Underwater Photography: Revealing the Wonders of the Hidden World
Scuba diving has always felt natural to me-almost like returning to a familiar world. Moving beneath the surface is a second nature, a way of entering an environment where everything seems richer, more vibrant, and far more diverse than what I observe on land.
The marine world is a universe in itself, filled with surprising life forms and breathtaking scenery, and I have chosen photography to reveal its beauty.
Painting the Underwater World with Light
To stay true to my artistic vision, I always rely on the most beautiful natural or artificial light to enhance the subjects I photograph. I focus on capturing as many details as possible to captivate the viewer's eye-scales, skin textures, shells, carapaces.
The underwater world is unique, magical, and full of dreamlike qualities. It leaves space for imagination, wonder, and introspection. Through my photographs, I try to reveal its beauty, because there has never been a more urgent time to protect it.
A Very Fragile World
To describe and testify to the fragility of this environment-one that few people truly know-I chose photography. A single glance at a photograph can be enough to convey the diversity of marine species, the beauty of underwater landscapes, and the atmosphere shaped by incomparable natural light.
The sheer number of marine species is astonishing, and the density of life can be overwhelming. The scenery is often breathtaking. I have lost count of the times I found myself floating motionless, mesmerized by a coral colony that had taken over an entire section of a reef wall.
Each time, the feeling is the same-an indescribable sense of awe that I try to capture and share through my photographs.
Moving in Three Dimensions
Underwater, movement becomes a form of freedom. I can go in any direction-forward, backward, upward, downward, even upside down. I am always in perfect balance.
But the underwater world also imposes limits shaped by human physiology. For example, a diver cannot remain more than an hour at 20 meters of depth with a standard scuba tank.
These constraints make each moment precious: every encounter, every observation, every photograph captured holds immense value.
Underwater Wildlife and Landscapes
In my underwater photographs, I always place marine animals within their natural environment. This enhances their presence and tells a more complete story. As in my terrestrial wildlife photography, I have developed a personal approach that I call environmental animal portraiture. The spaces in which the animals evolve are just as important as the animals themselves.
Underwater landscapes often have a unique feature: they are built by living organisms such as corals. These corals can cover entire reef walls, creating vibrant patterns and colors found nowhere else on Earth.
In colder or temperate waters, coral colonies are replaced by vast forests of kelp. Swimming through these underwater forests evokes sensations similar to those felt when walking through dense woodland-serene, mysterious, and deeply immersive.
