I’ve spent the last month and a half of my summer vacation living with some friends in Guam and have gotten into scuba diving and snorkeling the various sites around the island. Recently, a friend sent me a link to the portfolio of a photographer named Wayne Levin, who has taken some fantastic underwater photos. He does something that I really have not seen much of in the underwater photographic community: a majority of his images are in black and white.

The use of black and white for underwater photographs is both utilitarian and aesthetic. The lack of color helps achieve a higher level of contrast and also eliminates the troubles due to color casts caused by the light absorbing properties of water. Black and white images, in general, give a sense of nostalgia and the somewhat dream-like quality that I love so much, so it’s a double-edged sword that works on all fronts.

Levin’s photographs, especially his series on freedivers, are quite fantastic and have inspired me to emulate his style while exploring the waters around Guam. Click the image above to see more examples from my Ritidian Beach visit.