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An exceptionally unusual deep-water shark, the velvet belly lantern shark, occasionally seen at diving depths in the cold fjords of Norway
 

Sweden probably doesn’t come to mind when the average person thinks of diving destinations—or locations that would necessarily inspire an underwater photographer. But our latest Photographer of the Week would beg to differ! Elias Neuman discovered his passion for the underwater world as a youngster during a trip to the Koster Sea National Park in Sweden. The vibrant marine life and the mysterious allure of the depths immediately captivated him, sparking a fascination that set him on a path to become not only an underwater photographer, but a marine biologist to boot!

Elias’ underwater photography journey began in 2019 and the majority of his dives took place in the temperate waters of Scandinavia. Elias says: “There is a hidden beauty beneath the cold and dark waters here that very few people know about, and it’s thrilling to reveal it to people through the lens of my camera.” His portfolio here surely backs up his claims, as it is full of subjects that are rarely seen or photographed. His favorite subjects are a perfect example: deep-water sharks like lantern sharks, chimaeras, and unsual catsharks. These species are usually found well below recreational diving depths, but in his favorite place to dive—Trondheim in Norway—these creatures are often shallow enough to be photographed on scuba.

“These organisms and their habitats are sadly facing increasing anthropogenic pressures from activities such as deep-sea mining for minerals and fishing,” says Elias. “The deep sea has historically been beyond the reach of human activity, and I fear that many of its unique inhabitants may be lost before we even have a chance to discover them.” By combining underwater photography with science, Elias hopes to spark a greater passion for the ocean by making scientific research more engaging and accessible to the public. “We live on a blue planet, where all life on Earth traces its origins back to the sea,” he says. “Understanding and protecting our oceans will be key in ensuring the future this planet.”
 

A colorful amphipod perched momentarily on a cluster of hydroids, Norway
 

A snake pipefish peers right down the barrel of the lens, Sweden
 

A scientist prepares to release a small-spotted catshark that has been equipped with an acoustic transmitter, Sweden
 

Normally a deep-water dweller, the famous “ghost shark” is often seen in shallower waters in fjords along the coast of Norway
 

Colonies of dead man’s fingers backdropped by green water are a common sight in the waters of Sweden
 

Draknuding—Swedish for “dragon nudibranch”—is an apt name for this beautiful slug, Sweden
 

Another rare deep-water shark that is often found in shallow water in Norway is the blackmouth catshark
 

A small school of baitfish dance in the afternoon light beneath a dock, Sweden
 

A larval crustacean hitching a ride on a pelagic hydrozoan, Sweden
 

The sea wolf, a huge orca, hunts herring in the dark, chilly waters of northern Norway
 

A beautiful cold-water sea fan adorns a wall in a fjord, Norway
 

Gatherings of brittle stars are common sights during breeding events, Norway
 

Antiopella cristata is a beautiful cold-water nudibranch from the eastern Atlantic, Sweden
 

A curled octopus—a rare and unusual cold-water cephalopod—perches on a rock, posing for the photographer, Norway
 

To see more of Elias’ wonderful and unusual work, please give him a follow on Instagram and visit his website, www.eliasneuman.com.