By ANEEKA SIMONIS
A PAKENHAM man has taken his love for photography and wildlife into the mysterious depths of the ocean, earning the praise of film festivals across the country.
Mark Jones, a keen scuba diver and member of the Pakenham Camera Club, combined his varied passions five years ago when he introduced his camera in the world beneath the water.
“I began taking photographs of the diverse fish life that was found there and sharing this beauty with others,” he said.
But that wasn’t good enough for the detail-oriented man, who later brought an underwater video system to capture the many ocean-bound beauties.
“I found that the still images just did not do full justice to what I saw,” he said.
“A still image just doesn’t embrace the graceful, placid nature found in the majority of sea life, and certainly does not capture the many behavioural traits that almost gives them human like form.”
Mr Jones’ video work has been recognised by a range of critics, including the Cairns Underwater Film Festival where he took out first place in the Australian ‘short takes’ section in September last year.
His work has also been included in the upcoming Ocean Film Festival Australia.
Mr Jones said his work was just as much about discovering the unseen wonders beneath the water as it was about educating people to take care of the ocean.
“My aim is to encourage people to be more respectful of the oceans and its creatures through education and awareness,” he said.
“Our oceans play an integral role in the survival of the human race, which many people do not realise, and we need to understand this and be aware how important it is to protect this environment from harm.”
The film festival will hit Melbourne in early March. Tickets are available from www.oceanfilmfestival.com.au/tour-dates.html
