Just a few weeks ago there was a good bit of anxiety about stepping my photography up to another level with a large investment in a housing that would allow me to take my Nikon D800 underwater. The first baptism in Hunter Spring erased any doubt. Today, after having the dome port kissed by a juvenile manatee and capturing some of the best images I’ve taken–at Ginnie Springs–I realize this step is opening an entirely new dimension to my work.
As I was playing in Ginnie Springs with color, light and geometries it was clear I had settled into a higher level of creativity. I say playing because I believe letting go, losing myself in creativity is really play. It’s work to me but in name only. When we can allow ourselves to let go of everything else and focus on the elements that are present, something amazing can be birthed.
What I noticed was the intense beauty of the water, plant life, rocks, caverns…it seemed to embrace me on a deeper level as I surrendered to the process of translating what I saw through the camera. Now I have the right equipment that allows this process to occur.
Even though manatees were scarce this week there was little to feel sad about as my heart and mind opened to the magnificent beauty of Florida’s freshwater springs and allowed my creativity to expand.
Surrender is a word that carries over from last weekend’s workshop in Atlanta. When we surrender ourselves to the process, something greater can be created. Had I gotten upset about a lack of manatees, I would have missed exquisite beauty surrounding me. Had I allowed fear keep me from leaping forward with the new gear purchase, this new step forward in my life wouldn’t have happened. Surrender….allowing. Letting go…opening our hearts and minds….this is a key to success.
It’s time to embrace life with both arms and an open heart. This will unleash creativity. This will help us take the next step forward.
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If you are looking for a great housing I highly recommend Aquatica. The quality is great and the controls are super-easy. It’s balanced well and a true friend to my D800 and me.
Pam Wooten, Jill Heinerth, Simone Lipscomb. Photo by Rick Crawford.
The weekend before the New Year found me in Cave Country–North Florida–once again. I was drawn there to take a course in side mount, or so I thought. It wasn’t until after the trip was over and I was home that I realized the deeper reason I made the trip.
My friend Pam and I decided to take the class with Jill Heinerth. Pam knew Jill but I simply followed the recommendation of another friend and cave instructor. I won’t go into the details of the course because that’s not my focus. But I would like to share about the women that were present that weekend.
Connie LoRe, a role model for me in cave diving. She has led trips to the beautiful caves of Akumal, Mexico for many years. Photo by Ed Jackson.
Cave diving has progressed from a male-dominated sport to one in which women are routinely participating, instructing and exploring. I thought it was rather awesome to be in a cave course taught by a woman with a female classmate who excels in the field of dive instruction. One of Jill’s friend’s was teaching a cavern course. Renee was another outstanding woman. As we were figuring out our new gear yet another amazing woman showed up to dive. Barbara am Ende, cave explorer and writer, came over and started chatting. I was a bit distracted with all the learning to realize the powerhouse of women standing around us.
Renee Power
Our first day ended with a dive in the Ginnie Bowl and Ballroom. Renee accompanied us. I’m not sure if it was because Pam and I were giving Jill more challenge than she bargained for and she was about to pull her hair out in frustration or if Renee just wanted to come along for the fun. Regardless, it was a very nice dive once we got our gear situated. We played around for over 30 minutes in the cavern and it was quite lovely surfacing after dark to a beautiful sky and clear water surrounded by cypress trees. After we finished Jill left to join her husband for dinner while Pam, Renee and I chatted. I felt an immediate kinship with Renee as we shared about our experience instructing scuba with wounded soldiers. Exhaustion finally overcame me and I headed for a hot shower and food.
At lunch Jill was telling Pam and I about an expedition Barbara had been on and mentioned something about a book. I emailed a note to myself to read the book…Beyond the Deep.
Barbara am Ende. Photo by Mark Long
The following day of class I got to chat a bit with Barbara. She was super-nice and was interested in my photography of the trees, water and light. She shared her card so we could keep in touch but we didn’t have a chance to really visit too much. And for some reason I didn’t associate her with the expedition and book Jill had referenced.
I had to end the diving a bit early due to a cold virus that had been challenging me during the course and the dives. I had no energy and had to focus really hard just to stay present so perhaps that’s why I ‘missed’ the profound women gathered together. Or maybe it was because there was no ego, no chest-beating, no race to see how far or how deep cave penetration was that day. It was friendly, supportive sharing and everyone was equally bringing her best self forward.
Once I got home and was recuperating on my sofa, I watched Jill’s video. We Are Water is a beautiful story of water and the importance of it to us but more than that, it is the story of Jill’s passion and love for the planet. And that resonated deeply with me. Her words echoed my own as she described entering the caves as a spiritual experience; a kindred soul indeed. I’m not an explorer into the deeps of caves or icebergs but I am an explorer of our relationship to nature. I see that in Jill as well.
After the movie, I wanted something else to help me make the best use of my down-time so I downloaded Barbara’s book to my iPad. As I started reading I thought, Oh, my goodness! This is the woman I met? The expedition to the cave in Mexico in which Barbara participated was intense. Over a ton of gear was transported by a system of belays to sumps far below the surface. I couldn’t put the book down and so stayed up late reading in awe of such an amazing journey. It was a powerful venture into the unknown.
I emailed and chatted with my friend Pam after the trip and shared with her my disbelief that such powerful women came together that weekend. It wasn’t planned. The timing of meeting Renee and Barbara was truly profound. I think this is so because there was such friendliness and approachability with everyone present.
It wasn’t just Jill and Barbara that brought tremendous strengths and gifts to those picnic tables at Ginnie Springs. Each one of us has an authentic way of interacting with the world and we each have something beautiful to offer the world. But so does every woman…every person.
Pam Wooten, PADI Course Director. Photo by Simone Lipscomb
The weekend was made especially meaningful as Pam and I shared about our lives…openly, honestly. What a gift to experience the deepening of friendship.
Simone cave diving in Mexico. Photo by Ed Jackson
Terry Tempest Williams said that if a woman ever honestly wrote about and shared her life story, the world would split open and be forever changed. As I reflect back to that weekend, gratitude overflows as I treasure the gift of wisdom each one shared. Perhaps the biggest gift I received was the assurance that wisdom comes with gentleness, straightforwardness, honesty, play, self-awareness in a space where no ego is needed.
Just a few weeks ago there was a good bit of anxiety about stepping my photography up to another level with a large investment in a housing that would allow me to take my Nikon D800 underwater. The first baptism in Hunter Spring erased any doubt. Today, after having the dome port kissed by a juvenile manatee and capturing some of the best images I’ve taken–at Ginnie Springs–I realize this step is opening an entirely new dimension to my work.
As I was playing in Ginnie Springs with color, light and geometries it was clear I had settled into a higher level of creativity. I say playing because I believe letting go, losing myself in creativity is really play. It’s work to me but in name only. When we can allow ourselves to let go of everything else and focus on the elements that are present, something amazing can be birthed.
What I noticed was the intense beauty of the water, plant life, rocks, caverns…it seemed to embrace me on a deeper level as I surrendered to the process of translating what I saw through the camera. Now I have the right equipment that allows this process to occur.
Even though manatees were scarce this week there was little to feel sad about as my heart and mind opened to the magnificent beauty of Florida’s freshwater springs and allowed my creativity to expand.
Surrender is a word that carries over from last weekend’s workshop in Atlanta. When we surrender ourselves to the process, something greater can be created. Had I gotten upset about a lack of manatees, I would have missed exquisite beauty surrounding me. Had I allowed fear keep me from leaping forward with the new gear purchase, this new step forward in my life wouldn’t have happened. Surrender….allowing. Letting go…opening our hearts and minds….this is a key to success.
It’s time to embrace life with both arms and an open heart. This will unleash creativity. This will help us take the next step forward.
