Bored Panda reached out to the photographer to learn more about her underwater shoots. Rachel shared how she prepares—both mentally and physically—before each underwater adventure: “Diving is my reset — the place I return to when my mind is loud or chaotic. The moment I slip beneath the surface, my entire body exhales, and I drop into stillness. After 20 years of diving, the preparation is second nature — I don't follow a strict routine anymore because it's become part of the rhythm of my life. That said, I always try to take a few intentional breaths before entering the water, as a way of arriving fully in the moment. There’s a quiet respect I try to carry into every dive — a reminder that I’m a guest in someone else’s world.”
When asked to recall the moment in her career that brought her the most joy and pride, Moore responded: “The most meaningful encounter of my career — and my life — was meeting a juvenile humpback whale I named Sweet Girl. She was deeply curious and had this gentle, intelligent way of approaching people, always coming just close enough without ever touching. I spent nearly an hour swimming away whenever she came close, as an animal of her sheer size could easily harm a human even by accident. But slowly, she showed me I could trust her. She saw me — and she gave me the same respect in return.”
The photographer continued, sharing more details about this special encounter in her own words: “The next ten minutes were the most profound of my life.” Rachel elaborated: “I met her again the following day and was able to capture a close-up image of her eye — a photograph that has since become one of the most meaningful in my entire career. Tragically, just four days later, she was killed by a fast-moving ship, likely a ferry traveling between Tahiti and Mo’orea based on AIS data from that day.
Since then, I’ve been working hard to advocate for stronger protections for whales in French Polynesia. A petition launched calling for seasonal speed regulations has reached over 50,000 signatures and received support from people around the world. Sadly, the government has yet to commit to this simple, life-saving measure — even as they prepare to announce new marine protections at the upcoming UNOC conference in France this June. My hope is that continued international pressure can help ensure speed limits are included in their final list of commitments before the whales begin arriving next month.”
The photographer also shared the most profound lesson she’s learned from spending so much time underwater—particularly in relation to the creatures and environments she captures in her images: “Respect goes a long way — not just in theory, but in practice. Many people enter the ocean with expectations: to see a specific species, to capture a certain shot, to have a bucket-list experience. But animals are incredibly attuned to energy. The moment they encounter a human — or any other animal — they have to decide: is this a predator or not?
When we carry our own desires and try to force our expectations into reality, we often bring a kind of predatory energy. We swim toward animals, we chase, we cut off their path. Sure, it might get you close — but it rarely leads to meaningful encounters.”
Over the years, Rachel has come to believe that approaching the ocean without expectations—simply with the intention to appreciate its beauty and embrace whatever it reveals—leads to the most rewarding experiences. As she put it: “you’ll leave with so much more.”
She explained: “When I encounter animals, I often start by putting my camera to the side. I make eye contact. I slow down or stop completely. I try to lower my heart rate and honor their presence, usually with a little wave. I never chase, and I only follow once the animal seems comfortable with my presence — though more often, I let them swim away, and their curiosity brings them back."
"I try to position myself in front of the animal, but off to the side — not directly in their path. I want them to be able to see me, but also feel like they can continue on their way or leave if they want to. Imagine walking down the sidewalk and someone suddenly stands directly in your path, not moving or even walking directly toward you — how would that make you feel? Would it feel confrontational?
By respecting their space and allowing their curiosity to guide the interaction, we often end up having more meaningful moments. Sure, sometimes the animal swims off and nothing happens — but sometimes, magic does.”
Rachel concluded by emphasizing that our ultimate goal in the ocean should be to observe natural behavior—not to alter it. “Everyone wants to interact with wildlife — and of course, those encounters are special — but that should never be the goal. These are wild animals, in their home. We are only visitors there, and we must come with deep respect and humility.”
Lastly, we asked Moore to share some common misconceptions—or simply facts most people don’t realize—about underwater photography. She kindly told us: “When I first started, I was genuinely disappointed in my images. Everything looked flat and blue — nothing like what I’d seen in magazines or online. I didn’t realize how much of the artistry in underwater photography comes from post-processing. The raw files often look lifeless until you bring the colors, depth, and contrast back through careful editing.
Editing is where the image really comes to life — whether you want it to look realistic, cinematic, or dreamlike. It takes time to find your own style. Unlike topside photography, where natural light and color are more forgiving, underwater work almost always requires finessing. So to anyone starting out: don’t be discouraged by your early results. Watch tutorials, experiment, and play. With time and practice, the magic will come.”
