Famous UW Photographer Passes On

[ricki]

http://www.karstenvironmental.com/


Many of us have known and admired Wes Skiles of Karst Productions work in cave exploration and photography for a long time. I am very sad to learn of his death during a dive off Boynton Beach yesterday. My sincere condolences go out to his family and friends.

"Photographer dies during dive near Boynton Inlet
Wes Skiles shot underwater and nature photos for publications worldwide
By Lois K. Solomon, Sun Sentinel
1:46 p.m. EDT, July 22, 2010

Underwater photographer Wes Skiles, whose work is scheduled to appear on the cover of "National Geographic's" August edition, died during a dive 3 miles east of the Boynton Inlet on Wednesday, the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office said.

Skiles had motioned to a fellow diver that he was heading to the surface because he was out of film, Sheriff's spokeswoman Teri Barbera said. As the other divers ascended a few minutes later, they found him motionless near a reef on the ocean floor, she said. They rushed him to the surface. He was rushed to St. Mary's Medical Center where he was pronounced dead.

Skiles, 52, was owner and president of Karst Productions, based in High Springs, Fla.
According to his Facebook page, he spent most of this year exploring the Blue Holes of the Bahamas for National Geographic, with his work scheduled to appear on the cover of the August issue of the magazine.

He was not shooting for National Geographic at the time of his death, National Geographic spokeswoman Ellen Stanley said. "National Geographic has learned of the tragic death of Wes Skiles, the accomplished underwater photographer, cinematographer and explorer with whom we've worked frequently," wrote Stanley in a statement. "Our thoughts are with Wes' family.""


and

"National Geographic freelance photographer Wes Skiles drowns off Boynton Beach

BOYNTON BEACH — An internationally renowned freelance photographer for National Geographic magazine drowned Wednesday while filming underwater in the ocean off the Boynton Beach Inlet, authorities say.

Wes Skiles, a 53-year-old High Springs resident and Florida native known for his work photographing and filming in caves and the deep ocean, was found unconscious on the ocean floor Wednesday afternoon after leaving his fellow divers to get more film, according to the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office

Skiles and other members of a film crew were working around a reef about three miles east of the Boynton Inlet about 3 p.m. Wednesday afternoon when Skiles signaled to his colleagues that he was going to head to the surface, sheriff's spokeswoman Teri Barbera said.

He ascended alone. A few minutes later other members of the group heading for the surface found him lying on the ocean floor."
Continued at: http://www.palmbeachpost.com/news/na...ff-817521.html



http://www.karstproductions.com/
Rest in peace Wes.

[greg meintjes]

I just saw the article in Nat Geo that Wes was featured in, his work was amazing, it is very sad to read of his passing.

[ricki]

Yes, I bought one at a Walgreens, they are readily available in many locations currently. It is a good article. I posted excerpts from it and a link to the full article three days prior to his accident on here at: http://fksa.org/showthread.php?t=9822 Wes was a leader in caving and UW imaging, he will be missed, he was a solid guy too.

Originally Posted by greg meintjes

I just saw the article in Nat Geo that Wes was featured in, his work was amazing, it is very sad to read of his passing.

[ricki]

National Public Radio (NPR) did a spot in honor of Wes. The usually seem to be fixated on domestic and international political figures, industry magnates, even sports and entertainment figures. It is nice that they talked about Wes and his times.

"This past January, underwater photographer Wes Skiles stopped by to show me a few photos. He had just finished an assignment in the Bahamas for a National Geographic story, and our conversation ran the gamut. Be it poisonous hydrogen sulfide gas, photography or conservation, Skiles was excited about "

Continued at the link below:
http://www.npr.org/blogs/pictureshow...8704761/skiles

You can also listen to the broadcast on Wes at the link above.


Also, National Geographic had something to say about Wes:




""National Geographic has learned of the tragic death of Wes Skiles, the accomplished underwater photographer, cinematographer and explorer with whom we've worked frequently," the National Geographic Society said in a statement today. "The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department is investigating the incident, which occurred following the conclusion of a scientific research expedition related to marine life off the east coast of Florida. Our thoughts are with Wes' family."

A photograph by Skiles is the current (August) cover story of National Geographic. Editor in Chief Chris Johns devoted his "Editor's Note" to the photographer in the same issue (Editor's Note: Diving Bahamas Caves). A gallery of Skiles' photos for the story can be seen online: Deep Dark Secrets."
Continued at:
http://blogs.nationalgeographic.com/...iles-dies.html