AUGUST 11th 2026, 6.45PM IN PERSON
JOH MATTHEWS
Finding Creativity Beneath The Surface
Underwater photography often rewards perfect moments. Great visibility, ideal light, cooperating subjects, and calm seas. But when you spend years shooting underwater almost daily, you quickly realize those moments are few and far between. And when the ocean does cooperate, it becomes easy to fall into shooting the same images over and over again because your go to settings work , so why stray from them?
In this presentation, underwater photographer Johnny Matthews shares how experimenting with imperfect conditions, lens filters, long exposures, portraiture, and creative lighting helped him break away from repetitive underwater imagery and start seeing the ocean differently. Through both creative concepts and technical breakdowns, this presentation explores how pushing beyond standard approaches can help keep underwater photography fresh, evolving, and inspiring.
Johnny Matthews is a full-time dive professional, PADI Course Director, technical diving instructor, production videographer, and underwater photographer based in South Florida. Having worked throughout Hawaii, Honduras, Mexico, and Florida, Johnny has spent over a decade shooting underwater almost daily while working as a photo guide and dive professional. His work is shaped by shaped by real-world conditions, constant time in the water, and a passion for pushing beyond traditional underwater imagery.
