Why Oceans Matter: Underwater Photographer Brian Skerry at Bild

Why Oceans Matter: Underwater Photographer Brian Skerry at Bild

Author: B&H Photo & Video October 12, 2023 Duration: 58:12

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


There's a conversation happening about photography that goes far beyond the latest camera review, and you can find it on the B&H Photography Podcast. Hosted by the team at B&H Photo & Video, this series sits down with a wide range of insightful and genuinely entertaining guests from across the photographic world. Every other week, these discussions delve into the practical realities of gear and technique, but they also wander into the richer territory of visual history, the surprising science behind an image, and the personal philosophies that drive artistic expression. What you'll hear feels less like a formal interview and more like eavesdropping on a passionate chat between experts, unpacking the ideas that actually matter to anyone making pictures today. Whether you're a seasoned professional curious about a colleague's process or an enthusiastic amateur looking to deepen your understanding, this podcast provides a thoughtful, accessible space to explore the entire ecosystem of photography. The result is a consistently engaging listen that reminds you why you picked up a camera in the first place, while giving you the concrete knowledge to use it better tomorrow. Tune in for a fresh perspective that connects the technical dots with the creative spark.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

B&H Photography Podcast
Podcast Episodes
Passing the Podcast Keys with Derek Fahsbender and Allan Weitz [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:14:35
Allan Weitz had little idea of the grand photographic adventures in store when he signed on as host of the B&H Photography Podcast shortly before the show's debut in October 2015. As a self-described big mouth, and with…
Black Cowboys & Rodeo Culture, with Ron Tarver & Ivan McClellan [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:27:19
Top shot © Ron Tarver Cowboy lore has deep roots in American culture. Yet, black cowboys have lived pretty much under the radar until recently, when songs by pop culture icons Lil Nas X and Beyoncé went viral and catapul…
2024 Photo Gear of the Year with Kevin Rickert [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:41:31
Well, 2024 has certainly come and gone in a flash, meaning it's time once again for us to reflect on new photo offerings in our annual Cameras of the Year episode, now renamed Photo Gear of the Year. Featured in our disc…
Picturing World Cultures: Marcela Taboada – Mexico [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:16:12
Photographers have a magical ability to transport us to hidden worlds, giving us intimate access to facets of society that would otherwise go unnoticed. Above photograph © Marcela Taboada In today's podcast, we sit down…
Reclaiming a Natural Landscape, with Jade Doskow & Cal Flyn [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:15:17
What is the role of landscape photography in a post-industrial world? In today's podcast, we consider some possibilities in a chat with Jade Doskow, current photographer in residence for Staten Island's Freshkills Park,…
Picturing World Cultures: Mark Leong – China [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 59:28
In today's podcast, we sit down with Mark Leong, a fifth-generation Chinese-American photographer, for Picturing World Cultures. Above photograph © Mark Leong From his arrival in 1980s Beijing on a one-year travel fellow…
Picturing World Cultures: Fabiola Ferrero – Venezuela [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 1:00:30
Today's podcast has us sitting down with Venezuelan photographer and investigative journalist Fabiola Ferrero to discuss her long-term photographic projects in Venezuela, for Picturing World Cultures. Above photograph ©…
Picturing World Cultures: Naina Helén Jåma – Norwegian Sami [not-audio_url] [/not-audio_url]

Duration: 58:53
In today's podcast, we'll be talking with Norwegian photographer Naina Helén Jåma about her documentation of indigenous South Sami culture in Norway and her career as a press photographer in Scandinavia. Jåma details her…