Hannes Klostermann | Underwater Photographer | La Paz Mexico
Hannes began his underwater adventure in 2003 in a very dark, cold lake in Germany. Since then, his travels have taken him to many of the world's most exciting diving destinations. After having been a ‘holiday diver’ for over a decade, Hannes eventually decided to devote more of his time to the underwater world by taking up teaching as well as a more serious approach to photography - all in order to share his love for this special habitat and inspire others to venture out into the big blue.
Now living in Baja, Hannes is an award-winning photographer with a particular passion for supporting the conservation of sharks and other large ocean animals. Currently, he offers underwater photography workshops, private guiding and photoshoots while working as the resident photographer at The Cortez Club in La Paz, Mexico.
What is a typical day like for you?
As a resident photographer at a local dive shop here in La Paz, I get to spend a typical day out diving some of our amazing dive sites. We very regularly visit the famous sea lion colony of Los Islotes, which I consider to be a world-class dive site, so I am very fortunate to get plenty of playtime with the little sea lions.
What are the fondest memories from your upbringing that you feel impacted your life choices and lifestyle today?
There are, of course, many things that have led me towards where I am now. A key moment was when I went to Mallorca on a family vacation, which was when my parents really encouraged me to explore the underwater world for the first time. It was just some duck diving and swimming around underwater, but it really sparked a passion for the sea in me. Shortly after that trip, my parents and I got our scuba certifications and we never really did another non-diving trip after that. It wasn't until several years later though that I would become a professional diver and underwater photographer and dedicate more of my time to the underwater realm.
When did you first pick up a camera and shooting underwater?
I started taking pictures underwater almost immediately after doing my open water course. Of course, back then I was just using a tiny little point-and-shoot camera but it was enough to get me hooked!
What/who currently inspires you?
What truly inspires me is the natural beauty we can still find in the world.
What path did you choose after leaving school?
After school, I chose a slightly unusual path (at least it's unusual in Germany) and signed up to become an officer in the German Air Force. This was a huge commitment, and as a matter of fact, I wouldn't recommend it to, say, my nephews. However, I wouldn't change it for the world. Over the course of 12 years, I got consistently lucky at every stage of my career and got to see many amazing places, without ever having to do anything even remotely dangerous. When faced with the decision of whether to continue in the Air Force all the way to pension age, or leave after my contract was up, I immediately knew that I wanted to make a drastic change and pursue a career in underwater photography.
What do you value most in life?
I very much value the amazing moments I have shared with wild animals around the globe. Feeling that connection to an animal and interacting with it entirely on its own terms is something truly special and deeply moves me every time.
What would you most like to change in the world/environment today?
I don't even know where to start. There are so many pressing issues we face in the world today that it can seem completely overwhelming. From climate change to plastic pollution, overfishing and the destruction of habitats, there is just so much that's wrong. I think it all comes down to overpopulation, as with fewer people all the other issues wouldn't have the same devastating effects, but there's little we can do about that. Instead, I think the one thing we really need to change is our attitude towards nature as a whole. As a species, we seem to feel entitled to use resources in whichever way we see fit, leaving behind a path of destruction. If we can collectively start respecting nature, we can make the drastic changes we need to avoid further catastrophes.
Are there any books/documentaries that have guided your thinking?
Thankfully, we live in a time where we can readily access a huge amount of amazing documentaries whenever we want. More recent productions that have truly inspired me, just to name a few, are the BBC's Blue Planet 2 and Planet Earth 2, Mission Blue and of course the wonderful, but heartbreaking story of David Attenborough's A Life on Our Planet.
What brings you the most joy?
If I'm completely honest, it's lying in bed in the morning, not having to get up! Aside from that ultimate satisfaction, I truly love diving with the young sea lions we have here in La Paz. There's simply no other wild animal on earth that consistently and willingly interacts with people to this extent and it fills my heart with joy every single time one of them starts nibbling on my dive gear.
What legacy do you hope to leave?
If I can just inspire a few people to care a little bit more about the environment, I could already consider my life a success.
What advice would you give to anyone looking to follow their dreams as an ocean Storyteller?
It's important to not just dream of doing it but to take that leap of faith, to get out there and dedicate your life to making that dream a reality.
