Explorers Photography
Steven Lopez, MSc and Dr. Carmen Obied are multidisciplinary underwater cinematographers and maritime archaeologists, trained as scientific divers (AAUS/ESDP) and tech divers (TDI Trimix). Steven and Carmen co-founded Explorers Photography (EP) with a shared vision to merge their passion for scuba diving, underwater cinematography, and storytelling. By fostering a deep relationship with the ocean, they aim to increase awareness of its significance and advocate for its preservation from kelp forests to polar seas.
Their love for the ocean runs as deep as their multicultural roots. Steven - native to Los Angeles with a Mexican and Native American background has always been deeply rooted in the local waters of Southern California and his passion has carried him into raw exploration of the most remote environments on the planet. Carmen - born in Seville then raised in Lisbon and London, her mixed heritage (Spanish, Egyptian, British) has shaped her multifaceted skills as an ocean explorer, scientist, and storyteller with a multilingual background.
Their collection seeks to reveal the invisible threads that bind the world’s climates to the sea. How every glacier, every shore breathes life into the planet we call home. From the local kelp forests of Catalina to the remote icebound horizons of the Arctic and Antarctica, we trace the ocean’s pulse as it shapes, sustains, and connects every corner of our world. Capturing the subtle relationships that define each ecosystem, across oceans and time: a tapestry of worlds held together by water.
They are drawn to the intersectional spaces where art and science meet, where documentation becomes a cinematic vessel that connects both the story and impact. The underwater worlds - from California’s kelp forests to the frozen seas of the polar regions - remind us that every movement below reflects the balance of life above the surface. A reminder that when the ocean is protected, life at every scale finds its way back.
Steven and Carmen’s underwater photography, cinematography and archaeological work includes collaborations with the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County, the Honor Frost Foundation, and Blue Green Expeditions, with awards and features this year from the United Nations World Oceans Day, San Diego UnderSea Film Exhibit (SDUFEX), UK Shark Trust Photographer of the Year, Dive Photo Guide’s Photographer of the Week, Backscatter’s Digital Shootout, and more.
Join them in Antarctica in January 2026: www.explorersphotography.com/antarctica-2026