Scuba Diving – September 2019

/ SEPTEMBER/OCTOBER 2019 / 55

AWARDS:
2019
1st place, Conservation,
Beneath the Sea
International Imaging
Competition
2019
1st place, Portrait,
Underwater Photogra-
pher of the Year

How would you describe
your photography style?
How did you develop it?
I think that my style
evolved through my pre-
vious career in advertis-

ing and studies. When I

shoot underwater I have

in mind a cover, a bro-

chure, a framed canvas or

something like that.

I want my shots to differ,

to have high aesthetics,

but at the same time

to catch the eye like an

attractive ad a reader

stops to look at while

browsing through

a magazine.

What is your favorite

place to be underwater?

If I had to choose one, I

would say Raja Ampat,

Indonesia.

What is your most

unforgettable moment

underwater?

It’s a recent moment from

the Red Sea when I shot

an oceanic whitetip shark

tangled with a regulator

holder. It was a heart-

breaking moment.

What underwater

shooter do you most

admire and why?

From old school to new

school I would say David

Doubilet, Paul Nicklen and

Alex Mustard. They are

inspirational photogra-

phers with unique styles.

What's your advice for

underwater shooters

entering their first photo

contest?

Don't rush yourself!

Choose your favorite

shots, but don't send

them right away. Clear

your mind and check

them again a few

days later.

1st Place Winner, Macro

NICHOLAS SAMARAS

AGE: 44 HOW LONG HAVE YOU BEEN A SHOOTER: Twelve years professionally, and exclusively under-

water HOW LONG DIVING: Since 1998 DAY JOB: My passion became my profession. FAVORITE

CAMERA: I'm a fan of Canon. I use the EOS 5D line because it is a very reliable camera.

An oceanic whitetip shark caught in debris