Marelux

As a marine life photographer, He has spent over thirty years capturing images for photography books, field guides, children’s educational materials, and science television programs. He specializes in underwater photography and videography with a focus on scientific documentation. His primary areas of work are Okinawa and Suruga Bay—the deepest bay in Japan, located along the Pacific coast of central Japan. Additionally, He has photographed extensively along the U.S. coastline, in Australia, and throughout Southeast Asia.

The central theme of his photography is “the preciousness of life.” The diversity of life is truly vast, yet most people only glimpse a fraction of it. Even after more than three decades of diving and photographing marine life, He continues to encounter new and astonishing discoveries on every dive. He sees it as his mission to share these wonders with as many people as possible. As an underwater photographer, He takes pride in capturing and conveying the inherent beauty and value of life.

He remains constantly attuned to the movement of water surrounding his subjects. The shapes uniquely adapted to their habitats, the dynamic motion of fins and cilia, and the vibrant colors of even the tiniest organisms—all are profound testaments to life’s resilience and beauty, born out of necessity. These moments can only be truly captured in their natural environment with a camera. By unveiling what is invisible to the naked eye, He strives to move audiences and inspire a deeper appreciation for the intricate wonders of the underwater world.

In 1990, I accompanied my boss on a diving trip to the Osezaki Sea, which he had invited me to join. That experience marked the beginning of my journey as an underwater photographer. I was captivated by the world of simple yet profound beauty, where fish and sea anemones thrived and moved gracefully before my eyes. The impact was so powerful that I knew instantly this was my calling. Without hesitation, I left my job, obtained my diving license, and became a diving instructor.

The Osezaki Sea is a remarkable location, offering a stunning view of Mt. Fuji towering above Suruga Bay—the deepest bay in Japan. Its rich marine ecosystem thrives thanks to the upwelling currents that rise from the bay's depths during seasonal winds, blending with nutrient-rich waters supplied by the fertile mountains of the Izu Peninsula. For photographing plankton, a subject I have focused on for years, the Osezaki Sea is one of the world's premier locations, with its natural abundance and ideal water conditions.

Plankton are both fascinating and beautiful, their delicate existence a poignant reminder of how precious life truly is. I wanted others to witness them as they exist in their natural underwater world—a motivation that led me to the challenging art of photographing plankton. Most plankton are incredibly small, with movements that are unpredictable and fleeting. For the past 30 years, I have devoted myself to capturing their intricate shapes, vibrant colors, and delicate textures, striving to showcase their vivid beauty to the world.

Encountering plankton can be challenging at first, but over time, I learned to increase the likelihood by carefully observing the day’s wind direction and tides. At night, larval plankton often approach the shore, transitioning to their next life stage. Through extensive trial and error, I developed a specialized lighting technique that makes it easier to observe these moments. This method, which I have named and trademarked as Black Water Dive®, has allowed me to organize events worldwide, introducing divers to an entirely new and mesmerizing underwater world they have never experienced before.

In the past, I have created numerous field guide (see bibliography) and collaborated with researchers to publish new discoveries and insights in academic papers. In addition to plankton, my expert photography of crustaceans, squids, and octopuses has been highly valued by researchers in their respective fields.

Although I once believed that scientific photography was my sole focus, I began to feel a growing desire to share the preciousness and beauty of life with a broader audience. Over the past 20 years, I had never entered award competitions or held photo exhibitions, but in 2016, I decided to participate in the 5th Nikkei National Geographic Photo Award for the first time. To my astonishment, I was honored with the Grand Prix, reaffirming my belief that my photographs deserve to be seen by a wider audience. Moving forward, I hope to expand my reach by hosting exhibitions and workshops, creating art prints, and publishing books on a global scale.