Spotlight on Shinto Anto: This Week’s Photography Maestro

A common subject in the Indo-Pacific, a lemon goby keeps watch over a nest of eggs, Anilao, Philippines

 

Shinto Anto’s journey into underwater photography began later in his career as a full-time engineer. Hailing from India and currently residing in Singapore, he devotes most of his underwater experiences to exploring the warm waters of Southeast Asia and the astounding diversity present there. His feature here, primarily captured using his Sony A7R Mark III, exemplifies this. Although he sees himself as a passionate amateur photographer, Shinto prioritizes his photography and love for the marine environment to contribute back to the oceans he cherishes deeply.

With a strong dedication to marine conservation, Shinto has dedicated over ten years volunteering with various environmental organizations, collaborating on initiatives aimed at safeguarding marine biodiversity and elevating awareness regarding the effects of human actions on our seas and the life within them. He states that his conservation endeavors closely mirror his passion for storytelling and holds the belief that striking visuals can motivate significant actions and nurture a deeper bond to, and captivation with, the ocean.

Additionally, Shinto takes pleasure in imparting his photography knowledge through workshops that enable others to capture the underwater realm. He collaborates with friends to arrange an annual workshop excursion titled “Ocean Canvas,” where they dive, photograph and exchange innovative ideas. Through his endeavors, Shinto hopes to motivate a new cohort of divers and photographers to become champions for our oceans.

 

A splendid and well-camouflaged shrimp residing on the back of a blue sea star, Anilao, Philippines

 

This glasseye snapper advises to swim against the current, Palau, Micronesia

 

A reef manta glides overhead in German Channel, Palau, Micronesia

 

A solitary, stingless jellyfish pulsates below the surface of the renowned Jellyfish Lake, Palau, Micronesia

 

A diver investigates the wreck of the Jake Seaplane, Palau, Micronesia

 

A tiny seahorse in a vast world. A Denise’s pygmy rests on its home sea fan, Bali, Indonesia

 

A detailed close-up view of a nudibranch’s rhinophores, Bali, Indonesia

 

A fragile Unidentia sandramillenae nudibranch navigating over a volcanic rock, Bali, Indonesia

 

A small coconut octopus finding refuge in abandoned debris, Anilao, Philippines

 

A bigfin reef squid displaying its numerous suckers, Bali, Indonesia

 

A “moonlit” thorny seahorse, Anilao, Philippines

 

A bumphead parrotfish poses for the lens over a reef in Sipadan, Borneo, Malaysia

 

A duo of Coleman shrimp snuggle together among the spines of a poisonous fire urchin, Anilao, Philippines

 

To discover more of Shinto’s underwater artistry, consider following him on Instagram.