Suspended gracefully in the water, the sense of movement and inherent serenity of the underwater creatures that are captured by photographer Gary Bell’s lens have garnered him international acclaim as they lend a surreal insight into the world below the ocean’s surface.

Water ballet

Suspended gracefully in the water, the sense of movement and inherent serenity of the underwater creatures that are captured by photographer Gary Bell’s lens have garnered him international acclaim as they lend a surreal insight into the world below the ocean’s surface.

Written by Gary Bell

Photography by Gary Bell

28 January 2025

Anilao, Philippines: Perched on a stinging hydroid, this tiny alien- like skeleton shrimp is no longer than 2 centimetres – they can be found in deep water, but most prefer shallow intertidal zones.

Anilao, Philippines: Delicate in form and unable to rapidly bury itself in sand like an adult, at just 30 millimetres in size this juvenile sole mimics a toxic and inedible flatworm swimming to stay safe from predators.

Solitary Islands, New South Wales: Wrasses are a bit like parrots – they come in a variety of different shapes, colours and sizes. This sunset wrasse was curious about its reflection in my camera dome port, pausing just long enough for me to shoot this portrait.

Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea: At night, a bigfin reef squid sends waves of electric colours across its body, possibly to create confusion – squid can also change colour for camouflage or during courtship.

Lembeh Strait, Indonesia: The mimic octopus uses its chromato-phores (cells that produce colour) to disguise itself, and can impersonate other marine animals when evading predators.

It’s the diversity of life and the extraordinary beauty in the sea that I’m drawn to. I love the challenge of capturing a moment underwater – a portrait that tells a story – and these images help people reconnect with nature. The sea is full of surprises.

Raine Island, Great Barrier Reef: Panning the camera coupled with a slow shutter speed creates a sense of movement as a green sea turtle swims idly past.

York Peninsula, South Australia: The leafy seadragon, one of the most bizarre yet beautiful fish in the ocean, can only be found along Australia’s southern coastline – in this photo, it has a parasitic isopod attached; a creature that may eventually kill it.

Cod Hole, Great Barrier Reef: Resting in shallow water, a school of diagonal-banded sweetlips pose inches away from my super-wide 16-millimetre fisheye lens.

Alinao, Philippines: In a kaleidoscope of colour, crinoid feather stars and fairy basslets create a magical underwater scene as they feed on plankton drifting in the current.

Gary Bell

Gary Bell is a professional nature and wildlife photographer living in Australia on the Mid North Coast of New South Wales. His assignments have included commissions by National Geographic magazine and television, as well as Australian Geographic and the CSIRO Fisheries division.

“My journey in underwater photography began in 1974 after taking my first picture under the Portsea Pier on the Mornington Peninsula,” remembers Bell. “This led to a career I never could have anticipated, and a string of adventures all over Australia as well as many locations around the world.”

Bell has won Australasia Underwater Photographer of the Year three times. He’s a regular supporter of several conservation organisations and manages the photo agency oceanwideimages.com, which represents an elite group of photographers.

facebook.com/GaryBellPhotography

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Water ballet

Suspended gracefully in the water, the sense of movement and inherent serenity of the underwater creatures that are captured by photographer Gary Bell’s lens have garnered him international acclaim as they lend a surreal insight into the world below the ocean’s surface.

Written by Gary Bell

Photography by Gary Bell

It’s the diversity of life and the extraordinary beauty in the sea that I’m drawn to. I love the challenge of capturing a moment underwater – a portrait that tells a story – and these images help people reconnect with nature. The sea is full of surprises.

Gary Bell

Let us know what you think on socials

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Water ballet

Suspended gracefully in the water, the sense of movement and inherent serenity of the underwater creatures that are captured by photographer Gary Bell’s lens have garnered him international acclaim as they lend a surreal insight into the world below the ocean’s surface.

Written by Gary Bell

Photography by Gary Bell

It’s the diversity of life and the extraordinary beauty in the sea that I’m drawn to. I love the challenge of capturing a moment underwater – a portrait that tells a story – and these images help people reconnect with nature. The sea is full of surprises.

Gary Bell

Let us know what you think on socials

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