Articles

When all of the other college bound kids his age were trying to get into the run-of-the-mill four-year colleges in the US, Photographer of the Week, Jim Ward—very intelligently I might add—headed for bluer pastures at the University of the Virgin Islands in St. Thomas. (Why didn’t I think of that?) There, he earned a degree in marine biology, which led to a subsequent path of travel, research and ultimately, underwater photography.

Jim currently lives on the Big Island of Hawaii with his wife and fellow shooter, Alicia. Together they explore the vast nooks and crannies of the island, ducking through lava tubes, charming dolphins and running into the “big stuff” that cruises along the deep coastal waters. Jim’s images seem to encapsulate what makes Hawaii idyllic and unique: the velvety white sands, the cerulean deep-water canvases, and the crisp, flaring sunbursts.
 

Spinner Dolphins leisurely cruising the coast
 

Schooling tarpon spiral overhead, pushing out to forage
 

A juvenile turtle tucked into the edge of the reef
 

Jim’s wife, Alicia, in her element
 

Basking in the golden-hour glow
 

Alicia, in a custom silicone mermaid tail made by SeeThroughSea
 

A southern stingray with commensal bar jack in tow
 

A humpback escorting a spall pod of Tahitian pilot whales
 

Jim and his wife, Alicia

To see more of Jim’s images, check out SeeThroughSea, featuring work by Jim and Alicia.