Epic Underwater Photography: Contributors' Picks

Cave diver in cave, photo by Brandi Mueller
Photo by Brandi Mueller: A cave diver swims through a tunnel with smooth walls on all sides. Mexico. Gear: Nikon Z 7II camera, Ikelite housing, Kraken lights. Exposure: ISO 2500, f/7.1, 1/60s

We asked our contrib­utors what their favorite epic underwater images were and they returned with a diverse selection of photos capturing epic adventures and interactions with marine life in the underwater world.

Paul Fearn Portfolio

Three Colours Blue I and II, by Paul Fearn
Three Colours Blue I and II Diptych by Paul Fearn. Copper sheet painting with patinas, two 40 x 30cm panels

British artist and avid diver Paul Fearn paints beautiful underwater scenes and marine life on copper metal plates, using unique patinas that evoke the ambiance and watery depths of the underwater realm. X-Ray Mag interviewed the artist, who is based in West Sussex, to learn more about his unique artistic process as well as his perspectives on diving and saving the fragile ecosystems of our oceans.

UW Photo: Botanical Comparisons

A Corallimorph and A Lotus Flower Pod
Comparison: Circular. Photo 9. (left) A Lotus Flower Pod; Photo 10. (right) A Corallimorph, both by Anita George-Ares

Have you ever noticed how an underwater sea anemone or coral form might resemble a flower or plant found on land? Photographers Anita George-Ares and John A. Ares take a colorful dive into the realm of botanical comparisons, with side-by-side shots of flora and fauna above and below the waves.