Inspiring video takes you beneath the surface of an ocean photographer’s conservation efforts

If you’re looking for your weekly dose of inspiration, we have it for you.

This time, it comes in the form of a TED video wherein conservation photographer Thomas Paschak shares his story of what it is that drives him to capture the work he does and how he hopes to make a difference through the images he captures.

Unlike many TED talks, this particular talk is done on-location, as Paschak is standing in his wetsuit, knee-deep in the ocean. From beginning to end, his narration and accompanying images are captivating.

As land-living mammals, we don’t often get to see life underwater. According to Paschak, it’s his goal to change how we view the world beneath the waves. In the video, he says:

You can’t love something and become a champion for it if you don’t know it exists

It’s for this reason he does what he does. Paschak shares the beauty of the sea with the world. Be it the scariest of sharks or the most benign starfish, his dream is to capture images that inspire humans to coexist with the ocean in such a way that we can make the most of it while being respectful to the opportunities and resources it provides.

So often we get caught up in the gear that the purpose behind what we’re doing gets lost. Sometimes, it’s important to step back and really question why we do what we do. For me, this video helped do just that. Hopefully it equally inspires you.

[via Reddit]