Articles

Every photographer, whether topside or underwater, through the course of his or her development, creates a working style that can be seen throughout his or her work. Whether it’s a certain way of framing, a particular color cast, or preferred subjects, style is ultimately the essence of cohesiveness in a portfolio. 

In the case of Photographer of the Week, Gabriele Donati, looking at his work as whole is like wandering around a candy store. His images are rich with warm hues of red, orange and purple, speckled with sprays of yellow and pink, all laid out across a canvas of cerulean blue. Look closely and you will see eye-catching textures and mesmerizing detail shots that highlight the unique anatomy of coral reefs. Taking a wider perspective reveals the drama of daily ocean life. Yet throughout each one of his images, there is a consistent thread that defines Gabriele’s style which pulls his images together into one sweet, visually captivating body of work.
 

A detailed shot of hard coral at Father’s Reef, Papua New Guinea
 

A close-up shot of a nudibranch in the Thyrrenian Sea, Italy
 

A vibrant seascape off Sudan
 

Serpula off Sardinia Island, Italy
 

Detail of a Mediterranean fanworm (Sabella Spallanzanii), Giglio Island, Italy
 

A Technicolor flatworm (Platyhelminthes) off Malapascua Island, Philippines
 

A Pagurian crab found off Sardinia, Italy
 

A Flabellina affinis nudibranch, Mediterranean Sea, Italy
 

A diver adorns a seascape off Vitu Island, Papua New Guinea
 

Gabriele Donati

To see more of Gabriele’s work, visit his website, www.gabrieledonatifotografo.com.