Shooter: Paul Nicklen

Photographer Paul Nicklen takes extreme photos in extreme conditions. His love of wildlife started at an early age and he knew he wanted a career as a photojournalist in the Arctic wildlife.

Pod of narwhals poke their heads through ice looking for food

Shooting Great Whites

Great white sharks are immediately recognizable — so when you see one, do you know how to take a breathtaking photo? Glean tips on shooting great white sharks.

Open-mouthed great white shark swims toward camera

Teamwork in the Depths

Imagine yourself aboard a dive skiff on a tropical blue sea, getting ready to dive with legendary underwater photo pros Marty Snyderman and Michael Aw and extremely talented masters of the genre Tanya Griffin Houppermans and Vijay Raman.

green sea turtle off Dumaguete in the Philippines

No Plan B

Van Morrison dropped his 34th album, Born to Sing: No Plan B, in 2012. David Fleetham, now 48 years into his career as a professional underwater photographer, reflects on that sentiment when explaining how underwater photography has subsumed his life.

manatee

Cristina Mittermeier: Commitment to Conservation

Photographer Cristina Mittermeier’s social media posts have insightful captions that reveal her deep commitment to ocean ecology issues. Telling stories that inspire, engage and ultimately motivate action, she wants to show what’s beautiful and special but also what may be in dire peril. Perhaps most significantly, she wants to show her audience an opportunity to act positively and to possibly attain a solution, using her photography to shine a light and make a difference.

The fluke of a humpback whale lifts above the sea in the warm glow of dusk off the coast of the Antarctic Peninsula.

Dark Side of the Sun

The sun is a powerful light source and can be used to the advantage of an underwater photographer. Learn more about harnessing the power of the sun and getting fantastic photos.

Whitetip shark goes for a swim and sunrays are behind its head

Pro Tips for Shooting in Cold Water

Don’t let colder water temperatures freeze you up — you can take stellar photos regardless of the conditions. Read our best tips on capturing images in cold water.

Little brown fish on top of red sponges

Michael Aw Photo Gallery

Michael Aw, who has published several popular books of his photography, provides a bonus photo gallery of his images.

Underwater Cave Photography

AS I FLOAT IN THE SOFT DARKNESS of a flooded cave, a tunnel leading away from me catches my eye. Like a mountain trail, the passageway offers spectacular views, physical challenges, and exhilaration. As I exhale into the water, I feel a dissolution of self. My goal as a photographer is to convey that sensation in a photo.

Action Cameras

Action cameras are a common compact solution for capturing great video and occasionally stills. With multiple camera brands and plenty of available accessories — including filters, lenses, and lights — it has never been easier to get great footage. 

Diver shooting video