Shortlisted Finalist - British Photography Awards 2022
Water Life Category / People's Choice Award

A freediver enjoys a brief moment of acceptance as one of the pod. Able to hold his breath for as long as the wild Atlantic spotted dolphins can, a former British champion freediver joins them as they socialise. Social interaction makes up a large part of their daytime activities and this species of dolphin actively seeks entertainment, such as interacting with other species, like our own.

I shot this in bright, light conditions with the sun reflecting and bouncing off the water, dancing over the sandy seabed. The action was incredibly fast-paced both in front of and behind the lens, yet the image depicts a certain sense of serenity.

These frenetic shared moments play out entirely on their terms; the dolphins dictate the outcome, set the mood and determine the level of connection. In each positive encounter, once these clever cetaceans became aware of our presence in the water, they would approach with curiosity and excitement. Often spinning and buzzing past at high speed, sometimes leaping out of the water right next to us but always at arms length. Just as quickly, they could lose interest and become engrossed in foraging for razor clams or a tasty morsel in the sand, before disappearing into the Blue.

Gear: Canon EOS 550D, Sigma 15mm F2.8 EX DG Fisheye lens, Sea and Sea RDX550D housing, Compact Dome Port, Natural Light (no strobes)

Location: Open Ocean, White Sand Ridge, Little Bahama Banks, The Bahamas

Photographer: Laura Storm