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A local marine biologist-turned-photographer has won global recognition after snapping a picture of a hermit crab in a shell made out of waste, highlighting the impact of plastic pollution.
Matt Sharp was named ‘Conservation Photographer of the Year’ by Oceanographic, a bi-monthly marine lifestyle magazine which focuses on ocean conservation, exploration and adventure.
The magazine launched its ‘Ocean Photography Awards’ this year as “a celebration of our beautiful blue planet, as well as a platform to highlight the many plights it is facing."
The ‘Conservation’ category aimed to recognise the photographer "who most powerfully communicates any of the perils facing the ocean today, or stories of hope and recovery."
Pictured: Matt Sharp photographed the crab in the Maldives.
Matt’s winning shot was snapped in Thanburudhoo, a small island in the Maldives and shows a hermit crab crawling on a pile of plastic in a shell made from manmade waste.
It was taken on a surf trip during which Matt spent a lot of time underwater, photographing below the waves.
One day, Matt and two other people decided to go visit the little island, which was sold to an American investor for development but then left “stagnant” when he did not receive permission.
Pictured: St. Ouen's is Matt's favourite place to photograph in the island.
“Most places in the Maldives have been horrifically developed and are pristine but this one has been left alone,” Matt said.
“We could see from the boat there was a lot of plastic. There was plastic everywhere!”
Matt and his friends decided to pick up as much litter as they were able to put on the boat and filled several bags. Amid the rubbish, one of Matt’s friends spotted the hermit crab and pointed it to him. “It almost made me sick,” Matt said.
Commenting on the image, the photographer said it “summarises in quite a succinct way what is happening worldwide."
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Matt first got into photography after finishing school. “I got bored and borrowed a camera from my dad and it started from there,” he explained.
“It did not really consider it a career. I was only 17 or 18 and I did not realise you could make enough money out of it.”
He eventually went to university and qualified as a Marine Biologist before spending several years working on sailboats.
Three years ago, while on the hunt for a new career, Matt returned to photography after chatting with Matt Porteous of Studio M.
“It kind of all happened by chance,” Matt said.
Pictured: “My real passion is just to be in the water,” Matt said.
Nowadays, Matt spent most of his time photographing the ocean, an activity in which his background in marine biology and many travels have helped give him perspective.
“My real passion is just to be in the water,” Matt said. “Having studied biology, it’s nice to be able to understand the importance of what I’m seeing, it makes me a little bit more aware of what it means.
“What was frustrating when studying biology was I did not feel you could make a big impact. With photography, it’s the opportunity to actually make an impact, even if it’s just changing two people’s minds.
“Science is behind the scenes and does not have the same reach.”
Pictured: Matt picked up his first camera, borrowed from his dad, after finishing school.
Matt says he was over the moon when he heard his photo had won him the title of ‘Conservation Photographer’, especially since he believed the competition had concluded a while ago.
“I felt very privileged and quite humbled because a lot of a time as a photograph you feel you do not deserve it,” he explained.
“Anyone could take that photograph it’s about being in the right place at the right time and having a camera with you."
Pictured: Matt qualified as a Marine Biologist before embracing photography as a career.
Matt also welcomed how the publicity around the competition would help raise awareness about plastic pollution.
“It’s hugely scary,” he said. “It makes you realise how big the problem is and how sad as well. I find it tragic.
"Equally you have to be positive about it, we can do something about it. It’s a worldwide problem but we can all make a difference.”
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