Pioneers of recording underwater

Pioneers of recording underwater

Ron and Valerie Taylor dived into underwater photography and filmmaking. They never looked back. In 1963 they made their first underwater film Shark Hunter, which was sold to enthusiastic television networks in Australia and the USA. Not satisfied with available camera housings, Ron built their own, allowing them to take a wider variety of cameras underwater. 
The turning point came in 1967 with their participation in the Belgian Scientific Expedition, still the largest scientific expedition ever conducted on the Great Barrier Reef. This six-month filmic and photographic survey encompassed 2,300 kilometres of reef, from its southern end to its northern extremity. The Taylorsquickly gained a reputation for excellence and over 40 years, produced 20 documentaries and shot underwater footage for seven television series and 19 feature films, from Jaws (1975) to The Island of Dr Moreau (1996). 
Together, the couple became two of the world’s top ocean chroniclers. Ron was the can-do action man, innovator and filmmaker, while Valerie  was the bold and outspoken photographer and frontwoman. 

Rolleiflex camera
Valerie’s first underwater camera
Rolleimarine camera inside a custom acrylic cover.
First housing Ron ever built for Valerie
Hans Hass Rolleimarin # 824 Rolleiflex underwater camera housing, c 1950s
Hans Hass Rolleimarin # 824 Rolleiflex underwater camera housing
Kodak K-100 Turret 16-millimetre camera (c 1956–73)
Kodak K-100 Turret 16-millimetre camera and housing made by Ron Taylor
Ron’s first video camera, c 1960s
Ron’s first video camera
Camera housing built by Ron Taylor, c 1960s
Camera housing built by Ron Taylor
clear underwater light
Halogen light system
Halogen light system made by Ron Taylor.
Underwater housings and battery pack for halogen light system
Sekonic L-164B Marine Meter II underwater light meter, ca 1970s
Sekonic L-164B Marine Meter II underwater light meter
Farallon underwater light.
Farallon underwater light

Explore the Taylors' underwater Rolleimarin # 824 camera housing

 

Using the mouse you can orbit, drag and pan around the 3D Model.                   
Rotate - left click, single touch, arrow keys.                   
Zoom - scroll wheel, two finger pinch, '-' and '=' keys.                   
Move - right click, two finger move, WASD keys.                   
Recentre - Double click/double tap.