In 2007, he made a significant change to his photographic career by starting to work underwater with a DSLR camera. Since then, he has become one of the world's most versatile underwater photographers. He is equally at home in tropical reefs as he is in cold fjords or Arctic waters. Temperatures play a secondary role for him — the subject is what matters. Whether sub-zero temperatures amongst icebergs or warm waters in equatorial seas, he seeks out situations that tell a story.

This openness is reflected in his work. His images span the entire spectrum of underwater photography, from monumental wide-angle shots and intimate macro portraits to mysterious wrecks and haunting encounters with marine animals. He is never interested in mere sensationalism. Even when photographing iconic subjects such as orcas, humpback whales or great white sharks, his visual language remains calm and controlled. The animals do not appear threatening or spectacularly staged, but rather present, dignified and embedded in their habitat. In other photographs, his gaze turns to the small and often overlooked: delicate structures, floating organisms and fragile forms that are visible for only seconds.

Even in the most extreme conditions, his photographs remain astonishingly clear. On expeditions to the Arctic, he photographed icebergs half above and half below the water's surface, creating images where two worlds meet in a single composition. While blackwater diving, he drifted in the open ocean at night to capture bizarre, luminous creatures from the depths. In flooded cave systems and on wreck dives, he combines technical skill with a keen sense of space, light and atmosphere. His work always conveys the experience, but never the effort. The images seem natural, as if they were meant to be that way.

The works exhibited at 10Photos fit seamlessly into his overall body of work. They demonstrate the vast scope of his photographic work without seeming haphazard. Each image appears to have been carefully selected: sometimes vastness dominates, at others proximity, and at others still, the interplay of light and darkness. Colours are used deliberately — often restrained, sometimes powerful — always in service of the image's message. The motifs never appear isolated, but are always related to their surroundings. Water is visible not only as a medium, but also as a formative element: as space, as a boundary and as a connecting surface.

In addition to his own photographic work, Tobias has been passing on his knowledge for many years. Through workshops, one-to-one coaching sessions and international expeditions, he teaches not only technique, but also an attitude: respect for the sea, patience when working with subjects and an openness to the unexpected. His books and illustrated volumes range from opulent collections of images to in-depth textbooks on the art of underwater photography. In his multimedia live show, Below Surface – Life in the Ocean, he combines photography, film and personal experiences to create a rich narrative about life in the sea, delivered with impressive knowledge and palpable passion.

His work has received numerous international awards, including over fifty prizes and many first places. His images are featured on the covers of magazines around the world, major brands rely on his expertise, and he actively shapes the scene as a jury member for the “Underwater Photographer of the Year” competition. However, none of this is ever evident in his images. They speak for themselves — quietly, clearly and with great depth.

[ Text 10Photos ]