The Story Behind Camera and a Shark

Click on the YouTube icon to view our Intro Video on our channel

I was in the Mexican Riviera taking a few weeks to relax and continue figuring out the next chapter life had in store for me. I was going on month three of sabbatical from my IT career, and I was conflicted as ever about whether I had any passion left for my former industry or whether it was finally time to pivot toward something new. I spent most of my days scuba diving and taking pictures and videos since those activities had long been my sanctuary from the pressures of the corporate world — the one place where clarity felt possible. It was on one of those dive trips that I met a young woman from Florida who was involved in marine conservation. Let’s call her Jane.

Jane was a smart, articulate, and ambitious young woman working on her master’s degree in marine science. As part of her capstone, she was donating her time to a small Florida-based conservation group experimenting with creative, inexpensive ways to restore coral on a larger scale despite the mounting pressure climate change places on already fragile reefs.

“This is great,” I said. “I bet you are developing a huge following of donors and volunteers to make this happen. People should be excited!”

“I can’t get anyone to participate, let alone donate,” she replied.

I couldn’t believe her response. Florida is the mecca of scuba diving and fishing in the continental United States. People there are essentially born on the water and learn to swim while in the womb. If anyone has witnessed and understands the negative effects of the eroding marine ecosystem, it’s them.

She went on to explain that while there are many conservation groups based out of Florida, the landscape is chaos. There’s little coordination between organizations, and despite the strong community of ocean enthusiasts, there’s no real connection between the public and the efforts underway to protect local marine ecosystems. Everyday noise, competing priorities, and a lack of shared storytelling make it hard for any single message to break through.

And somewhere between dives, listening to her frustration and feeling my own, a quiet sense of purpose took shape — the first spark of what would become Camera and a Shark.

My goal is simple: capture the beauty of the ocean through photo, video, and storytelling. Provide an outlet to share those images and stories, and connect with the public in a way that cuts through the noise and gently reminds people why the ocean still matters. Open their eyes to the problems our oceans are facing, and hopefully awaken selflessness in people willing to help. If I can help conservation organizations connect with the public in the process, then that’s an absolute win.

Photographers and videographers bring the ocean world to life, and I am one of those people. Sharing and reliving these experiences creates emotional connection — the first step toward awareness, curiosity, and action. The ocean itself is so powerful it can inspire, awaken, and connect us — one story at a time.

Camera and a Shark: Bringing the ocean to life.

CaaS