I am currently on assignment for the Save our Seas Foundation on a island atoll called Aldabra, situated in a remote and isolated part of the western Indian ocean. I have travelled here to photograph and document the diversity of marine and coastal life that inhabits Aldabra's seas. My primary mission is to photograph the island's shark fauna and document the wide range of habitats (mangroves, coral reefs,seagrass beds and channels) they inhabit.  Aldabra is a world heritage site and having enjoyed protection since the 1970s. The nearshore and inner lagoon waters are teeming with sharks and in a matter of a few days I have already encountered schools of 40+ blacktip reef sharks, large aggregation of Indo Pacific lemon sharks and and grey reef sharks. In addition an abundance of large schools of bohar snappers and incredibly high concentrations of large groupers indicate a  near pristine inshore marine ecosystem. However a initial search of the pelagic realm has yielded no sharks whatsoever and I have also yet to encounter tiger or zambezi (bull) sharks. It is still early days, but I am beginning to wonder if the islands remote location has meant that long-liners and other commercial fishing vessels have been able to overfish the surrounding offshore waters  for many years.

 For a daily expedition blog by Cheryl-Samantha Owen direct from Aldabra please visit:  www.sosfexpeditions.blogspot.com or www.saveourseas.com

I am delighted to announce that I have won the portfolio category in the 2007 Festival Mondial Image sous marine (World Festival of Underwater Pictures Antibes) described by many as the equivalent of the Oscars of underwater photography. This year the festival attracted entries from professional underwater photographers and filmmakers from 50 countries.  Unfortunatley I was unable to attend the awards ceremony as I was speaking at the WILD PHOTO event in London after my win in the Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition earlier in the week. 

In a awards ceremony held at the Natural History Musuem in London Thomas Peschak was proclaimed the winner of the Black and White Category in the world's most prestigous Wildlife Photography Contest the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition. His image of a blacktip shark taken at South Africa's Aliwal Shoal was chosen as a winner out of 30 000 entries from photographers hailing from over 70 countries.  Chairmen of the Jury Mark Carwardine comments on the photograph: Beautiful framing, an inspired juxtaposition of light and dark, as well as an interesting use of space, turn a relatively straightforward portrait into a work of art.

My new book Wild Seas Secret Shores of Africa has just been published and is available from all good book shops and through www.amazon.co.uk, www.nhbs.com and other online merchants. It has made Wordsworth's top ten list of best books for the festive season and has already garnered outstanding reviews by BBC Wildlife Magazine, Die Burger and the Cape Argus.

Praise for Wild Seas Secret Shores of Africa:

The book is, without exaggeration, simply superb. It contains the finest and most varied collection of underwater pictures that I have ever seen in a single volume. You’ll need to look at them yourself and I can promise you, you won’t be disappointed.
John Yeld,  Cape Argus

Thomas P Peschak is one of those rare people who successfully balances art and science. In his hands, the technical achievement of underwater photography and the artistry of beautiful composition combine to stunning effect. His aim is to “transport the viewer into the heart of the ocean” – and he doesn’t disappoint.
John Ruthven,  BBC Wildlife Magazine

Awesome. Amazing. Inspirational. There are a handful of wildlife photographers on this planet who can really be called masters. David Doubilet and Frans Lanting spring to mind. Both are extremely knowledgeable about their subjects, both artists with their cameras and both live for their work. Thomas Peschak’s name after the release of his latest book Wild Seas Secret Shores takes a well-deserved place alongside these talented photographers. His work is simply awesome, amazing and inspiring.  For anyone who has a love for nature, this book is a must, and for the diving community its compulsory reading.
Andrew Ingram,  Cape Times

Winner Underwater

Thomas P. Peschak has won the underwater and landscape categories of the 2007 Fuji African Wildlife Photographer of the Year Awards. He also took 2nd place in the People and Nature and Insects and Reptiles Categories. In addition he also two images highly commended in the Underwater and one in the Bird categorie.

For more information and to see more winning images go to www.fujifilm.co.za

Winner Landscapes & Plants

2nd place People and Nature                        2nd place Insects and Reptiles

Highly Commended Birds                           Highly Commended Underwater