Pillars

This photo was shot during an early morning dive in Exuma, between two islands where the current constantly flows with each changing tide. The reef here thrives because of that steady movement of water, but it also makes it a challenging place to photograph. There’s only a short window of calm between tides when the current slows just enough to dive safely and capture a moment before it picks back up again. We left around sunrise, taking the hour-and-a-half boat ride to reach the spot before the conditions shifted. Pillar corals are rare to come across in the northern and central Bahamas these days, but as you travel farther south, you start to see more of these incredible formations. They rise up from the seafloor like natural skyscrapers, each one a testament to time and resilience. When I came across this coral, it immediately reminded me of a city skyline—standing tall, layered in texture, and full of character. It wasn’t massive in size, but from the angle I shot it, I wanted to give the viewer that sense of height and scale—to feel like they’re looking up at something grand and alive, built by nature’s own design.