Spotlight Shutterbug: Meet Emmanuel Vaillant

Striped dolphins glide through the stunningly blue waters of the Mediterranean Sea, France

It’s a familiar tale – a non-photographer embarks on diving adventures and becomes a photographer after experiencing the magnificent diversity of life that the ocean presents. This week, DPG highlights Emmanuel Vaillant. Emmanuel achieved certification as a young boy, and shortly thereafter, his journey into underwater photography commenced with a compact camera—a Canon Ixus 750 along with specific housing. He aimed simply to record his underwater journeys and has since cultivated a remarkable enthusiasm for photography beneath the surface.

As many of us can identify, financial limitations in his formative diving years required Emmanuel to take a break from diving; however, he persevered with photography. While on dry land, he shifted towards wildlife and landscape photography. These endeavors supported him positively when he returned to underwater shooting in recent years.

Now that he has the opportunity to dive more frequently, Emmanuel’s passion for diving has been reignited and his underwater photography equipment has seen upgrades. Though he doesn’t dive as often as he desires (who truly does?), he embarks on multiple trips annually and has amassed invaluable experience behind the lens. Emmanuel continuously aspires to refine his skills to produce images that showcase the allure and variety of the underwater realm.

Magnificent coral formations accompanied by reef fish at the Liberty Wreck, Bali, Indonesia

The beloved ‘donut’ nudibranch, Bali, Indonesia

A backlit spiny seahorse, aglow with snoot lighting, Bali, Indonesia

A juvenile lionfish feasting on an unfortunate little shrimp, Bali, Indonesia

The blue-ring’s somewhat less ostentatious cousin, the mototi octopus, Bali, Indonesia

A stunning pair of skunk anemonefish nestled within their anemone, Bali, Indonesia

A ghost goby vigilantly safeguarding a cluster of eggs, Bali, Indonesia

A duo of southern stingrays searching for sustenance in the sandy areas, Tobago Cays, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

A quintessential macro subject, a peacock mantis shrimp transporting eggs, Bali, Indonesia

Some leaffish exhibit striking colors, such as this pink individual from Bali, Indonesia

The sandy flats of Tobago Cays host a thriving population of green turtles, St. Vincent and the Grenadines

An exquisitely healthy reef environment, Bali, Indonesia

To explore more of Emmanuel’s creations, consider following him on Instagram.