Kurt Amsler

Role: Underwater photographer, marine conservationist, educator
Nationality: Swiss
Based in: South of France
First appearance: 2002 (workshop referenced in [1]); earliest Wetpixel article: 2003 ([2])
Website: photosub.com
Sponsors: Nikon, Rolex, Scubapro/UWATEC

Biography

Kurt Amsler is one of the legendary figures in underwater photography, with a career spanning from the early 1960s to the present day. A Swiss-born photographer based in the south of France, Amsler has produced thousands of magazine stories, authored multiple books, and photographed high-profile advertising campaigns. He is described by Alex Mustard as having “a long and illustrious career” with “undimmed” enthusiasm and passion for underwater photography and the oceans ([3]).

Amsler began his underwater photography career remarkably early. In a 2010 interview with Alex Mustard conducted on El Hierro in the Atlantic (where both were judges for the El Hierro Open Fotosub competition), he recalled his first experiences in the Red Sea in 1964 using a Rolleimarin and CalypsoPhot with flash bulbs, where each photograph cost 60 Swiss cents — a price that taught him the discipline of being highly selective with each frame. A photo caption in that same article shows “Kurt with his CalypsoPhot and flash bulb system in 1963” ([4]).

He has been sponsored by Nikon, Rolex, and Scubapro/UWATEC, and maintains an active role refining underwater camera equipment for Seacam ([5]).

Competition Achievements

Amsler’s competition record is described by Alex Mustard as “a full house”:

Alex Mustard, in announcing his own 2007 Antibes book prize, noted that he was joining “the likes of Doubilet, Newbert, Amsler, Wu and Ballesta” as a winner of the prize ([11]).

Marine Conservation — SOS-Seaturtles

Beyond photography, Amsler founded SOS-Seaturtles in the 1980s. Alex Mustard wrote: “it is no exaggeration that it has saved millions of turtles. SOS-Seaturtles still has many active causes.” He added: “It is also impossible to talk with Kurt without wanting to discuss the work he has done for marine conservation” ([12]).

Philosophy on Light and Creativity

In his 2010 “Conversation With” interview on Wetpixel, Amsler articulated a philosophy about underwater photography that emphasized the primacy of understanding light over technical equipment mastery. He argued that modern photographers had become overly dependent on strobes at the expense of ambient light creativity:

“What I have realised is that over the past 25 years the creativity has disappeared. In the early days it was black and white photography and you have to deal with light… Nowadays the photographers have one or two strobes and they are in love with them!” He emphasized that “the key to underwater photography is mixing light: ambient and strobe. Mixing it the way you want. This is art” ([13]).

He also noted the decline in off-camera flash use, recalling that in the 1980s competition scene, photographers routinely used 10-metre strobe cables with E/O connectors for creative lighting setups — placing strobes outside caves where a model was looking in to create depth in the picture. He observed that not one person in the El Hierro competition had used the strobe off-camera ([14]).

On the value of early film discipline, he stated: “My training was to think twice before you bend your finger!” and noted that even shooting digital, he remains selective and does not take thirty pictures of one subject without changing anything ([15]).

He recommended that photographers learn to read light by “taking more landscape pictures in the evenings and mornings [on land]. Or just walking through the forest and look against the sun, through the trees and realise how the light works” ([16]).

He also strongly advocated for shooting RAW files, as recounted by John Bantin: “I had a conversation with Kurt (Amsler) who told me if I did not shoot RAW I was missing the whole point of digital photography” ([17]).

Equipment Development with Seacam

Amsler maintained a very active role refining underwater camera gear for Seacam. Alex Mustard wrote: “Seacam deserve a lot of credit to taking such a progressive approach of working with someone who can test their kit extensively in the ocean. It was fascinating to ask about all the refinements and design philosophy that Kurt has helped introduce into their line of housings and strobes” ([18]).

His contributions specifically include input into the Seaflash 150 strobe. Forum user Tom Kline noted: “His input into Seaflash150 really shows” ([19]).

At the Boot Show 2012, Amsler was present at the Seacam stand alongside Harald Hordosch and Gunter Ruprechter, where he was described as an “iconic photographer” ([20]).

Workshops and Education

Amsler runs popular photography workshops from his home in the south of France and on liveaboards ([21]). He was conducting workshops as early as 2002, when photographer Andrej Belic attended one and encountered Amsler’s Nikonos RS system alongside his Subal-housed Nikon F5. At that time, Amsler was sponsored by Nikon and Subal ([22]).

In 2014, Seacam launched the Seacam Academy, an online learning site with 10 downloadable tutorial videos, all presented by Kurt Amsler. Topics included: Flash, Wide-Angle, Fish, Macro, Super Macro, Diver and Model, and Wreck, plus a free introductory lesson entitled “The Right Equipment.” The tutorials were priced at EUR 120 each ([23]).

Sperm Whale Birth Video

In September 2014, Amsler captured and posted an extraordinary video recording the actual birth of a sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus) in the Azores. He described it as “the greatest experience I ever had, in 45 years of underwater photography.” The video showed the mother giving birth assisted by several midwives, and was filmed under a special permit from the Azores Government after Amsler’s team had carefully followed the whales for some time. The footage was posted on Facebook and later featured in X-Ray Magazine issue 67 ([24], [25]).

Competition Judging

Publications

Amsler writes for Diving and People Magazine and continues to shoot for major clients ([30]). His work discussing proper workflow in digital photography was featured in X-Ray Magazine issue 23 (2008) ([31]). He was also interviewed/featured in X-Ray Magazine issue 12 (2006) ([32]) and issue 67 (2015), which featured his sperm whale birth images and story ([33]).

He contributed to Wetpixel’s 2014 article on black and white underwater photography, offering his perspective alongside other eminent photographers including Aaron Wong, Daniel Botelho, Stephen Frink, Tony Wu, Alex Mustard, Abi Mullens, and others ([34]).

He also shot advertising campaigns, including one for UWATEC’s touch-activated Aladin computer, which was featured on the cover of Peter Rowlands’ original printed Underwater Photography magazine ([35]).

Equipment

Amsler uses Seacam housing systems, including the Seacam Seaflash 150 strobes and Seacam superdome. He has shot with various Nikon cameras including the D200 ([36]). Earlier in his career (circa 2002), he used a Subal Procase for the Nikon F5 alongside a Nikonos RS system ([37]).

Timeline

References

Sources

  1. Wetpixel article, Aug 31, 2012: Project Update Nikonos Rs Lenses On A Digital Slr ↩
  2. Wetpixel article, Oct 28, 2003: Antibes Festival 2003 Coverage ↩
  3. Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2010: A Conversation With Kurt Amsler ↩
  4. Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2010: A Conversation With Kurt Amsler ↩
  5. Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2010: A Conversation With Kurt Amsler ↩
  6. Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2010: A Conversation With Kurt Amsler ↩
  7. Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2010: A Conversation With Kurt Amsler ↩
  8. Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2010: A Conversation With Kurt Amsler ↩
  9. Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2010: A Conversation With Kurt Amsler ↩
  10. Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2010: A Conversation With Kurt Amsler ↩
  11. Wetpixel article, Oct 29, 2007: Reefs Revealed A New Book By Alex Mustard ↩
  12. Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2010: A Conversation With Kurt Amsler ↩
  13. Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2010: A Conversation With Kurt Amsler ↩
  14. Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2010: A Conversation With Kurt Amsler ↩
  15. Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2010: A Conversation With Kurt Amsler ↩
  16. Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2010: A Conversation With Kurt Amsler ↩
  17. Forum thread: Nikon D2x Review ↩
  18. Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2010: A Conversation With Kurt Amsler ↩
  19. Forum thread: Slave Strobes Off Camera ↩
  20. Wetpixel article, Jan 21, 2012: Wetpixel Coverage Of The Boot Show 2012 ↩
  21. Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2010: A Conversation With Kurt Amsler ↩
  22. Wetpixel article, Aug 31, 2012: Project Update Nikonos Rs Lenses On A Digital Slr ↩
  23. Wetpixel article, Mar 31, 2014: Seacam Announces Their Academy ↩
  24. Wetpixel article, Sep 20, 2014: Video Sperm Whale Birth By Kurt Amsler ↩
  25. Wetpixel article, Jul 1, 2015: Issue 67 Of X Ray Mag Available ↩
  26. Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2010: A Conversation With Kurt Amsler ↩
  27. Wetpixel article, Feb 1, 2018: Live On Stage World Shootout 2017 ↩
  28. Wetpixel article, Jan 23, 2023: Results Dpg Wetpixel Masters 2022 ↩
  29. Wetpixel article, Dec 29, 2022: Final Few Days For Masters Entries ↩
  30. Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2010: A Conversation With Kurt Amsler ↩
  31. Wetpixel article, May 18, 2008: X Ray Mag Issue 23 Is Out ↩
  32. Wetpixel article, Aug 2, 2006: X Ray Magazine 12 Is Available For Download ↩
  33. Wetpixel article, Jul 1, 2015: Issue 67 Of X Ray Mag Available ↩
  34. Wetpixel article, Nov 9, 2014: What Makes For A Great Black And White Image ↩
  35. Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2010: A Conversation With Kurt Amsler ↩
  36. Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2010: A Conversation With Kurt Amsler ↩
  37. Wetpixel article, Aug 31, 2012: Project Update Nikonos Rs Lenses On A Digital Slr ↩
  38. Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2010: A Conversation With Kurt Amsler ↩
  39. Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2010: A Conversation With Kurt Amsler ↩
  40. Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2010: A Conversation With Kurt Amsler ↩
  41. Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2010: A Conversation With Kurt Amsler ↩
  42. Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2010: A Conversation With Kurt Amsler ↩
  43. Wetpixel article, Aug 31, 2012: Project Update Nikonos Rs Lenses On A Digital Slr ↩
  44. Wetpixel article, Oct 28, 2003: Antibes Festival 2003 Coverage ↩
  45. Forum thread: Nikon D2x Review ↩
  46. Wetpixel article, Jan 30, 2006: Boot 2006 Show Report ↩
  47. Wetpixel article, Aug 2, 2006: X Ray Magazine 12 Is Available For Download ↩
  48. Wetpixel article, May 18, 2008: X Ray Mag Issue 23 Is Out ↩
  49. Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2010: A Conversation With Kurt Amsler ↩
  50. Wetpixel article, Jan 21, 2012: Wetpixel Coverage Of The Boot Show 2012 ↩
  51. Wetpixel article, Mar 31, 2014: Seacam Announces Their Academy ↩
  52. Wetpixel article, Sep 20, 2014: Video Sperm Whale Birth By Kurt Amsler ↩
  53. Wetpixel article, Nov 9, 2014: What Makes For A Great Black And White Image ↩
  54. Wetpixel article, Jul 1, 2015: Issue 67 Of X Ray Mag Available ↩
  55. Wetpixel article, Apr 21, 2016: Report Adex Show 2016 ↩
  56. Wetpixel article, Feb 1, 2018: Live On Stage World Shootout 2017 ↩
  57. Wetpixel article, Dec 29, 2022: Final Few Days For Masters Entries ↩
  58. Wetpixel article, Jan 23, 2023: Results Dpg Wetpixel Masters 2022 ↩
  59. Antibes Festival 2003 Coverage (article) ↩
  60. Nikon D2X Review forum thread (forum) ↩
  61. Boot 2006 Show Report (article) ↩
  62. X-Ray Magazine 12 (article) ↩
  63. Reefs Revealed book announcement (article) ↩
  64. X-Ray Mag Issue 23 (article) ↩
  65. A Conversation with Kurt Amsler (article) ↩
  66. Wetpixel coverage of the Boot Show 2012 (article) ↩
  67. Project update: Nikonos RS lenses on a digital SLR (article) ↩
  68. Seacam announces their Academy (article) ↩
  69. Video: Sperm whale birth by Kurt Amsler (article) ↩
  70. What makes for a great black and white image (article) ↩
  71. Issue 67 of X-Ray Mag available (article) ↩
  72. Report: ADEX Show 2016 (article) ↩
  73. Live on stage: World Shootout 2017 (article) ↩
  74. Final few days for Masters entries (article) ↩
  75. Results: DPG/Wetpixel Masters 2022 (article) ↩
  76. Slave strobes off camera forum thread (forum) ↩