Behind the Lens: Carlos Gauna, The Malibu Artist

Carlos Gauna, famously known as The Malibu Artist, is no stranger to being behind the camera and capturing once-in-a-lifetime moments. Before the pandemic, Gauna made his living photographing weddings. But when lockdown wiped out any new opportunities, he quickly chased his passion and new hobby, aerial photography of the Grey Whale migration past Malibu’s Point Dume. While filming the whales, Carlos witnessed one of the most mysterious, yet iconic, creatures of the Pacific Ocean, great white sharks. We stumbled upon his popular YouTube channel and were immediately inthralled by his refreshing take on white shark footage; scoring each post with soothing music, informative narration, and most importantly, never disclosing his location to protect the sharks. What could be used to sensationalize shark-human encounters, Carlos instead sends his work to scientists around the world for data collection, behavioral studies and supports conservation efforts. We were invited out to a day of filming with him in the early summer, and despite being Los Angeles natives, we were stunned by the unassuming presence of juvenile great white sharks right in our backyard. From then on, we have formed a partnership and are proud to share Carlos’ story with you. He is truly the perfect example of what we stand for at Shark Cafe and Shark Allies: anyone can contribute to conservation, just apply your passion and skillset and you will succeed.

SC: When did you first discover your passion and talent for photography?

CG: While in college I worked on the college newspaper staff. I volunteered to take photos for a story. I ended up loving the story telling aspect of it and before long I bought my first camera. I quickly started exploring nature and actually spent some time storm chasing and photographing tornados.  

SC: Tell us a little about your path to where you are now. How did you go from storm chaser, to wedding photographer and now drone pilot and shark photographer?

CG: After getting some attention for my work in the newspaper, folks started paying me to take their photos. Eventually I began photographing weddings and did this for many years. When drones came into the general market, I initially bought a drone as a hobby. Soon I began filming the gray whale migration off the coast of Malibu. One particular evening, during a whale search, I spotted a fin just 100 yards off the shore. It was too windy to fly the drone however, but I was intrigued. I walked to the top of the point and from there I could clearly see a great white shark from above. It appeared to be eating a seal. This sparked my interest in sharks even more and made me wonder if I could use the same spotting techniques I used for whale spotting on sharks. Eventually, that curiosity led me to finding more sharks along the whole Southern California coastline. That curiosity led me to filming some pretty viral moments involving sharks.

Grey Whale Migration photos by Carlos Gauna

SC: What's been the most interesting or surprising thing you've observed while watching sharks? What isn’t clear from your YouTube videos is that you are self-taught in your shark knowledge! 

CG: I’m surprised almost every time I film sharks. Mostly by how often they interact with other species and how often they are so close to shore. I’ve been fortunate enough to see sharks breaching, sharks attempting predations, and even sharks coming within a few feet of surfers. I am self taught in my spotting methods, particularly in anticipating a shark's movements in order to get a shot and present sharks in the most cinematic fashion as I can.

SC: A large handful of your drone footage displays potentially new or rare behaviors and sightings. What was the most exciting capture for you?

CG: I’ve captured groups of sharks sometimes ranging up to 30 together in one location. Most recently I filmed a shark inverting its stomach, something I believe is very rare to see from a drone. Other interesting things I’ve filmed include sea lions actually chasing sharks and sharks touch rays but not attacking them.

SC: One of your trademarks is footage showing great white sharks incredibly close to surfers and swimmers. What's it like watching in real time? 

CG: Early on, I was very nervous when filming sharks so close to humans. I still get a bit uneasy if a shark gets too close, but I’m slowly realizing that encounters are likely much more common than I ever thought. Filming it live is always a little nerve wracking but in the back of my mind I know the sharks do not have humans on the menu and that an attack is very unlikely. Still, it does make me uneasy at times. 

SC: How are you using your aerial footage to support shark research and your YouTube success for conservation? 

CG: My goal is to show sharks in a different light and to showcase them cinematically. I think the way sharks gracefully glide through water is sometimes overlooked by the message we’ve all been conditioned to as a result of over-dramatized media. I really strive to show sharks being sharks. In their natural state, without external human factors. That display can help with awareness and with research. I often share my footage with scientists who then use it for research. In fact, a couple of my videos are cited in a recent peer reviewed article.   

SC: What drew us to you is your approach on filming sharks and your narration. Your videos are calm, informative and do not disclose the locations. Why is that important to you?

CG: Sharks tend to be calm a vast majority of the time. This is what I like to film. They aren’t the always hungry aggressive monsters we often think of them as being. I specifically do not disclose sites because I want to actually keep the sharks safe. I know that in the few times I’ve disclosed locations, some people have reacted very irresponsibly. For example, I’ve had folks take a location and just days later show up with a boat and actively drop blood into the water to attract sharks. That is very irresponsible behavior, especially at a beach with hundreds of swimmers nearby. So I find it best, to just film them naturally, and not disclose the locations. I can’t film them in their natural state if a bunch of humans go out there and chase them around. Especially if the sharks are calm.

SC: You've photographed Northern Lights in Iceland, lions patrolling the Plains of Africa and juvenile white sharks cruising along the Malibu coast. Is there a specific moment or photo that stands out as your favorite? 

CG: There isn’t a specific moment that is my favorite. I see it all as a collective of how amazing our planet is. I’ve been fortunate enough to photograph some amazing things. I love the northern lights, I love the African plains, and I love the ocean. Each of my favorite photos I’ve ever taken remind me of how we, as humans, take for granted the nature around us. And that it may not always be around, largely due to our own actions. I take those photos to show my son, who will be born soon, just how important it is for me to do all I can to preserve those moments so he can enjoy them as well. A few years ago, I was able to spend some time with the last male Northern White Rhino on Earth. That experience was a defining moment for me. When I see what’s happening to sharks and other animals worldwide, I hope that my work shows the next generation an appreciation of what we have today. Those moments we have right now, might not be there tomorrow if we don’t become better stewards of our time on Earth. 

SC: Do you have a bucket list animal, place or migration you hope to photograph one day?

CG: I’ve been lucky so far to capture many bucket list photos. Last year, I was supposed to travel across Greenland, however that didn’t happen due to the pandemic. In the future, I plan to reschedule that trip.  I want to see first hand, the glacier melts live. I need to see how a piece of ice the size of New York City can break off into the ocean. I have to experience the impact on me personally.

SC: You've said that you approach photography with the concept that “life is art”. Where do you find art in everyday life?

CG: Art is everywhere. It’s just a matter of perspective. Even the smallest squirrel on the sidewalk has a purpose in our ecosystem and a beauty about it, if you stop and watch. Appreciating what is around us, is an art in itself. Something that is unfortunately missing in a world consumed by an infatuation with status & material things. Things that can be replaced. Nature, once it’s gone, can’t be replaced like a new car. If you find art in nature, you’ll find greater meaning to life in general.

SC: Recently, you made the trip down to the Sea of Cortez. How was filming different with new species, than your usual great white subjects?

CG: My time in the Sea of Cortez was amazing. The amount of sea life I was able to capture, everything from humpback whales, to bull sharks, to mobula rays, it was an amazing experience. But most importantly, I was able to see first hand what an effective marine protected zone can do for nature within it. However, at  the same time,  I was able to see, first hand, illegal shark fishing traps without any consequence to them whatsoever. It showed me that all these species can thrive, but there’s still so much more than needs to be done.

SC: Even more recently, Guadalupe was checked off of your list! What was your first thought when you saw your first white shark under the surface?

CG: My first thought was one of amazement. And it was absolutely amazing to see just how each shark had a “personality”. It was very intriguing to see how much the sharks behaved differently among each other. I did learn so much about them on the trip, that I gained even more appreciation for just how amazing these animals are. They’ve survived 4 mass extinction events, are primitive animals, yet when you look one in the eyes, you just know they are smarter than you think.

To support Carlos’ conservation, drone and photography work, please visit him at www.youtube.com/themalibuartist and @themalibuartist on all social platforms.