Located in Perth, Western Australia, photographer and videographer Dylan deHaas is a force to be reckoned with. His work transports us to the magical depths of ocean waters, uncovering all the beauty (and adorable creatures) that lie within. 100% self-taught and driven by pure passion for the visual art form, Dylan is proof that hard work is what ultimately makes creativity.
Your work features breathtaking depictions of marine life. Could you speak more about the process of capturing them?
The ocean is where I really fell in love with capturing images and videos, it took me a lot of time not only to learn underwater photography but to also be confident and experienced around marine animals. People think I'm super lucky to be able to capture so many pictures of ocean animals however it's only because of the immense time I spend in the ocean that I can capture such content. I'm a strong advocate for the ocean and its inhabitants and will never put a photo above the respect for an animal. To me, this is the most important thing when photographing marine life.
What steps did you take to develop your skills over the years?
I have zero background in photography and videography, I am a technician by trade and am 100% self-taught. In the beginning, I spent thousands of hours on YouTube watching tutorials on camera settings, post-processing techniques, and pretty much everything there is to know. Then slowly over time I began to develop my own style and work on my craft. I'm never 100% happy with my work which I think is a good thing. it keeps me striving to better myself and the content I produce.
Are there any filmmakers, photographers, or artists that inspire you in your own work?
There are definitely a few people that inspire me.
Photographers:
Josh Ball (@joshball_images) - This guy is always exploring different techniques and ways to shoot and I really love the results he gets.
Jake Wilton (@jakewiltonphoto) - Not only is he a great guy but an incredible underwater photographer.
Videographers:
Chris Rogers (@chrisrogers) - This dude is a magician with a GoPro and was my inspiration behind how I developed my editing style.
Among your rich body of work, do you have any photographs (photo series) that stand out to you as a favorite?
This is a question I get asked a lot, I find it hard to choose one as sometimes my best photo is more about the experience I had capturing it rather than the actual photo. If I had to choose id probably say my portrait shots of Sealions, I've just spent so much time with them and know a few by name. I feel the series of photos shows their personalities as rather than a species.
Out of all the gear you use, are there any you cannot go without?
Another hard question! If I had to choose 1 piece of gear and that's it I would have to pick my GoPro. It's such a versatile camera and being waterproof is such a bonus. Sometimes people get sucked into the newest gear and specs (me included) but it's not always about that. When I first started out all I had was a GoPro and a cheap SLR, Some of my best jobs were shot on those and I remember them fondly.
What are your go-to camera settings?
Anything underwater I use 60fps or above, anything with my FPV drone I use 30fps.
What kind of tools do you use for post-processing?
I use lightroom and Photoshop for photos and Adobe Premiere Pro for videos.
If you were to give 3 pieces of advice to someone starting out as a photographer and filmmaker, what would they be?
1) Be patient and consistent, the skills will come eventually.
2)Don't expect your first videos/photos to be amazing but keep growing and when you look back you'll be amazed at how far you've come.
3) Never be ashamed of past work, if you go on my YouTube channel and scroll back to the start, you'll see some of my first videos. They. are. terrible! But they are all part of my journey which is why I won't take them down. They remind me of where I've started and how far I've come which to me is a great reality check on days where I'm struggling creatively.
Your Youtube channel serves as a source of inspiration and useful information for fellow underwater adventurers. Could you speak more about how the idea for the channel came to be, and your journey on the platform?
My channel first started off as posting destination videos of where I was traveling, then it evolved into client work, and now it's literally just where I put my work. I really should put more time into it but I just struggle to get the motivation sometimes!
Lastly, could you speak on your experience with stock photography and videography (if you have any)? Are there any thoughts, comments, or concerns you have about the industry?
I've never had any experience with stock photography and videography. It always seemed so daunting and time-consuming. That's until I found out about Wirestock. Having a platform where you literally just upload photos and they do the rest is amazing! It's exactly what I needed and if it wasn't for Wirestock, I don't think I would have ever got into stock photography!
