Tony Flanagan, Bangkok
Member Since April 2008
Artist Statement My working life was spent in very 'inartistic' surroundings, grey walls, bland office desk and a boring computer screen with that horrible Windows picture as a background were my inspiration. So, as soon as I was released from this bland world I headed for the most colourful and exciting places on Earth... the coral reefs.
I moved to Thailand eight years ago, bought a second-hand set of dive gear and a cheap camera and have never looked back! I became a PADI Dive Instructor and have worked in Thailand and Burma but now I dive purely for my own enjoyment. I don't think that I can add much 'artistic' value to the pictures I take as God has done such a good job, but I do try to show in closer than usual detail the fantastic patterns and unusual shapes that abound on the reef. We are all learners and I am probably at the bottom of the scale where underwater photography is concerned, but this means I can only improve.
I also take many pictures during my travels around Asia and I will be adding some of them to my IK account in the future. Asia is rich in photographic opportunities; the people, architecture, landscapes, animals, jungle, all offer unlimited opportunities and I love exploring them with my camera.