As a photographer, what do you think about when you're taking a photo?

I'm always looking for a story. You can take technically "good" photographs and sure, they'll look pretty. But if you're not capturing images that make people feel something new or makes them say, "Woah, there's a story behind this," then what's the point? And at CRF™, with the work we do, one image can kickstart something so much bigger than any of us. So I'm always looking for that one scene or that one frame that says something new about the ocean and the work CRF™ is doing.

What camera do you shoot with?

CRF™ uses a Canon 5D Mk IV with a 16-35mm f/4 lens and a 100mm f/2.8 Macro lens, so anytime I'm at work that's what I'm using. My personal camera is a 7D Mk II.

What's unique about taking photos when you're working with CRF™?

The environment, definitely. For one thing, you're underwater so right off the bat, you're dealing with very different light and colors than you would on land and you have a limited amount of time to get a shot or a series of shots before you run out of air. Second, conditions vary wildly from day to day. One day it might be flat calm, with sunny skies and 70 feet of underwater visibility. The next day, it might be raining, 20 feet of visibility and you're having to fight with the current and wave surge. So that really changes your approach when you have a camera in hand. And on top of all of that, the nurseries are an underwater environment that you can't find anywhere else in the world- I mean, thousands of critically endangered animals just sitting in the water column, surrounded by the open ocean! It's wild.

What's your favorite type of photography?

Wide angle, for sure. Wether I'm topside or underwater, landscape photography has always been my interest. There's something about shooting big, open, jaw-dropping spaces that I love.

What's it like to work/volunteer at CRF™?

It's really a special place. The mission is incredibly daunting, but everyone here- from interns, to volunteers, to the staff- has bought into it 100%. For me personally, it's hard to dive in the Keys because I see the degradation at every reef and at times I feel hopeless. But then I come to work and I don't have to be a passive observer anymore. I get a chance to make it all just a little bit better, each day. It's rewarding and fulfilling in a way that is hard describe. 

How can our followers get involved with CRF™?

There are so many ways to get involved. If you live in South Florida, you can volunteer with us on a weekly basis. If you're just visiting the Keys, there are opportunities to join dive programs, where we take divers out for a day of work in the nurseries and on the reefs. And if you're not a diver, donations never hurt either! All the information on how to volunteer, donate, or just learn more about us is online at www.coralrestoration.org. You can also follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter or sign up for our weekly newsletter