My name is Bill Hawthorne. I am an aquatic ecologist studying Florida's freshwater springs. I am passionate about photography and hope to use it as a tool to communicate science and to develop passions in others. I do most of my photography in freshwater where I like to highlight unique species and ecologies (especially turtles!).
For my photography, I mainly use a Canon R6 with a Canon 8-15mm fisheye lens and 1.4x teleconverter. I use this setup within an Ikelite R6 Underwater Housing and Compact 8in Dome Port. I am currently using a single DS51 Strobe but would like to purchase a DS230 soon. I highly recommend the compact dome as it allows you to get closer to your subject, closer to ground level, and it is much easier to move through the water compared to larger domes.
Floating in Blue // A Florida Soft Shell Turtle (Apalone ferox) enjoys the clear waters and green vegetation of a Florida spring. 1/180 sec • f/8.0 • ISO 320 • 15mm. © Bill Hawthorne
Essence of Escambia // An Escambian Map Turtle (Graptemys ernsti). These turtles are very sexually dimorphic. Females are quite large and eat mollusks, males (pictured here) are small and mainly eat insects. 1/250 sec • f/8 • ISO 640 • 15mm. © Bill Hawthorne
Confluence Creature // A large Alligator Snapping Turtle (Macrochelys temminckii) at the confluence of a spring and blackwater river. This is one of the largest freshwater turtles in the world. They have a worm shaped tongue which they use to lure in prey. 1/180 sec • f/11 • ISO 6400 • 15mm. © Bill Hawthorne
Superman. A River Cooter (Pseudemys concinna) poses at the bottom of a blackwater river. 1/400sec • f/2.5 • ISO 500 • 50mm. © Bill Hawthorne
One-Eyed Joe. A one-eyed Florida Cooter (Pseudemys floridana) over the beautiful vegetation of a Florida Spring. 1/400sec • f/4 • ISO 400 • 14mm. © Bill Hawthorne
Molluscivore. A Loggerhead Musk Turtle (Sternotherus minor) foraging for snails. 1/250sec • f/11 • ISO 3200 • 15mm. © Bill Hawthorne
Bill Hawthorne is an aquatic ecologist specializing in the study of the freshwater springs of Florida. Bill focuses his studies and photography on freshwater species, most notably turtles. By sharing his underwater images, Bill hopes he'll expand his viewers' passion toward these unique environments and animals. Check out more of his work on his website, Instagram @billhawthornephotography, TikTok, and YouTube.
Additional Reading
When to Use a Compact 8" Dome Port Underwater
Turtle Photography Underwater Camera Settings
Freshwater Underwater Camera Settings and Technique
Canon EOS R6 Underwater Photos and Review
