Making The Best Of It!

During the past 32 hours, I’ve dined out for dinner in Vancouver, ate breakfast in Toronto and enjoyed a late lunch/early dinner here in Nassau, Bahamas while listening to reggae versions of Beatles songs. We also received a free hotel room upgrade! Life is sooo good!

What Are The Odds?

Last summer in Rome, Kathryn took this picture of me taking pictures of some tourists, who had just asked me if I would take their picture. What are the odds of randomly asking a pro photographer on location to take your picture? 

 

 

Sea Urchin Orgy.

Sutton Islands, British Columbia: A stylized image inspired by my friend, David Fleetham's work. He pioneered cold water underwater images with a diver off in the distance similar to this back in the film days. Call it luck, or divine intervention, I was so fortunate to be around such immense talent.

My Heart's Desire.

"A beautiful woman pleases the eye, a good woman pleases the heart: one is a jewel, the other a treasure." - Napoleon Bonaparte.

Clearly, "The Little Emperor" said this without ever meeting someone like Kathryn Britnell. She happens to be both!

Vancouver : Skies Painted With Unnumbered Sparks.

Janet Echelman’s monumental aerial sculpture lights the sky at the TED Conference in Vancouver. The sculpture is suspended 745 feet between the 24-story Fairmont Waterfront Hotel and the Vancouver Convention Center. The sculpture, “Skies Painted with Unnumbered Sparks,” will remain in place until March 22 before it is removed and showcased at other cities.

The Most Beautiful Thing We Can Experience Is The Mysterious.

Signs, Signs, Everywhere Signs In Paris.

"A woman can never have enough pairs of high heels!" ~ Kathryn Britnell.
"Say hon, while you're trying on shoes, I'll just be outside shooting a road sign or something..." ~ Jett Britnell. 

Everywhere I Go I Hear It Said!

Ee-e-e-Oh-Mum-A-Weh.

"In the ocean, the mighty ocean, the lionfish sleeps tonight."

Happy Valentine's Day To My Wife, Kathryn!!

Happy Valentine’s Day to my uber sweet wife, Kathryn! Last summer when we were in Paris, I took her to the Pont des Arts bridge, otherwise known as, the “lover’s bridge.” It is here several years ago that love-struck sweethearts began locking padlocks onto the chain link fence of the Pont des Arts, which crosses from the left bank to the Louvre museum. The love padlocks, called cadenas d’amour, have since multiplied to the point where there are thousands of these love tokens, each engraved with a message of love, locked to the bridge’s chain link fence. After locking the love padlock to a chain link or another lock, it is customary for the lovers to toss the keys into the Seine River as a sign of their eternal devotion. It is also believed if the lovers kiss each other while on this bridge, they’ll be happy together forever. 

Amber Huppertz Captured A Moment!

Amber Huppertz captured me having a moment with a Steller sea lion at Norris Rocks, British Columbia in January 2014.

Ellen Cuylaerts - 2013 World Champion Underwater Photography!

 

Ellen Cuylaerts has proven once again she has a natural talent for the art of underwater photography. Some might say her talent is God-given. But those who truly know her can appreciate just how hard she has worked to learn the craft in a very short time. Aside from deserving all the recognition & accolades, she is one of the nicest and warmest souls you could ever meet. We feel privileged to both call her our friend, and also to witness this butterfly of the sea come into her own in an arena where the competition is fierce, and the learning curve steep. Check out her work at www.ellencuylaerts.com

Steller Sea Lions - British Columbia.

Spent last Sunday diving with Steller Sea Lions at Norris Rocks, near Hornby Island British Columbia. These sea lions weigh upwards of 900 pounds, with the bulls tipping the scales at 2,000 pounds. An adult male Stellar sea-lion's skull, jaw & teeth are very similar to - as in almost indistinguishable from- those of a large Grizzly bear... BIG strong teeth!

Our Story, "Working With Underwater Models", - Published in Scuba & H2O Magazine.

In the January 2014 issue of Scuba & H2O magazine, Kathryn and I have authored a piece about “Working With Underwater Models - Tips For Improving Your Diver Portraits.” It was a pleasure to be able to include a quote by underwater photo legend, Stephen Frink. Throughout his career, particularly during his early works with Skin Diver Magazine, Stephen defined the art of underwater model photography. He inspired so many underwater photographers to improve their game in this area and he always gave praise and credit to his underwater models for their contribution. Something all underwater photographers should remember to do.

Here's a free link to the story online. You miss the nice layout of the magazine, but the info is there.

http://www.divenewsnetwork.com/index.php/newsevents/divingnews/photos-videos/196-underwater-photography/2207-working-with-underwater-models

It's In The Bag! Vancouver Aquarium's Divers Weekend Seminar.

So appreciative of all who came out for my seminar today at the Vancouver Aquarium's Divers Weekend. Nice to meet Paul Kennel, Eiko Jones, Jody Greaves and ROy Mulder in the flesh. Also great to see Rick Stratton, Selene Muldowney, Lee Newman, Lisa Newman, Kelly Raymond Bracken and that Won Ton Aquatica Digital housing pusher, Stewart Sy. New friends, old friends, it's all good!

My Image Was Selected "Picture of the Day" Today At Sport Diver Magazine Online!

Return To Tiger Beach, Bahamas.

During November 2013, I traveled to Freeport, Bahamas to dive and photograph Tiger Sharks. There were also a great number Lemon and Caribbean Reef Sharks. We were diving with the highly recommended shark dive charter, Epic Diving (www.epicdiving.com).

Here are a few of my favorite images from this trip. 

Happy New Year 2014!

Happy Christmas!

From Another World.

“... and in her starry shade, of dim and solitary loveliness, I learn’d the language of another world.” ~ Lord Byron.

A Motion To Save Sharks!

I just signed the petition "Government of Canada: Re-open Bill C-380 and vote to ban the import of shark fins into Canada." on Change.org.

It's important. Will you sign it too? Link to sign petition here!

Emma TigerShark & Jett Britnell At Tiger Beach, Bahamas.

I've been slow to post some of my images from my recent dive trip to photograph Tiger Sharks in the Bahamas. I will get to it. In the meantime, here is a very special portrait of me with Emma TigerShark. Emma is a 14-footer and perhaps the most photographed shark in the world and even has her own fan page on FaceBook.

The image was taken by my friend, Michael Maes, an extremely talented underwater cinematographer/photographer. You can see some of his work at: http://vimeo.com/michaelmaes.

Artifacts From The Princess Sophia Shipwreck May Recieve Some Protection!

 

Well, it appears people actually do read our underwater stories.

I received an email earlier today from the Explorations Director at the Underwater Archaeological Society of BC (UASBC). They are working with a group in Alaska with a view to establishing an UASBC like group to survey and protect their shipwreck resources. Apparently, a friend in Juneau contacted them after reading my article about diving Alaska’s S.S. Princess Sophia Shipwreck. 

http://harborsmagazine.com/diving-in-alaska-waters

In this article, I made mention that one of the divers in our group came across a rotting trunk containing some glass photographic plates with images of people. The Alaskan friend happens to be a member of the Alaska Maritime History Society and involved with the Alaska State Museum. They are concerned that given the degree of diving that occurs on the Sophia the glass negatives could be at risk. The Alaska State Museum is excited about the find and feels that the plates could be very important artifacts to the history of Alaska.

I have put them in touch with a fellow diver who actually discovered the trunk as they want to learn more about the glass negatives and their condition. Hopefully, something good comes from this.

Top 10 Reasons for marrying an Underwater Photographer!