“I was almost bulldozed by a humpback whale on New Year’s Day.”

Kate Vylet is a conservation and underwater photographer and videographer primarily based in Monterey Bay, California. Her work has been featured in BBC Wildlife journal and Oceanographic journal, and she or he is a associate photographer with Girls Who Click.

How did your profession begin? 

Growing up in city Los Angeles, I linked with nature by photographing the animals discovered alongside the perimeters of civilisation.

I continued at school and after studying the right way to scuba dive I began taking pictures underwater extensively, honing my abilities and constructing my portfolio, till I discovered the course for my work right this moment. 

You give attention to the ocean. What is it concerning the underwater world that appeals? 

Being underwater appears like exploring an alien planet. You’re floating via this extremely intricate world that’s hidden proper beneath the floor, with a lot vibrant life that’s simply out of sight for us as land animals. It can solely be described as magical, and as a photographer I wish to seize that magic for everybody. 

Which of your images has explicit significance for you? 

I took a photograph of urchins piling on a kelp blade that had fallen from the cover. A whole lot of kelp forest has been misplaced to overgrazing by urchins, however for me the picture is hopeful as a result of the urchins are consuming kelp detritus in a lush kelp forest. It’s a scene of new-found stability in a altering world; an emblem of resilience. 

What’s essentially the most uncommon species you’ve seen in California? 

I noticed a 2m sturgeon swimming via a kelp forest. I bear in mind seeing a magnified scute (certainly one of its bony scales) via my macro lens and deciding to only benefit from the second. It was solely afterwards that I realized how uncommon an occasion it was. No pictures, however my dive buddy will attest to the sighting! 

What’s your most memorable encounter with an animal? 

On New Year’s Day in 2018 I used to be nearly bulldozed by a humpback whale. I used to be taking pictures pictures and seemed as much as see what seemed to be an enormous reef. Then I realised it was a younger whale shifting straight in the direction of me. I’m undecided if it observed me, however I kicked out of the way in which because it handed. 

Have you had some other horrifying experiences whereas within the discipline? 

The scariest was a speedy ascent brought on by a DSMB. This is an inflatable buoy that’s used to mark your location whereas submerged. It was my first time launching one underwater and the reel caught my hand, inflicting the regularly accelerating float to tug me upwards. Thankfully, my coaching had taught me to recollect to breathe and I managed to cease it 4m from the floor.

Any epic fails to share? 

I’ve put batteries into my strobes the improper approach; realised I didn’t actually have a battery after carrying my gear all the way in which into the water; and observed too late that I had a hair caught to the within of my ‘dome port’ lens. You study to improvise and make checklists…

What species have you ever at all times needed to {photograph} that has eluded you? 

An grownup sarcastic fringehead. It’s a tube blenny – an elongated fish that dwells in deserted invertebrate shells or burrows – and males are well-known for his or her huge, vibrant mouths. I’ve seen subadults and itty-bitty infants, however a totally grown male with its spectacular jaws continues to elude me. 

What’s been your most difficult shoot up to now? 

Surfgrass shoots are bodily difficult. It grows on turbulent reefs and even on a peaceful day the churning water makes you are feeling such as you’re inside a washer. The stress is tough in your ears and also you’re being smacked into rock and blinded by bubbles as you attempt to compose a shot. 

Any ideas for budding wildlife photographers? 

Just maintain taking pictures. Honing abilities comes from apply and there’s at all times extra to study. You don’t must journey to take pictures – discover your native pond, forest and seaside. Seek out nature hidden within the nooks and crannies of cities, yards and parks. Wildlife is all over the place, you simply must look.

See extra of Kate’s work at katevylet.com.