Honorable Mention Underwater Fashion
Bruce Campbell
“Mermaid’s Repose“
Bruce Campbell won a $1000 voucher off any trip with Mexico Liveaboards.
The Story:
There are moments we rarely experience anymore—true stillness, uninterrupted presence, silence without urgency.
Beneath the surface, a modern mermaid drifts in suspension, cradled by water and light. Her gown moves in deep sapphire and kelp tones, echoing the slow rhythm of the water. Blossoms fall around her like passing thoughts, dissolving before they reach the bottom. She has arrived here on a single breath, lingering just long enough to remember what calm feels like.
You begin to notice it in passing. A glance while moving through the room. A pause you didn’t plan to take. Over time, that pause becomes familiar. Comforting. Restorative.
This is a work that steadies you. That softens the edges of a long day. That reminds you—without instruction—that calm is something you can return to and a reminder to Just Breathe.
Location:
Waterbear exhibit pool in Gainesville Florida
Equipment Used:
- Camera – Nikon Z8
- Housing – Nauticam
- Strobe/light – Scrim modifiers using natural light
- Lens – Nikon 24-50mm at 50mm with Nauticam WWL-C wet lens
Camera Settings:
- ISO 600
- F/8
- Shutter speed 1/400s





















