Featured Photographers

Featured Underwater Photographer – Florian Scarlat

One of the best ways to learn photography is to see other photographers’ work. Mozaik looks for some of the best underwater photographers in the world, and showcases their work, along with the gear they use, to help other aspiring photographers improve, learn new skills and get inspired.

This week we will feature the talented Florian Scarlat!

About Florian

Here is Florian Scarlat, based in Romania, but love to dive in tropical waters. Started taking pictures underwater about 10 years ago with a small Canon camera that got flooded after 4 dives. Taking pictures while diving gives me a reason to continue doing it and to explore new dive destinations around the world.

Been diving in Black sea-where I first started diving and my home, Egypt with the amazing colors of the Red sea, pristine reefs in Sudan, amazing Socorro in Mexico with Oceanic Mantas, Whalesharks, dolphins…., Maldives being probably the best all round dive destination , having it all, from smallest to the biggest ocean inhabitants, Philippines with the amazing biodiversity in the Coral triangle, Raja Ampat in Indonesia with the amazing landscapes both underwater and above it………What’s next? Can’t wait to see and dive.

I love wide angle, in my opinion gives a lot more perspective and personal touch, being able to share the beauty of the ocean in a more realistic way. Always look for the Sun, divers and the most vivid colors of the corals and fishes in my pictures.

Being a bit lazy, I prefer small compact cameras, easy to assemble, carry and dive with, now using Sony RX100VA in Ikelite housing, wide angle lens from Ikelite and Weefine, dual Inon Z330 strobes and rarely a macro lens.

A few of my favorite’s shots, maybe not the best, but the one that have a special place in my memories. Don’t forget “DIE WITH MEMORIES, NOT DREAMS”

Florian’s Gear

  • Sony RX100 VA
  • Ikelite housing
  • Ikelite wide angle lens
  • Weefine wide angle lens
  • Dual Iron Z330
  • macro lens

Florian‘s Work

Tiger shark in the blue, what a memory, being alone in the blue with my favorite shark of all I have encountered so far (about 20 species). Fuvahmullah, Maldives.

Grey reef in the Maldives.

Mandarin fish mating, maybe one of the most interesting sunset dives ever, need to do 2 dives to get them in the mating ritual, so interesting to witness this amazing ritual, that only happening in a 15 min time frame at sunset. Dumaguete, Philippines.

Whaleshark at Roca Partida, most probably the best dive site in the world, at least in my opinion.

Giant Barracuda, just enjoy the moment, Fuvahmullah, Maldives.

That is Sudan, nothing else to say, just enjoy the vivid colors of the soft corals.

Perfect buoyancy, Maldives.

This one was on my list to shoot, Manta and the sun.

Verde Island, “Center of the Center of Marine Biodiversity of the World”, you can see why.

Moray eel show, Maldives.

Pigmy seahorse, these you must shoot in blind and hope you get them in focus, at least with wide angle, as in this case, Puerto Galera, Philippines.

Being in the water with the whale shark for a whole day, 4 dives and almost alone, as I tried to stay away from my buddies is one in a lifetime chance. Only Roca Partida Socorro.

Schooling snappers at Kuda rah thila in Maldives, amazing dive spot, top 3 in Maldives for sure.

I found the goldfish, not one but hundreds, made so many wishes, some of them come true. This one was so hard to get as I had to put the camera inside the crack to get the image from inside to outside and waiting for the Glassfish to regroup, El Gouna , Egypt.

Maybe my favorite picture, having the Oceanic Manta, Dolphin and diver in the same frame. This can only happened in Socorro, Mexico.

Follow Florian

Instagram : @florianscuba

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/Florian.scuba/

Jill B

Author

  • Jill B

    Jill is an avid scuba diver based in the Philippines, with a strong passion for underwater photography.

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