logo
episode-header-image
Oct 2023
58m 12s

Why Oceans Matter: Underwater Photograph...

B&H Photo & Video
About this episode

Water is essential to life on Earth. The health of our oceans—and its inhabitants—is equally crucial to maintaining Earth’s delicate balance. This is an apt takeaway from our exclusive chat with renowned underwater photographer and filmmaker Brian Skerry, as part of our coverage of B&H’s 50th Anniversary Bild Expo 2023.

Above photograph © Brian Skerry

We sat down with Skerry shortly before his presentation on the Bild Expo Main Stage to get the full scoop on his career arc, from a youthful fantasy of being an ocean explorer in the mold of Indiana Jones to his more recent work interpreting the culture of whales and other inhabitants of the deep.

We also delve into sobering concerns about the extreme geologic change Skerry has witnessed in the oceans over time. 

With such facts in mind, he describes the responsibility he feels to combine scientific research and powerful storytelling, so that we may better understand our relationship to nature, and to change our behaviors for the better.

Guest: Brian Skerry

For more information on our guest and the gear he uses, see:  https://www.bhphotovideo.com/explora/podcasts/photography/why-oceans-matter-underwater-photographer-brian-skerry-at-bild

Stay Connected: Brian Skerry Website: https://brianskerry.com/ Brian Skerry Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/brianskerry/ Brian Skerry X: https://www.twitter.com/brian_skerry/ Brian Skerry Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/brian.skerry/ Brian Skerry - Secrets of the Whales: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/tv/shows/secrets-of-the-whales  Brian Skerry - The Sentient Sea Exhibit, Siena, Italy: https://festival.sienawards.com/en/brian-skerry-2/ Brian Skerry - Ocean Odyssey Exhibit, Paris, France: https://www.atelier-lumieres.com/en/ocean-odyssey

Up next
Jul 3
The Great Acceleration: Human-Altered Industrial Landscapes, with Edward Burtynsky
Industrial expansion has left an indelible mark on our natural world, fundamentally altering landscapes and ecosystems for the sake of material progress and modern convenience. This transformation has created an environmental challenge of unprecedented scale. In today’s show, we’ ... Show More
52m 34s
Jun 19
A Master Class in Photo Book Publishing, with Mary Virginia Swanson & Rick Smolan
Every photographer dreams of publishing a book of their photographs. But what exactly does that entail? In today’s show, we’re going to peek behind the scenes of this complex and daunting process in a chat with two complementary figures who’ve spent their respective careers helpi ... Show More
1h 37m
Jun 4
The Beauty & Impact of Polar Photography, with Acacia Johnson & Jonas Paurell
In a world of perpetual motion, there exists a realm of profound stillness—where light doesn’t simply illuminate, it transforms. Far from home amid Earth’s frozen tundras, time itself seems suspended in crystalline air. In today’s podcast, we’ll visit these places where time hang ... Show More
1h 46m
Recommended Episodes
Oct 2023
The Infinite Monkey’s Guide to... Oceans
If there’s any doubt that the deep sea is as exciting to explore as the moon or Mars, this episode puts the question to rest, as Robin and Brian wade through the back catalogue to learn all about the ocean. Professor Lloyd Peck from the British Antarctic Survey tells them about t ... Show More
23m 45s
Apr 2021
Episode 23: “Secrets of the Whales” with Nat Geo Photographer & Explorer Brian Skerry
National Geographic Explorer and Photographer Brian Skerry discusses the three-year endeavor to make the new 4-part Disney+ documentary series Secrets of the Whales. Skerry explains to host Stacey Wilson Hunt the skills and patience needed to capture never-seen-before moments in ... Show More
38m 12s
Nov 2021
The Gateway to Secret Underwater Worlds
When Jacques Cousteau was young, an accident sent him on a path that led him to invent scuba, opening up the underwater world to humans. Today, explorers David Doubilet and Laurent Ballesta follow in his footsteps, making discoveries on their own amazing and sometimes terrifying ... Show More
31m 10s
Oct 2022
Exploring Pristine Seas
National Geographic Explorer in Residence Enric Sala quit academia to explore and protect the sea. On his journey to keep the ocean pristine, he has swam with jellyfish in Palau, gone diving in the Arctic, and got acquainted with sharks at Millennium Atoll. Sala’s explorations ha ... Show More
31m 21s
Mar 2021
What the deep ocean can teach us about life
We’re exploring the parts of our world that require us to look a little deeper. From the depths of our oceans to the canopies that grace our skylines, we’ll be venturing into unfamiliar pockets of nature with the people who have carved a life out of choosing to study the things t ... Show More
26m 6s
Jul 2022
Exploring the Deep
Brian Cox and Robin Ince are joined by comedian and musician Tim Minchin and oceanographers Diva Amon and Jon Copley to uncover what mysteries still lie at the bottom of our oceans. It is often said that we know more about the surface of the Moon then we do about our own ocean fl ... Show More
42m 49s
Jun 2021
The Real-Life MacGyver in Nat Geo’s Basement
In the basement of National Geographic’s headquarters, there’s a lab holding a secret tech weapon: Tom O’Brien. As Nat Geo’s photo engineer, O’Brien adapts new technologies to capture sights and sounds previously never seen or heard before. O’Brien leads us on a tour of his lab a ... Show More
31m 7s
Jul 2020
The Canary of the Sea
Chirp. Whistle. Creak. Beluga whales, the canaries of the sea, have a lot to say. But noise from ships can drown out their calls, putting calves in danger. What happens when humans press pause during the coronavirus pandemic—and finally give ocean life some peace and quiet? For m ... Show More
20m 30s