José Alejandro Alvarez
Born in the Dominican Republic in 1966, I was fascinated by animals and nature from a very early age. Since my first dive in 1989 I haven’t been able to stop…I was so amazed by the underwater world that I felt a need to share these wonders with others, and also a deep sense of duty to protect it in any way I could. So, in 1996, I dove into underwater photography and since then, I’ve done a privileged 4500+ dives in some of the most pristine marine ecosystems, documenting many seascapes that, sadly, don’t exist anymore or have been severely damaged by human action.
This sense of duty motivated me to compile the most comprehensive portfolio of underwater images in the Dominican Republic and a substantial stock of images (both artistic and documental) of many of the best dive sites around the world, so I can contribute my grain of salt to raising awareness through my images and encourage others to love our blue planet the way I have since the first day I put my mask and fins on.
Ysabela Coll
From a very early age I have had the great privilege to travel the world, learning about new cultures, practicing different languages, and, of course, scuba diving (a lot!). I have also lived in some of my favorite places, perfectly suited for nature lovers, from my homeland, Dominican Republic, to my dream land, South Africa, and having ultimately found a home in Cozumel.
Over the years, much greater than the memories I have been creating, I have learned valuable lessons from the cultures, people, ecosystems and their inhabitants, some of which I have been lucky to photograph. Despite having a background in psychology and being a therapist for many years in Boston, nature kept pulling me until I eventually changed careers to pursue my main love: the ocean. I studied photography in Spain and have since been mentored by my favorite underwater photographer and stepdad, José Alejandro.
As an artist, I identified photography as my favorite form of expression. However, beyond allowing me to document the elusive and breathtaking underwater world, what fills my heart the most is experimenting with different in-camera techniques, mixing mediums and expressing in my art not only what I see but what I feel. It is my hope that my art will inspire others to fall in love with nature the way I have, and to encourage the protection of this beautiful world we have the privilege to share.
Álvarez+Coll Photo
by Ysabela Coll & José Alejandro Alvarez
From an early age each of us forged a close relationship with nature and soon began photographing our wildlife encounters as a way to share our experiences with family and friends, and a way to keep those incredible memories forever.
Now, as a family with a combined experience of 30+ years of scuba diving and land expeditions in some of the most amazing and pristine ecosystems in the world, we proudly present Álvarez+Coll Photo: the result of a labor of both love for nature and commitment with its conservation.
Incredible colors, textures, places, animals, and experiences… They are all here so you can find the exact photo that “speaks” to you and conveys the message you need.
From Leopards in the African Savannah to endless hammerhead schools in the magical waters of the Galapagos and the explosion of life and color of coral reefs. Our extensive photo stock is now available through our varied products and services.
It has been our privilege to witness nature’s great biodiversity and its humbling lessons. We feel a duty to share that message and also make our contribution for its protection; that’s why we offer the design and execution of environmental projects for businesses and institutions, as we strongly believe that powerful images are an exceptional tool that exponentially increase their effect. We also contribute regularly on pro bono scientific and educational projects with diverse organizations around the world.
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Welcome to the family!
Expos
Narrativas femeninas en tránsito – Arte San Ramón Gallery, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, March 6th 2025 - present
República Dominicana Submarina – Alianza Francesa Gallery
Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, October 4th - November 4th 2024
Santiago, Dominican Republic, February 13th - March 13th 2025
UNDER WATER – Arte San Ramón Gallery, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, July 4th - August 3rd 2024
Planet Ocean: Underwater images of the Dominican Republic and the world –Sotheby´s Gallery, Brussels, Belgium, 2023.
Treasured waters: Marine Life in the Dominican Republic – World Trade Organization, Geneva, Switzerland, 2023.
Álvarez+Coll Photo – Showroom, Novocentro, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 2021.
Arrecife – Un Mundo de Vida y Color Bajo el Mar, Galerías 360, Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, 2018.
Fragile, Ocean Expo – Museo Antropológico y Arte Contemporáneo y Explanada Malecón Simón Bolívar, Guayaquil, Ecuador. 2015.
Fragile, Ocean Expo – COP20, Larcomar y Galería Germán Krüger Espantoso, Instituto Cultural Peruano Norteamericano, Lima, Perú. 2014.
Galapagos Islands – Institute of Molecular Biotechnology (IMBA), Viena, Austria.2013.
Books
Under Water, Visiones submarinas, 2024
Fragile, Co-author, 2014
Legado de Vida, Co-author, Parques Nacionales de República Dominicana, 2012
Mar Azul, 2011.
Cuevas Sumergidas de la República Dominicana,
Co-author, 2004.
Awards
40+ Awards in some of the most prestigious Underwater Photography contests.
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Our World Underwater International Competition}
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Nature's Best Magazine
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LAUPS, Los Angeles Underwater Photography society