Samuel Bower photographing a Caribbean reef
About

Looking at what
most people pass by

I grew up in Montana — landlocked, surrounded by mountains — and came to the ocean late. But when I found it, something clicked. I started diving, and like a lot of new divers, I brought a GoPro down with me. It didn't take long to realize the camera was the limitation. The detail I could see with my own eyes underwater simply wasn't there in the footage. The macro world — the small, intricate, extraordinary life clinging to every inch of a reef — was invisible to it.

So I got a real camera. That decision changed everything. Suddenly the macro world was capturable. The closer I looked, the more there was to find. Most of what I photograph is small enough to hold in your hand, and most divers swim right past it.

Since then I've been traveling the world with a camera in the water, chasing that same feeling — the one where you stop moving, let your eyes adjust, and suddenly realize the reef is full of life you almost missed. On the surface, I photograph the occasional land animal or architectural detail, but the ocean is where I keep coming back.

If a print caught your eye or you're looking to license an image, I'd love to hear from you.

Equipment

Camera
Olympus OM-D E-M10 Mark IV
Sensor
20.3MP Micro Four Thirds
Primary Use
Underwater Macro & Wildlife
Post-Processing
Adobe Lightroom