Joshua Prezant Photography is always on the lookout for unique and inspiring subjects to capture through my lens. Recently, my team and I had the opportunity to photograph Lisa Beal, an oceanographer and professor at the University of Miami, standing in the water off Key Biscayne holding a MicroCAT scientific instrument that measures conductivity, temperature, and pressure of the ocean water.
Lisa's work is focused on understanding the physics and chemistry of the ocean, and she has dedicated her career to studying and protecting the world's oceans. She is also a passionate advocate for science education and communication, and works to inspire the next generation of scientists and ocean explorers.
For this portrait, I wanted to capture Lisa's passion and dedication to her work, as well as the sense of wonder and curiosity that drives her research.
Typically her works is done from a boat in the middle of the oceans hundreds of miles away from Miami. I knew going into the shoot that I wanted to try to connect her to the water and Miami. We met at a local marina and jumped ( well, maybe carefully entered the water with my assistant holding our photography gear) into the water. Lisa was still skeptical about getting into the water and thought I was crazy getting into the water too. Getting waste deep in the ocean or a pool is second nature for Joshua Prezant Photography, but I guess Lisa has always had the typical in the lab shots done before me.
As Lisa walked into position in the water, holding the scientific instrument in her hand, I knew that this was going to be a special portrait. The combination of the setting and Lisa's rock star look made for a truly striking image. When I took the first test shot and showed her what it looked like in camera big smile appeared and we began to shoot away.
As I snapped away, Lisa shared stories about her research and the amazing discoveries she has made in the ocean. She was so passionate and engaging, and it was clear that her work was her true calling.
When I reviewed the images later, I knew that I had captured something special. The portrait of Lisa standing in the water holding the scientific instrument perfectly captured her intelligence, curiosity, and dedication to her work. It was a true honor to photograph such an inspiring and dedicated scientist, and I am so grateful to have had the opportunity to work with Lisa!
Check out the interesting article that ran with these images by the extremely talented Robert jones: Making waves: Oceanographer braves the elements to unlock secrets of the sea
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