When wildlife photographer Stéphane Granzotto and his camera went diving with sperm whales a decade ago, he had no idea those iconic images would go on to make him famous across the globe.
The Canon Ambassador's spectacular pictures of sperm whales sleeping vertically were taken off the coast of Mauritius, during a six-year project documenting the animals' behaviour, and were shared by National Geographic. "It was like a dream," says Stéphane. "It was an incredible discovery. It's such a powerful experience to be in water with this huge animal, these giants, and yet they are so peaceful. They have been described as very big predators, but they are very shy, so intelligent and clever, and they welcomed us into their world."
WILDLIFE
Stéphane Granzotto
Born and raised in France, where he still lives today, Stéphane's passion for both photography and the underwater world was ignited during childhood. "I was 10 years old when I first picked up a camera," he recalls. "But I started taking it seriously when I was 17. There was a pure and beautiful river behind my garden and that really set off my passion for the aquatic world, because I was so curious to see what was living in the water."
Stéphane went on to study video and photography at Stendhal University in Grenoble in the French Alps, before learning to dive. "At the beginning, I wasn't diving to take pictures," he says. "That was my dream, but it was very expensive. Then I built my first underwater housing for my camera, and it was a revelation. It was also a huge revelation for us videographers and photographers when the Canon EOS R5 was released, to be able to do both with the same camera."
Specialist areas: Wildlife, filmmaking
Favourite kit: Canon EOS R5
Canon RF 600m F4L IS USM
Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM
Today, Stéphane captures mesmerising images and video of animals both at sea and on land. He has also made over 40 documentaries for French and international television companies, and published fine art books on sperm whales and orcas.
It was during a trip to Norway that he took his world-renowned orca images. "I spent many weeks there trying to film and photograph the orcas above the surface and underwater," explains Stéphane. "The light there is crazy, but I trust in my camera. I put the autofocus on automatic because it's very dark and I had to swim extremely fast, and the water was very cold, but I loved it. You can spend six months with orcas and nothing will happen. So every time I manage to capture a good picture, it is a gift. I am so happy."
As for Stéphane's biggest challenge in his work? Knowing when to quit a story. "After working with the sperm whales for six years, I knew I had to move on to something else, but part of my heart will always be with them," he says. "I'm not a compulsive traveller – I try to work on a project for some time and really understand what's going on, and meet people I can learn from. I'm very humble. I just want to take pictures of wildlife because it's so magical."
How does photography in the sea compare to working in freshwater?
"Freshwater lakes are a great, wild environment. They are so rich; there are many more species in the freshwater, so it's incredible. Often, when I show my pictures at exhibitions, people say to me, 'You must have to go far away to take some good pictures.' But the answer is no – you just have to look in your garden, or close to you, and be curious. Jump in the water with a mask, and you'll see some amazing things. I am just as happy in a small river as I am in the ocean."
Where do you get your inspiration from?
"It all comes from nature and the world around me. I have loved being in the wild ever since I was a child, when I would go camping in the wilderness with my father. The outdoor world is an endless source of inspiration for me."
Do you prefer to tell a story through photos or videos?
"For me, it is two different ways of telling a story, but I love both, and of course, with my Canon EOS R5, now I can do both in the same way. Some days I'm only filming and some days I'm only taking images, but I love to capture both."
You've published several fine art books. What's it like seeing your work displayed in this way?
"I love the books. I learnt how to print my photography when I was a student in the lab in black and white, and now I have a Canon imagePROGRAF PRO-1000 printer. I love to see my pictures on good quality paper, and in frames. When you offer it to someone like that or showcase it at an exhibition, it's something very noble. It's a real art form for photography."
What's been your most memorable wildlife experience?
"Swimming with orcas in Norway was a very strong encounter and experience. There, a humpback whale bumped me as she came up to catch the herrings, and she stayed at the surface in front of me with all the herrings in her mouth. She then made this sound; the most powerful sound, something I'd never heard before, and she was looking at me. I will never forget that; it was unbelievable."
One thing I know
Stéphane Granzotto
"To do what we love is the best way to succeed. You have to persevere, to keep going to be well known. It is important to learn about the environment, and the species. With photography, we have to learn in order to grow, and we must be respectful. With all these ingredients, it can be a success."
Instagram: @Stéphanegranzotto
Website: Stéphanegranzotto.com
Stéphane Granzotto's kitbag
The key kit that the pros use to take their photographs
Cameras
Canon EOS R5
Whether shooting photos, videos, or a mixture of both, the EOS R5 promises sensational 45MP photos at up to 20 frames per second – or flick a switch for cinematic 12 bit 8K RAW video. "The EOS R5 is one of the very best cameras ever produced – it is excellent," says Stéphane. "I love the autofocus, the definition and the incredible sharpness of its images. Lightweight and compact, it also allows you to produce very high-quality videos."
Lenses
Canon RF 600mm F4L IS USM
With a 600mm focal length and f/4 maximum aperture, this super-telephoto lens is perfect for Stéphane's wildlife shots. "I love this lens," he says. "Its sharpness is incredible, as well as the autofocus and stabilisation. The nature images it allows you to create are simply fantastic. Using it is a real pleasure."
Canon RF 100-500mm F4.5-7.1 L IS USM
Boasting unrivalled contrast and sharpness, plus 5-stops of image stabilisation, this lens offers performance and image quality like no other. "Lightweight, efficient, versatile, both in photos and videos, this lens is very impressive," says Stéphane. "Mounted on an EOS R5 or EOS R3, it is capable of stunning results, even when the light conditions are complicated. I also love its minimum focusing distance, which is very short."
Canon RF 70-200mm F2.8L IS USM
This high-performance f/2.8 telephoto zoom lens offers exceptional image quality. "Much lighter and more compact than previous EF versions, the sharpness of this lens is enormous," enthuses Stéphane. "When light conditions are low, like in the Arctic with orcas, this is the ideal lens."
Canon RF 24-105mm F4L IS USM
Offering up to 5-stops of image stabilisation to preserve sharpness in low light, and a 24-105mm zoom range covering wide-angle, standard and telephoto focal lengths, this lens is a must for Stéphane. "This is probably my favourite video lens," he says. "It can do everything, from wide shots to portraits. Its stabilisation, autofocus and sharpness are excellent."
Canon RF 15-35mm F2.8L IS USM
Capture more, even in low light, with this fast f/2.8 L-series ultra-wide angle 15-35mm zoom with 5-stops of image stabilisation – ideal for when innovative angles can make all the difference. "I just can't live without this lens," says Stéphane. "I use it mostly when diving. Its excellent sharpness and great luminosity are great assets," he adds, "90% of my pictures are taken with this lens."
Canon EF 100mm f/2.8L Macro IS USM
Take a closer look at your subject with this prime lens with excellent macro capabilities. "Stabilised and with excellent sharpness, both on land and underwater – I love this lens," says Stéphane.
Canon EF 15mm f/2.8 Fisheye
Fire up your photography with this super sharp fisheye lens. "With its fish-eye angle of view and its superb sharpness, this lens is the king of underwater photography," says Stéphane.
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