Peter Rowlands
Role: UwP Magazine editor/publisher, Magic Filters co-creator, Ocean Optics founder, UPY judge First appearance: 2005 ([1]) Location: England Affiliation: UwP (Underwater Photography) Magazine; Magic Filters; BSoUP (former chair)
Biography
Peter Rowlands is the editor of UwP (Underwater Photography) Magazine, co-creator of Magic Filters with Alex Mustard, and founder of Ocean Optics — described by Mustard as “arguably the most famous” underwater camera store in the world. He has been diving and taking underwater photographs since 1972 ([2]).
He won British Underwater Photographer of the Year in 1985 (shooting a Nikonos IV with home-housed 16mm Nikkor fisheye), served as chair of BSoUP (British Society of Underwater Photographers), and mentored both Alex Mustard (gave him his “big break” via a 1998 Red Sea charter) and Martin Edge (who calls Rowlands “my one and only mentor”). He assisted Peter Scoones filming “Last Voyage of the Thistlegorm” for BBC (1995) and helped coordinate Red Sea charters for Blue Planet 1 filming ([3]).
Contributions
UwP Magazine
Launched Underwater Photography Magazine as a print bi-monthly in 1987 (~1,000 subscriptions worldwide, 2 years). Relaunched as UwP Magazine — a free digital PDF publication — in 2001. Reached Issue 100 in January 2018 and continued past Issue 129 (September 2022), with approximately 7,000 downloads per issue ([4], [5]).
Ocean Optics
Founded 1978. Became the UK’s leading UW camera retailer, carrying Subal, Nexus, Inon, and Fuji. Organized the annual Visions in the Sea conference (from ~1997, 10th anniversary in 2006). Relocated to Action Underwater Studios in Essex in 2008 ([6]).
Magic Filters
Co-created with Alex Mustard — the ambient light color-correction system commercialized from Craig Jones’ 2003 filter work. Rowlands financed production; Mustard originated the concept. Also produced the “Auto-Magic” variant for compact cameras (2006). Still selling 12+ years later. Produced the “Shooting Magic” DVD (90 min) filmed in the Red Sea, showcased at DEMA 2008 ([7], [8]). See Wide-Angle Photography.
UPY Judge
Serves alongside Mustard and Martin Edge on the Underwater Photographer of the Year judging panel. Chaired UPY from 2018 onward ([9]).
Timeline
- 1972: Began diving and underwater photography simultaneously
- 1978: Founded Ocean Optics ([10])
- 1985: Won British Underwater Photographer of the Year
- 1987–1989: Published print Underwater Photographer magazine (~1,000 subscriptions)
- 1995: Assisted Peter Scoones filming “Last Voyage of the Thistlegorm” for BBC
- 1998: Invited young Alex Mustard on Red Sea charter — “gave him his big break”
- ~1997: Ocean Optics launches Visions in the Sea conference
- 2001: Launches UwP Magazine as free digital PDF
- 2005-07: UwP Issue 25 features Magic Filter’s first cover shot ([11])
- 2006-08: Auto-Magic Filter launched for compact cameras ([12])
- 2008-04: Ocean Optics relocates to Action Underwater Studios ([13])
- 2008-10: Shares DEMA booth with Wetpixel, demonstrating Magic Filters ([14])
- 2008-12: “Shooting Magic” DVD released ([15])
- 2015-02: Judges inaugural revived UPY alongside Mustard and Edge ([16])
- 2018-01: UwP reaches Issue 100; extensive Wetpixel interview with tributes from Mustard and Edge ([17])
- 2018-02: Chairs UPY 2018 judging panel ([18])
References
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Jul 4, 2005: Uwp Magazines 25th Anniversary Issue ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2018: Interview 45 Years Of Underwater Image Making With Peter Rowlands ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2018: Interview 45 Years Of Underwater Image Making With Peter Rowlands ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2018: Interview 45 Years Of Underwater Image Making With Peter Rowlands ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 2, 2018: Issue 100 Of Uwp Magazine Is Available ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 5, 2008: Ocean Optics Relocates To Action Underwater Studios In Essex ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 15, 2008: Review Of Shooting Magic A Guide To Filter Photography Underwater Dvd ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 22, 2006: New Auto Magic Filter ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 15, 2018: Results Of Upy 2018 Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2018: Interview 45 Years Of Underwater Image Making With Peter Rowlands ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 4, 2005: Uwp Magazines 25th Anniversary Issue ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 22, 2006: New Auto Magic Filter ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 5, 2008: Ocean Optics Relocates To Action Underwater Studios In Essex ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 29, 2008: Dema 2008 Magic Filters And Uwp Mag ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 15, 2008: Review Of Shooting Magic A Guide To Filter Photography Underwater Dvd ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 16, 2015: Results Of Upy 2015 Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2018: Interview 45 Years Of Underwater Image Making With Peter Rowlands ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 15, 2018: Results Of Upy 2018 Announced ↩
- UwP Magazine Issue 25 (2005) (article) ↩
- Auto-Magic Filter (2006) (article) ↩
- Ocean Optics relocates (2008) (article) ↩
- DEMA 2008 — Magic Filters and UwP (2008) (article) ↩
- Shooting Magic DVD review (2008) (article) ↩
- UPY 2015 results (article) ↩
- 45 Years of UW Image Making — interview (2018) (article) ↩
- UwP Issue 100 (2018) (article) ↩