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Other Passions

Living near the ocean is an absolute treat for me. About 10 years ago, I finally decided to get certified as a Scuba Diver (been thinking about it for years before).

What a great decision that was!  I found it to be a fascinating experience - the most thrilling and yet relaxing experience at the same time.

And the COLORS!  If you think that spring rain is nice because it makes all the colors come out more intensely, then you should see the underwater world up close and personal.  It's breathtaking.

Shortly after I got certified, a diving buddy convinced me to join her in an underwater photography competition called the Monterey Shoot Out.  It's a competition where everyone goes out in the exact same water conditions on the same day and brings back the best images they can muster, which are judged and prizes awarded.  The people at Backscatter (www.Backscatter.com)  even let you borrow their equipment to give you the best chance.

So with a bit of instruction and absolutely NO experience, I entered and competed in two categories: "Twenty Rolls or Less" (the brand new photographer category in film) and "Digital."  My friend had won the Novice Film the year before, so she entered again.

She won First Prize in Novice Film.  But that's not all.

I won First Prize in Twenty Rolls or Less and also won First Prize in Digital, which garnered me Light & Motion digital camera housing worth over $1000.00!  Here's the shot that won:

I was hooked.

Now, every vacation I take is most likely near water - actually IN water - SCUBA diving.  I'm taking pictures of anything that moves and a bunch of things that don't.

I've learned a few things over the years of being an Underwater Photographer, so I wrote a book about it.  You can see my eBook and a few of my photos at www.UnderwaterArts.com  (still under construction) Enjoy!  I enjoy educating people about the importance of conserving our oceans and all the grandeur that exists under the sea (that's why a portion of the sales of my eBook goes to "The Ocean Conservancy" - www.oceanconservancy.org and I'm a member of the Monterey Bay Aquarium - www.mbayaq.org).

I have a female Rhodesian Ridgeback named Aziza (full name: Aziza D'Ziko) but she gets called "Z" a fair amount. She's an African breed, so I wanted to give her an African name.  Her first name means "close to my heart" or "precious girl" in about 6 different languages.   But her full name in Swahili means "Peace Throughout the World."   And everyone says we need more World Peace - right?  Well, she's about 70 pounds of it.