RENEE CAPOZZOLA
First Woman and First American Ever to be Named 2021 Underwater Photographer of the Year!
Written by Melani Morose Edelstein
All photography shown by Renee Capozzola
Her success in this contest significantly heightened media interest in her photography and resulted in Renee securing numerous television appearances: locally on KTLA, nationally on the Today Show, and internationally with a segment on France 2.
Most recently, Renee was named the inaugural winner of the “Female Fifty Fathoms Award” presented by Oceanographic Magazine and sponsored by Swiss watch manufacturer, Blancpain. The award was a new addition to the Ocean Photography Awards and the artists in competition were nominated and evaluated for not only their achievements, but also their commitment and ability to inspire others.
Other success Renee enjoyed in 2021 included winning the United Nations World Oceans Photo Day Competition: Ocean, Life, and Livelihoods, for her picture of local Indonesian fishermen engaging in sustainable fishing practices. This picture, like many in her portfolio, is a split shot (or “over-under” image) that simultaneously reveals the scenes above and below the water line. Renee also specializes in taking fully underwater pictures of sharks and of turtles, like the one on the cover of this edition.
When Renee is not busy working on her photography or teaching her classes, she enjoys watching youth baseball and cheering on her sons, Donovan (14) and Dean (9), or having coffee with her husband, Damian, at the local Lunada Bay Cafe.
