We Are Water People: Sea Through Ebb's Lens. Maternity & Family Photography Beneath the Waves
Meet Ebb, the talented soul behind Sea Through The Lens, your go-to for coastal family, maternity, and in-water photography. With a deep connection to the sea and an uncanny ability to capture the magic of life beneath the waves, Ebb's story is nothing short of inspiring.
Captivating Through the Lens:
We've been following Ebb's work for a while now, particularly captivated by her underwater maternity photography. One image, in particular, stands out—a maternity couple shoot with Lara and Dylan, the owners of Woebegone Freedive. In one of those breathtaking shots, Lara lies submerged, looking up at the surface of the water as about eight seals in a pod gracefully glide toward her. One of those seals, out of the eight, gazes directly at her pregnant belly, creating an intimate connection. With the deep blue ocean as a backdrop, this image is a testament to Ebb's unique talent and her ability to capture extraordinary moments beneath the waves.
Our Journey with Ebb:
My partner, Beach Bunny, and I had the privilege of entering one of Ebb's photography competitions and were fortunate enough to win our very own underwater couple shoot. As an underwater photographer and model duo, we couldn't have been more thrilled to head down to New South Wales for our session. Ebb's lens beautifully captured our love for each other and our profound connection to the ocean. The experience was nothing short of magical. We sat down with Ebb to dive deeper into her world of underwater photography and discover the stories behind her mesmerizing images.
What first drew you to the underwater world, and how did your love for the ocean evolve into a passion for underwater photography?
I have been a water baby my entire life. I grew up swim training 4+ x a week, drawing turtles and dolphins on my maths homework and dreaming of working in the ocean. I have always felt more at home in the water than on land, it's where I find my peace and I don't remember a time where it's never been like that.
As I've gotten older I have only felt more of a pull towards the ocean.
I've experienced a lot of loss and have a lot of angels in the sky, so after a few really rough years losing some incredibly important people in my life, I needed somewhere to escape - that I could feel at peace, and for me that was the ocean. One of those people in particular, was always incredibly supportive of my photography and pushing me to get back into it, so to honour him, I picked up my camera again but I took it to a place that helped me find peace and I hope that has made him proud. There is a weird sense of beauty in capturing new life and memories of people with their loved ones in a place that helped me deal with that loss and I just know that it is what I was meant to do. I also think its really important to show others the beauty of the underwater world. Humans in general don't tend to care about things we don't know about, so the more people who can see how incredible our oceans are - the more people that will care about protecting them. I love being able to capture the magic that unfolds when humans work with mother nature, rather than against her. There are really so many reasons that I've ended up doing what I do and they all revolve around a love for the ocean and a deep passion for preserving moments as memories so they can last a lifetime, just like our oceans should too.
Your underwater maternity photography is truly captivating. Can you share some insights into your creative process when capturing these precious moments beneath the waves?
Every session I do is tailored to each of my beautiful clients and their vision, I love to try and incorporate their personality and interests where possible, but mostly I try to capture what the moment feels like. I am very aware that no two sessions will ever be the same, everyone dives and moves differently underwater and the ocean is forever changing and moving in different ways so I love being able to capture that. I think being adaptable is a very important factor in the process. My main goal for a session is for my clients to enjoy the experience and I truly believe the more they enjoy it, the better the photos turn out.
Your photography reflects a deep connection with your subjects. How do you create such a comfortable and memorable atmosphere for families and individuals during your underwater shoots?
I think I'm just calm and in my element when I'm in the ocean and this allows people the space to be themselves in a place that is obviously so special to them too. The ocean has a magical way of connecting people and I'm grateful my job allows me to meet so many likeminded ocean lovers.
New South Wales offers a diverse range of underwater environments. Are there any particular spots that you find especially inspiring for your work?
My favourite spots in NSW to dive are Jervis Bay with Woebegone Freedive, Seal Rocks (check out Fader Wetsuits for the best wetties + social dive days at Seals) and Julian Rocks with Blue Bay Divers.
You've beautifully captured the emotions and connections in underwater maternity and family photography. Can you tell us about some memorable moments or stories from your underwater shoots that have left a lasting impact on you?
Every session I do is memorable, there's nothing like seeing the stoke on a clients face after they've done something they really wanted or thought they may not have been able to do. Then to be able to give them an everlasting memory of that experience through a photograph is pure magic to me.
Some key moments that have been really special would be:
1. Capturing my first ever underwater maternity client again, with the baby that was in her belly the first time as part of her second underwater maternity shoot with me. It was such a special full circle moment and I'm so grateful to have captured those moments.
2. The incredible session with Lara and Dylan from Woebegone Freedive. I still don't have words to explain how magical that experience was. It was actually my first time diving with seals and doing a maternity session off a boat, so I went in with no expectations and I could never have dreamed of what would unfold. The seals were so interested in Lara and her belly and would slow down to have a really good look as they swam past her, they absolutely could sense that she was pregnant and it was the most beautiful experience. The fact that we also had crystal clear water was just the cherry on top.
3. Capturing a beautiful couple who were lucky enough to have a green sea turtle want to be their friend. They were both such ocean lovers and I remember her excitement during their session when she told me it was her first time swimming with a turtle and I just thought how special for that to be the first time while she was pregnant with her first baby.
What does the future hold for Sea Through The Lens? Are there any exciting projects or aspirations you'd like to share with your audience?
I hope to continue capturing moments and making memories with fellow ocean lovers for a very long time. I am really excited to be hosting my first ever underwater photography retreat for other underwater photographers in the beautiful Jervis Bay in April this year too. Wherever the ocean takes me, I know it will be magic!
For aspiring photographers or families interested in your work, how can they connect with you and potentially book a session?
The best way to follow along with my adventures, and see my recent work is via my instagram @seathroughthelensphotography
The best way to contact me to book in a session is through my website www.seathroughthelens.com
Ebb's journey through the lens is a testament to the magic that can be found beneath the waves. Her ability to capture the raw beauty of ocean life and the emotions of her subjects is nothing short of remarkable. We look forward to following her continued adventures and seeing what the future holds for Sea Through The Lens.
Find Ebb:
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/seathroughthelensphotography/
Website: https://www.seathroughthelens.com
Stay tuned for more inspiring stories of ocean enthusiasts in our We Are Water People blog series.
