Emmy-winning filmmaker and conservationist Shawn Heinrichs has spent nearly two decades documenting one of the most vital marine ecosystems on Earth: Raja Ampat, Indonesia. From manta rays sweeping through coral cathedrals to sea turtles grazing in once-barren bays, his work captures a stunning transformation—a fragile paradise brought back from the brink.

Armed with the V-RAPTOR S35, Shawn uses his RED as a ‘weapon of mass construction,’ revealing underwater worlds with breathtaking clarity and emotional urgency. His camera doesn’t just tell stories; it shifts policy, awakens communities, and helps protect the very ecosystems it captures.

In this interview, Shawn reflects on 18 years of underwater filmmaking, the recovery of the Misool Marine Reserve, and why RED remains a powerful tool in his conservation arsenal.

Special thanks to Shawn Heinrichs for sharing his mission with RED and to Candace Crespi for shaping this story with such care.