News

Our good friend Todd Essick is making his New York debut in association with the Global Art Force in an exhibition together with three other artists titled Civilization vs. Nature. Todd is the only photographer in the exhibit.

On display were a handful of Todd's signature black and white shots from his book Beginnings - Goddesses, Sirens and Mermaids, as well as the centerpiece - a large format canvas painted print of Todd's recognizable image of a model and reef shark that placed 2nd in the wide angle category in the 2007 Wetpixel & DivePhotoGuide international competition (Our World Underwater), and 1st place for wide angle in the 2007 DEEP Indonesia competition. The image also graced the cover of Scuba Diver AustralAsia and was published in many other magazines.

This image in particular however, has become somewhat famous for another reason. The model in the shot was actually nipped by a shark during the shoot, and it was all captured on film. What followed was a media feast, as Todd and his model's story appeared on Entertainment Tonight and other TV programs.

During the gallery opening Todd was showing the "behind the scenes" video, including the shark nipping incident, to a trendy underground NY crowd. The shimmering material used and the flailing legs of the model were a recipe for a bite. The video clearly shows the model actually kicking the shark (by accident of course), just before getting nipped on the other foot. She was back in the water shooting the very next day.

We're happy to have been able to come out and support Todd in his New York gallery exhibit opening. We've seen some of his new work, and it's pretty cool stuff. Surely you'll see some of it here on DPG in the near future.

Todd tells us that his work will be on display at the gallery for sometime. The gallery is located at 71 Leonard Street, Suite 1 (212) 945-8648. It's one of those down low NY underground loft galleries, no store front - kind of feels like you're in someone's apartment, but it's really a quaint and trendy little gallery / showroom. Just buzz suite 1, and make sure you show them the secret handshake and codeword head downstairs. Beyond Todd's work, there is some really cool artwork on display.

Wendy, Todd and Todd's mom

Todd's book "Beginnings - Goddesses, Sirens and Mermaids"