Christy Gavitt

Through my underwater photography, I capture the intricacies and beauty of nature and the symbiotic relationships between and among marine life.  These relationships take on many forms:  Invertebrates feeding on plankton, clownfish hiding in anemone, pipefish camouflaged between whip coral stalks, schooling snappers, tiny blennies hiding in sponge cavities, and a moray eel’s skin being cleansed of parasites by tiny shrimp.  In my 45+ years of diving, I never cease to be amazed by the reef-survival strategies of marine life and, when captured, the fascinating imagery that results.    

I take both wide-angle and macro (close-up) photographs, as I feel it important to capture marine life interaction from both perspectives.  I use a wide-angle lens to portray the frantic movements on and around the reef, as well as the various behaviors between and among marine life, and meld all these elements into a harmonious, dramatic image. 

To capture the smallest creatures of the sea, I employ macro (close up) photography, which requires a strong sense of patience and the ability to remain in one spot for an extended period of time.  In macro photography, I have often had to use a magnifying glass to detect the unique colors, patterns and behaviors that present themselves on the reef. 

One of the key goals of my photography is to raise awareness regarding the beauty, uniqueness and fragility of the underwater world.  The biodiversity of coral reefs is richer than that of the rain forest.  And given the fact that more than one-quarter of the world’s coral reefs have been irreparably destroyed in the past 60 years, it is even more urgent for people to appreciate the beauty of marine life, and to be aware that these images may become increasingly rare without concrete action.