Articles

A large Maori octopus reaches out to inspect the photographer’s camera, Australia
 

Erhan Onfidan is a self-taught amateur underwater photographer hailing originally from coastal Turkey, near the Black Sea, and now based in Melbourne, Australia. While growing up in proximity to the sea fostered a strong connection to the marine world, Erhan’s passion for underwater photography did not truly gather strength until his move to southern Australia.

Erhan’s first endeavor into underwater shooting began as many do: capturing short videos with a GoPro while snorkeling, mainly to look back and identify the marine animals he was seeing—and, of course, to share his experiences with friends and family. Several years later, he made the decision to focus more on underwater photography. He purchased a compact camera, became a certified diver, and now spends as much time as possible underwater, exploring and observing marine life.  

In 2024, Erhan made another leap by switching to a mirrorless system. Since April 2024, he’s been shooting with the OM System OM-1 and recently added a Kraken 5.5-inch monitor to the setup. The monitor has proven especially helpful for shore dives, where it allows him to lower the camera with minimal body contact with the ground, making it a game-changer for macro and close-focus wide-angle photography.

Since transitioning to the mirrorless system, Erhan has been focused on developing a personal style, experimenting with different techniques, and learning from professional photographers. Being in Melbourne, Erhan considers himself fortunate to dive alongside many talented local photographers and to get to explore a variety of dive sites, from shore dives to reefs to wrecks. The unique marine life encountered in these areas makes each dive exciting and provides endless opportunities for exploration and discovery.
 

A spider crab aggregation...with a twist! Australia
 

A trio of newborn seahorses cling to a floating piece of seagrass, Australia
 

A pale octopus striking a pose atop an algae covered rock, Australia
 

Making a case for the cutest cephalopod out there is the bobtail squid, Australia
 

An Australian icon, a weedy seadragon, ferrying a clutch of eggs beneath a beautiful sunball, Australia
 

A pair of squat lobsters living on the surface of a sponge, Australia
 

A fish with a great name, the moonlighter, Australia
 

Close-up details of the tubercles on an eleven arm starfish, Australia
 

A bobtail squid with an oversized meal for dinner, Australia
 

An adult skeleton shrimp covered neck to butt in its own offspring, Australia
 

If a spider crab could be anthropomorphized, this one is making a very threatening gesture, Australia
 

A wonderful cluster of kelp growing beneath a jetty, Australia
 

To see more of Erhan’s work, especially from his local Australian waters, please give him a follow on Instagram.