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Nudibranch (Hypselodoris infucata) serenely perched on a vibrant algal cup, Anilao, Batangas, Philippines
 

Our latest Photographer of the Week, Giancarlo Mazarese, is a Milan-based underwater photographer who spent many years working as a project manager in the real estate industry before deciding to pursue his lifelong passion for the ocean. He earned his first scuba diving certification in 2015 and discovered underwater photography that same year. What began as a new interest quickly became a lifelong passion, turning every dive into an opportunity to explore, document, and share the hidden beauty of the underwater world.

Giancarlo’s work encompasses both wide-angle and macro imagery, but he has a particular affinity for the ocean’s smallest creatures. Through his photographs, he reveals their intricate details, from tiny benthic organisms to the extraordinary pelagic creatures that emerge from the depths during blackwater dives.

Beyond his productive home waters, he has undertaken photographic expeditions to some of the world’s most remarkable marine destinations, from the Philippines, Indonesia, and Papua New Guinea to the Maldives, the Red Sea, and Mexico. Each journey provides an opportunity to document rare species, unique animal behavior, and the incredible biodiversity of marine ecosystems. He also collaborates with leading underwater photography manufacturers, testing and evaluating new equipment while contributing to the development of innovative tools for underwater photographers.

His images have been published internationally and have received awards in major underwater photography competitions. In 2025, one of his photographs was selected by Nature for “The Best Science Images of 2025 – Nature’s Picks.” Giancarlo continues to explore the world's oceans with the same curiosity that inspired his very first dives. He strives to reveal the beauty, diversity, and fragility of marine life, inspiring both an appreciation for and a deeper commitment to ocean conservation.
 

A whip coral goby guards a translucent cluster of eggs, Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia
 

A paper nautilus hitches a ride, Anilao, Batangas, Philippines
 

A discarded glass bottle serves as home for yellow pygmy gobies, Anilao, Batangas, Philippines
 

A Shaun the Sheep sea slug (Costasiella kuroshimae) with a spiral of tiny eggs, Anilao, Batangas, Philippines
 

Backlighting shows off a hairy frogfish’s appendages in all their glory, Anilao, Batangas, Philippines
 

Bigeye jacks barrel along the seabed off Cabo Pulmo, Baja California Sur, Mexico
 

Beautiful soft corals in the Red Sea off Farasan Island, Saudi Arabia
 

A California sea lion tries to make sense of its reflection, La Paz, Baja California Sur, Mexico
 

A small group of ribboned sweetlips, Raja Ampat, Indonesia
 

A breathtaking diamond squid captured off Anilao, Batangas, Philippines
 

A juvenile wunderpus leaves a slow-shutter trail, Anilao, Batangas, Philippines
 

A hairy shrimp on a “shrimp wheel”? Anilao, Batangas, Philippines
 

The wonderfully colorful Nembrotha chamberlaini nudibranch, Anilao, Batangas, Philippines
 

The ocean is Giancarlo’s playground—literally!
 

For more of Giancarlo’s wonderful images, head over to his Instagram page and give him a follow.