Work With Me

I am an underwater documentary cinematographer and photographer based in Taiwan, specializing in underwater ecology, non-fiction film, and scientific visual documentation.
My work explores the relationship between marine life, environment, and human perception, while supporting public-sector projects, documentary productions, and academic research collaborations.

I am available for government and institutional projects, documentary collaborations, scientific research partnerships, image licensing, and commissioned work.

What I Offer

Underwater Documentary Cinematography & Photography

I provide underwater cinematography and still photography for documentary films, public-sector projects, and scientific research.
Original underwater imagery suitable for:

  • Government and public-sector communication

  • Documentary and non-fiction storytelling

  • Scientific research documentation

  • Editorial publications

  • Exhibitions and fine art prints

Subjects include marine life, underwater ecosystems, freshwater and coastal environments, and conceptual underwater scenes.

Services

Government & Public-Sector Projects

I collaborate with government agencies and public institutions on underwater visual documentation, including:

  • Ecological and environmental field observation

  • Underwater documentation for public communication and education

  • Visual materials for reports, outreach, and documentary use

Documentary & Production Support

Available for documentary and non-fiction production projects, including:

  • Underwater still photography for storytelling and broadcast

  • Visual documentation for press, promotion, and distribution

  • Field-ready underwater workflow and reliable execution

  • Collaboration with production teams and directors

Scientific Research Collaboration

I work with researchers and academic institutions on underwater field projects, providing research-aligned visual and field support, including:

  • Documentation of marine species and behavior

  • Support for ecological and biological research projects

  • Underwater soundscape and marine ecoacoustics field recording

  • Complementary visual documentation aligned with scientific research objectives

  • Visual materials for research communication and public outreach

Image Licensing

Licensing is available for both editorial and commercial use.

  • Editorial (publications, online features)

  • Commercial (campaigns, brand communication)

  • Broadcast and documentary distribution

  • Exhibition and print

  • Exclusive or non-exclusive agreements

Usage scope, duration, territory, and attribution are discussed clearly per project.

Commissioned Projects

I am available for commissioned underwater photography projects, including:

  • Government and institutional assignments

  • NGO and conservation initiatives

  • Research and documentation projects

  • Creative and artistic commissions

  • Selected brand collaborations

Projects are discussed individually to ensure alignment in concept, ethics, and execution.

Selected Experience

Context & Referral Path

  • In April 2025, Tai Sounds reported my underwater field documentation of a large-scale upstream movement of bighead carp (Hypophthalmichthys nobilis) at the Bitan Weir in New Taipei City.
    The coverage was based on on-site observations and underwater imagery captured during the event.

  • Following the report, the work was recognized by Prof. Ching-Hsien Tseng (National Tsing Hua University),
    who subsequently recommended my work to the New Taipei City Water Resources Department and
    Visual Group Communications Co., Ltd., leading to further government and documentary-related projects.

https://www.taisounds.com/news/content/93/184343

Government Project

  • New Taipei City Water Resources Department (新北市水利局)
    Underwater ecological documentation of mitten crab (Eriocheir spp.) upstream migration at the Bitan Weir.
    The project involved underwater field observation and visual documentation, with imagery later developed into documentary content for public communication and education.

Documentary Production — Underwater Ecology

  • Visual Group Communications Co., Ltd. (視群傳播事業有限公司)

    George Kao served as the underwater documentary cinematographer for a non-fiction environmental film produced in collaboration with Taiwan Power Company (Taipower) for its 80th anniversary.

    The work focused on underwater ecology and marine environments, including filming at Nuclear Power Plant No. 3 (Maanshan) coastal waters, as well as visual documentation involving Taiwanese nature writer Liu Ke-Hsiang (劉克襄).

    For this production, George Kao worked with a professional underwater imaging setup, including Nauticam housing, Canon R5 Mark II, dual Keldan video lights with custom color temperature control, and a Kraken external HDMI monitor, enabling precise composition and camera movement underwater with a still-photography–driven visual approach.

    Responsibilities included underwater ecological cinematography, still imagery for documentary storytelling, and visual materials supporting environmental and cultural narratives

Scientific Research Collaboration

  • Dr. Ming-Chih Yang (楊明哲 博士)
    Ongoing collaboration on horseshoe crab (Limulidae) research and visual documentation, including planned field projects in Taiwan (Penghu), Indonesia, and the United States.
    Current focus includes the challenge of underwater documentation of adult horseshoe crabs in Taiwanese waters.

  • Dr. Tzu-Hao Lin (林子皓 博士)
    Biodiversity Research Center, Academia Sinica
    Research collaboration involving underwater soundscape and marine ecoacoustics field projects.
    Dr. Lin’s research focuses on using underwater acoustic monitoring to assess marine biodiversity and ecosystem dynamics.
    Our collaboration includes field sound recording support and complementary underwater visual documentation aligned with scientific research objectives.

Selected works related to these projects are available on this website.
Additional project details and references can be provided upon request.

Key Deliverables

  • High-resolution digital image files

  • Print-ready files for exhibition or publication

  • Broadcast / documentary-ready deliverables when required

  • Research-support imagery aligned with project needs

  • Licensing documentation with clearly defined usage scope

  • Captions and basic metadata when required

Working Approach

  • Concept-driven rather than volume-driven

  • Respect for marine life and underwater environments

  • Clear communication on scope, licensing, and delivery

  • Professional, reliable collaboration process

Location & Availability

Based in Taiwan.
Available for international projects, assignments, and collaborations.

Inquiries

For inquiries regarding:

  • Government and public-sector projects

  • Documentary and production collaboration

  • Scientific research partnerships

  • Image licensing

  • Commissioned photography projects

  • Exhibitions and professional collaborations

Please contact me via the Contact page.