In the years since Celia Kujala first discovered her passion for underwater photography, she has won numerous awards, was a finalist in the 2020 Ocean Photography Awards, and has been made a member of The Explorers Club as well as the Ocean Artists Society. But when it comes to her subjects, Kujala is far from unbiased. With her project Seal Peace, she hopes to use photography as a catalyst for better protection and understanding of pinnipeds. Charismatic and curious, these fin-footed marine mammals are in need of better safeguarding. Here, she shares her story.

Oceanographic Magazine (OM): When did you first connect with the ocean?

Celia Kujala (CK): My first physical encounter with the ocean happened at the Coney Island Beach in New York City when I was just one year old. I was so happy and I kept running into the water. It was love at first sight. I believe that was the beginning of my connection with the ocean. For as long as I can remember I have felt that connection deep inside.

OM: Which came first, a love of the ocean or a love of photography?

CK: Although I loved drawing and as a child, I didn’t find photography until much later. I was in California to run the Big Sur Marathon in 2016 and several people who knew how much I loved seals told me I had to go to San Simeon to see the Northern elephant seals. I tried to take photographs with my iPhone but quickly realised that it was impossible to portray what I wanted to without a more capable camera. Upon returning to New York City I bought my first DSLR camera and soon travelled to California, Alaska and the Galápagos Islands, teaching myself how to take better photos and falling in love with photography along the way. It was snorkelling in the Galápagos Islands that made me realise that in order to tell the complete stories that I wanted to, I would need to learn how to scuba dive and take my camera underwater. Eight months after getting my scuba certification, I took the plunge to house my DSLR camera. The first time taking the small fortune of electronics and the largest investment I have ever made into saltwater was very scary. The decision was life changing. From the first dive with it, I knew I had found my calling.

OM: What is one memory of photographing pinnipeds that you will remember forever?

CK: I was in the Coronado Islands this past autumn photographing the development of the California sea lion pups. The water had moderate surge that day, so I stayed in a more protected area. There were many sea lion pups playing and I was enjoying my time photographing them. Suddenly a Northern elephant seal appeared in front of me. Northern elephant seals spend most of their lives in the open ocean, usually only coming ashore for breeding and molting. It’s extremely rare to see Northern elephant seals underwater while diving and even more rare to see more than a fleeting glance of them, but she was curious and played in the shallows in front of me. It’s a memory that I will never forget and I still can’t believe that I had the good fortune to spend time in her presence.