Stéphane Granzotto

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."

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."

"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