BIO
American photographer Todd Essick Is considered one of the pioneers of underwater fine art photography, Todd Essick was one of the first underwater photographers to bring models and animals together in the ocean with a clear artistic vision of creating a true bridge between art and nature.
He first became enchanted with the sea as a child during a family vacation in South Florida. After moving to Florida, he attended art school. During his final semester, an interest in photojournalism was sparked by an internship with the Miami Herald.
Working as a professional freelance photojournalist out of Miami, for the better part of a decade, he covered daily news, sports and special interest stories, including drug and refugee interdiction in the Caribbean, riots in Miami, civil war in Central America and the Olympics. He has tackled some of the most intense and challenging assignments possible, primarily while freelancing for the Associated Press.
A diving career spanning 40 years and making thousands of dives, Todd Essick nurtured his love of the sea and the connection we all have with it. His vision, to share this with everyone, has become his continuing underwater fine art photographic project; Goddesses, Sirens and Mermaids.
His award winning underwater fine art photography has been published around the world and collected in his book Beginnings Goddesses, Sirens and Mermaids. Many collectors prize his limited edition photographs. Of many career highlights, Unterwasser Magazine in Germany naming Mr. Essick one of the top ten underwater photographers in the world and Mr. Essick being invited as a guest photographer for Germany’s Next Top Model with Heidi Klum, at the time one of highest rated show in Germany, are two of his favorites.
His on going study of women interacting with animals underwater continues with works that have included sharks in the Bahamas, and Jellyfish in Palau.
During the pandemic Mr. Essick is spending time in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula. Its rich culture and warm people have been in his heart since his first international dive trip to Cozumel. After coming to Mexico to work on new photographs the coronavirus arrived and became his focus to help those in need. He is involved with cooking and feeding families through a church soup kitchen and making food packages for the many experiencing food insecurity.
