Featured Photographers:
David Fleetham
They
say that "nice guys finish last", but that's clearly not the case
with David Fleetham. I've known Dave for almost exactly ten years, and
he's always been incredibly generous in allowing me use of his elasmobranch
images and sharing his experiences with sharks and rays around the
world. Yet Dave's spectacular and gorgeous underwater images have
graced the covers and pages of scores of magazines, books, and calendars -
his technically flawless photo of a Sandbar Shark (Carcharhinus plumbeus)
made the cover of the August 1991 issue of Life magazine and has
appeared on the cover of numerous shark books. But Dave is far more
than a commercially successful photographer. He is also a fine and
observant marine naturalist whose free-lance articles reflect both his
extensive first-hand understanding of marine life as well as his deep concern
for its preservation. In addition, Dave has won dozens of prestigious
awards for his photographic art. Yet he remains the same "nice
guy" I met at an informal divers' get-together back in 1990.
Although I can take absolutely no credit for Dave's hard-won successes,
every time I see his latest work, I cannot help but feel proud of him.
Over the past 25 years, Dave has invested and sacrificed much to hone his
craft. Every success he enjoys has been well and truly earned.
And he did it all while remaining a very nice guy.
We are delighted to have our ReefQuest Centre for Shark Research website's beauty and informative power enhanced and punctuated by David Fleetham's stunning images. Thank-you, Dave. May your cameras never flood and your strobes never fail. Without your artistry, the world above the surface would be a significantly less beautiful place.
