Edgar Canales | Photographer and Student | Mexico | U.K.
With every breathe he takes, Edgar conveys his sheer passion for nature, and his role as a protector.
Edgar does his best to be on the frontline campaigning for coexistence, and uses his photography to convey the beauty of nature and inspire others to join the fight. He believes that "if we don’t respect nature, then we don’t deserve to be here on planet Earth”.
“When nature takes over”.
What is a typical day like for you?
In the week I’m a finance student, I workout in the gym and edit photos or plan my next adventure during the evenings. During weekends, I usually go out hiking, climbing, scuba diving if possible, and take my camera with me to photograph the nature I’m surrounded by.
When did you first pick up a camera and start shooting underwater?
I started almost two years ago doing underwater photography.
“Fragile Blues.”
What are the fondest memories from your upbringing that you feel impacted your life choices and lifestyle today?
I was always taught by my parents to respect and love nature, that nature doesn’t belong to us. I don’t have any memory of me as a kid where I hadn’t had a great passion for wildlife and nature itself. As I kept growing up, I started to connect with that passion for nature through outdoor activities like hiking, climbing, camping, and scuba diving, which today, are the places and experiences where I feel the most alive.
What path did you choose after leaving school?
I haven’t left school, but I’m planning on pursuing photography and probably scuba diving as a full time job.
“Endangered Kindness”.
What do you value most in life?
My family, my dog (which is my family also), being healthy, and my closest friends.
What brings you the most joy?
Two things: the health and well-being of my loved ones; and being immersed in nature taking photos whilst hiking, climbing or scuba diving.
Who/what currently inspires you?
My biggest inspiration in underwater photography is the ocean itself. Every time I scuba dive I feel embraced by the greatness the ocean holds along with its creatures. It never ceases to amaze me how incredible and unique underwater life is. Therefore, I try to capture things most people aren’t able to witness, to show them how beautiful the ocean is and that it is worth fighting and taking care of.
What would you most like to change in the world/environment today?
The fact that we see ourselves as superior to nature, and that we can treat wildlife the way we want. I wan’t to fight for a world where humans and wildlife can coexist peacefully and we understand that we’re guests when we’re immersed in nature. If we don’t respect nature, we don’t deserve to be here on planet earth.
Are there any books/documentaries that have guided your thinking?
Absolutely! ‘American Wolf’, ‘Planet Earth 1 & 2’, ‘Blue Planet’, ‘Our Planet’ and ‘Coyote America’, to name a few.
“Colours of the Rain”.
What legacy do you hope to leave?
I hope that I can change mindsets and make people realize that change for the planet is urgent, that it is worth fighting for, and in the end, if things don’t go well, I want to leave a piece of me in the people who actually tried to make a change, and be one of the reasons why they decided to change.
“Peering Carapace”.
What advice would you give to anyone looking to follow their dreams as an ocean Storyteller?
Ocean storytelling isn’t about being recognized, being paid for, or getting sponsored. It’s about having a sheer passion for the ocean and even if we don’t see progress in the fight for our oceans, we need to keep pushing ourselves for this huge blue body of water that we love so much.
