In this new series of informative columns, professional photographer Jeff Yonover discusses the joys and challenges of capturing the mysterious underwater world on camera. His bimonthly column features tips on getting started for beginning photographers, as well as ways to improve your shots for more experienced underwater shutter bugs. Each column is accented with Jeff's beautiful photographs, taken in the marine protected areas around the world in which CORAL works.

Bookmark this page and check back often to read Jeff's latest column. To ask questions, make comments, or suggest topics for this column, please contact us at communications@coral.org [1].

Underwater Photo Tips

It's Not About the Camera [2] (September 2008)
The Lighting Blues [3] (November 2008)
Get Up Close and Personal [4] (January 2009)
It's a Wonderful, Wide World [5] (March 2009)
You Can Take It with You...Just Not All of It [6] (May 2009)
Jaws Caught on Camera: How to Shoot Sharks [7](July 2009)
A Look Back: The Beauty of Film [8] (September 2009)
You Can Do It with Digital [9] (November 2009)
Off the Beaten Path [10] (January 2010)
Guest Column: The Accidental Photographer [11] (March 2010)
Going Big in the Blue [12] (May 2010)
Guest Column: Backlighting [13] (July 2010)
Guest Column: Exciting Lighting [14] (September 2010)
Moving Forward [15](November 2010)
Seeing the Big Picture [16] (January 2011)

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Bluetail Unicornfish (Naso caeruleacauda), Indonesia

Jeff Yonover

Jeff Yonover first discovered his passion for wilderness photography during an extended trip to Alaska in 1987. Almost a decade later, Jeff became a certified scuba diver and has since dived and photographed in some of the world's most spectacular underwater locales, including Australia, Colombia, Costa Rica, Fiji, India, Indonesia, Maldives, Mexico, Palau, Papua New Guinea, Saba, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Thailand, Tonga, Yap, and locations throughout the Caribbean.

[18]Although his photography began as a hobby, he took the plunge in 2003 and quit the family sugar business to work as a professional photographer. Jeff's award-winning work has appeared in numerous publications, and been recognized internationally:

• Celebrate the Sea Festival [19] in Malaysia (Finalist, Digital Category, 2004)
• World Festival of Underwater Pictures [20] in Antibes, France (1st Prize Color Prints, 2004)
• ANZANG Photographer of the Year [21] in Australia (Runner Up and Highly Commended, 2005; Finalist, 2006)
• Celebrate the Sea Festival [22] in Singapore (Highest Commended Macro Print, 2005; Finalist, 2006)
• Shell/BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition [23] (Highly Commended, 2007)

Now residing in Portland, Oregon, Jeff continues to build his portfolio, both domestically and abroad. In addition to his love of landscape, wildlife, and underwater photography, Jeff's passions include fly fishing, his lab Marilyn, and his beloved Chicago Cubs (who continue to disappoint). To see more of Jeff's photographs, check out www.jeffyonover.com [24].

Photo Contest

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Beginning in January 2009, Jeff Yonover will choose a winning photograph submitted by members like you to feature in the photography edition of E-Current [26], our free electronic newsletter. Mailed every other month directly to your email in-box, E-Current Photo will focus on compelling images of coral reef life around the world. Enter now for your chance to win a copy of Reef [27], a beautiful, large-format photography book featuring coral reefs.

Learn more » [28]

Photo credit: Pygmy Seahorse (Hippocampus bargibanti), Raja Ampat, by Jeff Yonover