blueoceandream

I have always been intrigued with what lies beneath the surface, amazed at the colors, beauty, and mystery of our oceans.  

Although cliché, my first dive was truly a life changer.   I found a peace and serenity underwater unlike anything else I’ve experienced in life.  It is underwater where I am able to clear my head of everyday thoughts and responsibilities, and as they say, live in the moment.  

Divers know that it is difficult to explain our experiences to those who have never been diving.  I knew that I needed to combine my passion for photography with my underwater adventures.   Since my first dive, I’ve been on an quest to share these experiences with friends and family.

The ability to control and manipulate light is key to creating compelling images. To the human eye, colors in the water appear as mostly blues and muted grays.  Water absorbs different wavelengths of light resulting in loss of color as you descend deeper and deeper.   However, with the aid of artificial light, divers and camera sensors can accurately see the explosion of color that lies beneath.

I realized that in order to efficiently and safely take underwater pictures, I first needed to refine my scuba skills.  Most importantly I needed to master buoyancy control.  Buoyancy control is as important to diving, as is the ability to control and manipulate light is to photography.  For underwater photographers these two skills go hand in hand.

By the end of 2008 I completed the recreational scuba-training track and advanced into the professional series.  I not only wanted to continue honing my own skills, I also wanted to share what I had learned with new divers and underwater photographers.  In 2009, I achieved Dive Master Status and in 2010, I became an Open Water Instructor.   For me, training as a photographer and scuba diver doesn’t end here.

After being published in 2009, 2010, again in 2011 and with encouragement from family and friends, I created Blue Ocean Dream Photography to share my experiences above and below the surface.