T Timothy Smith

My interest in photography began in my 20's. I was living in Montreal at the time and shot primarily b&w print film. Tired of winter, I moved to Honolulu. Amazed by the natural beauty and colors of the islands I quickly switched over to Velvia. Since snorkling didn't cost anything, and I was a poor student at the time, I bought a used underwater camera and began shooting the reefs from above. Alas, in those days, in order to get good pictures you had to invest a significant abount of money in a good Nikonos system and learn how to dive. Did I mention I was a poor student at the time? Hmm.. That didn't come out quite right.

Well years went by living here in there, and then, on a trip to the southern Yucatan, I got a chance to learn to dive. The hook was in. The old desire to shoot underwater photography resurfaced (so to speak). But now, thankfuly, we were into the earliest years of the digital age. Having paid off my student loans, I also had a bit more disposible income by this time. Ka-ching. I'm on to my second digital rig and have been very satisfied to date.

Digital underwater photography is so much more forgiving than film, it was a pleasure to return topside knowing that you had a few keepers. Never looked back after that.

Underwater photography has become such a passion, I end up spending way too much time on DivePhotoGuide (sorry Jason, but its true). Some people take pictures when diving, I dive to take pictures. I have my priorities straight! I consider my camera as essential to a dive as my regulator.

A wilingness to assign a divemaster/dive guide specifically to the photographers in the dive group so they can make photography the priority of the dive.