Greg Lecoeur
Wildlife Photographer
"Underwater we evolve far from the rules of everyday life."
"By capturing unexpected scenes of marine life, I seek to catch the attention of the general public in order to raise awareness for the fragility of our ecosystems and the preservation of biodiversity."
About the photographer
Exactly eight years ago, one of my black-and-white images was awarded the Ernest H. Brooks II Prize – Fifty Fathoms Trophy at the Underwater Photo Festival in Antibes. When I received the limited Edition Fifty Fathoms back home, I was amazed at the power of the images in this book—I realized the full impact stunning imagery can have and it became a source of inspiration.
For me, monochrome photography is the way to freeze time in an imperishable way. The creative process is infinite and so artistic. This is not just a black-and-white universe but it is a world of contrasts, highlights, shades, subtlety of tones and many shades of grey. Underwater we evolve far from the rules of everyday life and the same goes for monochrome photography. Black-and-white photography reveals new facets of what we believe to know. Some pictures are strong and powerful, others are subtle and soft. This process emphasizes the composition, shapes, texture and details of marine animals in their natural environment. It adds a timeless and fine art appeal to the images. Diving into the monochrome world allows you to appreciate nature from a different perspective and pushes your creative limits by focusing your attention on ambient light, shadows, graphic shapes and perspectives. It allows us to look at our subjects more deeply, expanding the possibilities of our photography.
Through my photographic style I try to magnify the living world. By capturing unexpected scenes of marine life, I seek to catch the attention of the general public in order to raise awareness for the fragility of our ecosystems and the preservation of biodiversity. Black-and-white photography allows me to transcend reality and transform an image into something that is not abstraction, but not reality either. It is a dance amidst a myriad of black, white and gray shades combining in infinite variations. Pictures are the universal language of all the peoples on our planet.
Capturing a motif’s essence in monochrome means heightening its intensity and impact on the beholder.