Underwater model Kimber Kiefer and her husband Ken are a very active underwater model/photographer team. Recently the pair were in Nassau, Bahamas where Kimber did one of her most challenging shoots yet – 50 feet underwater with sharks. Here’s her first-hand account of the experience along with photos AND video.
A key component to underwater modeling is being able to relax. That’s not always easy when you are 50 feet deep without a mask, surrounded by sharks AND depending on someone else for air.
It truly takes a team of experienced safety divers, photographer, shark wrangler, and models/free divers to pull off a shoot like this. We are all certified divers comfortable in the water and around sharks. But, you don’t just jump into a shoot like this.
There needs to be experience, knowledge, a plan, signals for underwater communication and trust.
I spent two days assisting, shooting behind the scenes, and getting familiar with the sharks, the environment, & the entire process of this type of photo shoot.
On the third day, I was asked if I would like the opportunity to model with the sharks on a shipwreck!
Heck yes I want to!
I was nervous and anxious, but mostly excited. I have plenty of experience with underwater modeling in pools, cenotes, and some more shallow ocean modeling. Most of my underwater modeling experience allows me to easily come up for air and communication.
I don’t have free diving experience or a long breath hold capacity. I am not used to working with a team that was focused on me (typically it is just Ken and me working together). This type of modeling was all new to me and I wanted to execute it, but was wondering how I would perform since I had never done it. Could I hold my breath long enough? Would I be relaxed and comfortable without my mask and sharks around me? Could I give Ken what he needed to get the shots? All those questions went through my mind.
We set a plan and communicated what all was going to happen with the team. Liz Parkinson, my safety diver, let me know it didn’t matter how long I could hold my breath, she could bring me air whenever I needed it. I had watched her work for two days and trusted her.
I was beyond excited for the opportunity and up for the challenge.
As a model you have to think about wardrobe/styling, poses, facial expressions, hair & make-up. Add the underwater element and these things become more challenging: blurry vision, water in the sinus, buoyancy
Now add the depth, sharks, ocean/currents, limited communication (non verbal only), breath holding & depending on others for air, and teamwork to the equation. All this creates a whole new level of underwater modeling.
Stuart Cove’s Dive Bahamas is an invaluable resource to create images such as these. They are true professionals with the resources and knowledge to help image makers work on their dreams. Since they have worked with Hollywood productions and the like, they have years of experience with a variety of situations to help develop the best plan. We can’t thank the organization and the staff enough! Special thanks to Stuart Cove and his team for the amazing opportunity.
I believed in myself and trusted the team during this entire adventure and couldn’t be happier with the results. This experience has taught me a great deal about my capabilities and strengthened our teamwork. We’ve also created some beautiful images that not only make people question their media induced beliefs about sharks, but will grace our walls for years!!
HERE’S THE OFFICIAL VIDEO OF THE SHOOT!
