Stéphane Granzotto

Few people get to experience nature as intimately as Stéphane. From the icy waters of the Arctic to the vast plains of Africa, his work captures the beauty and complexity of the natural world.

Stéphane describes himself as a mix between a documentary director and a wildlife photographer. He collaborates with major French television networks and international broadcasters, producing long-form documentaries that take months or even years to complete.

“I’m really a documentary director,” he explains. “It takes time, and I only work on long-term projects. But I love being the cameraman too, and it makes being a director easier, because then I know exactly what footage I have.”

One of the most remarkable projects of Stéphane’s career involved a decade-long study of sperm whales. It all began when a friend showed him some footage of sperm whales taken near Mauritius.

“The footage was crazy, it was some of the most beautiful footage I've ever seen,” he recalls. “So I went and took some photos in the same place, and I showed them to my friend François Sarano, who is a scientist. François immediately recognized that the photos showed the same animals always staying in the same location.”

This revelation — that a pod of sperm whales will remain in one location year-round — was previously unknown to science.

The discovery in Mauritius led Stéphane to undertake a long-term project supporting marine biologists who studied the whales.

“For the first time ever, it was possible for a group of people to stay with a pod of sperm whales — day after day, year after year. It was 10 years of my life that was really fantastic, because I was involved as a photographer and videographer, and later as a director.”

The project led to scientific breakthroughs, publications, and a documentary. “It changed my life,” Stéphane explains. “We used to see sperm whales as something out of Moby Dick, as dangerous predators. But in reality, they are incredibly social and welcoming.”

From diving with orcas in the Arctic to tracking grizzly bears in Canada, Stéphane has had extraordinary wildlife encounters. “Diving with orcas is something unbelievable,” he says. “They are curious and intelligent, and you can see them trying to understand you.”

However, not all animals are as approachable. “Grizzly bears are much more unpredictable,” he explains. “I have more fear of a grizzly than a great white shark — and you cannot hide from them. Their senses are so strong, they immediately know you are there with them.”

“But seeing them in the wild is wonderful.  Watching them swimming, catching fish, being with their cubs. When you see them in their natural environment, you have this feeling that you are nothing at all. In their world, we are only a spectator.”

When working in some of the most challenging conditions on Earth, having the right equipment is critical. Stéphane relies on the Canon R5 and R3 to capture video and photos.

As a Canon ambassador, he also uses the L-series lenses, including the 600mm and 400mm telephoto lenses for detailed shots, and wide-angle lenses optimized for underwater photography.

Stéphane pairs these lenses with high-sensitivity camera sensors to overcome the challenges of working in the dark Arctic waters. “Nowadays, the cameras are very good,” he explains. “You can now take pictures or videos that weren’t possible 10 or 15 years ago.”

To shoot underwater, Stéphane also uses specialized housing equipment from SEACAM. But while this equipment makes it possible to take photos deep underwater, Stéphane usually stays near the surface.

 
“I love to be just above in shallow water, just above the surface,” he explains. “Big mammals live at the top, because they need to breathe. I can stay there for hours and learn by myself, figuring out how to make slow-motion footage or find the best settings underwater.”

Stéphane first discovered Angelbird when he needed top-tier CompactFlash cards to film for a French TV channel.

“I was involved in a big documentary film project for RT,” he recalls. “So I needed the best cards available. Angelbird ended up loaning me some cards, and they suggested I try one of their hard drives too.”

“I’ve been using their gear for over 10 years now,” he says. “The speed, reliability, and design are top-notch, and I trust them completely. When you're filming in extreme conditions, you need gear that won’t fail.”

For Stéphane, organization is everything when working on a documentary. Every day, as soon as he finishes filming, he checks and backs up all his footage — and this is where fast, high-capacity storage makes all the difference.

 
“Backup is very important for me,” he explains. “I spend hours and hours in the water, because it’s very complicated to shoot the sperm whales in the way I do.  Every day I back up my data two or three times — and it's a waste of time if the gear is slow.”

 
 “I usually organize my footage day-by-day, or scene-by-scene, or species-by-species. This is very important because the footage for 4k or slow-motion video involves very large files. We need to be very organized so we can quickly find whatever we need later.”

For aspiring creators, Stéphane’s advice is simple: get immersed in your subject, keep an open mind, and be patient. This patience is particularly important when shooting wildlife, which is often unpredictable.

“Wildlife isn’t a shop where you can just pick what you want,” he says. “Sometimes, things happen easily — I remember my first dive with orcas, and on that very first dive, a massive male swam right up to me, and I took an incredible shot. But then, for weeks after that, I couldn't get a single good photo.”

He also believes that finding a fresh perspective can change everything. "Not everything has already been done," he says. “There’s always more to discover. Sometimes, the way we look at an animal — the angle, the moment, the story — is what makes it unique.”

Above all, he urges young photographers to believe in their dreams. “Anything is possible”, he says. “If it was possible for me, it’s possible for you.”

Even after nearly 30 years in the field, Stéphane’s passion remains as strong as ever. His current focus is exploring the relationship between humans and the wild, examining how we coexist with nature in an ever-changing world. 

“I love wild places — the ocean, the mountains, the savannah. They still hold a magic that reminds us of our place on this planet”, he says. “If we protect them, they will continue to inspire and sustain us.”

Stéphane’s work is more than just capturing beautiful images — it’s about telling the untold stories of nature and inspiring others to appreciate and protect the world we share.

For Stéphane, true creative freedom comes from embracing curiosity, staying humble, and seeing the world with the eyes of a child. He believes that creativity isn’t about following trends or doing what social media dictates — it’s about exploring, experimenting, and finding your own way.

“Don’t be afraid to do things differently,” he says. “Don’t be afraid to go against what Instagram tells you to do. Try different approaches, play like a kid, and it will be perfect.

 
Even as an accomplished photographer, Stéphane brings this open-minded approach into the workshops he leads. He values the fresh perspectives of his students and believes he can learn from them too.

“I always ask my students, ‘How did you do that?’ Some people have an incredible natural talent, but they either don’t know it or are too afraid to share it. Children don’t have that fear. They create freely, without hesitation — and that’s something we should all try to hold onto.”

Big thanks to Stéphane for being in the Angelbird Collective. We look forward to seeing what else you do as you enjoy creative freedom — without limits.

Connect with Stéphane online: 

Website 

Instagram