The wild according to Inka Cresswell

How can photography help conservation?

Photography is an incredibly powerful tool for conservation because it gives people access to places and experiences they might never otherwise have. It helps bridge the gap between science and public awareness, allowing us to showcase both the beauty of our oceans and the challenges they face.

For me, photography is a way of taking audiences beneath the waves and sharing the wonder of the marine world firsthand. Whether it’s capturing a thriving reef, a curious shark or the impacts of pollution, images have the power to create an emotional connection. And when people connect with nature, they’re far more likely to want to protect it.

What advice would you give young people looking to follow in your footsteps?

Don’t wait for someone to give you an opportunity, get out there and start creating. Most of us have access to a smartphone; that’s all you need to begin telling ocean stories and advocating for wildlife.

Start local. Volunteer with conservation organisations, explore your local wild spaces and document the nature on your doorstep. The more time you spend connecting with the natural world and sharing its stories, the stronger you’ll become as a storyteller and ocean advocate.

It was through these kinds of passion projects that I built my portfolio, developed my skills and grew a network of incredible people. Those experiences ultimately opened the door to a career doing what I love most: sharing stories from the ocean and inspiring others to protect it.

What’s been your most memorable encounter with UK marine life?

Without a doubt, diving with blue sharks off Penzance in Cornwall. I’ve always been fascinated by sharks and have been fortunate enough to work with species all around the world, from schooling hammerheads to great whites. Yet I never imagined one of my most memorable shark encounters would happen right here in UK waters.

It was actually my first professional underwater camera job, filming for The One Show on the BBC. I remember slipping into the water and being immediately surrounded by more than 30 blue sharks. They were incredibly curious, constantly circling us and even nudging my camera between takes.

What struck me most was their beauty. Their skin seemed to shimmer with an almost iridescent blue-purple sheen.

The experience was made even more special by knowing how vulnerable these animals are. Blue sharks are listed as Near Threatened on the IUCN Red List and are among the most heavily fished shark species in the world. To be able to spend time with them in the wild, so close to home, felt like a real privilege.

I’ve always felt a particular connection to blue sharks. They are remarkable travellers, crossing entire ocean basins and migrating annually between the Caribbean and the UK. As someone with both British and Jamaican heritage, I love the idea that these sharks make a similar journey between the two islands that have shaped my own story. There’s something about their wanderlust that really resonates with me.