Last tuesday night, Robin and I celebrated our third anniversary and yesterday she presented me with my anniversary gift: Jacques Cousteau's, "The Shark: Splendid Savage of the Sea." This was my absolute #1 book when I was a kid and to this day, I dream of putting down the camera and jumping on a boat to roam the high seas.
A funny thing happens when you re-encounter a book as an adult that you once loved as a kid -> It's like a form of time travel. As I looked through the book, there were so many pictures that I knew so well and yet that had been lost somewhere in my memories. It was like suddenly waking up from amnesia and feeling the same feeling that you had felt fifteen years earlier. And so I read through the book, my favorite chapter headings being: "Chapter 5- The Squaloscope: Abu Marina. Operation "la Balue." The capture and study of sharks. Study of anesthetics: cognac, MS-222. The respiratory system." and "Chapter 8- The Island of Derraka: The narrow escape of Doctor Francois. Individual cages. Battling a swarm of little sharks." and finally, "Chapter 9- Frenzy at Shab Arab: Arrival at Shab Arab Reef. A terrible mass frenzy. The killing of a shark and its effects."
At the end of the book, there is a series of really amazing drawings. I found these two and it all became clear to me: this is why I take pictures! This is what I was born to do! If anyone out there has a boat, is planning on taking off for a deep sea excursion and is in need of a cameraman . . . I'm your guy!
1 comment:
Hahahaha, I love this post.
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