Articles

Oceanic manta ray at cleaning station, Misool, Raja Ampat, Indonesia

“How do you become an underwater photographer?” It’s a very common, justifiable question. Being a historically niche hobby and skill that requires a lot of dives (expendable time) and a lot of equipment (disposable income), it isn’t for everyone. And though there isn’t a magic formula as to how to succeed, there is a path being taken by Photographer of the Week Alex Lindbloom that—if you are able and willing to put in the time—might just lead you down a road towards success.
 

Wayag Island and hard coral garden, Raja Ampat, Indonesia

After leaving the landlocked state of Idaho, Alex’s curiosity switch was flipped while fiddling around with a point-and-shoot camera in Hawaii. At 23 and otherwise carefree, he was volunteering to help track and monitor hawksbill turtles for a summer. The experience and newfound love for the ocean naturally trumped his recently secured university degree in urban planning and sustainable development, so he went to Thailand, got his Divemasters, and secured a job as a videographer on a liveaboard.  
 

Coconut octopus peering out of bottle, Bima Bay, Sumbawa, Indonesia

With the reality of constant back-to-back liveaboards, Alex has been able to hone in on repetition of skills,  testing of techniques, and subsequently a continual building of his portfolio. In the meantime, he has been able to earn money and fund travel! Obviously, Alex’s strategy is taking him places, as now, just a few years’ deep in his experience, his regional resume has expanded to include Malaysian Borneo, Komodo, Raja Ampat, and Panama. As a result, Alex’s images reveal the makings of a fine photographer. And though liveaboard life may not be in the cards for everyone, it will be very interesting to watch as Alex continues to shoot and grow.
 

Halimeda ghost pipefish, Sangeang Volcano, Indonesia
 

Shrimp in blue tunicate, Pulau Satonda, Indonesia
 

Yellow lined and diagonal banded sweetlips, Dampier Strait, Raja Ampat, Indonesia
 

Longfin batfish, Misool, Raja Ampat, Indonesia
 

Alex Lindbloom selfie

To see more of Alex’s work, visit his Flickr site: www.flickr.com/photos/120027313@N04/.

Alex uses a Canon 7D with the Tokina 10–17mm Fisheye, Canon 16–35mm, Canon 60mm with +5 Sub Sea Diopter, and Nauticam housing with two Inon Z-240 strobes.