Thank you for taking the time to consider my idea for an underwater photography book – British Columbia's Underwater Wilderness. It is an idea I have had for several years now, inspired by several things. I grew up in the Pacific Northwest where I developed a life-long, deep, personal relationship with the marine life of Oregon, Washington and British Columbia. My career as a marine biologist has centered on the marine flora and fauna of this region and I have shared its wonders with others through public aquarium exhibits, presentations, field trips and other publications.
The world of digital photography, the internet and desk-top publishing have created a revolution in the niche area of underwater photography. It is now possible to create a collection of underwater images in a short period of time, produce small print runs, and reduce costs. This technology has created a number of books on a variety of previously little-known marine locations. For example, recently a small group of Malaysian photographers self-published a beautiful book on Sipadan Island, a remote coral reef in the South China Sea.
Third, and most importantly, the marine resources and environments of British Columbia remain threatened by over-fishing, pollution and development. Education is the key to good decision-making, and I am convinced that few people have any idea of how remarkable the marine life of British Columbia really is. And it’s no wonder. Looking out over the gray water of the Strait of Georgia from the ferry to Nanaimo it is hard to imagine a world of wolfeels, multi-colored sea stars, soft corals and giant green sea anemones. A world where the dominant colors are orange, red and purple. A world that is home to the most diverse and complex assemblage of cold-water marine life on Earth. British Columbia's Underwater Wilderness will give people a window into this world, and hopefully a greater appreciation for its unique marine life.
The images are organized in four chapters that correspond to four coastal regions designated specifically for this project. Brief text will introduce each chapter/region and its inhabitants (both marine biological and human). The captions are simple and straightforward with a minimum of text. However, it is important that there be a layer of knowledge embedded in the book without interfering with the aesthetics of the images themselves. To this end I have drawn a sketch of each photograph interpreting morphological or behavioral adaptations of each species that supports the text accompanying each image.
While British Columbia's Underwater Wilderness will in itself make a contribution to raising public awareness of the marine life of British Columbia it will also make a direct, tangible contribution. Working with the Bamfield Marine Sciences Centre I am creating a scholarship for undergraduates in marine biology funded through the royalties of book sales, direct cash contributions from Seaborn Projects, Inc., matching grants/gifts and in-kind donations of time, resources and expertise from myself and the BMSC, the projects academic partner and home for the scholarship.
Currently I am in the pre-production phase of the project, editing photographs and writing text. I welcome any ideas, comments and suggestions you may have. A small collection of example photographs are included on this web site, I hope you enjoy them!
Sincerely,