TASHA Waller
“I hope my images and art will inspire people to come and see our Great Southern Reef”
In 2010, Tasha Waller found herself standing on the precipice of a new life, as vast and mysterious as the Tasmanian waters that spread out before her. Immersing herself in surrounding temperate sea, she embarked on an extraordinary journey of exploration and expression. Her canvas was the Great Southern Reef; her brush, initially, a simple GoPro camera.
A Voyage of Discovery
The GoPro served her well in her early years of diving, capturing the otherworldly beauty of the underwater ecosystem. Yet, as her fascination for the marine world grew, so did her desire for a more sophisticated instrument. By 2015, Tasha had upgraded to a compact camera, marking her transformation from an enthusiastic hobbyist to an emerging artist.
Fast forward to 2020, Tasha made a further upgrade to a mirrorless camera. This move not only enhanced the quality of her images but also strengthened her bond with her art. Tasha now describes herself as feeling naked on those rare occasions when she dives without her camera.
A Vibrant Mosaic
What drives Tasha? Her motivation flows from the thrill of sharing the vibrant life beneath the ocean's surface with her family and friends. Through her lens, Tasha builds a bridge between the terrestrial and aquatic worlds, offering a fresh perspective to those who may never strap on a diving tank.
When asked about her favourite location within the Great Southern Reef, Tasha finds it challenging to choose. To her, the Reef is a vibrant kaleidoscope of biodiversity and beauty. From deep dives off Tassie’s east coast revealing walls adorned with sea whips and a plethora of colourful marine life, to the giant kelp forests in the south that shelter camouflaged octopuses and weedy seadragons, each area holds a unique allure.
On her shallower dives, Tasha has also documented the critically endangered handfish, nestled within small reefs and hydroid colonies, adding to the reef's enigmatic charm. The Reef, for Tasha, is an infinite tapestry of life, each strand holding a different but equally captivating story.
Beyond merely capturing these moments, Tasha felt compelled to immortalise these underwater stories in another form, paving the way for her inspiring journey into marine artwork.
Painting the Ocean's Palette
Tasha's artistic expression traces back to her youth, when she used to experiment with graphite pencils, crafting sketches that reflected her curiosity and creativity. However, it was not until 2010, when she began her underwater photography journey, that her love for capturing the world beneath the waves took root.
Fast forward to 2021, and Tasha felt an irresistible pull to revisit her love for drawing. She started with illustrating the marine creatures from her photos, initially using graphite. However, she soon felt that the monochromatic sketches couldn't encapsulate the vibrant colour palette of the marine world.
Eager to infuse life into her drawings, Tasha invested in a set of artist-quality coloured pencils. These tools allowed her to translate the underwater rainbow of colours onto her canvas, bringing her subjects to life in a new, yet equally enchanting, way.
Moreover, her dual interests began to feed off each other. While photographing, she could visualise how she would represent the subject in a drawing, guiding her to capture the perfect composition for her reference photo. This interconnected passion has allowed Tasha to develop a rich, multi-layered understanding of her subjects, enabling her to portray them with extraordinary accuracy and affection in her work.
An Artist’s Vision
Tasha Waller's mission transcends beyond capturing breathtaking underwater landscapes and creating captivating artwork. Woven within her art is a powerful call for ocean conservation. By showcasing the breathtaking beauty of Tasmania's slice of the Great Southern Reef, Tasha seeks to spark a change in how we perceive and treat our oceans.
She aspires to inspire more respect for the ocean and its inhabitants, to raise awareness about the devastating impact human activities have on marine ecosystems, and to motivate us to protect them. Tasha dreams of a future where every image she captures serves as a testament to a thriving, respected, and well-preserved ocean environment.
Through her evocative imagery and artwork, Tasha paints a vivid portrait of the symbiotic relationship we share with our oceanic counterparts. Each a plea for preservation, a reminder of the fragile balance that holds our world together. As viewers, we're invited not just to observe the Great Southern Reef but to join Tasha in her journey towards a more aware and conscientious world.
Learn about more passionate photographers and artists inspired by the Great Southern Reef.
