Oceanographic: Why did you decide to enter the 2024 Ocean Photographer of the Year competition?

Jacob Guy: “I decided to enter as I had been working in one of the best places for macro diving in the world and had a large video portfolio but wanted to share some of my still imagery work as this is something I don’t share as much on my social media platforms.”

Oceanographic: Tell us about the background behind your shot. Where was it taken? How did you take it? Any hardships while taking it? 

Jacob Guy: “This shot was taken in the Lembeh Strait in Indonesia. It was an image that took a few dives to achieve, mainly because of how illusive the algae octopus is. They are mainly found on shallow reefs just past dusk and I found it in an area which was unusual for a night dive. I decided to join several dives that were specifically looking for mandarin fishes, but instead of capturing the stunning actions of the mandarin dragonets, I was searching the reef with my UV lights. Normally coming out to hunt at dusk, with incredible camouflage, these creatures blend seamlessly into the reef – until they are viewed under a different light. These octopuses are one of the only cephalopods that actually fluoresce under ultraviolet light. On my last night dive of the trip, I got lucky and found one of these beautiful creatures on the hunt for a meal and managed to capture the intense look from its yellow eyes. Once I found the octopus, it was a challenge to get this front-on shot as it was scurrying down the reef slope in search for food. There was a lot of reverse finning involved.”

When did you first connect with the ocean?

Jacob Guy: “As a child, I grew up by the ocean and was lucky enough to snorkel on my first coral reef at the age of four. Since that moment, I’ve been hooked. I have never been far from the ocean since and have developed my passions and career around the water through sports such as sailing, swimming, surfing and, of course, scuba diving.”

Oceanographic: How did you get into underwater photography?

Jacob Guy: “My route into underwater photography was a slow process. I started studying photography at the age of 16 when my biggest passion was surf photography. Back then, it was my dream to travel the world with pro surfers capturing amazing moments in the waves. However, when I was 18, I enrolled onto a photography bachelor degree which introduced me to underwater photography and video. This is also how I learned to dive and it wasn’t until my second year of the course that I really fell in love with underwater photography. When I was on a trip to the Red Sea, I realised: This is what I want to do as a job.”

Oceanographic: How would you describe your style of photography? 

Jacob Guy: “I’d say my photography style is very much recognisable. I’ve got a love for macro subjects, but with a string emphasis on shallow depth of field. I also love bright and vibrant images and have some experimental and creative images in my portfolio too.”

Oceanographic: What settings and camera gear did you use for it? 

Jacob Guy: “I shot the winning image of the octopus at F2.8, ISO 400 and 1/80 sec to get a nice depth of field and let as much light in as possible. I used an Olympus epl10 with a 60mm macro lens and backscatter mf2 flash with uv filter.”

Oceanographic: What makes an octopus such a great photographic subject? 

Jacob Guy: “Their character shines through like no other subject in my opinion. Each octopus has an individual personality. There is also nothing else in the world like them; they are aliens in our oceans and extremely intelligent and curious creatures. They are definitely my favourite subject to capture.”

Oceanographic: On a personal level, what makes the image so important to you?

Jacob Guy: “I share a connection to this image as the octopus is one of my favourite animals. I also really love the story and process behind capturing this image. It embodies one of the only underwater images I’ve captured where I was happy not doing any editing to it. For me as well I find the practice of fluorescent photography a sight that is becoming rarer and I’d love to get people more involved in this type of photography and this type of diving.”

Oceanographic: Any advice for aspiring underwater photographers?

Jacob Guy: “My advice for anyone wanting to get into underwater photography is just to do it. Get out there with any camera that is accessible to you; even phone housings nowadays have the capability of allowing you to create some captivating images. The best gear won’t always make you the best photographer. It might help you to take images more easily but I would say you need to learn as much as possible from others around you. Take online courses and just get in the water.“

Oceanographic: Your favourite ocean moment to date? 

Jacob Guy: “My favourite ocean moment would probably be watching and filming flamboyant cuttlefish hatching. I love cephalopods and I had an image in mind which would, again, take several dives to accomplish. In the end, all time spent underwater was worthwhile because I managed to capture a beautiful moment of these tiny cuttlefish hatching in the large expanse of blue.”

Oceanographic: What’s the main aim behind your photography? What are you trying to achieve?  

Jacob Guy: “My aim is to foster a deeper ocean connection of people around the globe to aid the protection of our delicate and beautiful oceans and to raise awareness of the amazing life beneath the waves.”

Oceanographic: What plans do you have for the future? 

Jacob Guy: “I’m about to embark on a four-month trip around Indonesia on a liveaboard, from where I plan to run underwater video workshops and create visual stories under the waves in order to connect as many people to the ocean as possible.”

You can see all 2024 Ocean Photographer of the Year category winners and finalist images here. Or for the latest updates on the entry process and more, go follow OPY on Instagram: @opy_awards