Ocean Art 2025 Stories behind the Image – Sarah Teveldal
Sarah Teveldal received an Honorable Mention in the Underwater Fashion Category for her image “The Silent Stage”.
What does placing in Ocean Art mean to me?
Placing in Ocean Art 2025 represents the exact kind of high-level creative problem-solving I strive to bring to every professional project. To see a vision that required such precise planning and a monumental team effort recognized on a global stage is incredibly rewarding. It reinforces my commitment to pushing the boundaries of what is possible in a studio pool. This award is more than just a beautiful photo; it’s a testament to the magic that happens when technical precision, collaborative spirit, and passion converge under the surface.
Story behind the Shot
Captured the night before a promotional shoot for Austin musician Lindsay Walker and her new band, The Austinauts, this image began as a simple test of angles. It evolved into a beautiful intersection of our creative worlds. Featured in my studio pool is my partner, Matt Seabaugh—an avid pianist whose lifelong love for the keys provided the perfect focus for my passion for underwater photography.
Bringing this vision to life required a monumental team effort. To transform a piano into an underwater relic, Lindsay and her team gutted the instrument, sprayed it thoroughly to ensure it was pristine, and meticulously glued faux sea plants to its frame. Matt and I engineered a custom aluminum rig to lower it safely into the deep end of the pool. It took a team of four and over 120 pounds of weight to counteract the piano’s buoyancy. To add texture and protect the pool surface, we anchored a rug beneath the instrument, providing tactile contrast to the water.
The result is a moment of cinematic serendipity—a breathtaking synthesis of light and silence that transformed a technical trial into fine art. Natural “god rays” pierce the surface, casting Matt in a spotlight as he performs in the silence of the deep. Post-processing was intentionally minimal; beyond standard adjustments for contrast, saturation, and cropping, the only modification was removing a few small dive weights. This shot is a celebration of the creative freedom Lindsay afforded us and a testament to the magic that happens when our passions converge. I am incredibly grateful to Lindsay for the opportunity to expand the visual world of The Austinauts in such a personal way.
