FROM POINT-AND-SHOOT TO PROFESSIONAL
With Renee Grinnell Capozzola
Explore Renee’s journey in underwater photography, including stories of the shots and valuable tips on photo techniques!
She will share how she got started, what she has accomplished in the past 5 years showing images along the way to illustrate
including stories of the shot and great photography tips for how to capture those shots.
Renee Grinnell Capozzola is an international award-winning underwater photographer who specializes in wide angle and split level images. Her work is an intriguing combination of artistic talent honed through oil painting during her youth and a professional background in biology.
As a Southern California native, the ocean has always been a large part of her life. Since Renee started scuba diving in 2004, she has been to some of the most remote parts of the world and developed a true appreciation for marine organisms through her diverse travels. Renee believes that striking images help increase awareness of our fragile marine ecosystems and encourage others to help protect our oceans.
To that end, her images have won over forty prestigious international accolades, including “Underwater Photographer of the Year 2021” in the Underwater Photographer of the Year Competition, “USA Photographer of the Year” in the 2019 World Shootout, the 2020 DAN Europe Award, first place in the 2019 and 2017 Ocean Geographic Pictures of the Year, first place in the 2021 and 2019 United Nations World Oceans Day Photo Competition, first place in the 2018 Asia Pacific UW Photo Challenge, first place in the 2018 Big Picture Natural World Photography Competition, and the Best In Show award at 2017 Beneath The Sea. In 2017, Renee was selected for the International Photography Awards 2017 curated Best of Show Exhibition and in 2019, she was chosen by Ocean Geographic as an Emerging Pro Photographer. Renee was a member of the USA National Team that won the Global Championship of the 2016 and 2019 World Shootout, and her work has also appeared throughout the world in leading print and online dive publications. When she is not in the water with her camera, Renee teaches biology and educates her students about the challenges facing our oceans and the importance of conserving marine ecosystems.