For most people, natural history documentaries are the primary way they connect with the ocean. Yet the individuals behind the lens are largely invisible. Compared with stills photographers, wildlife cinematographers maintain a far lower public profile.

This is, in large part, a necessity: productions often span three to four years from conception to release, with strict NDAs keeping projects and stories tightly under wraps. The footage itself is also inherently collaborative and belongs to the production company rather than the camera operator. Perhaps for these reasons, even the finest underwater cinematographers are far less widely known or celebrated than their counterparts in stills photography.

Within the industry, however, certain camera operators command the same respect as figures such as David Doubilet or Laurent Ballesta in the stills world. Roger Horrocks is one such individual – a living legend in underwater natural history filmmaking, and one of a very small number of names that come to mind when seeking the very best in the field.

He served as director of photography on the Oscar-winning My Octopus Teacher and was responsible for some of the most iconic sequences in Blue Planet II, alongside a vast body of work across many other documentaries.

In early 2025, I was accepted into the first cohort of students for Roger’s Ocean Footage Masterclass, an intensive online course and mentoring programme focused on achieving blue-chip filmmaking standards underwater. Later that year, I travelled to Cape Town, South Africa – Roger’s home base – for a creative collaboration exploring the differing approaches of stills photography and filmmaking beneath the surface.

At 56, Roger possesses the athleticism and energy of someone decades younger. He pairs a deep love of philosophy with a hard-edged, practical drive to continually refine both himself and his craft. Organised, calm, and unflappable, he is exactly the kind of person you would want beside you in a foxhole. In the water, he moves with rare grace – like a human camera dolly – capturing footage that consistently astonishes both audiences and peers alike.

Through his teaching and our time working together, I gained a unique insight into Roger as both a person and a professional. His journey and his approach proved endlessly compelling, and this interview was conducted to share his story with a wider audience.