rick stuart-smith
“I hope more people will appreciate the unique values of our temperate reef systems.”
Rick Stuart-Smith is a research fellow at IMAS, University of Tasmania and co-founder of Reef Life Survey. He has been taking underwater photos for almost 15 years.
Recording Reef Life
Back in 2006 Rick was taking part in the 'Lap of Tassie' project, surveying reefs around Tasmania. He used his first underwater camera for fish ID shots which sparked his passion for underwater photography.
“I think my camera back then was amongst the first batch of compact digital cameras with underwater housings. It was so easy learning manual photohgraphy being able to review the photos and change settings immediately - it gave me a lot of respect for those who learned to shoot underwater with film.”
“Since then I've been through a few cameras and enjoyed a little wide angle photography for fun (and photos for reports, and websites etc) as well as targeting species profile shots for the Reef Species of the World pages on the Reef Life Survey website.
Seeking cryptics
“I think some of the deeper reefs on Tasmania's east coast have some of the best diving in the world for sheer beauty and colour, but I also love finding the cryptic fish surprises in a few special sites in SA, Port Phillip and Tassie. Rottnest is also amazing.”
Tracking changes
“There is always a hope that more and more people will appreciate the unique values of our temperate reef systems. But I also want my photos to draw attention to the Reef Life Survey data that are collected alongside - and hope both contribute to an objective and accurate narrative of changes in marine biodiversity through time and space, more broadly.”
Senator sightings
Earlier in 2022m Rick went back to survey the reefs around Albany ,WA for the first time in more than a decade. He was last there with a Reef Life Survey team before the 2011 marine heatwave.
“I was very curious to see what had happened there after so many of the south-western endemic species suffered declines just around the corner (on the west coast).”
“The false senator wrasse (Pictilabrus viridis) almost disappeared completely from the reefs around Rottnest Island for many years, but it was great to see that it has become much more common around Albany.”
Handfish inspiration
We asked Rick what has been inspiring him lately with the GSR
“The Handfish Conservation program are doing with red handfish, and the way the community are getting behind handfish in general. Not only promising wins for the fish, but we’re seeing more amazing handfish-inspired art than ever before. Who doesn’t love good fish art?”
Watch the GSR video featuring Rick on the red handfish,
A rare find
Looking ahead Rick is excited for some deeper dives on the Tassie east coast over summer. “I’m keen to get back out with the big camera to sniff out a red velvetfish (Gnathanacanthus goetzeei).”
Rick also is excited to share there is a new system for downloading custom PDF field guides to reef species of the world on the RLS website now too, so it has never been easier to be better prepared for a new dive trip to anywhere on the GSR! Go check it out.
Learn about more passionate photographers and artists inspired by the Great Southern Reef.
