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A beautiful Sierra newt traverses its rocky, aquatic habitat, in a frigid stream high in the mountains of California
 

From my very first day photographing underwater, I’ve been drawn to amphibians, especially salamanders and frogs. Living in California, it was inevitable that western newts of the genus Taricha would become my favorite subjects. Each spring, I return to lakes, streams, and ponds to photograph their seasonal behavior.

Four species of western newts occur in California: rough-skinned newts, California newts, red-bellied newts, and Sierra newts. Of these, the Sierra newt was the last that remained for me to shoot. Visually, they closely resemble California newts, perhaps a bit more orange, but their habitat in the Sierra Nevada is something else entirely. I was used to photographing California newts in murky ponds; Sierra newts live in crystal-clear mountain rivers and streams, fed by snowmelt and framed by granite and forest.
 

Two Sierra newts pass by each other, presumably preparing to participate in a breeding event
 

My trip took me from the San Francisco Bay Area into California’s interior, climbing into the mountains where cold, clear water pours downslope. I began searching larger rivers and found only the occasional newt edging along the margins. Happy to have found them, I had to admit that conditions were not great for photography.

After studying satellite images, I spotted a smaller stream that looked promising. Reaching it required miles of hiking—not far as the crow flies, but grueling under the weight of camera gear, strobes, mask and snorkel, and a thick 7/8mm semi-dry suit for the icy water. The steep trail and switchbacks had me second-guessing my decision, but that doubt vanished instantly upon arrival. The conditions were perfect, and beneath the surface, I could already see flashes of golden orange newts on the streambed.
 

An adorable Sierra newt, perched on a rock next to a clutch of developing eggs
 

This region lies in the heart of California’s Gold Country. In the 1800s, tens of thousands of prospectors flooded these mountains in search of fortune, panning streams just like this one. I couldn’t help but wonder how many eager miners, two centuries ago, might have mistaken the shimmering bodies of newts, distorted by flowing water, for glints of gold on the streambed. And how surprised they’d be to learn that, generations later, someone would return to the same waters searching not for nuggets, but for salamanders.

I spent the day wading, swimming, and drifting along a short stretch of stream, watching the newts as they battled the current, hunted invertebrates, and lounged in the cold, clear water. I was shooting with a Nikon D810 in a Nauticam housing, Seacam 60D strobes, a Nikon 8–15mm Fisheye lens, and a mini-dome that gave me the maneuverability I needed to shoot amidst the rocks and simultaneously get close to the newts. This combo allowed me to capture images in the shallows, where a larger dome port would simply have not fit.

Marching out of the mountains with a memory card full of amphibians, I left with a sense of satisfaction over the day’s efforts, but little did I know that one of those images would go on to win Gold in the Over-Under category of the DPG Masters Underwater Imaging Competition 2025. I’m extremely grateful to the jury, contest organizers, and prize sponsors for their recognition of my photo as well as their support of a somewhat atypical aquatic subject.
 

“Sierran Gold”: Anton’s award-winning image in the Over-Under category of DPG Masters 2025 (Nikon D810, Nikon AF-S 8–15mm f/3.5–4.5 Fisheye, Nauticam housing, Seacam strobes, f/16, 1/60s, ISO 400)
 

To see more of Anton’s award-winning work, please give him a follow on Instagram and visit his website, www.antonsorokin.com.