Andrea Kozlovic | Underwater Photographer and Videographer | Canada
Canadian-born photographer Andrea spends her time between Canada and South Africa ruthlessly fighting to engage the public on the significance of sharks and the ocean.
Andrea is the founder of Making Waves Photography, capturing the beauty and emotion sitting behind the eyes of every animal she encounters. In addition to her photography skills, Andrea works with Sea Shepherd and the Nakawe Project’s initiative “one human, one species” to raise awareness about pelagic species - She represents the oceanic black tip!
Her goal is to show the world what animals can feel. By raising awareness with her photography, she hopes humans can find their connection with nature.
When did you first start your storytelling journey?
I was scuba certified 7 years ago in a cold lake in Ontario, Canada and within two months I was shark diving in South Africa.
I had a GoPro on that trip, which I of course lost to the sea. After that, I replaced it with a GoPro Hero 4, and then in 2018, I bought my current camera rig.
When I started, I didn’t have any strobes, and eventually, I upgraded to two Ikelite strobes. A year later, I upgraded to higher-end, more powerful Ikelite strobes, and that is what I’m currently shooting with.
What are the fondest memories from your upbringing that you feel impacted your life choices and lifestyle today?
Growing up, we lived in a century home that was well over 100 years old. Across the street was a corner store owned by a lovely family from Pakistan.
We chatted most days, as I popped over for a little taste of freedom - buying my own snacks. The wall of their shop was painted with a mural and a Cree proverb that read “Only when the last tree has died and the last river has been poisoned, and the last fish has been caught, will we realize we cannot eat money”. This stuck with me, and looking at it daily for 19 years really instilled this idea in my mind.
I was also lucky enough to be raised by a very ‘outdoorsy’ family. We would hike, camp, swim, and learn about local wildlife. My mother was using reusable bags in the 90s, and we recycled everything. These values were instilled in me at such a young age, that they really feel like second nature.
What path did you choose after leaving school?
I studied photography in college and wasn’t sure where I wanted to end up in the industry. I was very interested in photojournalism, but equally interested in our oceans and sharks specifically.
I partook in multiple internships assisting scientists in South Africa working with a wide range of sharks, completed some course work in shark biodiversity, conservation and our oceans, and another was a natural progression to underwater photography.
What/who currently inspires you?
I am endlessly inspired by the ocean and true ocean souls. Being able to be enveloped by the underwater world and simply exist amongst the marine life is pure magic to me.
It is such a unique environment, and being able to spend time amongst apex predators and just observe their behaviour is thrilling. I’m inspired by the people whom I share these moments with. Some are photographers and many aren’t. The people that are truly connected to the ocean and live every moment for it. Those are the people that inspire me.
Are there any books/documentaries that have guided your thinking, you'd like to recommend to other ocean lovers?
Sharkwater was a film that really changed my life. It devastated me so deeply. Rob Stewart is from where I am, so it’s a rarity for people in this area to be so involved with sharks and our oceans. I had loved sharks and our oceans for my entire life, but that film really opened my eyes.
I also really enjoy “What a Fish Knows”. It’s such an interesting piece of literature that challenges us to connect to fish in a way I hadn’t seen before.
What do you value most?
Experiences. All of my best moments have been in the ocean, and I wouldn’t trade those experiences for anything. I think of special dives often and am always looking for that next lasting experience with marine life.
What would you most like to change in the world/environment today?
Our disconnect from the ocean and the animals that live there. The way that we treat marine life and our waterways are unacceptable, and it would never be tolerated on land. Human greed, glutton, and laziness are destroying our oceans, and we know it.
I try to connect people with these animals through my work, and in turn, get them to care about their world. It’s our world, too. The oceans and our lives on land are so closely intertwined. My goal is to educate and create an emotional and mental connection to marine life in hope that once people feel that connection, their eyes are opened to the plights of these animals, and they will fight for change and protection.
What advice would you give to anyone looking to follow their dreams as an Ocean Storyteller?
It doesn’t happen overnight, and it doesn’t come to you. There are literal blood, sweat, and tears that go into creating my images. I have actively put myself in situations to learn and experience what I want. There is an incredible amount of time, energy, and effort that goes into working with the ocean. You need to constantly be learning from everyone you can, and absorb their knowledge and experience whenever possible. I learn something new on every single dive. I try to take that and move forward, improving my work and my time in the water.
The environment and wildlife are very unpredictable. Some days the current is unbearably strong, you can hardly see your own hands, your gear malfunctions, and the marine life doesn’t show up or do what you want it to.
These are things you cannot control. Sometimes there are days or weeks on end when you do everything you can, but the species you’re looking for just doesn’t show up. These things are what make the incredible dives so special. It doesn’t happen every day. Hold onto those moments and cherish them.
What legacy do you hope to leave?
I hope to leave people feeling connected and close to these animals. They feel, communicate, mourn, and form relationships and emotional connections, just like we do. I hope to show the beauty in all animals underwater; even sharks, which many people fear. Even the animals who have been harmed by humans - there is still beauty there. These animals are so resilient and that is something special.
WEBSITE: https://www.makingwavesphoto.com
INSTAGRAM: @makingwavesphoto
