Hans Feurer

Great Barrier Reef, Australia, 1983

“The Great Barrier Reef is a belt of coral reefs stretching about 2,000 kilometres along the eastern side of Australia. My first contact with this ‘jewel of our planet’ was in 1979 when I had an agreement with Vogue Australia to do fashion stories in different parts of Australia. Since I’m a passionate angler (of the catch-and-release variety), I’ve returned to the r eef on many occasions in la ter years.”

What were the circumstances that led you to take this picture?

I was on a fishing boat on the inside of the r eef.

Describe your emotions when you first set eyes on this place.

My mouth and eyes were wide open.

What’s the most remarkable thing about the image?

It looks like the traces of a paintbrush, and the surface of the ocean creates an oscillating sensation.

Do you always travel with a camera?

Actually, I rarely take a camera with me when I travel. The most important thing for me is to keep a memory of what I see with m y own eyes. Hans Feurer is a renowned Swiss fashion photographer. A great fisherman and collector of primitive art, Feurer started his career in London in the 1960s as an art director in advertising and for The

Telegraph colour supplement before embarking on a daring journey through the wilderness of Africa – his great passion. His work has been published in numerous magazines including the British, French and American editions of Vogue. He currently lives in Zurich, Switzerland.