I’m Ollie Clarke, an ocean photographer based in Western Australia, but originally from Bognor Regis in the UK. After studying biology at Bournemouth University, I spent about 6 years working in marine conservation and the dive industry around the world, which is where I developed a love of photography.
I’ve been shooting professionally now for about 5 years and my biggest achievement was being named British Underwater Photographer of the Year 2023 in the UPY competition.
I love photographing marine megafauna, nothing really compares to being face-to-face with massive animals underwater. I do also really enjoy macro photography though and one of my macro images ‘Mototi in Motion’ was a finalist in last year’s Ocean Photographer of the Year contest.
Curious Humpback: This was one of my best humpback whale interactions on the Ningaloo reefs. I was actually swimming with a whale shark at the time, when I looked up to see this young whale approaching! He came in pretty hot for a close pass and then continued along on his way North. Shot on a Sony A1 with Nauticam housing and WACP-1
‘Fish Head’ or ‘The Swarm’: this is the image that won me British Underwater Photographer of the Year. I only had a couple of seconds to get this shot as the whale shark was moving quickly, attempting to catch some of the fish and I was also under pressure to try and get some images of the guests alongside it. Luckily for me just as it passed us it opened its mouth and attempted to gulp some of the school down! I was pretty excited when I got this shot and even told the swimmers that the whale shark was going to win me an award. Sony A7R3, Nauticam housing and WACP-1
Leopard Reflections: I spotted this little leopard/zebra shark as I was passing through the lagoon in my small boat on the lookout for wildlife, it was crystal clear and the wind was just starting, disrupting the surface a little and creating that ‘wobble’. Sony A1 with Nauticam housing and WACP-1
Ningaloo’s Icons: I actually got this one a couple of minutes before my curious humpback image and joked that if the whale had hurried up I could have gotten all three in one shot! Ningaloo is really a special place. Sony A1 and Nauticam WACP-1
Oceanic: Ningaloo is one of the few places you can encounter both species of manta ray in the same day, although oceanics like this one are much less common, with less than 50 in the database and more than 1000 reef mantas identified. Almost every time I’ve met an oceanic, they do this, approach, roll over and swim belly to belly whilst they investigate you (very useful for ID shots) before disappearing again into deeper water. Sony A1, Nauticam housing and WACP-1
Wedgefish on Patrol: Wedgefish are critically endangered rays, which have been largely wiped out across much of their usual range. Ningaloo is one of the last places where you can reliably encounter them and they are one of my favourites to photograph. Sony A1/Nauticam/WACP-1
Whale Shark Tales: A whale shark in the deep blues of the Indian Ocean, Ningaloo Reef, Western Australia. Sony A1/Nauticam/WACP1
Breach at Exmouth Sunset: The Gulf is a resting area for the largest population of humpback whales in the world – more than 40000 migrate up the West Australian coast every year. During the humpabck season you can also quite often get a late afternoon glass off, perfect conditions for photographing these animals. This young female breached alongside my tinny for over an hour. Sony A1/100-400gm
Night Nurse: Tawny Nurse sharks often come to the lights behind liveaboard in the Maldives, I photographed this one using strobes and a 2-second exposure to add some motion to the shot. Sony A1/Nauticam/WACP1/2 S&S YSD3
Ningaloo Whale Shark: Of all the whale shark shots I’ve gotten on the Ningaloo over the last few years, this one might just be my favourite. Sony A1/Nauticam/WACP1
Double Tiger/Fuvahmulah Tigers: a pair of tiger sharks patrol the dropoff at Fuvahmulah’s infamous tiger zoo. Sony A1/Nauticam/WACP1
Humpback on the Ningaloo: this was one of the first humpbacks I’d seen of the 2023 season and I was lucky enough to get a quick swim with it. Sony A1/Nauticam/WACP1
Maldivian Spa. A reef manta (Mobula alfredi) enjoys a spa treatment at a spa in North Male, Maldives. Sony A1/Nauticam/WACP1/2x S&S YSD3
Side Eye: A massive tiger shark photographed at Tiger Harbour, Fuvahmulah, Maldives. Sony A1/Nauticam/WACP1
Whale Shark on the Ningaloo. Despite looking like calm, clear water, this was one of the most challenging photos I’ve gotten on the Ningaloo. We had 25 knots of onshore wind and a little swell, making the sea ROUGH. I had to clear my snorkel with every breath and I was being thrown around on the surface by the waves. The whale shark was also swimming pretty quickly and I was trying to guide/signal the boat of its direction and depth. This photo I captured close to a channel, where generally the water is pretty dirty, but for some reason on this wild and windy day it was crystal clear. I’ve wanted to get a shot like this of a whale shark over nothing but white sand ever since I arrived on the Ningaloo and at the end of my 3rd year it finally happened.
You can find more from Ollie, including prints for sale, on his website at www.ollieclarkephotography.com, and Instagram @ollieclarkephoto
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