Mike Korostelev dives deep into the waters to reveal the secret life of marine giants.
Mike Korostelev is a Russian naturalist photographer who is internationally renowned for his stunning images of the animal world, particularly in aquatic environments. A former computer scientist who graduated from Moscow State University, he turned to wildlife photography with a marked passion for extreme environments and majestic species. A specialist in underwater photography, he uses sophisticated techniques such as aquatic drones and watertight housings to capture rare, immersive scenes where wildlife and water merge in unsettling harmony.
His work regularly wins awards in the most prestigious competitions. In 2022, his ‘Hippo World’ series catapulted him to the forefront, winning the European Wildlife Photographer of the Year award. The following year, he won the Wildlife Photographer of the Year in the Underwater category, thanks to an impressive image of a mother hippopotamus surrounded by her young, taken in a few seconds in clear water after years of patient observation.
Mike doesn't just photograph nature: he lives it. He founded ‘Whale Watching Expeditions’, an agency specialising in marine wildlife-watching trips from Norway to Antarctica. Through his images, he defends an ethical, respectful and committed approach to nature. His aim: to arouse wonder and awareness by making visible what all too often remains hidden beneath the surface.
