New Bern native, Doug Waters' interest in photography was initially inspired by the photographs he enjoyed as a young boy in the classic magazines of the early 1960's; Look, Life and National Geographic. It was also at this same time that he began visiting Atlantic Beach with his brothers and friends learning the art and sport of surfing. That love and passion sent him to Hawaii where he rode the best waves and watched the best surf photographers in the world. The "photo bug" bit him in Hawaii and he purchased his first 35 mm camera, a Nikonos underwater camera. After moving back to North Carolina in the late 70s, he began contributing photographs to surf magazines. He moved to Florida and was hired as a staff photographer for Surfing Magazine. By the mid-90s he was promoted to senior staff photographer.

A transitional period occurred In 2009, when Doug came home to become the full-time caregiver for his parents. It was at that time that his interests became less focused on surfing and more about the other many facets of the natural world. It was then he developed his interest in making a good photograph a work of art, which continues today.

His accomplishments include an Honorable Mention in the Nikon Photo Contest International 1989, he was inducted into the East Coast Surfing Hall of Fame in the Media Category in 2010, and received an Honorable Mention in the International Earth and Sky Photo Contest in 2014. 

His work is included in private collections and businesses in the Southeastern United States. Doug's photograph of his close friend and North Carolina professional surfer, Buddy Pelletier, is used on the North Carolina specialty license plate for the Buddy Pelletier Surf Foundation.

Doug is a member of the NC Coastal Federation and the Crystal Coast Stargazers. His photographs have appeared in online additions of Coastal Review OnlineCrystal Coast Stargazers and Carteret County News Times.  He is also active participant of the monarch butterfly tagging program Monarch Watch as well as being an avid backyard butterfly and bird watcher. 

Doug now resides in Morehead City with his wife Sarah, helping care for Sarah’s mother and husband, but spends as much time as possible with his camera, capturing the natural beauty around him. His photographs can be enjoyed at dougwatersfotos.com as well as on Facebook and Instagram.