Twenty-one students at St. Croix Central High School’s recently established photography class were treated Tuesday to an amazing underwater photo presentation by Amsterdam photographer Cor Bosman.
“I love to explain things about the ocean to whoever will listen,” said Bosman, who does underwater photography as a hobby. “I like to clear up the misconceptions—and fear about sharks, too.”
Bosman and his wife, Julie Edwards, who have been diving for around 20 years and have logged over 1,500 dives worldwide, showed the students beautiful, as well as creepy-looking, creatures from under the sea.
The couple brought along the Nikon D2X underwater camera they use, which weighs around 20 pounds, including its protective housing and batteries.
The presentation showed photographs taken in Indonesia, Papua New Guinea, Bahamas and Dominica.
Bosman told the class, which is taught by Kristen Duncan, to focus on getting the eyes of the subject in focus because human beings always look at the eyes. Some of the creatures he had captured were so camouflaged in the sand the eyes were barely visible. “It is amazing to see how much animals are camouflaged,” Bosman said.
“No matter where you look, there are creatures hidden in the sand,” he said. “Sometimes we see things in the sand, we don’t want to know what it is. We have taken shots of things probably unknown to scientists.”
Bosman said the animals are unidentified because there have to be a number of samples collected to make an identification, and they may only see one.
He explained to the students how some creatures evolve and take on the appearance and colors of the host—often certain species of coral—where they find their home. He said it can take up to an hour sitting and waiting to get the perfect shot.
Bosman said it is sad to see so much of the coral dying and to see damaged reefs. “Our reefs here are damaged because of runoff that covers the coral with sediment, and the coral dies,” Bosman said.
Edwards, who has lived on St. Croix, said on this trip here there were less fish than in years past.
Duncan, a professional photographer herself, said it was exciting to have Bosman do the presentation for the classes that are new this semester. Duncan said Central principal Chermaine Hobson-Johnson, an avid supporter of the arts, has acquired five SLR Nikon and 15 GE point-and-shoot cameras. Duncan is setting up a photography curriculum that, she believes, will be useful to the students interested in graphic design and media careers.