David Doubilet is highly regarded in the field of underwater photography. The Sara Prize, the Explorers Club Lowell Thomas Award and the Lennart Nilsson Award in Photography are just some coveted awards that David has tucked under his belt. At the same time, David is a member of the Royal Photographic Society and International Scuba Diving Hall of Fame. Presently, David is a contributing photographer in-residence of National Geographic.

His underwater photography has taken him to water systems of all types in different parts of the world. He is as much at home in the cold waters of New Zealand, Tasmania, Scotland, Japan, Northwest Atlantic and Northeast Pacific as in the freshwater systems of the Okavango Delta in Botswana and the St. Lawrence River. David’s choice of residence is equally telling of his nature and inclinations. Interestingly, David has taken residence in the river town of Clayton, New York and in the coastal town of DeKelders, South Africa.

It comes as no surprise that Beneath the Sea honours David by naming their highest award…

Galen Rowell lived a life  in photography that influenced and inspired not just a few photographers. He followed his calling wherever it took him. He went on many journeys to places far and away like the mountains of Nepal, India, Pakistan, Tibet, China, Africa, Alaska, Canada, Siberia, New Zealand, Norway and Patagonia.

Galen was a visionary. His philosophy set him apart. In his photography, Galen did not believe that the photographer should be dettached from the art that was the photograph. Instead, Galen wanted the photographer to be involved in the photograph. He wanted the artist to become part of the art. Galen saw the artist and the art as one. To Galen, the artist was the art.

Galen Rowell on Tibet from Mountain Light.

Indeed, Galen’s photography continues to influence and inspire. Long after his days in this world, Galen’s photography lives on. So does Galen in his photography in which the art is the artist that is Galen Rowell.

Galen Rowell (23 August 1940 — 11 August 2002) from Mountain Light.

More on Galen’s life and photography is…

If there is anybody who can claim to have truly seen the beauty of the world in which we live, it is landscape photographer Geoff Ross. He has his photographs to prove it.

It must take a certain affinity with nature to be able to capture it in the way that Geoff has done. We can only wonder how many times he has stood in awe of the nature that he has photographed.

No doubt the stunning landscape of his home country, Australia, has given him much inpiration. He has not stopped there. His calling has taken him to far away places all over our planet.

Geoff’s photography seems to remind us  that we should always keep our eyes open to the wonder all around us in a world that is ever-changing and always new.

From Geoff Ross.

Meet Nick Koudis. He is not your everyday photographer. What you see as big, he sees as small. What you see as small, he sees as big. He is famous for his unconventional way of capturing the world on camera. Test the limits of your imagination with his photography. Through his lens, the world is simply surreal.

The photograph below is typical of Nick’s photography.  He calls it “I love a sexy cup.” Examine the photograph closely to appreciate Nick’s sense of humor. More samples of Nick’s photography are in his portfolio. Looking at any of Nick’s photographs is like playing a game in which you guess the answer to the question, ‘What is wrong with this picture?’

The world is Nick’s playground. His images know no barriers. Poke fun at life with Nick’s photography.

From Koudis.