Capturing the Ocean’s Soul — Through the Lens of Photographer Pasha Meleshkin

My work is diverse — I love exploring different styles and capturing whatever feels beautiful. But nature has always been my biggest inspiration, especially the underwater world. That’s where I feel most at peace — where light, water, and movement reveal beauty effortlessly.

Model Irina Smolentseva

The Art of Real Moments

I spend countless hours in the ocean — surfing, freediving, and documenting this powerful, emotional world. My goal isn’t to make things look perfect. I want them to feel real. Because sometimes the most beautiful moments are the imperfect ones — the fleeting glances, the blur of motion, the droplets of water on a lens.

Model Irina Smolentseva

Two Worlds of Creativity

My creative path has two sides:

• Nature: raw, unpredictable, and endlessly beautiful.

• Action and motion: surfing, outdoor life, and the deep human connection to energy and freedom.

Since childhood, I’ve been drawn to action sports — the movement, the challenge, the unpredictability. Surf photography brings all of that together. It’s physically demanding, technically difficult, and every second counts. That’s what makes it so addictive — and so rewarding.

Surfer: Lin Liem

From Film to Digital — Keeping the Emotion Alive

I started shooting with film cameras, and that analog experience continues to shape my style. I love the texture, the grain, the light leaks — and the timeless emotion of black-and-white photography.

Even when shooting digital, I chase that same feeling. I might leave water drops on the lens or use soft filters to keep things organic and imperfect. For me, photography is a constant search — for beauty, emotion, and truth.

Now, my focus is on the connection between the ocean, light, and people — especially photographing women in natural environments. I love portraying strength and grace together — women who are real, powerful, and in harmony with nature.

Model: Valeria Kvitka

Tools That Empower Creativity

I shoot both photo and video, using whatever helps tell the story best — drones, film cameras, digital setups, and action cams. Because for me, gear is only as valuable as the freedom it gives you to create.

That’s why Outex waterproof camera housings have become essential to my work. They’re light, compact, and reliable — the perfect match for travel and adventure. I’ve used my Outex setup for more than a year and a half, testing it in every condition imaginable — from freediving to 10 meters deep, to shooting surf in big waves.

It’s never leaked. Not once.

I use the Outex Pro Kit: regular size cover and a various flat front ports to match my lenses' filter thread sizes. The Outex front ports engineering matches industry standard filter threads, so the ports "become one" and move with the lens, regardless of focal distance, zoom, focus, or setting. It reduces possible variations within the housing, such as reflection and refraction between the lens and the Outex port, which can often happen with other housings.

Shooting Underwater — My Go-To Tips

Underwater photography is always a challenge, so I’ve developed a few habits that keep me and my gear safe:

1. Test the housing before every session. I check for leaks in my pool or near shore before diving in.

2. Use silica gel packs. I tape them inside the housing to prevent moisture buildup when warm air meets cold water.

3. Focus on creativity, not gear. The best gear is the kind you forget about — the kind that simply works.

That’s exactly what Outex does for me. It gives me the freedom to focus on the story, the light, and the moment — not on worrying about whether my camera will survive the next wave.

Follow Pasha’s Work

📸 Instagram: @pashameleshkin_