PT Hirschfield chats with the award-winning underwater photographer Brett Lobwein about shooting apex predators, epic expeditions and grass-roots conservation efforts.
The Man Behind the Lens: From Software to Sony Advocate
When he’s not in the water and topside photographing polar bears, leopard seals, orca, humpbacks and minke whales, crocodiles and sharks, Brett Lobwein is a software company manager, underwater photo gear business owner and co-ordinator of the Underwater Awards Australasia photo competition.
He teaches photography workshops, including topside whale workshops, as a Sony Digital Imaging Advocate: ‘I find these workshops are a great gateway to help people connect with the ocean, hopefully turning a few more people into divers as well’. He’s also an ambassador for Isotta underwater camera housings.
Epic Encounters: Chasing ‘Blanco’ in Argentina
In September 2024, Brett organised a small group expedition to Argentina’s Peninsula Valdes to photograph and film the southern right whales in the water: ‘This was done under a very strict filming permit, ensuring the whales have a safe place to breed and raise their young.’
‘Over a number of days, we had some incredible encounters with these large, curious animals. But it was actually on my first day that I went out on a test run without my guests that I had a truly incredible encounter with a white whale, or ‘Blanco’.’
‘I’d been in the water with a mother and calf for some time when my crew yelled out ‘Blanco!’ I jumped back into the zodiac and we motored 800 metres to the white baby whale.’
‘It was curious, swimming straight up to me. I managed to pull a few frames before the other whale and calf I’d left behind repositioned themselves right in front of me. It was like they were saying ‘No, you’re our human toy’. I could see the white whale circling behind, but could never get back to it.’
A Journey from Humble Beginnings to 1,500 Dives
Brett grew up on the waters of Port Hacking River in Sutherland Shire. He recalls his first scuba experience – a DSD on the Great Barrier Reef – as very humble beginnings: ‘I’d somehow missed most of the briefings during the boat ride out to the reef, but managed to try catch up on the basics. I put my head underwater and loved it, but realised I had no idea what I was doing.’
Nowadays Brett is PADI Rescue Diver certified, having done over 1,500 dives. He owns and operates UW Images, a specialist distributor of underwater gear including housings, lights and strobes. He enjoys leading trips for divers and non-divers, as well as doing commercial or documentary image-making work.
‘Soon you’ll see some of my recent work on Season 6 of BBC’s Deadly 60 TV show. We showcase some of the amazing diving off NSW’s coast, right near my home.’
Pushing Boundaries: The Arctic, Antarctica, and Beyond
Brett’s dive life has taken him on adventures to Fiji, Indonesia, Maldives, East Timor, Mexico, Cuba, Solomon Islands, Norway and Tonga: ‘I’ve also been lucky to work in the water in the Arctic and Antarctica.’
His quest to photograph leopard seals involved sailing on a small expedition yacht for a month in freezing waters: ‘I’m happy with the images I came home with. Though I really wanted a shot of predation on a penguin, so I guess I’ll have to go back to cross that one off the Bucket List’.
In late-2025, Brett’s passion is taking him full circle back to the Great Barrier Reef where he’ll be an Expedition Photographer for Australian Geographic’s Coral Futures Expedition: ‘We’ll visit the Forever Reef Bio Bank in Port Douglas, where I’m really looking forward to photographing some of their 179 different coral species.’
The Underwater Awards Australasia: Inspiring New Talent
Brett says that while ‘over the years I’ve been lucky enough to win a number of photography awards and shootouts, I find much more satisfaction through inspiring people to take their own photography journey further’.
‘In 2024, I collaborated with Dive Photo Guide and Underwater Australasia to create a new photo competition call Underwater Awards Australasia.
I’m very proud of what we achieved in the first year, followed by the 2025 competition which offered $70K in prizes across nine categories.’
‘I wanted to use this platform to showcase what Australian diving has to offer, so we created a dedicated Australian Waters category. Also as we partnered with the GO Diving Show in Sydney to present the award ceremony, we really also wanted to show what Sydney has to offer, hosting a dedicated Sydney category’.
Grassroots Conservation: The Fight for Our Oceans
In addition to interacting with underwater photographers, Brett’s keen to help the general public develop a stronger connection with the ocean through being motivated to care for it. His wife Sarah-Jo is a full-time conservationist, working mostly in the space of Single Use Plastic: ‘Together we started SO Shire – Sustainable Organisations of the Sutherland Shire – promoting grass roots, on-the-ground, local action. Sarah-Jo is really the brains and puts in the hours. Together we run monthly beach clubs and community awareness.’
The need for hands-on ocean conservation hits home hard for Brett: ‘There are a number of pressures that we humans have applied to ocean from over-fishing, climate change resulting in warming of oceans, ecosystems collapse, and single use plastic. As divers, we’re witnessing these impacts first-hand, at home and across every ocean.’
‘Last year while working on Lord Howe Island, I witnessed first-hand the most southern coral reef in the world bleaching, with entire reefs taken out by urchins because they thrive in warmer water. It was one of the first times I’ve cried underwater.’ ‘It’s now impossible to dive in Sydney without seeing plastic. My biggest concern is that many still see the ocean as an endless resource, where we can take all we want and dump anything we want into it.’
Looking Ahead: 2026 Expeditions and Beyond
His philosophy of affecting change is simple: ‘As divers and underwater photographers, we have a duty to help connect more people with the ocean. It won’t be the actions of a single person that changes the world, but together we can influence governments and companies to drive really change. I find you really have to embrace the small wins to keep positive.’
This care for the state of the ocean extends into Brett’s hobbies that are mostly ocean-focused: ‘Diving, snorkelling, freediving, swimming or walking our local beach, usually including a daily mini clean-up. At the end of last year, we unfortunately lost our beautiful labrador Charlie, who shared our love for the ocean and beach.’ Brett has several exciting projects and expeditions lined up, including whale swims in Tonga and leading an exclusive trip for just four people to the Galapagos in 2026.
To engage with his photography, learn more about his tours and underwater photography gear sales, follow Brett on Instagram and visit: brettlobwein.com or uwimages.com.au
It won’t be the actions of a single person that changes the world, but together we can influence governments and companies to drive really change. I find you really have to embrace the small wins to keep positive.
FAQs
Who is Brett Lobwein?
Brett Lobwein is an award-winning underwater photographer, PADI Rescue Diver, and owner of UW Images. He is a Sony Digital Imaging Advocate and co-ordinator of the Underwater Awards Australasia, known for his work with apex predators and marine conservation.
What camera gear does Brett Lobwein use for underwater photography?
Brett is an ambassador for Isotta underwater camera housings and a Sony Digital Imaging Advocate. He specializes in using high-end mirrorless systems equipped with specialized housings, strobes, and lighting distributed through his business, UW Images.
Where are the best places to dive with Brett Lobwein?
Brett leads exclusive photography expeditions to world-class diving destinations, including Argentina for southern right whales, the Galapagos Islands, Tonga for whale swims, and the Great Barrier Reef.
What is the Underwater Awards Australasia?
Co-founded by Brett Lobwein, this competition showcases the best of Pacific and Australian diving. It features categories like “Australian Waters” and “Sydney,” offering significant prize pools to inspire the next generation of underwater image-makers.
How is Brett Lobwein involved in ocean conservation?
Alongside his wife Sarah-Jo, Brett co-founded “SO Shire” (Sustainable Organisations of the Sutherland Shire). They focus on grassroots actions like monthly beach clean-ups and community awareness to combat single-use plastics and habitat loss.
This article was originally published in Scuba Diver Magazine
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