{"id":33806,"title":"Rapanui x OPY: Renee Capozzola","description":"We spoke to Renee Capozzola to find out about the story behind her image that features in our Ocean Photographer of the Year collaboration t-shirt.","content":"

\"wzyddmyo6sdslmirokqckrg76jptk39oivum48ikdwpay9a3.jpg.jpg?w=1140&v=2\"<\/u><\/a>The Ocean Photographer of the Year (OPY) is a celebration of our beautiful blue planet, as well as a platform to highlight the many plights it is facing. We\u2019ve collaborated with OPY to connect two distinct artforms, photography and illustration, all while raising money for the ocean. Our in-house illustrators have picked a selection of some of this year\u2019s world-class photography to graphically interpret. Their mission: to turn each photograph into a wearable piece of art, without losing the essence of the original image.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

Green Sea Turtle<\/span><\/h3>

The fourth in this series features a photograph by <\/span>Renee Capozzola<\/u><\/span><\/a>, an American ocean photographer who grew up in Southern California. Her image of a wandering Green Sea Turtle won second place in the Ocean Portfolio category.<\/span><\/p>

We spoke to both the photographer and the illustrator to find out about the story behind the image and the process of turning it into a design to be worn.<\/span><\/p>

Meet the photographer & their chosen charity<\/h3>

\"6b6m2r7zdowryf0ryxuelzxlonf1dtfnjfkcf4mr0up2fwpp.jpg.jpg?w=1140&v=2\"<\/u><\/a>Growing up in Southern California, the ocean has always been a large part of Renee\u2019s life.\u00a0 She has since travelled across the globe, diving in some of the most remote parts of the world. Renee is a conservation-oriented underwater photographer who has received over fifty prestigious international awards for her work.<\/span><\/p>

A photo she captured in Hawaii of a wandering green Sea Turtle gives a glimpse into the beauty of our blue planet.<\/span><\/p>

\"vbr9hzppdjbtooytugx6ncqfgldh5m8a3lzw2tnofzqe6rvx.jpg.jpg?w=1140&v=2\"<\/u><\/a>Credit: <\/span><\/em>Renee Capozzola<\/u><\/span><\/em><\/a><\/p>

Location: Maui, Hawaii<\/span><\/strong><\/p>

We spoke to Renee about her photography journey, and what this photograph means to her. She described the moments leading up to taking this shot.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cI took this photograph early in the morning off Lahaina, Hawaii at a local dive site.\u00a0 While observing the green sea turtles around a cleaning station, the sun came out and I noticed the beautiful rays piercing through the surface so I ascended into very shallow water where some of the turtles will often pass by or hang out.\u00a0 Soon thereafter, this young turtle with a prominent white belly approached and then remained stationary, seeming to enjoy getting cleaned by the black tangs.\u00a0 I slowly approached, careful not to exhale any bubbles, and captured this image.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

The photo captures a moment where the turtle is almost posing, full of personality. Renee told us why she loves the photo.<\/span><\/p>

\u201c I love that the turtle has its head up high and seems to be looking at the camera while it is framed by the rays above and the darker water below.\u00a0 It\u2019s also a bonus that the black tangs are there, cleaning the algae off the turtle\u2019s carapace or shell.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

We asked her what keeps bringing her back to the ocean.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u201cThe ocean is not only a beautiful and adventurous place but also where I feel at peace and in harmony with my surroundings.\u00a0 I am passionate about taking pictures that I hope will help to preserve the health of our marine ecosystems and encourage others to protect our oceans.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

People\u2019s Fund of Maui<\/span><\/h3>

Renee has chosen proceeds from the t-shirt created inspired by her photo to go to <\/span>People\u2019s Fund Maui<\/u><\/span><\/a>. She told us why this organisation is important to her.<\/span><\/p>

\u201cThe recent fires in Lahaina have completely devastated the town, the local community and the diving industry on West Maui.\u00a0 Many people have lost their homes, jobs, and businesses.\u00a0 The People\u2019s Fund of Maui provides direct financial assistance to Maui community members experiencing loss from the fires.\u201d<\/span><\/p>

From photo to illustration<\/span><\/h3>

\"cthfi97wp3uhvxkbdvkv6klojinup7hpunif1lyqaonpjk7n.jpeg.jpeg?w=1140&z=1.4000000000000004&fx=0.5179533390154196&fy=0.4139278903203504&v=2\"<\/u><\/a>We spoke with the design team who turned Renee\u2019s photo into an illustration made to be worn.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

\u201cWe really wanted to convey the personality of the turtle and show off the colours. One of the first things that struck us in this photograph was the rays coming from above, and we really wanted to keep that element. We hope we\u2019ve created a design that\u2019s fun and gives the stage to just one of the creatures that are crucial to a thriving marine ecosystem. As with all the other designs in the series, we added a QR code to the photographer\u2019s Instagram, so the photo can be traced back to the original creator.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><\/p>

Get the t-shirt for <\/span><\/strong>men<\/span><\/strong><\/a> and <\/span><\/strong>women<\/span><\/strong><\/a>.<\/span><\/strong><\/p>","urlTitle":"rapanui-x-opy-renee-capozzola","url":"\/blog\/rapanui-x-opy-renee-capozzola\/","editListUrl":"\/my-blogs","editUrl":"\/my-blogs\/edit\/rapanui-x-opy-renee-capozzola\/","fullUrl":"https:\/\/rapanuiclothing.com\/blog\/rapanui-x-opy-renee-capozzola\/","featured":false,"published":true,"showOnSitemap":true,"hidden":false,"visibility":null,"createdAt":1700223144,"updatedAt":1770653522,"publishedAt":1770653521,"lastReadAt":null,"division":{"id":14,"name":"Rapanui"},"tags":[],"metaImage":{"original":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/cvslsxfynxu9czj1r4m8texald467inf5wxozjkovw2uzpzp.jpeg","thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/cvslsxfynxu9czj1r4m8texald467inf5wxozjkovw2uzpzp.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/cvslsxfynxu9czj1r4m8texald467inf5wxozjkovw2uzpzp.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"metaTitle":"Rapanui x OPY: Renee Capozzola","metaDescription":"We spoke to Renee Capozzola to find out about the story behind her image that features in our Ocean Photographer of the Year collaboration t-shirt.","keyPhraseCampaignId":null,"series":[],"similarReads":[{"id":20856,"title":"How we designed the BEWT (Best Ever Women's Tee)","url":"\/blog\/best-womens-t-shirt\/","urlTitle":"best-womens-t-shirt","division":14,"description":"More than half of the women in our factory were wearing our men\u2019s t-shirts instead of our women\u2019s, and neither group felt comfortable in either. So we assembled an all-female team to design the BEWT - Best Ever Women's Tee - designed by women, for women.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/i8bor8lw23pielvpqsonotpkkwa0e34ok1nrkxxfhbth8lm6.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/i8bor8lw23pielvpqsonotpkkwa0e34ok1nrkxxfhbth8lm6.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":16392,"title":"How we get there: The Triangular Economy","url":"\/blog\/triangular-economy\/","urlTitle":"triangular-economy","division":14,"description":"Nearly everything in the world is made in a linear model where resources are taken out of the ground then turned into products designed to be thrown \u2018away\u2019- wherever that is. Back into the environment, basically, but as trash and pollution. This means the more we buy and the more our economy grows, the more our system reduces nature and increases pollution.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/atwrliko3rjzflzsfvfcsw7gpje2k1urovxupig6ddlguycf.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/atwrliko3rjzflzsfvfcsw7gpje2k1urovxupig6ddlguycf.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0},{"id":51052,"title":"Save Our Sharks | Rapanui x Shark Trust","url":"\/blog\/saving-our-sharks\/","urlTitle":"saving-our-sharks","division":14,"description":"Our oceans are the life-support system of the planet. They produce most of the oxygen we breathe, store huge amounts of carbon, regulate our climate, and provide food and livelihoods for billions of people. But they are under growing pressure from human activity, from overfishing and destructive fishing methods to plastic pollution, habitat loss, and climate change. When these systems are pushed beyond their limits, the balance that sustains life on Earth begins to unravel.","published":true,"metaImage":{"thumbnail":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/lcacwhgq6bj1kawi9n7ujjsvy57y76w04oviel5cmz8f9a4a.jpeg.jpg?w=1140&h=855","banner":"https:\/\/images.podos.io\/lcacwhgq6bj1kawi9n7ujjsvy57y76w04oviel5cmz8f9a4a.jpeg.jpg?w=1920&h=1440"},"hidden":0}],"labels":[]}