Where are you from?
I'm from Australia, currently living on the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria.
How long have you been practicing photography?
I started shooting photos in 2019.
How long have you been diving?
I started freediving in 2018 and then scuba diving in 2020.
Is photography your full-time job?
Underwater photography is my full-time hobby. I'm an Airbnb host.
What’s your favorite camera?
I'm currently using the Sony A7R5 in a Seacam housing.
Have you won any awards before?
I actually won Through the Lens in 2020, gaining 1st Place in the Macro category, winning this same trip. Due to travel restrictions, I was unable to take the trip. Since then, I've placed in over twenty competitions.
How did you get started in underwater photography?
I first started freediving 9 years ago and only had a GoPro to capture videos. My Instagram account Onebreathdiver was created to highlight some of the fascinating behaviours I discovered. Then I picked up my first underwater camera, a TG4, and returned to scuba diving about seven years ago. I spend almost every day in my local waters of Port Phillip Bay capturing moments.
Favorite place to shoot underwater?
My favorite location to shoot images and capture unique behaviours is Port Phillip Bay, on the Mornington Peninsula in Australia.
Related Reading: How to Photograph Tide Pool Split-Shots
What's your most unforgettable moment underwater?
My most unforgettable experiences happened in April this year when I visited a Maori octopus who was living at an artificial reef inside a statue. Every day I would go hunting with this octopus, I named her Priscilla. I'm hoping to make a small documentary about her behaviours.
What inspires your photography?
I'm inspired by the vibrant biodiversity and the personalities of sea creatures I encounter on every dive. I love capturing the beauty and hidden secrets that can be shared with people who may never otherwise see them.
How would you describe your photography style?
I'd say my style is constantly evolving. My focus is to capture marine behaviour that is quite unique.
What's your #1 bucket-list dive destination?
I have a huge bucket list but at the top is Palau.
What's your advice for underwater shooters entering their first photo contest?
My advice to underwater shooters is to be patient. Wait & watch your subjects. Don't rush it with your camera. The best shots are when the marine life accept you in their environment.
Where can we follow your work?
Instagram @Onebreathdiver
Related Reading: How to Use Snoots to Light Your Macro Photography
Jules CaseyLocation: Rosebud, Mornington Peninsula, Australia
Behind the Shot Each winter, tens of thousands of giant spider crabs gather in Port Phillip Bay, creating a spectacular natural event. These crabs migrate into the shallow waters to molt their hard shells. They are vulnerable during this process, so they cluster together in massive, moving piles for protection from predators. This aggregation occurs during the colder months of May to July. It’s a rare and mesmerizing sight, an underwater phenomenon that showcases the survival strategies of the giant spider crabs. This shot is of a freshly molted crab sitting on top of thousands of others awaiting their time to molt.
Location of Photo Rosebud, Mornington Peninsula, Australia
Camera Gear Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mark II with 8mm fisheye lens in an Isotta housing; Kraken Sports torch
Settings f/10; 1/640; ISO 6400
Prize Turks and Caicos Aggressor II
