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Photographer of the Week Allen Walker’s images really don’t require commentary. It is not difficult to notice his wonderful use of light, contrast, action and subject engagement. His images are packed to the brim with a feeling of spontaneity and purpose, for each creature seems like they are on a mission. Wrapped in a feat of survival, his encounters are evocative displays of animal behavior, which are beautifully captured with an aesthetic of a well-tuned shooter. 

But ultimately, Allen’s description of the environment in which he shoots sums up the spirit of what it is to be an underwater photographer: “The studio is a moving, changing and all-encompassing live canvas. It has texture and substance that can be touched and felt, very unlike air. The medium constantly changes and it has many limitations, e.g., time, movement, density, light, etc., making it very demanding, yet stimulating to work in. Taking it to the next level is a constant goal and I love the challenge to ‘get the shot!’”
 

A blue shark photographed 25 miles offshore from Cape Point, South Africa
 

Cape fur seals challenging small blue sharks for food during a baited dive off Cape Point, South Africa
 

Cape gannets pelting down from the skies to get their share of the baitball bounty
 

A great white shark—photographed on scuba without a cage—during a predation event of an humpback whale by numerous sharks including tigers, bulls, duskies and blacktips
 

Humpback whale mother and calf photographed in Réunion, where they hang around until their newborns grow strong enough to migrate back to their feeding grounds
 

A classic image of a ragged tooth shark at “Cathedral,” one of the photographer’s favorite sites to dive on Aliwal Shoal, a rocky reef off the coast of KwaZulu-Natal
 

Late afternoon at Aliwal Shoal: The perfect time of day to capture an oceanic blacktip
 

In dark, murky water, a green coral tree teems with life, Pomene, Mozambique
 

A Midas blenny (Ecsenius midas) pops its head out from its hiding place to see if the coast is clear
 

A ribbon eel stands its ground to defend its home. Allen says: “I am glad these guys do not grow much bigger!”
 

Allen Walker

To see more of Allen's work, visit his website, bluepixelphoto.com.
 

Allen Walker’s pro gadget: his gear bag

“Here is my one item that carries everything that always goes out to sea with me. No bag of goodies? We turn around to go fetch it!”