This Award-winning Colombian Photographer Dedicates His Life to the Ocean

Discover Edwar Herreno’s incredible underwater photography

When he's not in the ocean, Colombian photographer Edwar Herreno is getting ready to return to it. He gets into great physical shape so that he can dive for longer periods of time, tackle new missions, and come face to face with creatures that have never before laid eyes on human beings.

We’re not exaggerating when we say that Edwar has dedicated his life to the sea: he is a marine biologist, recreational diving instructor, technical diving instructor, and the captain of a yacht. His knowledge of the ocean is so vast that he often leads teams of researchers and science journalists on underwater expeditions. This has resulted in him winning some very prestigious awards.

Below, we catch up with Edwar and discuss his breathtaking photography.

A love of the ocean

Edwar was born in Bogotá and studied marine biology at Jorge Tadeo Lozano University. Later, he worked in the recreational diving industry in Colombia for several years, a passion that eventually led him to Costa Rica in 2002. In March 2004, he visited the Cocos Islands for the first time, a trip that changed his life forever. In February 2005, he became a recreational diving expert and launched his career in technical diving, which inspired him to start taking photos of marine life.

"I wanted to show people, especially those who may not have the opportunity to see it first hand, the beauty of the underwater world. I also wanted to try and raise awareness of conservation and the creatures that live in the ocean," he explains.

"I feel I am more relaxed underwater than I am on land."

"The sea is my favorite place and swimming and diving are my greatest passions. When I'm not in the water, I train so that I’m in the best shape. I do a lot of exercise, build up my stamina, and eat healthily. Over recent years, I have spent thousands of hours diving, filming, and photographing wildlife off the coasts of Colombia and Costa Rica and around Malpelo Island, the Gulf of Papagayo, Bat Island, Catalina Island, and the Cocos Islands," he tells Domestika.

Underwater photography

Underwater photography is a specialty that was developed so that people would be able to take photographs under water. It is often practiced by professional divers and marine biologists, like Edwar. There is a lot of teamwork involved in capturing photos as spectacular as those of this award-winning Colombian photographer. Professional photographic equipment is also required.

Edwar usually uses a Nikon D800, a Hugyfot Housing, and a Sea & Sea YS-250PRO lens. He also uses a Nikon D300, a Sea & Sea Housing, a Tokina 17-35 fisheye lens, and Sea & Sea YS-250PRO strobes. He used a Nikon D850 Camera, Hugyfot Housing, and Nikon 14mm Lensor for his work that was awarded the Ocean Art Safe Under The Sea award.

Overcoming fear

"It is normal to feel afraid underwater. The most important thing in this job is to learn to know and respect your limits... I have had incredible experiences. One of the most remarkable experiences I had was with a group of orcas. They were teaching their young to hunt and, just at that moment, they caught a tiger shark. It was the first time that such behavior had been recorded on camera."

Although he lives in France, the Cocos Islands (Costa Rica) are his favorite place on Earth. "I have a very special connection to the sea and the beings that live there. I love what I do, that's the secret to doing this," he says.

On leading expeditions

As well as photographing life under the ocean, Edwar has worked on major underwater film productions such as the movie Mayan Blue and has also guided expert film crews on nature documentaries for CNN, BBC, Animal Planet, National Geographic, and French and Japanese Television. "You learn quite a bit from these experiences but they are very strenuous trips. There's a lot at stake, so you feel under a lot of pressure and you have a heavy workload. The days feel never-ending," he says.

These projects require a great deal of logistics planning and preparation that can take months, sometimes even years. Once the team arrives, there is no rest.

Edwar says that, first, you have to unpack the equipment, set it up, and make sure everything works. Once you get to the site, everything needs to run smoothly, which is why you’ll need an experienced team. "Everything runs like a Swiss watch and the days are long and hectic," he concludes.

"I have a very special connection with the sea and the beings that live there. I love what I do, that's the secret to doing this."

"Once we are underwater, it is more relaxed because we are now at the mercy of Mother Nature. No longer does everything depend on us, what she wants to give us is up to her. Depending on the production, one option is to use technical diving equipment, which allows you to be underwater safely for up to six hours. However, it depends a lot on the action, normally you would dive for between two and four hours," he explains.

"Nowadays, only one or two cameramen, the guide, and an assistant will dive. A few years ago, you needed a lot of divers to help with lights, cables, and equipment. It was more complicated," recalls Edwar.

His creative relationship with water

Due to the current circumstances as a result of the ongoing global pandemic, Edwar sometimes goes several days, even weeks, without touching the ocean. However, when he returns, "it's as if no time has passed," he tells us. "I feel like I'm back where I belong and I feel more at home. The best thing about the sea is that you can spend a lifetime diving in one place and it will never get boring because it will always surprise you with something new, there is so much to see and learn that one lifetime is not enough!", says the Colombian photographer.

"When I'm away from the sea, I also enjoy what I'm doing. I'm always calm because I know that I'll be back soon since both my work and my way of life demands it. I am always dreaming of photographing precious moments, being in the right place at the right time to have that experience."

Caring for the ocean

"Currently, I work documenting life under the sea for Ocean Blue Tree, where we are working on some very interesting projects. One project, the aim of which is to protect baby sharks, is developing conservation strategies to protect key hammerhead shark nursery sites in the Eastern Tropical Pacific."

Three previously undiscovered hammerhead shark nursery habitats are constantly monitored around the Galápagos Islands and Ecuador’s mainland. "The data helps scientists to uncover the secrets of why hammerhead sharks choose these specific habitats," he concludes.

Award-winning photographs

Some of Edwar's recent awards include:

• 2020 Ocean Art Safe Under the Sea. First prize.

• 2019 Beneath the Sea, New York. Winner in the Marine Life category.

• 2018 Festival Internacional du film Maritime, d'exploration et d'environnement, Toulon, France. Prix d'Or Image fixe noir et blanc.

• 2017 Natural History Museum, London. Wildlife Photographer of the Year.

Although Edwar is honored to have his work recognized, the real prize for him is to return to the sea, the world where he truly feels he belongs.

Want to learn more about Edwar Herreno's work? Discover more photographs on his website.

English version by @eloiseedgington.

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