Marine Biologist and Photographer Nuno Vasco Rodrigues Captures the Critical State of Our Seas
At the Bauhaus Of The Seas Summit we meet Nuno Vasco Rodrigues - the marine biologist turned underwater photographer captures the ocean's magnificence as well as its perils. His transition from marine biology to photography was driven by a desire to showcase the sea's wonders and sound the alarm on its critical state, threatened by pollution, overfishing, and habitat destruction.
Once a mere admirer of the ocean's beauty, Rodrigues now leverages his lens for conservation, advocating for interdisciplinary efforts to tackle ecological challenges.
Q: You are a marine biologist turned photographer, when did you first start to combine your 2 passions?
A: "As you mentioned, I'm originally a marine biologist, and I've started working about 10 years ago in photography. I've always been fascinated about the ocean. And through photography, I realised that I could share with others the amazing things that we're seeing in the water, but also the threats that the ocean is facing nowadays."
Q: When did your ocean fascination start?
A: "I started diving very early. I was fascinated by the underwater world. I became a marine biologist so I could better understand it. And through photography, I realised that I could share with the others, what I was experiencing underwater."
Q: What's your view on the current state of the ocean?
A: "We are in a critical stage where we know the problems that we are causing the ocean, the planet in general. But we're not acting with the urgency that the ocean and the planet needs."
Q: Have you noticed any change in public awareness about the need for ocean conservation?
A: "Yes, there was a moment in time where you could see that there was a global movement. Especially when people realised the plastic issue, the pollution made by plastic, especially in the ocean. About 10 years ago, the global public realised plastic is a tremendous problem."
Q: Has becoming a photographer changed your experience in diving?
A: "I think so. I was very selfish in the way I used to see the ocean, basically just for myself. But now I feel that I have a mission. I feel privileged to experience the underwater world up close, and I feel that I have a mission to pass this message to the world."
Q: What do you hope will come out of this interdisciplinary event 'Bauhaus Of The Seas'?
A: "What I hope from this interdisciplinary event is about 'connecting the unconnected', even though everybody's kind of working on this."
Q: What would you say you are here for, not just at the event, but in life?
A: "I'd love to say I'm here to save the oceans. But that would be very presumptuous. I am here to try to help and to give voice to the ocean to give voice to these inhabitants."
Q: Where can people find your work?
A: "You can find me online on https://www.nunovascorodrigues.com/ And from there, you have the connection to my link to my Instagram and basically I'm online."