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Baitfish nearly block out the sun as they form a dense, protective ball, Philippines
 

Since the very beginning of his underwater journey, Stuart Garney has hardly ever completed a dive without a camera. He could best be described as a photographer who dives, rather than a diver who makes photographs. His time beneath the surface is driven by a creative pursuit—capturing the world below with the same artistry and intent that defined his earlier photographic work on land.

Stu’s passion for image-making began during the film era, when he developed a deep appreciation for the traditional processes of the photographic darkroom. Those formative years shaped his understanding of light, contrast, and texture—qualities that continue to inform his work today. His ongoing mission is to bridge the moody, soulful spirit of classic black-and-white landscape photography with the vivid, otherworldly palette of the underwater realm. It’s an often misunderstood approach—photographing such a wildly colorful place in monochrome—but Stu feels it is a pursuit that challenges conventional expectations of what underwater imagery “should” look like.

After discovering that his beloved 4x5 large-format camera wasn’t exactly practical beneath the waves, Stu transitioned to a more adaptable setup: a Sony digital camera paired with an Ikelite housing. This combination opened up new creative possibilities, allowing him to chase the subtle interplay of light and shadow that defines his visual style.

Constantly refining his technique, and artistic vision, Stu continues to explore and document the dreamlike beauty of dive sites around the world. Each expedition adds to his lifelong exploration of photography—a journey that merges craftsmanship, curiosity, and a profound respect for both the art form and the ocean itself.
 

The business end of a stick pipefish, Indonesia
 

A beautiful, and wonderfully backlit, stand of kelp, California
 

A friendly green turtle poses for the camera, Hawaii
 

A simple portrait of a thorny seahorse, Philippines
 

An aptly-named leaffish hides in wait amongst sponge growth, Philippines
 

One of the ocean’s most beautiful and unique sharks, the pelagic thresher
 

Up close and personal with some giant kelp details, California
 

Can a sea slug be cute? It sure seems like it! Philippines
 

Even in black and white, the flamboyant cuttlefish is a beautiful critter, Philippines
 

A snake eel, lit with a beautiful drop shadow, peeks out of the sand, Philippines
 

A massive baitball swirls beneath divers, Philippines
 

To see more of Stu’s black-and-white work, please give him a follow on Instagram.