Every year on June 8, World Oceans Day reminds us of the breathtaking beauty and power of our planet's seas. From the microscopic wonders clinging to kelp forests to the majestic giants drifting through open water, the ocean holds stories worth telling – and protecting. Sony Alpha photographers have been diving in, paddling out, and swimming alongside marine life to bring those stories to the surface. In celebration of World Oceans Day, here's a collection of ocean and surf photography features from Alpha Universe to inspire your next aquatic adventure.
1. Dive Into Underwater Macro With The 100mm f/2.8 Macro G Master
Alpha Collective member Stan Moniz takes the Sony 100mm f/2.8 Macro G Master beneath the surface in Laguna Beach – and the results are stunning. From fingernail-sized nudibranchs to leopard sharks and swaying kelp textures, Moniz puts the lens through its paces, revealing how its 1.4x magnification, creamy bokeh, and razor-sharp focus make it a true creative workhorse for underwater macro photography.
Photo by Stan Moniz. Alpha 9 III. 100mm f/2.8 Macro G Master. 1/1000-sec., f/3.2, ISO 250
2. Behind The Shot: Go On A Solo Dive With Cristina Mittermeier And The Alpha 1 II
In this behind-the-shot feature, Sony Artisan and conservation photographer Cristina Mittermeier explains how going solo gives her full control of lighting as she descends into one of the largest schools of kingfish she's ever encountered, with her Sony Alpha 1 II in hand.
Photo by Cristina Mittermeier. Alpha 1 II. 24-70mm f/2.8 G Master.
3. Finding Art In Motion: Shooting Surf With The Alpha 9 III & 300mm f/2.8 G Master
Action sports photographer Erin Hogue describes waves as fleeting sculptures – impermanent art that exists for only seconds. Here, she breaks down how the Sony Alpha 9 III's global shutter (120fps, zero distortion) and the reach and compression of the Sony 300mm f/2.8 G Master let her freeze those split-second moments from shore, boat, or right in the break.
Photo by Erin Hogue. Alpha 9 III. 300mm f/2.8 G Master.
4. Behind The Shot: The Majestic Dance Of Whales Through Paul Nicklen's Lens
Sony Artisan Paul Nicklen traveled to the pristine waters of Tonga to document the tender bond between humpback whale mothers and their calves. Getting within 15 feet of an 80,000-pound mother, Nicklen captured what he calls a "dance of trust and tranquility" – a powerful reminder of the ocean's quiet, gentle giants.
Photo by Paul Nicklen
5. What’s In My Bag: A Sony Alpha 7R V Kit For Surf Photography
Los Angeles-based photographer Brandon Kirk shoots surf to make fine art – think large-scale prints up to 40"x60". In this gear breakdown, he walks through the full kit he uses to pull it off: from the 61MP Sony Alpha 7R V paired with the Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G on shore, to compact G primes inside an AquaTech housing while swimming through the break. A must-read for anyone serious about ocean photography.
Surfer Trevor Collins. Photo by Brandon Kirk. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 200-600mm f/5.6-6.3 G. 1/1600-sec., f/6.3, ISO 320
6. Behind The Shot: Underwater Photography In A Jellyfish Forest
Conservation photographer Allegra Hutton hiked into a hidden inland saltwater lake in Raja Ampat, Indonesia – no sunscreen, no fins, no disturbance – to photograph thousands of golden jellyfish she describes as a "living galaxy." Using an Sony Alpha 7R V with a Sony 14mm f/1.8 G Master in an Ikelite housing, she details the technical and ethical craft behind her breathtaking split-shot images.
Photo by Allegra Hutton. Sony Alpha 7R V. Sony 14mm f/1.8 G Master. 1/125-sec., f/11, ISO 320
7. What’s In My Bag: An Alpha 7R V Kit That Goes Where The Wild Things Are
Underwater and adventure photographer Katjana Cabenda has taken her Sony Alpha kit from Arctic zodiacs in Svalbard to 30-meter-deep bait balls in the Galápagos. In this gear feature, she shares the versatile kit – built around the Sony Alpha 7R V and Sony 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 G Master – that she trusts for scuba, freediving, and wildlife photography in the most remote corners of the planet.
Photo by Katjana Cabenda. Alpha 7R V. 1/400-sec., f/7.1, ISO 500
8. Behind The Shot: Documenting Ocean Life With Rachel Moore
For eight years, Rachel Moore has been sailing the world to create ocean imagery that drives conservation. In this moving feature, she shares the story behind a rare eye-to-eye portrait of a humpback whale nicknamed "Sweet Girl" – captured in French Polynesia with a Sony Alpha 1 – and how that image, taken just days before the whale was struck by a ship, became a rallying cry for maritime protection.
hoto by Rachel Moore. Sony Alpha 1. Sony 16-35mm f/2.8 G Master II. 1/400-sec., f/5, ISO 500
