Brian Skerry Quotes

Powerful Brian Skerry for Daily Growth

About Brian Skerry

Brian Skerry (born 1960) is an American underwater photographer, conservationist, and National Geographic Fellow renowned for his breathtaking images of the ocean's hidden realms. Born in New York, Skerry developed a fascination with the sea from a young age. Growing up near the shore, he spent countless hours exploring tide pools and snorkeling, which ignited his passion for marine life. He earned a degree in biology from the University of Massachusetts Boston, where he honed his skills as an underwater photographer. Skerry's career with National Geographic began in 1998 when he was contracted to photograph a story about diving with great white sharks. Since then, he has produced over two dozen stories for the magazine, showcasing diverse marine ecosystems from the Arctic to Antarctica. His work has earned him numerous awards, including six Emmy Awards and the titles of BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year and Lowell Thomas Award winner for Travel Journalist of the Year. Skerry's major works include "The Underwater Forest" (2005), which showcases the vibrant kelp forests of California, and "Ice on Fire: The Battle for Our Time" (2019), a visual exploration of climate change's impact on Earth's polar regions. In 2018, he published "Ocean Soul," a collection of his most powerful images accompanied by essays about the ocean's resilience and vulnerability. A committed conservationist, Skerry uses his photography to raise awareness about marine environmental issues, such as overfishing, pollution, and climate change. His work has inspired countless individuals to appreciate and protect our oceans, making him one of the most influential underwater photographers of our time.

Interpretations of Popular Quotes

"The ocean has a way of teaching us about our own nature and our place in the universe."

This quote by Brian Skerry suggests that the ocean serves as a mirror to our humanity, reflecting fundamental truths about who we are and where we fit within the grand cosmic scheme. The vastness, complexity, and interconnectedness of the ocean can help us understand the depth and mystery of our own existence, reminding us of our small yet significant place in the universe. Additionally, the resilience and adaptability displayed by marine life can inspire us to persevere and evolve as we navigate through our own challenges. The ocean thus provides a profound context for self-discovery and introspection.

"The ocean is where I'm at my most complete, where I feel the most real, where I feel the most human."

This quote by Brian Skerry suggests that the ocean provides him with a profound sense of connection to his humanity. The ocean serves as a space where he feels whole, authentic, and unfiltered – free from distractions or pretenses. The immersive and awe-inspiring beauty of the ocean may help individuals like Brian Skerry reflect on their place in the world, appreciate nature's grandeur, and gain a deeper understanding of themselves.

"Photography allows me to share these stories of the sea, to remind people of its beauty and fragility."

This quote by Brian Skerry highlights how photography serves as a powerful medium for storytelling about the ocean's enchanting beauty and delicate vulnerability. Through his photographs, Skerry aims to stir emotions in viewers, encouraging them to appreciate the sea's splendor while also fostering an awareness of its fragility. Essentially, he uses imagery as a tool to evoke empathy and inspire ocean conservation efforts among the public.

"Underwater photography is a way for me to slow down, to observe, to learn, and ultimately, to appreciate."

This quote by Brian Skerry suggests that underwater photography is not just about capturing images, but also about fostering a deeper connection with the underwater world. It serves as a means for him to slow down from the fast pace of life, observe carefully, learn new things about marine ecosystems, and ultimately, appreciate their beauty and importance. Essentially, it's a personal journey towards understanding and respect for the oceans and the diverse life forms they harbor.

"The ocean has secrets to tell you, if only you'll listen."

This quote emphasizes the idea that nature, particularly the ocean, holds profound mysteries and knowledge waiting to be discovered if we are attentive and receptive to it. It encourages us to engage with the natural world in a thoughtful and mindful way, to listen not just with our ears but also with our senses, hearts, and minds, so that we can learn from its ancient wisdom and enrich our own understanding of the universe.

Kneeling on the sea bottom in a place known as Tiger Beach, I watched a 12-foot- long female tiger shark cruise over the turtle grass with three silver bar jacks swimming in front of her nose.

- Brian Skerry

Sea, Long, Three, Watched

Under the snowcapped mountains of Fiordland National Park, freshwater streams empty into the saltwater fiords, creating a unique ecosystem. This is a heavily wooded park, so the water in the streams is stained with tannin, a substance found in plants that makes clean water seem dirty, though it isn't.

- Brian Skerry

Mountains, Empty, Stained, Park

For a photographer, sharks are a stirring subject, possessing a perfect blend of grace and power. They have been sculpted by evolution and are ideally suited for whichever ecosystem they inhabit, from coral reefs to the open ocean.

- Brian Skerry

Perfect, Been, Ecosystem, Possessing

Remove the predators, and the whole ecosystem begins to crash like a house of cards. As the sharks disappear, the predator-prey balance dramatically shifts, and the health of our oceans declines.

- Brian Skerry

Cards, Ecosystem, Predators, Oceans

Since the majority of the oxygen we breathe comes from the ocean, not to mention much of the world's protein, it is not an exaggeration to say that when our oceans' health declines, our very survival is at risk.

- Brian Skerry

Health, Survival, Very, Oceans

I still think there's a big part of the population that has a lot of misinformation about sharks. But I think it's beginning to change a little bit. As good information about sharks permeates popular culture, things may start to change.

- Brian Skerry

Big, I Think, Big Part, Popular Culture

The Bahamas has mangrove nurseries, coral reefs, shallow sea grass beds, and deep oceanic trenches - all perfect ecosystems for sharks. Photographing multiple shark species in exquisite water was the assignment I had dreamed about from the start.

- Brian Skerry

Deep, Perfect, About, Shallow

As a young boy, I was very interested - as I still am - in all sorts of adventure and exploration. I thought about being an astronaut, a dinosaur scientist, or marine biologist, but I clearly was drawn to the ocean and to the water.

- Brian Skerry

Exploration, Very, Still, Astronaut

For where Kingman is located, the coral cover is unique in the world. I refer to it as a universe of hard corals. You are not going to find soft corals like in the western Pacific - places like Indonesia, Palau, or Fiji.

- Brian Skerry

Like, Going, Pacific, Indonesia

For decades I have tried to peel back the layers of mystery surrounding many marine creatures, though most have held tightly to their secrets. One animal that keeps me pondering is the shark. Spellbound by these enigmatic animals since I first encountered them in New England, I never tire of watching their special blend of power and grace.

- Brian Skerry

Back, Blend, Held, Tightly

Most whale photos you see show whales in this beautiful blue water - it's almost like space.

- Brian Skerry

Like, Show, Almost, Whales

I typically shoot underwater with my regular camera in an underwater housing, and then I usually have two big strobes that I use to light. But with whales, you're not going to be able to really light a 45-foot subject. Your strobes are only effective for maybe five or six feet underwater.

- Brian Skerry

Feet, Big, Housing, Whales

New England waters are some of my favorite - they are some of the richest waters because they are temperate waters and nutrient-rich, and therefore provide food for so many animals, from giant whales to sharks to everything else.

- Brian Skerry

Sharks, Some, Else, Whales

I've been diving for about 30 years, and I can honestly say that I've had some amazing encounters with sharks, squids, and other whales. But the encounter with the right whales in the Auckland Islands was probably the best thing I've ever done. It was just that amazing.

- Brian Skerry

Some, Other, Been, Whales

On Cape Cod, great white shark stocks have been growing, or at least becoming more concentrated, because of the multiplying numbers of seals around Monomoy Island. We are fortunate to have such abundance of these sharks in our own waters. Around the globe, we are killing in excess of 100 million sharks each year.

- Brian Skerry

Year, Been, Becoming, Seals

I flipped through a book on harp seals in the late 1970s and saw images of them swimming in emerald green pools of water surrounded by huge sheets of ice. Right then I was hooked, and I knew this was a story I wanted to do.

- Brian Skerry

Through, Surrounded, Flipped, Seals

I think that going to the beach as a child, being in the water and smelling that salt air and hearing the seagulls, it had a real calming effect. But also, it was a mysterious thing - I remember wondering what was under those dark New England seas.

- Brian Skerry

I Remember, I Think, Had, Wondering

The Oceanic White Tip is considered one of the most dangerous sharks in the sea along with the Great White and Tiger. It is responsible for some of the most famous episodes of man-eating in history, such as when the U.S.S. Indianapolis sank in 1945.

- Brian Skerry

Famous, Some, Considered, Episodes

I was the first journalist allowed on a hunting boat during harp seal season in almost 15 years. Around the late 1970s, white coat pups became the poster child for the anti-fur movement, and by the '80s, the media was lambasting the hunters for killing them.

- Brian Skerry

Hunters, Became, Almost, Poster

Photography can be a powerful instrument for change, and photojournalists can tell stories that make a difference.

- Brian Skerry

Change, Powerful, Stories, Make A Difference

I think that most people would associate big schools of fish with healthy coral reefs. At Kingman, the predators keep the herd thin, so there aren't a lot of big fish schools.

- Brian Skerry

Think, Big, Predators, Coral

I swam with my first shark in the 1980s. I was 20 miles off the coast of Rhode Island, working with a group of marine scientists. Late in the day, a 5-foot long blue shark swam into our chum slick. For the next hour, I marveled at the animal's stunning indigo color and the elegant way she moved effortlessly through the sea.

- Brian Skerry

Color, Through, Next, 1980s

I love storytelling, I love being a visual person, and it just made perfect sense to be an underwater photographer and explore the ocean and work with scientists.

- Brian Skerry

Love, Storytelling, Perfect, Underwater

I have been blessed to realize my dream of becoming an underwater photojournalist, but with that, I feel an obligation and sense of urgency to share what I have seen with others.

- Brian Skerry

Blessed, Been, Becoming, Underwater

I have photographed sharks in waters around the globe, and I always want more and yearn to peer deeper into their world. To feed my passion and to raise awareness, I developed a story about sharks for 'National Geographic' magazine.

- Brian Skerry

Sharks, Yearn, About, Peer

I finally became a scuba diver at age 15 or so, and a couple of years after that, I attended a dive show that is held every year in Boston. It's the oldest one in the world and it's still going on - it's called the Sea Rovers.

- Brian Skerry

Boston, Couple, Became, Oldest

Sharks don't particularly have a great interest in divers. It seemed that in a normal dive, I would jump in the water, and one or two gray reef sharks would swim in and kind of check me out - and then they would keep their distance. So they weren't particularly threatening or anything to be afraid of.

- Brian Skerry

Distance, Threatening, Swim

The bohar snapper - they have these huge canines. I got bit by one. One took a chunk out of my ear - they are much scarier than the sharks.

- Brian Skerry

Sharks, Took, Chunk, Ear

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