Brian Skerry
Brian Skerry
Brian Skerry is an underwater photojournalist who works primarily for National Geographic magazine...
NationalityAmerican
ProfessionPhotographer
CountryUnited States of America
change instrument stories
Photography can be a powerful instrument for change, and photojournalists can tell stories that make a difference.
almost blue photos whale whales
Most whale photos you see show whales in this beautiful blue water - it's almost like space.
breathe health majority mention oxygen since survival
Since the majority of the oxygen we breathe comes from the ocean, not to mention much of the world's protein, it is not an exaggeration to say that when our oceans' health declines, our very survival is at risk.
abundance becoming cape excess fortunate great million numbers seals shark sharks stocks
On Cape Cod, great white shark stocks have been growing, or at least becoming more concentrated, because of the multiplying numbers of seals around Monomoy Island. We are fortunate to have such abundance of these sharks in our own waters. Around the globe, we are killing in excess of 100 million sharks each year.
associate herd people predators schools
I think that most people would associate big schools of fish with healthy coral reefs. At Kingman, the predators keep the herd thin, so there aren't a lot of big fish schools.
effective five maybe regular shoot six underwater
I typically shoot underwater with my regular camera in an underwater housing, and then I usually have two big strobes that I use to light. But with whales, you're not going to be able to really light a 45-foot subject. Your strobes are only effective for maybe five or six feet underwater.
beginning change good information popular population sharks start
I still think there's a big part of the population that has a lot of misinformation about sharks. But I think it's beginning to change a little bit. As good information about sharks permeates popular culture, things may start to change.
england favorite food giant provide richest temperate therefore waters whales
New England waters are some of my favorite - they are some of the richest waters because they are temperate waters and nutrient-rich, and therefore provide food for so many animals, from giant whales to sharks to everything else.
air calming england hearing mysterious remember salt wondering
I think that going to the beach as a child, being in the water and smelling that salt air and hearing the seagulls, it had a real calming effect. But also, it was a mysterious thing - I remember wondering what was under those dark New England seas.
clearly dinosaur drawn interested marine sorts
As a young boy, I was very interested - as I still am - in all sorts of adventure and exploration. I thought about being an astronaut, a dinosaur scientist, or marine biologist, but I clearly was drawn to the ocean and to the water.
animals blend decades enigmatic held keeps layers marine mystery peel power since special though tightly tire tried watching
For decades I have tried to peel back the layers of mystery surrounding many marine creatures, though most have held tightly to their secrets. One animal that keeps me pondering is the shark. Spellbound by these enigmatic animals since I first encountered them in New England, I never tire of watching their special blend of power and grace.
explore love perfect underwater visual work
I love storytelling, I love being a visual person, and it just made perfect sense to be an underwater photographer and explore the ocean and work with scientists.
assignment bahamas coral dreamed ecosystems exquisite grass multiple perfect shallow shark species trenches
The Bahamas has mangrove nurseries, coral reefs, shallow sea grass beds, and deep oceanic trenches - all perfect ecosystems for sharks. Photographing multiple shark species in exquisite water was the assignment I had dreamed about from the start.
becoming obligation realize seen share underwater
I have been blessed to realize my dream of becoming an underwater photojournalist, but with that, I feel an obligation and sense of urgency to share what I have seen with others.