18/06/2026
These photos represent a lot of failure for me.
Unlike many UW photogs who travel to Antarctica to snorkel with Leps, my job as a naturalist means that I’m definitely never in the water snorkelling, so I have to approach underwater photography in Antarctica a little differently.
My only means of shooting the underwater world involve me hanging my body over the edge of the zodiac and dunking my hands and housing underwater (see last photo).
With this in mind, it means that the number of opportunities I get are few and fare between, so working out the kinks with gear take a really long time.
Primarily, I’m focussed on driving the zodiac and almost always this takes up 110% of my concentration, I’m not even thinking about photography. Second priority is making sure my guests get their shots, and then on the odd occasion I finally have a moment to think about picking up the camera. Most people think my job is primarily photographer but most of the time my camera is an afterthought.
So to have a moment where I have a curious leopard seal, in ocean conditions where I can lean over the side, and be in a boat without guests (or only one in this case) is incredibly rare, I only had three opportunities all last season.
These photos represent an idea that I will build on in the future, to capture Antarctica from underwater (even if my opportunities are few and far between). And I look forward to my next opportunity with a curious leopard seal, hopefully with better light, and clearer water..and of course inspired by the don Paul Nicklen
Shot on using Angelbird Technologies
