Zachary Shaul

1. Your photography takes you into two environments that seem almost like opposite worlds—the depths of the ocean and the edge of space. What draws you to subjects that exist at such extraordinary scales?

I used to dream big as a child, and once I figured out I could live my dreams I started working hard to make those goals come true. I wanted to be an astronaut, a marine biologist, an explorer, a veterinarian, and many other things that involved seeing the world. At some point I realized I couldn't do all the things I wanted as a child so becoming a photographer to open doors for myself seemed like a pretty good work around. 

2. You’ve photographed everything from tiny marine life to sperm whales, some of the largest predators on Earth. Has spending so much time around wildlife changed the way you see our place within the natural world?

Definitely, part of what I love most of being in the ocean, or around wild animals is how small it makes me feel. That I am a microscopic spec in terms of what our Earth has to deal with, that in my environment I walk around like I'm in charge of something, that I have power and control. Get in the water surrounded by sharks and you'll quickly realize that control, and power are just illusions. When an animal allows you to be in their presence, there is no mistaking that it is allowing you, you are not allowing it. It's a humbling feeling, and keeps me right sized. 

3. In Melville, you describe a sperm whale moving closer and closer to you in the open water. What is actually going through your mind in a moment like that—are you thinking as a photographer, or does the experience take over?

This was actually the first time I ever swam with a sperm whale. It also was very curious of me, and i kept swimming to the side, trying to get out of its way and it kept turning and swimming straight at me. At that point my mind did start racing, though it never showed any sign of aggression I started to have some fear creep into my mind. I kept my camera below my eyes so that the whale and I could make eye contact, something I always try to do with. animals to help us understand each other in that moment. As the whale relaxed and started just sitting there clicking at me I also relaxed and spent an unbelievable twenty or some minutes just making eye contact with this beautiful creature. 

4. Underwater photography requires you to enter the animal’s world rather than observe it comfortably from your own. How does physically being in that environment change the way you photograph?

Such a good question, it truly depends on the environment as well. Getting suited up to swim in forty degree waters around Norway puts some limitations on what I can and can't do in the water, where as just being in board shorts in the Caribbean gives me the freedom to carry, or swim as I please. I always have a list of pictures I'd love to capture, but with any wild encounter those are only hopes. Experience always plays a part as well. Some animals I've been around my whole life, I know what is about to happen instantly at times. Other species, like my first sperm whale encounter, I had done lots of research and studying their behavior but truly didn't know what was going to happen at first. By the end of my first week with them I had a much better understanding in terms of what to expect or when to tell they're going to do something, like take a breath, or getting ready to make a deep dive, etc.                           

5. Many of these images hold both beauty and scientific significance. How do you balance making a visually compelling photograph with documenting wildlife honestly and responsibly?

With rockets it's easy, I can plan every shot I want to get, knowing the locations and where I'm allowed to set up equipment. The difficult part there is that once the cameras are set I can not run out and make adjustments in the moment, I have to do the best I can to plan for forecast changes and other anomalies that could change the conditions of each picture. With wildlife it's very different, I can plan all I like, but I may never be able to get the image I am looking for. You can't force a fifty ton animal to behave how you want, or to swim into clearer water for example. I don't believe in manipulating any creature, like using bait or setting something up to alter what the animal would be doing "normally". When I am on an expedition photographing wildlife I also follow all the proper rules and regulations to ethically capture images and in some places, like Artentina with the Southern Right Whales I had to be granted a permit from the government to even be allowed in the water with them. 

6. Conservation quietly runs through much of this body of work—from Southern Right Whales recovering after generations of hunting to manatees finding refuge in Florida’s springs. What role do you hope photography can play in helping people care about these animals and environments?

My father is a marine biologist. From a young age I was subjected to nature, and wildlife, this taught me to grow up caring about our planet and the creatures we share it with. I know that a lot of people did not have the same, and possibly will never get the opportunity to have the experiences I've had. I know that if everyone went and swam with Killer Whales with me they would forever love them, forever want to protect them. I obviously can't take everyone with me, so I use my photography to show as best I can what the experience is like. My hope is that my photography will capture the attention of people and make them curious, make them wonder more about why every species is important and hopefully help them see that each animal is worth helping, and protecting.

7. Your aerospace photography brings a very different kind of energy into the exhibition. What first brought you into photographing NASA, SpaceX, and the world of spaceflight?

As a child in South Florida my brother and I would be dragged out of bed in the wee hours of the morning to step outside and watch the space shuttle launch. We attended space camp as well, further growing my passion for exploration. As I grew older this was something I strayed away from and rarely even thought about. One day I was sitting at lunch alone after going through a break up and got an email about tickets to an upcoming launch. I purchased the tickets and while standing there amongst hundreds if not thousands of people my childhood ambitions came back. I learned that select people were allowed to walk on the launch pads and even place cameras there to document each new launch and knew I had to be one of them. I worked for several years towards that goal of finally being allowed access. 

8. In photographs such as Lift Off and Fury, the camera is positioned in a place where a person physically could not be during launch. How do you plan an image like that, and what does it feel like knowing you may only have one chance to get the photograph?

It feels like a lot of anxiety! will the camera capture anything before it's destroyed, will the wind shift before launch and completely smoke out the entire frame, will the camera even trigger properly. This image in particular was one that unless I was willing to continue to sacrifice money on cameras I wouldn't get another chance. I'd seen some other people over the years lay down a sacrificial camera and some of the images they were rewarded with and decided that I had to give it a shot with one of my older less expensive cameras. It's turned into one of my all time favorite photograph's I've ever taken and remains one of the few images hung on the wall in my office. 

9. There is something striking about seeing whales and rockets together in the same body of work. One represents an ancient natural world and the other our attempt to reach beyond this one. Do you see a connection between those two sides of your photography?

Our human race is destroying our planet at an alarming rate, and I hate to think about the day when we could no longer swim with whales, turtles, dolphins, fish, etc... I think that our planet is worth saving, and when I met Jane Goodall years ago she said "we absolutely can save our Earth, but we must start now". I think that space explorations and scientific advancements due to space exploration have already helped save species and prove theories about climate change and shown real time data as to what we are doing to out planet and stressed the importance of we must start now. They do appear to be at opposite ends of the spectrum but I think of them very much connected. 

10. We Are Going looks toward humanity returning to the Moon, while your wildlife work often asks us to look more closely at the extraordinary life already here on Earth. Has documenting both changed the way you think about exploration?

 I am fascinated by those men and women who dared greatly to go where no one else went before, whether that's Earth or beyond. Today it's easier to go into space than it is to get to the deepest parts of our oceans. I don't know if it's changed how I think about exploration per se. I still dream of standing somewhere that no other human has ever stood.

11. Was there one photograph—or one experience early in your career—when you realized this was something you wanted to seriously pursue?

I think it's more about those experiences I've yet to have that keeps me being serious about this. There is still so much for me to see and learn. I very much hope that it is still early in my career as well, that I will more opportunities to dare greatly in pursuit of an unshot image or an experience yet discovered. 

12. Of all the environments you have worked in, is there one that still makes you nervous every time you enter it?

I can't say I get nervous swimming with sharks, but I do get nervous every time I'm at an airport. People are much more difficult for me to trust than a shark, or giant whale, or alligator, or jaguar or any other wildlife. I've had moments while in the field where things have almost gone terribly wrong but I never dwell on them or spend much time worrying either. I can't get mad at a shark for biting, or bear for mauling. If I'm in their home and don't know how to act or understand the warning signs then that is my fault. 

13. Is there an animal, expedition, launch, or place that remains on your “dream photograph” list?

Antarctica is probably my number one location left to get to. Not just to step foot on the landmass there but to swim in the Southern Sea as well. Svalbard is a close second, I have always found walrus to be amongst the most fascinating creatures and one day would like to have the change to document them from in/under the water. 

14. After more than a decade behind the camera, what still gives you that feeling of absolute awe?

Everything. Every time I jump into the ocean or step into the wilderness I am filled with awe. Of course when a giant whale is locking eyes with me it's an encounter to tell stories about, but every little bird, or fish, or whatever that allows me into its space and to be apart of their life for the moment still gives me incredible gratitude. Shoot,I still get excited to pick up my camera and take family portraits when someone local hires me. I love the ability to capture and creature, whether its a photo I'm dreaming of, or a photo that someone has dreamed for themself. I think that if there's ever a day where I'm not still filled with awe then it's time to find something else to do. 

15. If you had to describe what you are ultimately searching for every time you pick up the camera, what would it be?

What I'm searching for now is life itself. I remember as a child I was filled with such wonder about the world and the wildlife of it. I think that it would be a shame to "grow up" and forget these feelings. Before I got into photography, I did forget for awhile, and I don't want to again. It's that sense of wonder that paved the way for what I wanted and who I wanted to be and overall what I'm searching for again. The world is full of such incredible places filled with extraordinary things and id hate to not spend my life finding as much of those places and things as I could.