Paradise, Fiji Style - July 2009

Northwest Dive News published my story & images, Paradise, Fiji Style, in their July 2009 edition.

High Tea at the Empress

June 2009: Victoria, British Columbia: The Fairmont Empress Hotel is one of Victoria’s oldest and arguably most famous hotels The Empress (as it is known by purists) is a majestic establishment that has catered to kings, queens, Hollywood movie stars and many other famous celebrities since it opened for business in 1908. For more than 100 years, the opulent Tea Lobby of this landmark hotel has also been delighting visitors with one of England's much-loved pastimes - the ritual of taking Afternoon Tea. At the Empress, high tea is a major production wherein different blends of tea are deemed to be on par with a fine vintage wine.


Upon our arrival, my wife and I were led into the elegantly appointed Empress Tea Lobby and were seated in two cozy wingback chairs at a table for two in front of a large bay window that presented a majestic view of Victoria’s inner harbour. Our decadent indulgence began with a serving of fresh strawberries topped with a dollop of Chantilly cream. A silver teapot steeping with signature Empress Blend tea was poured into exquisite Royal Doulton tea cups. This rich, coppery-gold blend tea incorporates Chinese, Kenyan, Indian and Ceylon components. A magnificent, silver tiered server was placed in the center of our table with the following mouth-watering delicacies.

Afternoon Tea at The Empress Menu

Fresh Seasonal Fruit with Chantilly Cream Warm Raisin Scones served with Strawberry preserves and Devonshire Cream

Finger-sized Sandwiches
Smoked Salmon Pinwheel Mango and Curried Chicken Carrot and Ginger (cream cheese) Cucumber with light Horseradish Mayonnaise Multigrain Crostini topped with mixed Mushroom Pate, drizzled with Truffle Oil (open-faced)

Pastries
Battenburg-Vanilla and Chocolate Sponge Checkerboard wrapped in marzipan Chocolate Cake-Chocolate Cake, Vanilla Butter cream, topped with Ganache
Lemon Tart- Lemon Curd with Berry Garnish Earle Grey Tea Shortbread
Marble Chocolate Tulip- a cherry hidden under milk & white Chocolate in a Chocolate Tulip Cup

The Empress Tea Service costs $ 55.00(Canadian Dollars) plus 5% tax per person. Due to popular demand, reservations are often required one or two weeks in advance. Please remember that a “smart casual” dress code is enforced and allows for dressy jeans but no baseball caps, athletic wear, ripped jeans or beach sandals. Punctuality is recommended as reservations are only held for fifteen minutes.

High Tea at The Empress is one of life’s guilty pleasures that should be enjoyed at least once in a lifetime with a loved one, family or friends. Once you've finished your tea service, the servers will bring a complimentary canister of the "Empress Blend" tea for you to enjoy at home. Impressive!

The Empress opened her doors on January 20th, 1908 and has been serving high tea service ever since. Afternoon Tea is served daily, 365 days of the year. Reservations are required: locally (250)389-2727; within North America 1-800-257-7544 or www.fairmont.com

It was all Farrah! R.I.P. 1947-2009

Actress, model, sex symbol extraordinaire and Hollywood bombshell, Farrah Fawcett passed away today after a 3 -year battle with cancer. Born Farrah Leni Fawcett on February 2, 1947 in Corpus Christi, Texas, she was just 62 years old.

And so we think of “the poster”. That iconic image of perhaps the most famous pin-up girl ever in a red bathing suit, brandishing a killer smile and that infamous mane of hair. Stirring the hormones, err… imagination ...of a countless number of males around the globe, Farrah’s iconic poster, which was released the same year as when she played Jill Munroe on the TV show Charlie's Angels, went on to sell a record 12 million copies making it one of the most famous pin-ups ever. Like many teenage boys at the time, I purchased one and it adorned my bedroom wall for several years. Yes, Farrah had made it big and ruled the 70’s.

When the photo was taken, Fawcett was still an unknown actress wanting a big brake into stardom. She hadn't yet signed on for her hit show Charlie's Angels but got some work doing commercials. Bruce McBroom, a freelance photographer, had worked with Farrah and wanted a bikini shot of the blond beauty. However, Farrah instead chose the now famous red one-piece swimsuit to cover a childhood scar on her stomach. Legend has it that Farrah used ice to enhance her prominent features, the photographer, McBroom, has always dispelled the rumor saying, "It was all Farrah,”

Farewell, Farrah. You came, You saw, and You conquered!

KODACHROME R.I.P.

Kodak announced today that after 74 years, KODACHROME slide film will no longer be manufactured. I used Kodachrome 25 & 64, and occasionally 200, extensively in my underwater photography right up until I made the the leap into digital SLR photography in 2004. Perhaps the best way to bid a fond adieu to this iconic slide film is to quote some lyrics from Paul Simon's hit song, KODACHROME.

Kodachrome

You give us those nice bright colors

You give us the greens of summers
Makes you think all the world's a sunny day, oh yeah!
I got a Nikon camera I love to take a photograph
So Mama, don't take my Kodachrome away

"Manifesto: Denouncing Discovery Communications for Victimizing Sharks for Profit"

Just helping to spread the word for a very worthwhile cause...

Since 1987, Discovery Channel has annually presented 'Shark Week.' This week-long series of programs featuring sharks claims to present facts about sharks, and its popularity has earned the company millions of dollars. In reality, Discovery uses sharks for the horror-show effect that draws a wide audience. Shark Week dramatizes shark attacks, blood and the animals' unusual dentition, to frighten viewers.

"We call for an International boycott of all of Shark Week's programs until Discovery Communications stops using sharks dishonestly for profit in horror shows, and starts presenting them as the important marine animals that they are, now in danger of extinction."

Please everyone sign the Manifesto, and pass on the link and information to your own friends and networks: "Manifesto: Denouncing Discovery Communications for Victimizing Sharks for Profit"

http://www.thepetitionsite.com/1/Boycott-Shark-Week

Inspiring Photography Quotes

Below is a selection of inspiring photography quotes by famous photographers about the art of making photographs.

“You don't take a photograph, you make it.” – Ansel Adams

“Consulting the rules of composition before taking a photograph is like consulting the laws of gravity before going for a walk.” – Edward Weston

“There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs.” – Ansel Adams

“When people ask what equipment I use - I tell them my eyes.” – Anonymous

“It's not the camera, but who's behind the camera.” – Anonymous

“Of course it's all luck.” – Henri Cartier-Bresson

“Your first 10,000 photographs are your worst.” – Henri Cartier-Bresson

"Keep it simple." – Alfred Eisenstaedt

Amateurs talk about equipment. Professionals talk about photos. – Anonymous

“A picture is worth a thousand words.” – Napoleon Bonaparte

"If your pictures aren't good enough, you're not close enough." – Robert Capa

"I have discovered photography.
Now I can kill myself.
I have nothing else to learn." – Pablo Picasso

Healthy Oceans Need Sharks

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. ~ Enviornmental Crusader

Whistler, British Columbia – Environmentalist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. brought his Environmental Sustainability Message to the 2009 BC Land Summit in Whistler (May 20-22). The Land Summit is an interdisciplinary conference organized by six professional organizations, all of which share ties to land use in British Columbia.

“You show me a polluter, I’ll show you a subsidy. I’ll show you a fat cat using political clout to escape the discipline of the free-market,” he said. Spontaneous applause erupted from the Whistler Convention Centre audience throughout Mr. Kennedy’s inspiring 1 ½ hour speech that disclosed the long-standing subsidies to the fossil fuel industry and a culture of crony capitalism that is standing in the way of a North American shift to alternative energy sources. Kennedy also commented, “As technology progresses and people move to solar and wind power, the economy will benefit. There’s no need for a trade-off between the environment and wealth.”

My wife and I felt privileged to be in attendance. Robert F. Kennedy Jr. is doing some extremely important work with a view to saving and improving the environment for ours and future generations. To learn more about his noble efforts, check out his website.

www.robertfkennedyjr.com

International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association's Newest Member

Today, I was welcomed into the illustrious ranks of the International Food Wine & Travel Writers Association as a Regular Member.

Founded in 1956, the International Food Wine and Travel Writers Association (IFWTWA) strives to be a gathering point and resource base for an active membership composed of professionals engaged in the food, wine and travel industries. The association's membership includes professionals in culinary arts and sciences, the wine growing and production industry, destination travel, and in the hotel and hospitality management industries.

Predators as Prey ~ a report from OCEANA

OCEANA is an international conservation organization that is focused 100% on protecting the world's oceans. They have posted on their website several reports related to the overall cause.

One in particular, "Predators as Prey", can be downloaded by following the link below...

http://oceana.org/north-america/publications/reports/

Save a shark, stop shark finning today!

Greatness Comes In Many Forms

In my lifetime, I’ve seen Bob Dylan croon Like a Rolling Stone, The Rolling Stones bump n’ grind to Brown Sugar, The Police turn out the red light with Roxanne, The Moody Blues perform Nights in White Satin, Neil Young singing Heart of Gold, Glen Campbell singing Wichita Lineman, Elton John trying to remember if they were green or blue in Your Song, Rare Earth mining the song Get Ready, Yes unleashing Roundabout, Neil Diamond bah, bah, bah Sweet Caroline, Gordon Lightfoot performing If You Could Read My Mind, J. Geils Band singing Give It To Me, Rod Stewart and the Faces drinking their way through Stay With Me, Van Halen wailing Ain’t Talking Bout Love, Bon Jovi Living On A Prayer, Alice Cooper singing I’m Eighteen, Paul Anka beseeching Diana to stay with him, Billy Idol punching his fists to Rebel Yell, Tony Bennett performing I Left My Heart In San Francisco, Eric Clapton playing Layla, Eric Burdon and the Animals doing House of the Rising Sun, The New York Dolls talking bout Trash, The B52’s grooving to Love Shack, Kiss shouting I Wanna Rock n’ Roll All Night, and I’ve stood in the Preservation Hall, the venerable music venue located in the heart of New Orleans’ French Quarter, and watched The Preservation Hall Jazz Band play some spine tingling jazz, along with many more artists too numerous to mention who it could be said were at the top of their game.

Tonight, however, my wife and I were privileged to witness an unaccompanied live performance from a man sitting on a chair and cradling a cello in his arms. His instrument, named “Petunia”, is a vintage 1733 Montagnana cello from Venice. The cellist performing some musical selections of J.S.Bach at the Chan Centre for The Performing Arts this night was the incomparable Yo-Yo Ma, a French-born American cellist and winner of multiple Grammy Awards. It has been said that greatness comes in many forms. On this evening, Kathryn and I experienced greatness from the eighth row in a magnificent theatre. Transcendent bliss!

Jett Versus The Tiger Shark

It may not have been the biggest tiger shark in the water with us that day...but at approximately 12 feet long and weighing somewhere between 800 to 900 pounds... one would think it was entirely unsporting of the shark to chomp down on my underwater camera housing while I was still holding on to it. Somehow... I remained calm and managed to fend the shark off. I figured that in its frenzied state it mistook my camera housing for being a tuna head. Anyway... there was no way my life was going to end then and there. Not if I had any say in it. Quite simply... it was not to be. It was not my time.

Alex Mustard, one of the world's top underwater photographers was in the water with me that day and was about 15 feet away. It is a testament to his humanity that, despite possessing enormous photographic talent, he could not snap a picture of me vs the shark. Pity, as it would have made a great keepsake. The picture above is one of the shark just as it was about to open its mouth.

"I was next to Jett on the line.

Wow. That tiger shark that

grabbed his camera was big.
I didn't even take a shot of it.
I was quite worried for Jett...."

Alex Mustard
March 15, 2006
(Wetpixel Blog)

2009 B.C. ASSOCIATION of TRAVEL WRITERS' SYMPOSIUM

May 2, 2009: We attended the annual travel writers symposium at the Listel Hotel on Robson Street today. Apart from providing an opportunity to meet and mingle with fellow members of the BCATW, there were also attendees from other media & tourism organizations.

Featured guest speakers were Julie Ferguson, a successful freelance non-fiction writer for 40 years and a popular speaker at writers' conferences and renown photojournalist, Michael DeFreitas, who has published three travel guides and has written and illustrated hundreds of travel articles featuring over 60 countries.

My lovely wife, Kathryn, a writer who has her first yet to be published book lurking on her computer's hard drive, won the first door prize of the afternoon. I also won a later door prize (a spa visit to absolute spa group at the Century Plaza Hotel) which my wife will be enjoying, along with my mom. when I send them both there to be pampered and spoiled.

Sharks el amor!

One of my fondest undersea experiences occurred back in 1982 while I was diving at Hornby Island, B.C. It was my first visit to the island and I had ventured there to dive with the island's famed six-gill sharks. In fact, this was my first attempt at shark diving. I can remember being extremely excited as I had studied and admired sharks since I was a very young boy.

While I was putting on my drysuit, I was thinking how far it seemed I had travelled from the time I stood alone in front of my fifth grade class at Regina Public School in Ottawa to deliver my interest talk on sharks. Yes, back then I knew my sharks all right. I was a virtual fountain of knowledge about tiger sharks, blue sharks, bull sharks, lemon sharks, hammerhead sharks and, of course, what kind of shark expert would I have been if I could not sermonize about the infamous great white shark. And this was all several years before the movie, Jaws, created its own kind of shark frenzy by capitalizing on the general public's inherent fear of sharks.

Sadly, in recent times, the world's shark population have come under increasing pressure from humans. Some species are now threatened with extinction, and some sharks have entirely disappeared from reefs and open ocean regions where they were once found in large numbers. It is estimated that one third of the more than 400 shark species are threatened with extinction or are close to being threatened. Sarah Fowler of the World Conservation Union has said, "Fisheries can remove 50 to 90% of an entire shark stock in only 10 years" Fowler estimates that 38 million to 70 million sharks are killed each year for their fins alone.

Suffice to say, the sea's entire ecosystem will be negatively impacted if sharks are removed from their position at the top of the ocean's food chain.

Do not eat shark fin soup!

Look me up ~ I'm not that hard to find

According to the USA Census Bureau, fewer than 0.001% of USA residents have the first name "Jett" ...and 0.0002% have the surname "Britnell". Since the USA has a population of approximately 300 million residents, statistcians estimate that there is only one American who goes by the name Jett Britnell.

And that Jett Britnell would presumably be me ~ if I was not already a Canuck! ...aka Canadian

Diamond Head (Death March) Day Hike

Honolulu, Hawaii, April 2008: Kathryn and I hiked to the summit of Diamond Head, the most famous volcanic crater in the world! This famous landmark is a volcanic tuff cone that overlooks the Pacific Ocean on the Southeast Coast of O'ahu. It was originally named Laeahi by the ancient Hawaiians, which translates as "brow of the tuna." Looking at the silhouette of the crater from Waikiki Beach, one begins to see the resemblance.

I made the following picture of Waikiki Beach while on top of Diamond Head.

A Day That Will Live In Infamy

Hawaii: The USS Arizona Memorial at Pearl Harbor is "ground zero" where World War II began for the United States. Following the Japanese surprise attack on Pearl Harbor Admiral Isoroku Yamamoto stated: "I fear all we have done is to awaken a sleeping giant..."

The USS Arizona War Memorial serves as the final resting place for many of the battleship's 1,177 crew member’s who lost their lives on that fateful Sunday morning on December 7, 1941.

The addition of the Battleship Missouri and the 1999 opening of the USS Missouri Memorial has further enhanced the importance of this historic area. It was upon the deck of the USS Missouri in Tokyo Bay where the Japanese surrendered to United States General Douglas MacArthur and Admiral Chester Nimitz, ending World War II, the bloodiest war the world had ever seen.

During our visit in April 2008 one definitely gets that haunting feeling you are on hallowed ground. At the far end of the memorial is a marble wall that bears the

names of all those killed on the USS Arizona, protected behind velvet ropes.

Viewing the wall of names can be an emotionally intense experience. One can still see oil seeping from the wreck to the surface. These “black tears” are called "the tears of the Arizona."



Definitely a must see... once in everyone’s lifetime. The following poem from a fallen soldier speaks eloquently about remembrance...













"If you are able, save them a place inside of you and save one backward glance when you are leaving for the places they can no longer go. Be not ashamed to say you loved them, though you may or may not have always. Take what they have left and what they have taught you with their dying and keep it with your own. And in that time when men decide and feel safe to call the war insane, take one moment to embrace those gentle heroes you left behind."

Major Micheal Davis O'Donnell
Date of Loss: 24 March 1970

Shaking Hands with Diving Royalty

Dateline: October 1995. I was in Viva Las Vegas attending the DEMA (Diving Equipment Manufacturers Association) trade show as a Media Representative for Canada’s Diver Magazine. It was there that I was able to take advantage of a photo op and share a brief handshake with Jean-Michel Cousteau, French explorer, environmentalist, educator, film producer, and the first son of ocean legendary explorer Jacques-Yves Cousteau. A gracious and patient man if ever there was tirelessly shaking hands with numerous show patrons at the US Divers Booth.

Pacific Northwest Divers Rock!

Kathryn and I just returned home after participating at this year’s Tacoma Dive & Travel Show. Apart from some technical glitches that seemed to be plaguing the projectors for several presenters, my presentation seemed to strike the right chord with those in attendance. A mucho “thank you!” to fellow Canadian & guest speaker, James Cosgrove, who saved the day by firing up his projector.


When my wife and I arrived at the dive show we were thrilled to discover that not only had my story, “A Tale of Two Sounds – Adventure Diving in Barkley & Nootka Sound”, been published as the feature story for the Northwest Dive News, May 2009, Tacoma Dive & Travel Dive Show issue, but also one of my images had been selected as the magazine’s cover shot. Northwest Dive News Editor/Publisher, Rick Stratton, commented on the piece... "You made me wait for it...but it was worth it. Your story is great! Nice Work!

To add to the weekend’s festivities, the world's biggest talent show, “America’s Got Talent”, was conducting auditions at the Tacoma Trade & Convention Center. Quite interesting to see the long line-ups of musicians, singers, dancers, jugglers and clowns who were willing to put it on the line for fame & fortune. I can hear it all now...

"Mr America's Got Talent Producer, all I've got is this dream and a pocketful of hope. Now watch closely as Michigan J. Frog sings and dances to "Hello, My Baby!"

Suffice to say…we both had a fabulous time in Tacoma and... “The Hoff” was nowhere in sight.

By the way, if you are ever looking for a place to dine in
Tacoma, Kathryn and I give double thumbs up to a fine dining establishment called Indochine Asian Dining Lounge. Having dined there now two years in a row, it is now kind of a show tradition for us. Check it out if you are in the area and be sure to order the "Crab Wontons."

http://indochinedowntown.com

Maui ~ Hawaii’s Waterworld, April 2009

Northwest Dive News published my story, Maui ~ Hawaii’s Waterworld, in their April 2009 National edition. NWDN’s Art Director, IJ James, replied in an email:

“I got the photos that time, they are fantastic! Thanks so much!!!!

Browning Pass Hideaway Resort Ad

One of the best cold water diving operations in the known universe used two of my images “a wolf-eel head and octopus & diver”, in a magazine ad for the resort.

Browning Pass HideAway Resort Port Hardy, BC, Canada
"the Best Diving in the Known Universe!"
Office: PO Box 866, Nanaimo, BC V9R 5N2
www.VancouverIslandDive.com 877 725 2835 or 250 753 3751

Check out these new articles about diving with us!
Advanced Diver Sept 08 "Browning Pass HideAway"
Diver Magazine Dec 08 "Nakwakto Rapids"

Wakatobi Dive Resort Magazine Ads

What can I say? Wakatobi Dive Resort really loves my Wakatobi Bungalows picture. In their own words… "We love that image and it’s almost a bit of a trademark shot for the resort and we will always remain thankful to you for it.” Henrik Rosen, Vice President Sales & Marketing, Wakatobi Dive Resort.

Jett Britnell presents at Tacoma Dive & Travel Expo, April 25th

April 25-26, 2009 Tacoma, Washington

Northwest Dive and Travel Expo, 2009 is the largest and most highly anticipated dive and travel show in the Pacific Northwest.

On Saturday April 25, 2009, I will be a guest speaker and the topic of my presentation will be "Tropical Splendor ...in a Cold Sea". (Room C at 3PM).

Again this year, the show is being held at the Tacoma Trade & Convention Center.

See you there!

Le Monde du Silence ~ a scuba diving classic

Le Monde du Silence (The Silent World 1956) is an early underwater documentary film based on the best-selling book of the same name by famed oceanographer Jacques Cousteau. The opening sequence shows five Calypso scuba divers descending into the deep with burning phosphorus torches in hand, blazing a path of light into the blue ocean depths bubbles percolating to the surface in their wake. Visually... it's very cool!

This motion picture is a compilation of material obtained on the Calypso-National Geographic 1954-1955 expeditions to the Red Sea, the Mediterranean. Persian Gulf and Indian Ocean.
Cousteau’s book, The Silent World 1955, which tells a different story than his movie, is still a great read about the early years of undersea exploration.

In 1968, Cousteau was asked to make a TV series, The Undersea World of Jacques Cousteau. For the next eight years this series introduced the general public to a world about a ship named , scuba diving buddies with names such as Falco & Delemont, sharks, whales, dolphins, coral reefs, sunken treasure, and yellow submarines.

As a young kid interested in diving and just about everything to do with the ocean realm, this TV series provided much fodder for my imagination...

A Book Worth Reading!

It’s Thursday, April 9th, and I’m LMAO at 37,000 feet on a Westjet flight from Vancouver to Toronto. I was thoroughly enjoying the book, “Smile When You're Lying: Confessions of A Rogue Travel Writer” by Chuck Thompson.

The author is an experienced travel writer and former editor in chief for the now defunct Travelocity magazine. His tomb provides the reader with some real world insider accounts about the plight of modern day travel writing. This is a novel that challenges the mindless conformity that travel writers often succumb to. Thompson’s writing is edgy and anything but dull as he pushes the literary envelope and provides the reader with some hearty laughs along the way.

Here's but one example of Thompson's writing that had me in stitches:

"We’re in a small, dark bar, an Aussie expat hangout. Across the table is my good friend Shanghai Bob, American expat and Old Asia Hand of distinguished order. To the right, a pair of astonishingly wasted guys in ridiculous bush hats (are there any other kind?) are sparking up what is certainly not the first joint of the evening. To the left, a young Thai girl is giving a rapid-fire, beneath-the-table hand job to a poker-faced German who throughout the event swigs his beer with a nonchalance that suggests he’s back in Bielefeld with his loving Schnuckelputz and adorable rugrats Klaus and Liesl frolicking at his feet.

The German looks like he’s in for the long haul and sometime during the girl’s indefatigable ministrations a door opens near the rear of the bar. Out spills a porcine gent, half-a-century old if he’s a day, accompanied by a slightly disheveled teenager modestly hitching up her bright orange halter top. Behind the door one can see into a narrow room, the primary features of which are a naked light bulb swinging from the ceiling and a stained mattress on the floor.

It’s at this point that Shanghai Bob looks at me and says, with utter sincerity, with complete lack of irony, “You want to get another beer here or go some place kind of sleazy?”

“Smile When You're Lying: Confessions of A Rogue Travel Writer” is a book I would highly recommend. It's a great read and one that contains numerous funny episodes from the author's travel writing real life experiences.