I once read that you know even though most of us watch television and and and
most of us watch television and and and
most of us watch television and and and see motion pictures that we remember our
see motion pictures that we remember our
see motion pictures that we remember our lives and still frames we remember
lives and still frames we remember
lives and still frames we remember movies and still frames that’s how our
movies and still frames that’s how our
movies and still frames that’s how our brain works so I think making a very
brain works so I think making a very
brain works so I think making a very powerful photograph can affect a
powerful photograph can affect a
powerful photograph can affect a person’s life and I think that for me
person’s life and I think that for me
person’s life and I think that for me doing stories and making pictures
doing stories and making pictures
doing stories and making pictures particularly these days about the
particularly these days about the
particularly these days about the environment and about the problems that
environment and about the problems that
environment and about the problems that are going on on the ocean can indeed
are going on on the ocean can indeed
are going on on the ocean can indeed make a difference I think that you know
make a difference I think that you know
make a difference I think that you know the first step in making change in
the first step in making change in
the first step in making change in anything in the world is awareness we
anything in the world is awareness we
anything in the world is awareness we have to be informed and that can come
have to be informed and that can come
have to be informed and that can come through photography I started with an
through photography I started with an
through photography I started with an interest I guess in the ocean from the
interest I guess in the ocean from the
interest I guess in the ocean from the time I was a very young boy I can
time I was a very young boy I can
time I was a very young boy I can remember being in my parents living room
remember being in my parents living room
remember being in my parents living room looking at the pages of National
looking at the pages of National
looking at the pages of National Geographic magazine and dreaming about
Geographic magazine and dreaming about
Geographic magazine and dreaming about being an adventurer being about one of
being an adventurer being about one of
being an adventurer being about one of those people that was going to exotic
those people that was going to exotic
those people that was going to exotic places and doing cool things and as I
places and doing cool things and as I
places and doing cool things and as I got a little bit older I guess about age
got a little bit older I guess about age
got a little bit older I guess about age 15 or so I started to use scuba gear so
15 or so I started to use scuba gear so
15 or so I started to use scuba gear so I started out as a diver first although
I started out as a diver first although
I started out as a diver first although I always had an interest in photography
I always had an interest in photography
I always had an interest in photography it was more for me in the beginning
it was more for me in the beginning
it was more for me in the beginning about the exploration about being that
about the exploration about being that
about the exploration about being that adventurer however I was you know a kid
adventurer however I was you know a kid
adventurer however I was you know a kid that was probably 17 years old 18 years
that was probably 17 years old 18 years
that was probably 17 years old 18 years old living in a small town in
old living in a small town in
old living in a small town in Massachusetts kind of a blue-collar town
Massachusetts kind of a blue-collar town
Massachusetts kind of a blue-collar town and the notion of somebody like that
and the notion of somebody like that
and the notion of somebody like that becoming a National Geographic
becoming a National Geographic
becoming a National Geographic photographer let’s say specifically
photographer let’s say specifically
photographer let’s say specifically underwater was probably a one in a
underwater was probably a one in a
underwater was probably a one in a billion chance I don’t know why I didn’t
billion chance I don’t know why I didn’t
billion chance I don’t know why I didn’t give up along the way there certainly
give up along the way there certainly
give up along the way there certainly were many days where I would come back
were many days where I would come back
were many days where I would come back and look at a roll of film that I shot
and look at a roll of film that I shot
and look at a roll of film that I shot and say this is terrible and you know
and say this is terrible and you know
and say this is terrible and you know what am i doing I mean I could be making
what am i doing I mean I could be making
what am i doing I mean I could be making great money and and driving nice cars
great money and and driving nice cars
great money and and driving nice cars and living in a good home and instead
and living in a good home and instead
and living in a good home and instead I’m you know I’m pursuing this artistic
I’m you know I’m pursuing this artistic
I’m you know I’m pursuing this artistic dream there was just something inside
dream there was just something inside
dream there was just something inside there was just something within me that
there was just something within me that
there was just something within me that didn’t allow me to quit I don’t know if
didn’t allow me to quit I don’t know if
didn’t allow me to quit I don’t know if it was stubbornness or stupidness or
it was stubbornness or stupidness or
it was stubbornness or stupidness or what but I just couldn’t give it up I
what but I just couldn’t give it up I
what but I just couldn’t give it up I didn’t want to be you know very old and
didn’t want to be you know very old and
didn’t want to be you know very old and thinking back saying I didn’t
thinking back saying I didn’t
thinking back saying I didn’t the chance eventually I got my first
the chance eventually I got my first
the chance eventually I got my first assignment from National Geographic ten
assignment from National Geographic ten
assignment from National Geographic ten years later I’m working on my 16th story
years later I’m working on my 16th story
years later I’m working on my 16th story for the magazine and it’s been fantastic
for the magazine and it’s been fantastic
for the magazine and it’s been fantastic and you know I finally got to do those
and you know I finally got to do those
and you know I finally got to do those things that I always dreamt about doing
when I’m on assignment I generally have
when I’m on assignment I generally have an idea of what it is I want to do long
an idea of what it is I want to do long
an idea of what it is I want to do long before I’ve arrived in whatever location
before I’ve arrived in whatever location
before I’ve arrived in whatever location I’m working I’ve given a lot of thought
I’m working I’ve given a lot of thought
I’m working I’ve given a lot of thought a lot of research to the subjects the
a lot of research to the subjects the
a lot of research to the subjects the animals the people I’ll be working with
animals the people I’ll be working with
animals the people I’ll be working with and how I might approach that subject
and how I might approach that subject
and how I might approach that subject you have to be loose of course you have
you have to be loose of course you have
you have to be loose of course you have to allow for changes or serendipity
to allow for changes or serendipity
to allow for changes or serendipity which can often add great things to a
which can often add great things to a
which can often add great things to a story but when I’m physically in the
story but when I’m physically in the
story but when I’m physically in the water hopefully working with the subject
water hopefully working with the subject
water hopefully working with the subject I have in mind I’m trying to think about
I have in mind I’m trying to think about
I have in mind I’m trying to think about many things I’m trying to think about
many things I’m trying to think about
many things I’m trying to think about how the light is affecting my subject
how the light is affecting my subject
how the light is affecting my subject light is everything of course and in
light is everything of course and in
light is everything of course and in photography and that usually means I
photography and that usually means I
photography and that usually means I have to bring my light with me for
have to bring my light with me for
have to bring my light with me for example into the ocean because you know
example into the ocean because you know
example into the ocean because you know colors get lost very quickly underwater
colors get lost very quickly underwater
colors get lost very quickly underwater so I have to bring down into water
so I have to bring down into water
so I have to bring down into water strobes and I’ve got this big housing so
strobes and I’ve got this big housing so
strobes and I’ve got this big housing so I’m physically trying to manage all of
I’m physically trying to manage all of
I’m physically trying to manage all of that and I’m thinking about f-stops and
that and I’m thinking about f-stops and
that and I’m thinking about f-stops and apertures and getting the exposure just
apertures and getting the exposure just
apertures and getting the exposure just right and I’m thinking about the animal
right and I’m thinking about the animal
right and I’m thinking about the animal you know is it too close is it too far
you know is it too close is it too far
you know is it too close is it too far away am I in a threatening situation so
away am I in a threatening situation so
away am I in a threatening situation so many things are thinking about but at
many things are thinking about but at
many things are thinking about but at the end of the day you know you you hope
the end of the day you know you you hope
the end of the day you know you you hope that you’re going to be experienced
that you’re going to be experienced
that you’re going to be experienced enough or you’ve got enough salt
only about three three and a half years
only about three three and a half years ago did I made the make the switch to
ago did I made the make the switch to
ago did I made the make the switch to digital photography and I sort of
digital photography and I sort of
digital photography and I sort of dragged my feet I was a little reluctant
dragged my feet I was a little reluctant
dragged my feet I was a little reluctant about it I wasn’t sure the quality of a
about it I wasn’t sure the quality of a
about it I wasn’t sure the quality of a digital imaging and I I didn’t know that
digital imaging and I I didn’t know that
digital imaging and I I didn’t know that you know that this would be as good as
you know that this would be as good as
you know that this would be as good as film but once I made the switch I can’t
film but once I made the switch I can’t
film but once I made the switch I can’t imagine going back we used to go on
imagine going back we used to go on
imagine going back we used to go on assignment shoot four or five hundred
assignment shoot four or five hundred
assignment shoot four or five hundred rolls of film come back send it to
rolls of film come back send it to
rolls of film come back send it to Washington DC to National Geographic
Washington DC to National Geographic
Washington DC to National Geographic headquarters I’d spend two weeks waiting
headquarters I’d spend two weeks waiting
headquarters I’d spend two weeks waiting for the phone call and then they’d say
for the phone call and then they’d say
for the phone call and then they’d say you did good or well it’s not some good
you did good or well it’s not some good
you did good or well it’s not some good and you know it’s it’s nerve-wracking
and you know it’s it’s nerve-wracking
and you know it’s it’s nerve-wracking but now I know what I’ve got before they
but now I know what I’ve got before they
but now I know what I’ve got before they do so in the old days and not that long
do so in the old days and not that long
do so in the old days and not that long ago I think failure was a much more
ago I think failure was a much more
ago I think failure was a much more ready partner there was always that
ready partner there was always that
ready partner there was always that angel of death on your shoulder waiting
angel of death on your shoulder waiting
angel of death on your shoulder waiting to to pounce because things were always
to to pounce because things were always
to to pounce because things were always so stressful now you know you’ve got a
so stressful now you know you’ve got a
so stressful now you know you’ve got a little more latitude you can do more and
little more latitude you can do more and
little more latitude you can do more and I think the failures or less because
I think the failures or less because
I think the failures or less because you’re seeing how you’re doing it’s like
you’re seeing how you’re doing it’s like
you’re seeing how you’re doing it’s like being in a studio and we learn from that
being in a studio and we learn from that
being in a studio and we learn from that we learn a tremendous amount I think
we learn a tremendous amount I think
we learn a tremendous amount I think I’ve become a much better photographer
I’ve become a much better photographer
I’ve become a much better photographer than the last three and a half years
than the last three and a half years
than the last three and a half years because of that technology because I’ve
because of that technology because I’ve
because of that technology because I’ve been able to see instantly how I’m doing
been able to see instantly how I’m doing
been able to see instantly how I’m doing I think curiosity is is a great tool to
I think curiosity is is a great tool to
I think curiosity is is a great tool to possess that and patience of course as a
possess that and patience of course as a
possess that and patience of course as a photographer I am interested in
photographer I am interested in
photographer I am interested in everything I mean I love everything and
everything I mean I love everything and
everything I mean I love everything and I’m fascinated and interested in all
I’m fascinated and interested in all
I’m fascinated and interested in all animals so when I propose stories to the
animals so when I propose stories to the
animals so when I propose stories to the geographic I’m just looking for a good
geographic I’m just looking for a good
geographic I’m just looking for a good story in 2003 I published a story with
story in 2003 I published a story with
story in 2003 I published a story with National Geographic about something
National Geographic about something
National Geographic about something called the Aquarius habitat which is the
called the Aquarius habitat which is the
called the Aquarius habitat which is the world’s only laboratory for scientists
world’s only laboratory for scientists
world’s only laboratory for scientists underwater it’s actually this little
underwater it’s actually this little
underwater it’s actually this little house if you will on the bottom of the
house if you will on the bottom of the
house if you will on the bottom of the ocean perched at about 60 feet off of
ocean perched at about 60 feet off of
ocean perched at about 60 feet off of Key Largo Florida where scientists and
Key Largo Florida where scientists and
Key Largo Florida where scientists and in my case journalists can live on the
in my case journalists can live on the
in my case journalists can live on the bottom of the ocean and this was a
bottom of the ocean and this was a
bottom of the ocean and this was a week-long mission to study the benefits
week-long mission to study the benefits
week-long mission to study the benefits of marine protected areas but the
of marine protected areas but the
of marine protected areas but the experience was amazing I mean most dives
experience was amazing I mean most dives
experience was amazing I mean most dives you’re limited to maybe an hour
you’re limited to maybe an hour
you’re limited to maybe an hour underwater but here I was able to spend
underwater but here I was able to spend
underwater but here I was able to spend six or seven hours
six or seven hours
six or seven hours and what that meant was that you could
and what that meant was that you could
and what that meant was that you could see things you could acclimate to some
see things you could acclimate to some
see things you could acclimate to some of the animals in a way that I never was
of the animals in a way that I never was
of the animals in a way that I never was able to do before
able to do before
able to do before it’s very cool it’s something that you
it’s very cool it’s something that you
it’s very cool it’s something that you know as a child I remember looking at
know as a child I remember looking at
know as a child I remember looking at you know futuristic drawings of what the
you know futuristic drawings of what the
you know futuristic drawings of what the world might be like when when I got
world might be like when when I got
world might be like when when I got older and this was sort of what it was
older and this was sort of what it was
older and this was sort of what it was about it was you know having this moon
about it was you know having this moon
about it was you know having this moon pool that you could kind of emerge into
pool that you could kind of emerge into
pool that you could kind of emerge into from from the ocean and then dry off and
from from the ocean and then dry off and
from from the ocean and then dry off and you’re living underwater and their
you’re living underwater and their
you’re living underwater and their review ports and before you go to bed at
review ports and before you go to bed at
review ports and before you go to bed at night you can watch a shark swim by
night you can watch a shark swim by
night you can watch a shark swim by literally saw a shark swim by one night
literally saw a shark swim by one night
literally saw a shark swim by one night before bed and schools of fish out in
before bed and schools of fish out in
before bed and schools of fish out in the spotlights there were evenings where
the spotlights there were evenings where
the spotlights there were evenings where I’d go and just sit out on top of the
I’d go and just sit out on top of the
I’d go and just sit out on top of the habitat the physical hull and just watch
habitat the physical hull and just watch
habitat the physical hull and just watch this transition that occurs on the coral
this transition that occurs on the coral
this transition that occurs on the coral reef from day to night where you know
reef from day to night where you know
reef from day to night where you know huge schools of fish would be sweeping
huge schools of fish would be sweeping
huge schools of fish would be sweeping past as they go to find their protection
past as they go to find their protection
past as they go to find their protection for the evening and other animals would
for the evening and other animals would
for the evening and other animals would kind of emerge and come out as the dusk
kind of emerge and come out as the dusk
kind of emerge and come out as the dusk began to set and all of these things
began to set and all of these things
began to set and all of these things couldn’t photograph necessarily but what
couldn’t photograph necessarily but what
couldn’t photograph necessarily but what an exceptional experience there’s all
an exceptional experience there’s all
an exceptional experience there’s all kinds of stories behind the scene if you
kinds of stories behind the scene if you
kinds of stories behind the scene if you will that go into an assignment you know
will that go into an assignment you know
will that go into an assignment you know I guess the ones that a lot of people
I guess the ones that a lot of people
I guess the ones that a lot of people like to hear about of the the kind of
like to hear about of the the kind of
like to hear about of the the kind of scary ones or the the Indiana Jones
scary ones or the the Indiana Jones
scary ones or the the Indiana Jones moments if you will I’ve had my share
moments if you will I’ve had my share
moments if you will I’ve had my share I’ve been diving in Canada one day when
I’ve been diving in Canada one day when
I’ve been diving in Canada one day when I surfaced in a snowstorm actually to
I surfaced in a snowstorm actually to
I surfaced in a snowstorm actually to watch her a dive boat it was an old
watch her a dive boat it was an old
watch her a dive boat it was an old fishing boat sinking I did a story in
fishing boat sinking I did a story in
fishing boat sinking I did a story in Ireland where the dive boat didn’t see
Ireland where the dive boat didn’t see
Ireland where the dive boat didn’t see my assistant and I after we surfaced and
my assistant and I after we surfaced and
my assistant and I after we surfaced and we drifted away in the middle of the
we drifted away in the middle of the
we drifted away in the middle of the Atlantic we were drifting for two and a
Atlantic we were drifting for two and a
Atlantic we were drifting for two and a half hours and the chilly North Atlantic
half hours and the chilly North Atlantic
half hours and the chilly North Atlantic ultimately got picked up by a fishing
ultimately got picked up by a fishing
ultimately got picked up by a fishing boat that happened to pass by I’ve lost
boat that happened to pass by I’ve lost
boat that happened to pass by I’ve lost my way inside shipwrecks like the Andrea
my way inside shipwrecks like the Andrea
my way inside shipwrecks like the Andrea Doria or underneath Arctic pack ice for
Doria or underneath Arctic pack ice for
Doria or underneath Arctic pack ice for a few moments and been disoriented under
a few moments and been disoriented under
a few moments and been disoriented under there and you know you could feel your
there and you know you could feel your
there and you know you could feel your your heart beating and the stress
your heart beating and the stress
your heart beating and the stress beginning to mount so there’s all these
beginning to mount so there’s all these
beginning to mount so there’s all these things you know I’ve been nipped by
things you know I’ve been nipped by
things you know I’ve been nipped by sharks and chased by sperm whales and
sharks and chased by sperm whales and
sharks and chased by sperm whales and you know been grabbed by a Humboldt
you know been grabbed by a Humboldt
you know been grabbed by a Humboldt squid and the Sea of Cortez and two
squid and the Sea of Cortez and two
squid and the Sea of Cortez and two o’clock in the morning there’s all these
o’clock in the morning there’s all these
o’clock in the morning there’s all these exciting moments but truth is what I
exciting moments but truth is what I
exciting moments but truth is what I prefer to think about or all the
prefer to think about or all the
prefer to think about or all the wonderful moments the the fact that in
wonderful moments the the fact that in
wonderful moments the the fact that in underwater photography especially unlike
underwater photography especially unlike
underwater photography especially unlike terrestrial photography we can’t use
terrestrial photography we can’t use
terrestrial photography we can’t use telephoto
telephoto
telephoto Lenz’s let’s say to get close to our
Lenz’s let’s say to get close to our
Lenz’s let’s say to get close to our animals so we physically have to get
animals so we physically have to get
animals so we physically have to get close to these subjects which is a
close to these subjects which is a
close to these subjects which is a testimony to these animals you know that
testimony to these animals you know that
testimony to these animals you know that animal had to choose to get close and it
animal had to choose to get close and it
animal had to choose to get close and it never ceases to amaze me when I go on
never ceases to amaze me when I go on
never ceases to amaze me when I go on assignment you think about the odds
assignment you think about the odds
assignment you think about the odds against you of getting these pictures
against you of getting these pictures
against you of getting these pictures all the things that have to line up and
all the things that have to line up and
all the things that have to line up and somehow miraculously they do they always
somehow miraculously they do they always
somehow miraculously they do they always seem to happen you know I just did a
seem to happen you know I just did a
seem to happen you know I just did a story on right whales and I went to a
story on right whales and I went to a
story on right whales and I went to a place on the planet that these were
place on the planet that these were
place on the planet that these were animals had really never been
animals had really never been
animals had really never been photographed before was an island a
photographed before was an island a
photographed before was an island a group of islands in the sub-antarctic of
group of islands in the sub-antarctic of
group of islands in the sub-antarctic of New Zealand and it was a population that
New Zealand and it was a population that
New Zealand and it was a population that had only been discovered about ten years
had only been discovered about ten years
had only been discovered about ten years ago didn’t know how these animals would
ago didn’t know how these animals would
ago didn’t know how these animals would react got there in the middle of
react got there in the middle of
react got there in the middle of wintertime in the sub-antarctic with
wintertime in the sub-antarctic with
wintertime in the sub-antarctic with wind blowing and clouds and snow got in
wind blowing and clouds and snow got in
wind blowing and clouds and snow got in the water and these forty five foot
the water and these forty five foot
the water and these forty five foot whales swam over to me I mean within
whales swam over to me I mean within
whales swam over to me I mean within inches they were curious about me those
inches they were curious about me those
inches they were curious about me those kinds of moments of the other ones that
kinds of moments of the other ones that
kinds of moments of the other ones that I think we should celebrate those are
I think we should celebrate those are
I think we should celebrate those are the moments that really I’m hoping to
the moments that really I’m hoping to
the moments that really I’m hoping to remember in my old age because those are
remember in my old age because those are
remember in my old age because those are the ones that made the difference you
the ones that made the difference you
the ones that made the difference you know the exciting dangerous moments are
know the exciting dangerous moments are
know the exciting dangerous moments are there and but they pale in comparison to
there and but they pale in comparison to
there and but they pale in comparison to the to the real highlights
so much of the ocean has not really been
so much of the ocean has not really been explored it certainly hasn’t been
explored it certainly hasn’t been
explored it certainly hasn’t been photographed so this is what I’m looking
photographed so this is what I’m looking
photographed so this is what I’m looking forward to down the road there’s
forward to down the road there’s
forward to down the road there’s absolutely so much more that I wanted to
absolutely so much more that I wanted to
absolutely so much more that I wanted to I I just you know I don’t sleep at
I I just you know I don’t sleep at
I I just you know I don’t sleep at nights because I think about all the
nights because I think about all the
nights because I think about all the great things that I want to be out there
great things that I want to be out there
great things that I want to be out there doing I may have had a wonderful run
doing I may have had a wonderful run
doing I may have had a wonderful run these last thirty years but I’m probably
these last thirty years but I’m probably
these last thirty years but I’m probably most excited about the next 30
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