Eduardo Acevedo lives in the Canary Islands and has been diving since 1990. He impressed us with his second place win in the macro category of the 2017 Through Your Lens photo contest with his stunning ribbon eel image, pictured below.

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Behind the Shot

After two hours of navigation I spotted in the distance something like a hurricane of birds throwing themselves at the sea. Quickly we headed to where we saw something amazing, hundreds of common and spotted dolphins attacking a big ball of sardines, along with three Bryde`s Whales. The idea was to capture the exact moment of the whale attack on the ball of sardines, but we knew it was very difficult because of her extreme speed. This photo shows the exact moment after the attack.

Q: How long have you been a scuba diver/what's your certification level?
A: I live in the Canary Islands, that´s why I have been in contact with the sea all my life. When I was very young I practiced spearfishing, then in 1990 I did my first course as a scuba diver. After 27 years of diving, I hold the titles of Instructor CMAS and TDI Rebreather Advanced Mixed Gas Diver (certificate maximum - 100 meters Helox or Trimix diluent).

Q: How long have you been an underwater photographer and how did you get started?
A: I began with underwater photography in 1997 with Nikon F70/F90 shooting film. The beginning was very slow and difficult because we could only take 36 shots and then reveal the slides. Later in 2005, I started with digital photography, changing to Canon with its first CANON 5D model.

Q: Tell us about your camera rig(s).
Camera: Canon 5D Mark II and 5D Mark IV
Housing: Seacam.Mark II and Mark IV
Lens: Canon 15mm, 8-15mm,17-40 wide angle and Canon 100mm and multiplier 1.4 Kenko for macro
Strobe: 4 Strobe Inon Z-240
Extras: Snoots Saga Dive

Q: Do you prefer to shoot on scuba or freediving?
A: In the Canary Islands and in 90% of my encounters in the open ocean, I usually shoot freediving mainly because I normally do wide-angle photography so I need more speed and mobility. I like using long fins of fiber or carbon and 3mm wet suits whenever the temperature of the water allows.

When I travel outside my area, it depends. If I want to do macro photography (Lembeh, Bali, Anilao…etc) then I scuba dive obviously and for wide-angle also except the areas where whales or open water then I return to freediving.

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

Q: What hashtag best describes your underwater photography style?
A: # PPP=Passion Perseverance Patience

Q: What or who inspires you?
A: What inspires me the most is being in the sea as long as possible.

Q: What do you love most about your work?
A: To be able to remember with my photography the best moments that I spent in the sea, especially because underwater photography is not my job, it's just my hobby.

Q: What's been your most rewarding moment?
A: My most rewarding moments include:
• An encounter with a bryde whale in the exact moment of hunting a huge ball of mackerels
• After 10 years looking for a leatherback turtle, I found her just two miles from my house and took the picture and I love to share this passion with my friends Francis Perez, Zeben, Pablo, Juan Raya, Joaquin Gutierrez and my son of 11 years Eduardo Jr.

Q: What was your favorite trip and why?
A: Baja California and Revillagigedo Islands, this area is spectacular. Killer whales, humpback whales, whale sharks, giant mantas, all kind of sharks, turtles, sea lions, big balls of jacks, fish and sardines……all you can dream you can have it there.

Q: Where do you most want to go?
A: For 2018, I am taking thee live aboard trips in different seasons to Raja Ampat and in 2019 will be the year I look for encounters with sperm whales, bryde, humpback and blue whales in different countries.

Q: Any advice for budding photographers?
A: The only secret is passion and love the sea.