Featured Underwater Photographer – José Salmerón

One of the best ways to learn photography is to see other photographers’ work. We try to find some of the best underwater photographers in the world, and showcase 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 José Salmerón!

About José

From a very young age I have been linked to the sea, I was born in Adra (Almeria), located on the southern coast of the Spanish Mediterranean, the fact that my father was a fisherman made the sea an important part of my childhood.

I remember that summer was the most fun and exciting time of the year, always with my goggles and fins, I spent hours enjoying an environment that would eventually become my way of life.

I was fortunate that the woman of my life crossed my path, my wife, Carmen, that’s her name, was an advanced diver and with her I did my first diving course in 2005, with subsequent Padi and FEDAS certifications.

In 2011, after some very hard and demanding tests, I was able to fulfil my great professional dream, to be part of the Special Group of Underwater Activities of the Guardia Civil called GEAS, (Spanish Police).

Split shot “Gold medal (close up category), VAFOSUB 2020 photosub championship” (Valencia,Spain) Benidorm Island, Spain

Due to my knowledge in photography, I am responsible in my group for all the audiovisual aspects that are carried out in judicial investigations, as well as carrying out the other missions that we have been entrusted with.

I currently live in Alicante-Spain, where I do most of my underwater photography, but my favourite place is the salt lagoon of the Mar Menor, a unique enclave in the Mediterranean.

I started with an Olympus compact until I took the leap to the Dslr and now I shoot with a Nikon D7500 in nauticam housing.

I like wide angle photography because of its complexity and difficulty and I am in love with small blennies which I find fascinating and even more so in their reproductive period.

To capture the beauty of marine life is the motivation to take the photographs and thus show this fascinating and unknown world to most people and raise awareness of the importance of protecting it. I hope you like them and that my work transmits the same passion that the sea awakens in me.