Maxence Atzori | Underwater Photographer | Sydney Australia

10 Feb

Originally from Lyon, a large French city near the Alps, Maxence Atzori wasn't exposed to the beauty of the Ocean as a kid. Whilst attending University in the South of France he found a true hidden Gem, snorkelling for the first time at a peninsula called Giens. ⁠A few years later with a clear idea in mind, Maxence moved to Austalia to dive the Great Barrier Reef. His mission is to contribute to saving our oceans through the power of his beautiful storytelling. ⁠

“Our oceans and its marine life are threatened by the fishing industry, climate change, plastic pollutions, ocean acidification… I’ve had the opportunity to make incredible wildlife encounters in several countries all around the world, I aim to use photography as a way to remind people that animals need our help and the Ocean needs to be protected.”

What is a typical day like for you?

I usually wake up around 6.30 am and straight away grab my phone to check the dive conditions. If good, I put my wetsuit on, walk down Coogee streets with my weight belt on and camera in hand (yes people do stare at me a bit) and go for a local freediving session. Once I've chased all the fish, I head back home ready to start the day doing some digital marketing work for an online psychology startup. I usually like to punctuate my day with some home-cooked meals, upbeat tunes and some serious Lightroom editing.

What are the fondest memories from your upbringing that you feel impacted your life choices and lifestyle today?

I'm originally from Lyon which is a big French city near the Alps and therefore didn't get a chance to get exposed much to the beauty of the ocean as a kid. Once at University, I found myself living in the South of France, in a peninsula called Giens... which is a true hidden gem! The water was just gorgeous and I bought my first snorkel and pair of fins to explore the area. Actually, I remember going to classes with my dive gear in my backpack and skipping quite a lot of them if the weather was good or if I lost interest in the class (which happened a lot!). I had a special connection with this place and it made me realise how gorgeous the ocean was and all I wanted was to see more of it... I ended up in Australia a few years later with a clear idea in mind, diving the Great Barrier Reef. My first dive there was in Cairns and it was atrocious, everything was dead. I didn't know much about it at the time and it got me by surprise. I think it got me to do my own research to understand better what was happening and I slowly got into ocean conservation.

What/who currently inspires you?

I get inspired by people who manage to fully follow their beliefs, live their life accordingly. My friend Roger Koenig (aka rog_freedive) is a true inspiration. He got me to ditch the tank and taught me how to freedive but he also enlightened me with inexhaustible marine life knowledge and how to build a connection with animals underwater without disturbing them. His dedication to the ocean is unique and he always manages to push me to aim higher (without him noticing) and surpass myself.

What path did you choose after leaving school?

I've been working in digital marketing for several digital agencies and multiple clients. I'm still dreaming of having the ocean as my main client someday though. I'd love to be able to use my professional skills to protect our oceans.

What do you value most in life?

Time. I think we underestimate how little time we have on our beautiful planet. I try to live a meaningful and full life so that if I had to look back at it, I would have as little regrets as possible. I believe that money has taken to much importance in our society but that time is actually the most valuable resource, and it can't get purchased.

What would you most like to change in the world/environment today?

I think I'd like to change people's paradigms. We mostly live by a set of thoughts defined by our education and life experiences. But these experiences are often limited by a lot of factors which narrows down our true understanding of other cultures. Therefore, we live by what we know and our decisions are driven by this. I truly believe that in a utopian world we could manage to live better with each other across the world and that should help us to be less materialistic, more connected with nature and hopefully less selfish. Our selfishness and our greed are currently destroying the planet.

Are there any books/documentaries that have guided your thinking?

David Attenborough's documentaries have been a source of inspiration for me. I think they manage to highlight our current environmental issues in a way that everyone can understand. I think they have pushed a lot of people to do more research and probably to make changes in their lives through beautiful images.

What brings you the most joy?

I feel truly happy when I can observe wildlife or marine life and learn something new about it just by watching. I think it's my way to connect with nature.