I started diving with my dad when I was 14. How could I say no, the neighbors owned the dive shop! Utah's limited dive destinations created opportunities to travel to warm tropical destinations. My Dad became a pioneer in underwater video while shooting some of the first mating octopus scenes and rare reef life in the Indian Ocean. I complemented the action with still scenes with my underwater cameras. I cannot imagine a dive without my camera. But better yet, I cannot imagine a dive trip without friends and family. And the best part is sharing the photos after the trip.

The Gift of Sharing!

After every great life experience comes a need to share it. Every time I travel to a new place or laugh at something I have a compelling need to tell my parents, grandparents, friends and co-workers. An experience is not complete until it is shared. On every trip I imagine all of the people that I wish were there. What's the best way to describe the events of life? Photography does just that. Nothing is more fun that seeing people moved through creative photography.

On Location

The story behind each photo originates with a unique experience. Over time I have noticed that I travel for slightly different reasons. Places change and places change us. Some places can change so quickly. I remember the worst dive of our life in the Maldives. No fish. Poor visibility. Raging currents. Our dive guide quietly smiled and informed the group that our last dive would take place in the same location and that we would not have a briefing. We’d returned three times to the Maldives to dive with this dive guide. He was the best of the best. We reminded ourselves of this fact as we contemplated mutiny. We had traveled all the way around the world for this trip. Literally the furthest place on planet earth from Salt Lake City, Utah. Well, we respected him too much to commit an act of mutiny, but we sure thought he was crazy. Only 40 mintues later our worst dive of our life turned into the most spectacular grand finale of our Maldivian safari! We saw: mating octopus, schools of trivoli jacks, schools of black reef sharks, white tips, napoleon wrasse, spotted eagle rays, mantas and French angels.

Most of the photos on this site have been shot in the following locations:

Maldives

Layang Layang, South China Sea

Sipadan and Mabul Island, Insular Malaysia

Spice Islands, Indonesia

Galapagos Islands, Equador

Cay Sal Banks, Bahamas

Kona, Hawaii

Bonair

Grand Cayman

Cozumel

Canon Beach

Yellowstone

Portugal

Lake Powell, Utah

© 2007, Photography by Brad Gilson All rights reserved. Digital Photography on this site may be used for non-commercial use on your own computer desktop or Notebook Computer. Images may be Licensed for other purposes. Unauthorized use of the images, graphics or text on these pages without written permission is prohibited.