This week I had intended to write about Wes Skiles wonderful article on the Bahamas Blue Holes (here). Caves are hard enough to photograph, but underwater caves? I don't know how Wes made the fantastic images he did in an environment where communication is impossible and shooting time is so limited.
Instead I have to write about how sad it is that this wonderful man is dead (here). Wes was many many things; photographer, filmmaker, explorer, adventurer, father, husband, trusted colleague... He was larger than life. It isn't surprising then that his memorial service this week at Ginnie Springs was larger than life as well. Hundreds of people poured out to share stories about Wes, and his impact on them. Few people have the ability to draw so many diverse folks together.
It was the perfect way to honor his memory and make us all just a little less sad for a while. There was crying and laughing (mostly laughing) and fireworks and viking fire barge that burned over the springs. As one of my friends said, "when I die you can just dust this plan off for my memorial."
Goodbye Wes
Stephen Alvarez
Sewanee, TN
