Ipah in front of a night shot she took in Maldives of a majestic whale shark surrounded by a swirling school of fish. — Photos: LOW LAY PHON/The Star
A raconteur of the deep, Ipah Uid Lynn is an award-winning underwater photographer who captures the marine world in all its glory.
Looking at her enchanting visuals, one would not have imagined that Ipah was initially daunted by the ocean’s immense waves due to a terrifying accident on a personal watercraft more than 20 years ago.
As a testament to her strength and unbreakable spirit, this tenacious mother-of-six’s perception shifted dramatically when she discovered diving.
The underwater realm, once intimidating, became her playground and a source of endless fascination.
Ipah: 'Being underwater has taught me patience and about being present.'
This deep connection deepened with every encounter.
“From whale sharks to manta rays, the ocean just has a way of pulling you in, making you feel at peace,” says Ipah.
“When I go inside the water, I like to watch and study.
“It’s the only place that makes me feel extremely comfortable.
“All the noise in my head just quietens and I become hyper focused.
“I realised the magical world around me, but how do I portray this to other people?
“And that’s how I got into underwater photography, starting with macro photography and capturing the tiniest details of the world around me.
“The ocean is calming, especially since I have ADHD.
“Once I went underwater with my camera, there was no turning back – everything clicked!” she tells StarChrono.
Deep dive
Driven by this connection, it led Ipah to be a storyteller of her encounters underwater, through her images.
“That’s how I’d describe my photography style,” she says.
“I love capturing not just the beauty of the marine world but also the emotions and behaviours of the creatures I encounter.
“It’s all about bringing the viewer into the moment.
Ipah and her family.
“Being underwater has taught me patience and about being present.
“Underwater, you can’t rush anything. You learn to be in the moment, to move, breathe and be one with the ocean and never against it,” she adds.
However, it takes more than luck to get a tiny marine species to look at the camera at just the right moment. Unpredictable elements such as currents, lighting and marine life that doesn’t wait for you, make for a challenging cocktail when working underwater.
Has that ever deterred Ipah?
“Honestly, that’s part of the thrill!” she admits.
Before a shoot, she spends time getting to know the ins and outs of the marine environment.
It’s like she’s part of their world, which is probably why even the fish seem to pose for her!
So how does she make these animals feel comfortable with her?
Blancpain regional brand manager Carrie Poon presenting the Fifty Fathoms Award to Malaysian photographer Ipah.
“By being there and doing nothing, just observe. That’s when you learn the best.
“Once you start learning those behaviours, then you will know the moment you want to take the shot,” Ipah remarks.
“My finger is always ready on the button and I wait until the subject and I are comfortable with each other, respecting each other’s boundaries; only then it allows me to take a picture of them.”
Ipah’s incredible knack (and patience!) for capturing marine life allows you to see a whole new world.
She isn’t just snapping photos; she’s telling stories, revealing the personalities of everything from cheeky fishes to majestic whales.
It’s that eye for detail that landed her an award-winning close-up shot of a curious goby fish.
“This image took quite a while for me to capture. I’d targeted this fish because it’s hard to shoot since they’re always moving around.
“So I did a few dives, did several tank changes until the right moment came.
“After three hours and thousands of images, this was the one image that really struck me.
“When people say the eyes are the windows to your soul, this image sums it up,” says Ipah.
Underwater adventure
Ipah’s self-taught mastery of underwater photography began with a basic camera.
Her relentless pursuit of excellence has enabled her to build an arsenal of tools over the years that allows her to document those mesmerising marine life.
“I’m a Canon girl. My go-to setup is the Canon EOS R5 paired with either a Canon RF 100mm lens for macro shots or the Canon EF8 15mm lens for wide-angle underwater scenes. I also love using Marelux housings and Bigblue dive lights for those perfect lighting conditions,” she reveals.
She counts the manta migration in the Maldives as one of her favourite encounters with a marine species.
She eloquently describes it: “Being surrounded by graceful mantas, moving in synchrony, it was like watching a ballet under the waves.”
Despite travelling the world to capture underwater creatures, Ipah proudly counts Malaysia as one of her absolute favourite places to photograph.
“I would have to name Selakan Island in Sabah as my go-to.
“The diversity of marine life there is incredible. It’s always a new adventure and there’s always a new small marine animal that I’d meet every time I dive,” she says.
Award-worthy
Ipah’s photography work is not just a profession; it’s a heartfelt commitment to conservation as she captures the essence of the ocean’s inhabitants and advocates for their protection through her compelling imagery.
By sharing her passion for the ocean to the world, the photographer’s hope is to increase awareness of the importance of ocean conservation and preserving marine habitats for future generations to enjoy.
“The changes that are happening to the ocean are heartbreaking.
“The ocean gives us so much, and we need to give back by protecting it.
“Every small step matters – whether it’s reducing plastic use, supporting marine conservation efforts or simply spreading awareness,” she points out.
With her meaningful body of work, it comes as no surprise that Ipah is awarded Blancpain’s Female Fifty Fathoms Award for 2024.
Even more significant is that she is the first Malaysian and Asian to receive the Blancpain award.
She feels it validates her journey as a photographer and the effort that she has put into her work. Rightly so!
Ipah says: “Winning this is like winning the Oscars for underwater photography. I am beyond excited.
“Receiving the Female Fifty Fathoms Award is an incredible honour and validation of the passion and dedication I’ve poured into my work over the years. It feels surreal and deeply gratifying.
“It’s a recognition that goes beyond personal achievement; it highlights the importance of storytelling through photography and the voices of women in this field.
“I’m truly humbled and inspired to continue pushing the boundaries of what I can capture and share with the world.”
