Sirachai “Shin” Arunrugstichai

What drives me is the need to document what is happening in the ocean with clarity and honesty. I began my career in marine biology, spending years monitoring reefs, recording shark landings in commercial fisheries, and collaborating with coastal communities. Over time, the changes were unmistakable. The corals I surveyed during my Bachelor’s bleached and died, and the sharks I recorded during my Master’s declined so quickly that many species disappeared from landing sites. 

To show these realities in the rawest form, I turned to photography. My scientific work was essential but often stayed within specialist circles. Photography allowed me to communicate my observations to a wider public. I’m not replacing science, since science still shapes how I understand the ocean and how I build my narrative, but imagery can reach people in ways data alone cannot.

Human connection also keeps me motivated. Time spent with fishers, field teams, and coastal communities gives me context and a sense of responsibility. Their experiences deepen my understanding far beyond what appears in surveys, and I want to see things improve for them.

Through my reportage and collaboration with scientists and local communities, my work has been used by researchers, conservation groups, and the media to raise awareness, support evidence-based decisions, and contribute to policy outcomes, including the establishment of a marine protected area and stronger national park management.

In the beginning of my career, I often spent months on remote islands working with local conservation groups, so I brought a compact camera mainly to show my friends and family what I was doing. Soon, the teams I worked with began designating me to photograph marine life and conservation activities. During my Master’s program, I continued taking photos for my lab and other labs as a volunteer because I enjoyed it, and it helped them explain their research with clearer visuals.

My first breakthrough came when National Geographic Thailand learned about my shark research and gave me my first assignment. I continue doing this because I want marine science and conservation to be more accessible to the public and policymakers. Photography allows me to portray what I see in a direct and visceral way that often connects faster than scientific papers.

But the most meaningful part of my work is the human connection built in the field. Many moments stay with me, like sharing the last cup of instant noodles with my fixer in a whaling village after a long day, watching the sunrise with my assistant after photographing corals and the Milky Way through the night. Other memories are heavier, like a Myanmar boat crew I worked with on ghost-net removal, some of whom later died during the conflict. These moments remind me that my work is not only about ecosystems but about the people living around them.