Behind the Lens: Underwater Photography Workshop in Focus

At Murex Resorts, we’re committed to exploring, celebrating, and conserving the natural wonders of our beautiful homeland. And what better way to share these treasures with the world, than by hosting an underwater photography workshop, right in the heart of the region’s top dive sites: Bangka Island.

From 20-25 July 2026, Murex Bangka hosted the Alex Tattersall & Saeed Rashid Underwater Photography Workshop; the latest in a series of skills workshops hosted by Murex Resorts and our partners over at Lembeh Resort. The event was designed to help underwater photography enthusiasts reach the next level in their learning journey, while also capturing incredible images of the region’s marine life.

Over six incredible days of learning, diving, exploring, and sharing with their fellow photographers, participants achieved what they set out to do. If you’ve ever wondered what a photography workshop looks like in practice, then this blog is for you! Let’s fire up the camera rigs and dive in.

Inspired by nature, guided by the professionals

The workshop ran for a total of 12 days, with six days based in Bangka and a further six in Lembeh. A total of 12 participants signed up for the event, comprising 11 photographers and one fun diver (although fun was had by all on the adventure!)

Every day in Bangka, this group had the opportunity to focus on a range of different skills and photographic techniques, with expert guidance provided by Alex and Saeed. Course content covered everything from closed focus wide angle shooting to composition, lighting techniques and best practices for approaching subjects in the water, as well as editing tips to improve their images. 

Combining theory sessions in the resort with daily assignments in the sea, the workshop gave participants the knowledge, the practice, and the confidence they needed to capture incredible images. Every evening, the group had a chance to share their photos with friends and tutors alike; to receive feedback and encouragement for their work.

Introducing the photo pro: Saeed Rasheed

Saeed Rashid is an experienced underwater photographer and teacher at Bournemouth University’s Faculty of Media and Communications, where he teaches digital publishing and photojournalism. When he’s not in the classroom, Saeed travels the world on professional underwater photography assignments; his impressive portfolio includes work in Jordan, Indonesia, Egypt, the Maldives, and the Philippines.

Saeed is a member of the British Society of Underwater Photographers (BSoUP), an editorial consultant for Diver Magazine, and a key organizer for the Photozone at international dive shows in London and Birmingham, where he is also a regular keynote speaker.

Introducing the photo pro: Alex Tattersall

Alex Tattersall is an acclaimed marine photographer and Wildlife Photographer of the Year award recipient, whose dedication to documenting marine biodiversity is matched by his eagerness to share the techniques he has learned on his travels with those he teaches. Alex is also the owner of Underwater Visions Ltd, a leading UK distributor and retailer of Nauticam and other cutting-edge underwater photography and videography equipment. 

This combination of creativity and technical skill makes Alex the perfect tutor for eager learners in Bangka; during the workshop, he introduced the group to the latest technological innovations in underwater photography, but also instructed them on how these tools can be utilized effectively to create uniquely personal results on dives. 

Between them, Alex and Saeed brought a deep well of experience, and limitless passion for their craft, to the underwater photography workshop in Bangka.

What participants learned at the workshop

The course began with an introduction to wide-angle underwater photography, covering equipment choices and the creative mindset needed to create compelling images. Rather than focusing on the gear photographers might wish they had, Alex encouraged participants to understand their existing setup, embrace its limitations and concentrate on making the strongest possible images with the tools they have available.

Practical demonstrations from Alex explored wide-angle lighting techniques, including strobe positioning and how different lighting angles can shape a subject, reveal texture, and balance foregrounds with backgrounds. Saeed complemented this with an introduction to light theory, explaining how light behaves underwater and influences the appearance of a subject.

The programme then turned to composition, with ten practical tips for creating stronger, more engaging photographs; this helped to reinforce the principle that great underwater photography depends less on the size or sophistication of the camera, but more on how it is used creatively by the diver that holds it.

Further sessions explored lenses and wide-angle lighting, including the characteristics of different lenses, matching lenses to particular subjects and situations, and practical techniques for handling different camera and lens combinations underwater.

Finally, the workshop brought these elements together in an assignment called Creating WOW Images, which focused on how thoughtful composition, creative lighting, technical understanding, and an adaptable approach can transform any underwater encounter into an image with genuine visual impact.

A week of development and discovery

Despite the wealth of technical knowledge and theoretical learning the workshop provided to participants, the biggest takeaway was surely the diving. Throughout the week, learners put their new skills to the test on dives to the many diverse and exceptional sites that surround Bangka Island.

From Japanese jetties to ocean mounts, and from the hard and soft corals surrounding the island to the awe-inspiring schools of pelagics in open water, the week was filled with more than enough encounters to fill an SD card and max out their snoot batteries several times over.

With the week in Bangka drawing to a close, the adventure was only just beginning for the workshop participants, as they packed up their camera kit and got ready to head for the world-class muck diving and critters of the Lembeh Strait.

For Murex Resorts, the event was a week to savor. But we’re already looking ahead to the next installments in our ongoing series of expert-led underwater photography workshops: 

• Erin Quigley: 28 September–2 October 2027 at Murex Bangka (followed by Lembeh Resort from 2-8 October) 
• Alex Mustard – 13-18 September 2028 at Murex Bangka (followed by Lembeh Resort from 18-23 September) 

For more information about these upcoming workshops, and to book your place, please visit the Family Divers website or get in touch with our reservations team.

The next chapter in your photography journey is waiting to be written. In the year ahead, let Murex Resorts be your guide on this learning journey, and the beauty of Bangka your inspiration.