Sean Howard began diving at age 15 in the cold January waters of Idaho’s Snake River Canyon. Since that time, he has combined his passion for photography, travel, ocean conservation and undersea adventure to create images he hopes inspire wonder, whimsy, and curiosity.
“I try to evoke an emotional response in all my photography. Since so few people experience the underwater world firsthand, I hope my images arouse awareness and conservation of this dynamic, abstract, and miraculous environment.” - Sean Howard
Macro his Sean's favorite thing to shoot underwater simply because the challenge of diving fundamentals mixed with photographic technique and lighting all converging to capture detail most people, including many divers, don’t ever see.
All photos taken with Nikon D7100 in Ikelite Underwater Housing, dual DS161 Strobes, Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 and 10-24mm f/3.5 lenses.
Alien Coral in Sea Space – I love the use of blacks and shadows to emphasize the unique life and patterns that are truly alien to so many people on our planet.
Air Bubble Reflection – sometimes you capture an unusual image by photographing ordinary underwater moments. My wife’s air bubble was coming up to me and the burst of the strobe captured my own image. You can clearly see my fins, body, and the synch cords to my Ikelite strobes.
Feather Dusters Purple and White – Feather duster worms are simply gorgeous to watch fan in the current and I love the detail and color contrasting with the dark black background.
Arrow Crab in Sponge – Shot on a night dive in Grand Cayman, I love the “grumpy” expression the crab seems to give off for having its evening interrupted by a burst of light.
Donut Coral with Big Dream on Surface – A classic shot of a subject in the foreground with the boat on the surface. I love how a calm the surface was which gave clarity to the boat’s hull, sides and lines.
Jellyfish in the Blue – Taken at the end of a dive in Wakatobi, the division between the black water and the blues and whites of the sky and clouds make a lovely contrast between the two worlds.
Night Corals BW – I love black and white imagery underwater and this photo of corals during a night dive in Wakatobi give a surreal sense of an alien creature awakening.
Shrimp in Motion – Sometimes out of focus shots can create a sense of the dynamism and abstract motion of a world that is never truly still.
Sponge Brittle Star Abstract – Taken at night off Macabuca, Grand Cayman, I love the abstract feeling of this image. Non-divers especially always ask about this as they aren’t quite sure what is happening in the shot and are always enchanted by the simplicity of a brittle star crawling around a sponge.
White Crab on Sand – The camouflage of underwater life is truly astounding as demonstrated by this crab barely visible in relief from its sandy environment. It also serves to remind me that in diving, the beauty is in the detail and so many wonderful creatures are hiding in plain sight if you take a moment to look.
Anemone with Pink Skunk Clownfish – Though I’m a big fan of “Nemo” clownfish in anemones, I appreciate the “green grass” peaceful nature of this image.
Additional Reading
Clownfish Underwater Camera Settings
An Insiders Guide to Diving Wakatobi Resort Indonesia
Sea Turtle Eating Coral in Grand Cayman // Sony a7C II Underwater [VIDEO]
Just Below the Surface | Shooting on Snorkel in Grand Cayman
Why Wakatobi Should Be On Your Bucket List
Tropical Reef Underwater Camera Settings
Sean Howard began diving at age 15 in the cold January waters of Idaho’s Snake River Canyon. He purchased his current Ikelite system in 2014 and loves nothing more than trying to capture the beauty and wonder he feels on every dive. He is an advertising executive and lives in Washington DC with his wife and daughter – both of whom are also avid divers. Sean shoots with a Nikon D7100 in an Ikelite Housing with two DS161 strobes. See more of Sean's work on his website.
