Goals...and time.

Wow. That was a busy week of nothing done. Ever had one of those weeks where you look back, and see nothing accomplished? I mean, things were done, tasks completed more than the day-to-day chores, but it feels like nothing was done. Frustrating.

There was a seawall cleanup. I worked with our 'competitor' and helped with the event. Mostly I brought a few people and helped pick up trash. Alternatively, I got to talk to a couple people and show myself and mingle...and listen to people talk about how we should all just get along, even when they have said otherwise in my presence (not knowing who I was).

We weren't able to dive, which significantly reduced overall participation, particularly on my end since most of the company I keep is divers and photographers. Water was not our friend that day, unless you were a surfer!!

The surf was beautiful. I've never seen the surf so clean on a day where the wind was light, and there was no rain.

Got to go to the Museum of the Ryukyus (Okinawa Prefectural Museum & Art Museum), and they happened to have the Marie-Antoinette exhibition. There were paintings and money and pillboxes and clothing and...hair pieces... yeah..

Secret shots, shutter noisy...

The one thing that occurred to me was, we were looking at letters, art and dresses that was over 200 years old, and looked beautiful. I wish I could share, but some of the areas were no cameras allowed and my hip shooting was crappy, but I will practice...don't worry.

They're working on the last portion of the Sunabe Seawall modernization project. I'll have an entire photo essay on this one. I missed a good portion of the work, but the impact it's making on the diving area is significant. The primary site where 90% if not more of NEW divers enter is currently closed, so diver traffic is being diverted to area that normally don't see that much activity. I'm noticing more broken coral and less natural settling of bottom substrate.

Finally, I continue to explore and see new things. I have traveled all over the southeast US and haven't seen as much concentrated culture as there is here. The spectrum from new to old is extreme, only comparable to the early 1990's in Charleston SC where you would have an abandoned house across the street from a beautiful new Charleston Single House.  

No diving this week, but as usual, pick up that trash both on the surface, and down below!!

Pick it up, leave only bubbles!

Negligent posting, or just busy?

I missed last weeks post, so I'm trying to get a jump start by writing first, then adding photos so we'll see how this goes.

Firstly, HOLY COW!! I've shot over a thousand photos (yes, 1000+) in the past week. I think the camera is protesting as now it has dust on the mirror, but I'm also hard on things, so who knows for sure. Going the next day or so to get a cleaner for the mirror artifacts, which only show up on long exposure.

10sec exposure showing artifacts

Leather Base in Depot Island

During all the shooting this past week, had to pamper the camera so I bought a custom strap for it. There's a little shop in Mihama (American Village = tourist trap) where you can get all kinds of things made from leather (Leather Base). I was originally hoping they could make a protective case for my camera, but they don't have the tools. So, just the strap please. Turned out pretty nice and is very comfy. Besides, can't go wrong with handmade leather!!



There was a Cherry Blossom Festival in Nago (sakura no hana) , and a Sunflower Festival (himawari) near where I work (shot that for about three days!!)



I'm tired of flowers. Now I know why other photographers despise flowers. There's only so much you can do, and they don't really do anything. With this in mind, I took this photo (insert faded beauty). Maybe I'll start shooting flowers in 'repose'.


Of course I say this as the azalea festival gets ready to start...




Got back to shooting in the water. I've been in the water this whole time, but mainly teaching and I don't take a camera or anything as it is distracting to the students and Divemasters. Students can have cameras, but only on their last dive and only after any left over skills have been completed.

Slight increase in number of nudibranchs in the area. Robert THE Divemaster has a identification goal for the little sea slugs and with me looking for sponge, lets just say there's going to be plenty of slow, photographic dives.


Expanded my training abilities and added Search and Recovery Specialty Instructor and Underwater Photographer Instructor to my repertoire. Obviously I'll be adding more as the money comes in, but that's slow coming here. I'll keep working at teaching scuba and doing photography. Looking at doing stock photos to make a little side cash, and maybe revisit some online consulting I used to do.

Exploring time lapse photography over the next month or so, so there will be videos eventually. More planning and gear involved here, and the spending of money of course. I'm going to try and DIY most of it, but motors are complicated, so I'll get off the shelf for that.

Well, back to more photos!!