My name is Hanan Atia, I was born in Tel Aviv, Israel and moved to the US as a child. I have been diving since childhood and recently started as an underwater photographer. As an Emergency Medicine doctor, diving allows me to turn off the mental turbulence of life as I float through the blue. The sound of my breath coupled with the muffled click of the shutter allows me to enter an ironic duality of concentration and relaxation.
I shoot with Nikon d850 with either Sigma 15mm f/2.8 or Nikon 60mm f/2.8 with dual Sea & Sea YS-D2 with the occasional optical snoot for macro.
Though I enjoy capturing a broad variety of images varying from reefscapes to blackwater macro, shark photography has been my main focus (pun intended). I believe capturing images of these 450 million-year-old species help undo the nefarious reputation they have unjustly earned, mostly due to the media and entertainment industries. Sharks are essential for the survival and flourishing of our marine ecosystem and I hope that my images can help, even in a small way. Shark finning, in my opinion, is among the most significant examples of animal cruelty; our demonization of these animals has allowed us to turn a blind eye. On my time off, I have been fortunate enough to volunteer my time with conservation groups such as ‘Beneath The Waves’ to support efforts to establish marine protected areas.
I wanted to dedicate these words and my images below to a great friend, Matt Marriott, who recently passed away. Matt, a talented conservation photographer and great guy, was there to guide me as I clicked my shutter button for the first time in the clear blue waters of the Bahamas—he will be in my memory on every dive.
Whale shark, Mexico
Caribbean reef sharks, The Bahamas
Caribbean reef sharks with coral, The Bahamas
Caribbean reef sharks, The Bahamas
Great hammerhead shark, The Bahamas
Great hammerhead shark, The Bahamas
Caribbean reef shark, The Bahamas
Garden eels, West Palm Beach, Florida
Bull shark, Gulf Stream, Florida
Yellowline arrow crab, Palm Beach, Florida
Spotted moray eel, Bonaire
Caribbean reef sharks, The Bahamas
Oceanic manta ray, Mexico
Caribbean reef octopus, Bonaire
Great white shark, Mexico
Hawksbill turtles, Turks & Caicos Islands
Trunkfish, Palm Beach County, Florida
Juvenile seahorse, Gulf Stream, Florida
Whale shark, Mexico
Me on a boat
Find more from Hanan on his Instagram @uncle_haynen
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