My dad subscribed to National Geographic, and as a kid I loved looking through the photos. I was fascinated by how a single image could tell a story, capture a moment, or show me a place I had never seen. I’ve been taking pictures since I was a teenager and shot for my college newspaper before eventually working as a photojournalist for the Chattanooga News-Free Press. I later spent a year freelancing in Alaska, where photography gave me the opportunity to document people, places, and experiences that were completely different from where I grew up.
Diver swimming over wreck with reef shark - Nikon Z8 with 14-30mm in Nassau, The Bahamas in natural light. © James Huenergardt
My love for the ocean goes back even further. I started snorkeling at nine years old in Phuket, Thailand, and from that point on I wanted to spend as much time in the ocean as possible. There is something about being underwater that never gets old for me. I love the wildlife, the movement, the light, and the feeling that you never quite know what you are going to encounter.
Queen Angelfish - Nikon Z8 with 60mm Macro at Blue Heron Bridge in natural light. © James Huenergardt
Today, I work as a corporate pilot, which often gives me the opportunity to fly to places like Florida and the Bahamas. Those trips have also become where I do much of my diving these days, giving me the chance to spend time underwater and continue photographing the marine life I enjoy so much.
Bridled Goby - Nikon Z8 with 60mm Macro at Blue Heron Bridge in natural light. © James Huenergardt
Underwater photography became a natural combination of two things I have loved for most of my life. I enjoy trying to capture not only what marine life looks like, but what it actually feels like to be there. Whether it is a tiny creature hiding in the reef, a school of fish moving through the water, or sunlight breaking through the surface, I want my images to give people a glimpse of the experience beneath the water.
Lemon Shark - Nikon Z8 with 14-30mm off Jupiter, FL in natural light. © James Huenergardt
I started underwater photography with a GoPro, then moved to an Olympus TG-6, and now shoot with a Nikon Z8 in an Ikelite housing. Each step has allowed me to push a little further creatively and technically, but the goal has stayed the same: to bring back a small piece of what I get to experience in the ocean and share it with others.
Hawksbill Turtle with Diver - Nikon Z8 with 14-30mm off Jupiter, FL in natural light. © James Huenergardt
Sharpnose Puffer - Nikon Z8 with 60mm Macro at Blue Heron Bridge in natural light. © James Huenergardt
Small school of French Grunts - Nikon Z8 with 60mm Macro at Blue Heron Bridge in natural light. © James Huenergardt
Nurse Shark - Nikon Z8 with 14-30mm in Nassau, The Bahamas in natural light. © James Huenergardt
Caribbean Reef Shark - Nikon Z8 with 14-30mm in Nassau, The Bahamas in natural light. © James Huenergardt
James' Gear
Additional Viewing
Nikon Z8 Underwater Housing Features & First Impressions [VIDEO]
Nikon Z8 Underwater in the Great Barrier Reef // Ikelite 200DL Underwater Housing [VIDEO]
Nikon Z8 Underwater Review // Josh Blank Ditches the D850 [VIDEO]
Macro in Lembeh Strait with the Nikon 60mm and Kenko 1.4x Teleconverter
Low Light, High Performance: A Review of the Nikon Z8 From a Blackwater Expert
James Huenergardt is a corporate pilot, diver, and underwater photographer. Between flights you can catch James diving in Florida or the Bahamas where he's using his Nikon Z8 camera to tell the ocean's stories. James' fascination with marine life began when he was just 9 years old snorkeling in Phuket, Thailand now he travels as often as he can to document his underwater experiences. You can learn more about James on his website www.reelinspirations.com or follow him on Instagram @reel_inspirations.
