Roger Steene -
Master Fish Photographer (Introduction)

Roger Steen Welcome!

Roger Steene started diving in the early 60's and has been an underwater photography icon ever since! A young, dashing Roger is seen here.

Roger Steene is considered by many to be the guru of fish and invertebrate photography. On a recent trip to DEMA, people like Stan Waterman were referring to Roger as the best macro-photographer in the world. He is the author of 10 books, many of which are useful field guides he has coauthored with his dive buddy, Dr. Gerald Allen. Roger's first book, published in 1977, was Butterflyfishes and Angelfishes of the World, which he recently updated with Dr. Allen (now called A Guide to Butterflyfishes and Angelfishes). His most familiar works are his two stunning coffee table books, Coral Reefs - Nature's Richest Realm (1990) and Coral Seas (1999). (The Coral Reefs book has sold over 100,000 copies!)

Roger has 10 books to his credit, including two of most well known coffee table books ever published.

Roger has been called the "quintessential Australian." He's fun, obnoxious, bawdy, a practical joker, and eager to tell a great yarn. He is always ready to share his latest discoveries, whether it's a new film, a new lens, or a new species of fish or invertebrate. In short, he is a great dive companion! One of Roger's best qualities is the genuine excitement that he exudes for the marine animals he loves so much! Just talk to anyone that has been on a liveaboard or at a dive resort with him, and they will tell you about his very contagious passion for the underwater world.

While not only a great photographer, Roger is a self-taught ichthyologist (his association with Dr. Allen and others in the scientific community hasn't hurt his reef animal knowledge base). He can throw scientific nomenclature around with the best of them! His combination of enthusiasm for the animals, his knowledge of the creatures he photographs, plus his technical photographic knowledge, is what sets him apart from the vast majority of underwater photographers.

Always a slave to fashion, Roger is pictured here sporting classic Steene-attire.

In February and March of 2000, we spent six weeks diving with Roger in South Australia and Papua New Guinea. It was during this trip that we interviewed Roger, an advisor of CoralRealm, about his life, underwater photography, and the marine animals that he loves. We hope you enjoy getting to know him better!

The interviews were conducted in a fishing lodge near Edithburg Pier, Edithburg South Australia after a great day of diving and a big dinner (what Roger calls a "gut-buster").

Coral Realm Members, click on one of the interview parts below

• Interview with Roger - Part 1