About Joe Fischer
Joe Fischer is a certified PADI Underwater Photography Instructor who visits some of the world’s top photography locations. He’s now dove in 10 countries while a building a unique experience in macro and wide angle photography. Joe welcomes all participants, united by a shared passion for photography. His experience helps people learn quickly and save valuable time on occasional trips.
Joe began underwater photography while working as a NAUI Assistant Instructor. As a young engineer, he designed and built his first homemade video camera housing. When digital cameras and underwater housings became more widely available, he quickly adopted the new technology and expanded his capabilities.
Classes & Workshops
Learning from the right instructor can greatly speed and enhance your photography experience. As Joe puts it, “time and time again I see people learn more in a few minutes of asking me questions than they learn in hours of online tutorials.” Contact Joe about private classes or about his upcoming workshops
Photo Competitions
This question comes up often. Joe has entered and won several photo contests. Today he rarely enters any – unless they are announced the day of and the rules are announced just ahead of time. To him, that is a true measure of skill and gives everyone an equal chance. As for online contests, Joe avoids them for a few reasons:
1. Non-Competitive
Joe believes competition puts an invisible barrier between people that can hamper the free flow of information and great experiences. When it comes to photography, Joe only competes with himself. And, he really enjoys great photos taken by anyone regardless of skill level.
2. Over Saturated
Due to fierce competition, some people hire private guides up to a year in advance of a contest or have inside connections before a contest is even announced. In some cases, guides even hide critters from others to get bigger tips. To Joe, that’s not photography, it’s hedging to win no matter the cost.
4. Time Consuming
Contests often take time and some require you to write a novel to assist them with selling publications. To Joe, the return on investment isn’t worth the effort. However, not everyone agrees and many people enjoy doing this regardless.
4. Subjective
Beauty is in the eye of the beholder. Unfortunately, beauty in someone else’s eye is not the same as your own. Some people never show photos because they think they have a winning shot. Just be aware you may be setting yourself up for a big let down – or may miss out on fun experiences sharing your best images with others.
Landscape & Wildlife Photography
Joe is also an outdoor photography specialist. He teaches classes in California – and on occasion, leads workshops to locations in the US and abroad. He especially enjoys night photography where he combines landscapes and nature with stars and the Milky Way Galaxy. In jungles, his focus shifts to birds, macro, and wildlife in their natural habitats. Joe’s teaching is for everyone, from beginners to professionals. Learn more at jofischerphoto.com