an SRS tiny trigger. For costumes and wigs, most of her costumes come from Pendragon costumes, which she likes for their exquisite craftsmanship and durability, and her favorite wigs come from Epic cosplay. Recently, she has also been experimenting with various lights in her underwater night photography, adding more unique atmosphere to her works.

　　Cheryl's unique style is full of dreaminess and poetry, and is often classified as neo-romantic digital art photography. Each of her photos seems to tell a story, not only the story of the subject, but also a reflection of her own inner world. She admits that she is an introvert, prone to depression and anxiety, and easily feels overwhelmed in the crowd. Underwater photography has become the best way for her to express herself, and each work contains her experience of overcoming life's troubles. In the early days, she had a fear of drowning, deep water and heights, and these fears were reflected in her works. For example, in the early days, she would superimpose clouds in the photos to make the characters look like they were flying, so as to cover up the real scenes of underwater shooting. But as time went on, she and the subjects had in-depth exchanges on land, and gradually established a deep emotional resonance. This resonance not only helped her overcome her inner fear, but also made her works more profound and powerful. During the shooting process, she would guide the models to show a confident, strong and elegant posture. Under the pressure and restrictions underwater, the models conveyed these unspeakable powers through body language through actions such as "sinking shoulders, stretching necks, gracefully placing hands, and relaxing facial expressions", presenting a visual effect that is both extraordinary and bold, powerful, gentle and tough.

　　Today, Cheryl Walsh has become an outstanding representative in the field of underwater photography. Her works are like bright stars, illuminating the unique art world of underwater photography, inspiring more people to explore the beauty of the underwater world and feel the shocking power of the deep integration of photography and the inner world. Whether it is showing the agile beauty of a girl in the water or depicting the emotions and power of a person underwater, she brings us one visual feast after another with her superb skills and unique perspective.

Read recommendations:

benro quick release plate

m50 camera cage

Suction Cup Camera Mount with Ball Head Magic Arm Air Pump Vacuum Suction Mount for Action Camera/DSLR/Camcorders/Phone

Meeting Recording Camera Cage

Testing of Impact Damage Resistance of Quick Release Plates