[jerin]

Thanks Josh for the lovely pics and the exciting story to go with them. That was close! Good you did make it back in one piece. And it is really a shame that governments do whatever they think is needed without any consideration for the local people!

[smetzler]

Josh, glad you're still with us and lived to tell the tale (very well, I might add).

Adding my comments to the others, your photos are natural gems and if there was a way to bead them into a necklace I'm sure there are those here at Pearl-Guide that would.

[akoya]

Josh, this one for YOU,

Just beyond the sunset,
Someone waits for me,
Just beyond the sunset,
Lies my destiny......

Sand, Salt Water and Sun are perfect for burying all our stress and worries.

Keep them comming!!!
Akoya

[olmander]

Josh, did you ever think of publishing a sort of a photoalbum with comments? Your photos are as good (breathtaking!) as texts - I am sure it would be a great success!

[claudenancy]

These astonishing photographs really do transport me to another world. Thank you Josh for sharing your world in such a spectular way.

Beth

[Amrita]

Utterly gorgeous!! I am lost for words....

[Hanaleimom]

The landscape is very beautiful, but to capture it in photos takes real talent!

[Josh]

Thanks Inge, Steve, Akoya, Olga, Beth, Amrita and Cathy for the kind words. Olga, that's really sweet of you but beyond our little community here at P-G I'm not sure the rest of the world would be too interested.

[olmander]

Josh, I am not sure that the audience is so small. The combination of such a breathtakingly exotic place as French Polynesia and such an exquisite luxury product as a black pearl may be really a good twist. Especially when it is clear that the photographer, the writer and the farmer are the same person. It all depends upon marketing and the way of presentation. You can do it together with your wife

Olga

[pearlescence]

Told you before, get yourself a photographic agent - try one of the photo agencies which sell newspaper and magazine pix as well as books etc.YOu would sell to the holiday industry if no-one else and a good agent will find the outlets

[john675]

"That was enough adrenalin to hold me over for another five years or so." Just reading it is enough to get my adrenalin going. Dark water, hungry shark, swimming in panic. Eek!
John

[Josh]

Olga and Wendy, the truth of it is that as much as I love to take pictures, I'm a crumby multi-tasker. Getting deeper into photography has been a wonderful ride but it has also forced me to re-evaluate my deeper priorities and aspirations. As bruising as the pearl game has been for us on the farming end, it's where my heart is. I'm not done making beautiful pearls and have several irons in the fire that I'm straining to keep my mouth shut about, for now.

John, yeah that wasn't one of the prouder moments I've known. I was only in a meter of water and debated whether I should stand up and scream out at the farm for someone to boat over and rescue me. Luckily I kept my cool and was able to avoid really feeling like a dingdong.

[GemGeek]

Thank goodness you're still with us! Scrumptious photos, one and all.

[CortezPearls]

As always: beautiful photos Josh!
Thanks for sharing them

[Ramona]

Beautiful pictures. Exactly what I needed after witnessing a snowstorm in Houston.