Top Tips for Photographing Octopus in the UK

Over the last few years, the common octopus has quietly become one of the UK’s most exciting underwater photography subjects. Once considered a rare encounter, sightings surged dramatically in 2022, particularly across Cornwall and Devon. Divers began reporting octopus on shallow reefs, shore dives and kelp forests with a frequency that would have seemed impossible a decade ago. For many photographers, this sudden boom opened the door to new creative opportunities and a chance to spend real time observing one of the most charismatic marine species.

Octopus are naturally curious, expressive and often willing to pause and watch divers. Their behaviour makes them ideal subjects both for new and experienced photographers alike. If you’re hoping to make the most of an encounter, and come home with images you can’t wait to share, then read on for my top tips for photographing octopus in UK waters.

Patience is key

Like most wildlife photography, patience is the foundation of good octopus encounter. It’s easy to get excited when you spot one, especially if it’s the first time you have seen one in the wild, but rushing in almost always ends badly. A fast approach can spook the animal or stir up the seabed, leading to the dreaded backscatter.

Instead, think about your approach. Be calm and maintain good buoyancy. Octopus are intelligent creatures, they’re just as interested in you as you are in them. They will often pause to assess you as you approach, and once they realise you’re not a threat their natural curiosity usually takes over. You’ll often see an arm appear first, then the whole animal as it slowly emerges to investigate. If the octopus flashes white or begins backing away, that’s a clear sign it’s uncomfortable, that’s the signal its time to give it space and move on. Respecting the animal’s boundaries always leads to better encounters and better photographs.

Get close but remain respectful

Water reduces contrast and sharpness pretty quickly, so we have to make the most of these close encounters. Getting physically close almost always produces a stronger image than cropping later. A fisheye lens is my go to choice for octopus, it lets you fill the frame, shoot low angles and include the surrounding habitat while preserving colour and detail.

The golden rule is simple, let the octopus control the encounter. And remember if a subject doesn’t want to play ball then its time to move on and find another. Stay still, stay calm and let the octopus approach you. A subject that chooses to interact will give you far more natural behaviour than one that feels pressured or scared. Some octopus will even reach out to inspect your camera or even you, a moment that makes for unforgettable images and encounters.

Focus on the Eyes

Octopus eyes are incredibly expressive and will instantly draw viewers into the frame. Unless you’re intentionally shooting abstract or artistic compositions, sharp eyes are essential.

Place your autofocus point directly on the eye, use tracking if your camera has it and choose a shutter speed that compensates for subtle movement from current or the animal itself. Even small shifts can soften the image, so prioritising the eye with tracking enabled will help you to get the best out of your images. I usually have my camera set somewhere between f8 – f11 for an octopus encounter, to maximise my chance of the eye being in focus even if it moves.

Look for Behaviour 

Portraits are always worthwhile, but behaviour tells a story. Spend time watching for colour changes as the octopus blends into different backgrounds, hunting movements as it searches for crustaceans, or the graceful flow of its arms as it explores the reef. Interactions with divers can also produce memorable frames, especially when the octopus chooses to investigate your camera.

These fleeting moments often become the images people remember, and they’re the ones that tend to stand out in competitions.

Master Your Lighting

UK waters can be dark, green and full of particles. When we introduce flash backscatter becomes a real challenge, especially at silty sites. A few reliable lighting principles help enormously:

• If the water is murky, get close and reduce flash power. Less light means fewer illuminated particles and less chance of backscatter
• Angle your strobes slightly wider than usual to minimise backscatter while still revealing texture and colour.
• Review your images regularly and adjust strobe power as the octopus moves or as depth changes.

Octopus skin responds beautifully to balanced lighting, every colour shift and pattern becomes a new photographic opportunity. And if you can’t avoid the backscatter think about using a patterned background to allow it to blend in.

Respect the Individual

No two octopus will behave the same. Some vanish instantly, while others seem genuinely fascinated by your presence. A co-operative subject is worth its weight in gold, so don’t push the ones that are unsure. The best encounters come from patience, calm behaviour and respect for the animal’s comfort.

Those unpredictable interactions are part of what makes photographing octopus so rewarding. When you find a subject that chooses to interact, take your time and enjoy the moment. Even if you don’t get the shot you wanted, that’s a once in a lifetime encounter.

Octopus are incredible subjects, but the environment they inhabit is just as important. Use the surrounding reef, kelp, gullies or rocky ledges to give context. UK waters have a distinct character, glorious green tones, textured habitats and shifting light, not many other dive sites in the world offer this colour palette, we should make the most of it.

I’ve been incredibly lucky to have almost guaranteed octopus encounters at my local dive sites over the last few years, having spotted my first common octopus in 2022 and every year since in all seasons. The images are a collection of octopus encounters across Cornwall, showcasing their habitats on rocky reef and wrecks, and a few up close encounters as many of my dive buddies enjoyed the thrill of seeing octopus for the first time too!

With patience, good buoyancy and a respect for natural behaviour, photographing octopus in the UK becomes an experience that’s as rewarding as it is creative. These encounters offer a chance to capture far more than a simple portrait, they let you tell the story of one of the UK’s most fascinating marine animals and the coastline they call home.