Tracey Jennings is a British photographer but has been living in Asia for some time. After living in Singapore for 10 years, he recently moved to Malaysia.

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Behind The Shot

I was traveling in the Galapagos and before my liveaboard trip I spent a few days shore diving and birdwatching. When I went diving at Gordon Rocks, I had to wake up very early and join the remaining divers. When we got to the site, there was time for breakfast – granola and yogurt. However, I spied Galapagos seal lions and instead of breakfast I jumped in the water. The sea lions swam towards my dome port and were having a fantastic time admiring their collection. Everyone else ate breakfast and then jumped in, in mass. The sea lions retreated – too many people in the water. For me, there is no choice between sea lions and breakfast!

Q: How long have you been a scuba diver/what’s your certification level?
A: About 20 years! SSI Master Diver. However, I have only started taking pictures in the last five years.

Q: Do you prefer to shoot on scuba or freediving?
A: Scuba. But I would love to learn how to freedive. I’m a useless snorkeler so it will be a challenge. I do love my free diving fins though.

Q: What is your favorite photo-sharing platform?
A: Instagram

Q: What are three of your favorite social-media accounts to follow?
A: @Daviddoubliet @geo_cloete @kluge_photo

Q: What hashtag best describes your underwater photography style?
A: #Momentsofsilence #lovesharks #nosharksfin

Q: What or who inspires you?
A: Photography wise then David Doubliet, Jennifer Hayes, Michael Aw and Ernie Brooks. I’m also inspired by my divemasters who often with an old point and shoot camera can create fabulous images. My images owe a lot to the patience and experience of the boatmen, and dive masters who willingly share their knowledge with divers. I also love the work of friends such as Matthew Smith, Rita Kluge, and Geo Cloete.

I’m pretty much inspired by anyone who tries to protect the oceans.

Q: What do you love most about your work?
A: The opportunity to show people how beautiful our oceans are and how magnificent sharks are. If I can inspire only one person to say no to sharks fin soup or to care more about protecting the ocean, then all the time and effort is worthwhile.

Q: What’s been the biggest challenge and/or your most rewarding moment?
A: My biggest challenge, is to edit my photos and to have the time to go on trips. My most rewarding moment, was when NatGeo used my smiling shark picture to advertise their competition, across the globe. I love this image because I hope it goes a little way to counteract the image of sharks as monsters.

Q: What was your favorite trip and why?
A: So difficult. My favorite locations are Cocos Islands, Raja Ampat and Cenderwashe Bay, Simonstown in South Africa, and Azores. I love schools of fish, sharks and blue water. I particularly love kelp.

Q: Where do you most want to go?
A: The ocean! On my bucket list is British Columbia, Triton Bay, Banda Sea and Sea of Cortez.

Q: Any advice for budding photographers?
A: Spend as much time in the ocean as possible. Don’t chase your subject and make friends with your dive masters and boat men. It’s a team activity.

See more of Jennings work on his website.