James Emery

Nom nom hungry Snapping Turtle.

Shot on
📷Sony | Alpha a7Rv
🌊Nauticam
🔎Sony 28-60mm Nauticam WWL-B
💡
Backscatter UW Video & Photo

Big Yellow Froggy

Diving with Coral Eye Bangka

Shot on
📷Sony | Alpha a7Rv
🌊Nauticam
🔎canon8-15mm
💡
Backscatter UW Video & Photo

After seeing everyone's photos from the Monterey Shootout Backscatter UW Video & Photo I had an itch to go out myself. Thanks for all the inspiration and love from the community. Monterey really is the best 💚.

Shot on
📷Sony | Alpha a7Rvi
🌊Nauticam
🔎Nikonos RS 13mm
💡

Still thinking about how much fun we had shooting these split-shots during my workshop in Bangka back in April. The house reef jetty provided the perfect backdrop, but this massive school of Yellowstripe Scad (Selaroides leptolepis) completely stole the show.

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📷 a7Rv
🌊
🔎canon8-15mm
💡

This little inhabitant found the ultimate vantage point.

Shot on
📷 a7Rv
🌊
🔎Nikonos RS 13mm
💡

Always love diving the wharf—it's just such a consistently photo-productive spot.
Check out that fish in another's fishes mouth.

Also very much enjoying the loaner lens thanks 🙏

Shot on
📷 a7Rv
🌊
🔎Nikonos RS 13mm
💡

Natural Bokeh with the .optik.global Trioplan 100mm

Shot on
📷 a7Rv
🌊
🔎Trioplan 100mm
💡

Super macro is always a challenge, but tracking two subjects at once takes it to another level. These pygmy seahorses are no bigger than 1 cm, making every movement a test of patience. I spent quite a while watching this pair; the larger one kept headbutting its mate, almost as if it were trying to get them into position. I just had to wait for that split second where they both looked in the same direction to finally get the shot. I was able to get this shot with the help of the Nauticam SMC-3.

Shot on
📷 a7Rv
🌊
🔎Sony 100mm Nauticam SMC-3
💡Atom Flash

Inspired by mushrooms! 🍄
No, they aren't actually mushrooms—they're tunicates! But they immediately reminded me of a little underwater fairy land. To play on that magical vibe, I brought out a super fun lens: the Trioplan 100mm. It creates this crazy bubble bokeh that fits the enchanted forest look perfectly.

Shot on
📷 a7Rv
🌊
🔎 Meyer Optik Trioplan 100mm ii
💡Atom Flash

My old friend, the Coconut Octopus.

I had an absolute blast being back at running my macro workshop. Whenever I return here, I always hope to spend some time with one of my absolute favorite critters on Earth. The coconut octopus never disappoints—their intelligence and behavior are always incredible to witness.

If you want to take photos of these guys and dial in your macro skills, come join me in January for Capturing Critters 2027! Link in bio

Shot on
📷 a7Rv
🌊
🔎Sony 100mm with Nauticam EMWL 160 objective
💡Atom Flash