If a beautiful moment or scene appears in nature but no one is around to photograph it, is it less beautiful?
For the past 30 years, Michael Patrick O’Neill has made it his job to be around to photograph those moments.
The award-winning photographer has captured images of marine wildlife worldwide and he’ll be sharing his three decades-worth of expertise with students in The Enrichment Academy with his “Where the Wild Things Are” class at 1 p.m. Dec. 6 at Ezell Recreation, 769 Marilee Place, The Villages.
“I want people to fall in love with where they live,” O’Neill said. “I want to get people to leave the house and experience these things on their own.”Growing up in Brazil with an interest in marine life and unique sea creatures, O’Neill’s journey as a photographer began in 1991 when his two interests collided during a moment of spontaneous intervention.
Before going on a scuba diving trip, O’Neill rented an underwater camera so he could capture a few pictures of what he saw.
“I had no understanding of what I was doing. After doing it, I was completely hooked. It was a life changing experience,” O’Neill said. “Scuba diving opened a door of underwater exploration, and it became an obsession.”
O’Neill said he has logged well over 3,700 dives in his lifetime.
“I don’t dive as much now. I have a few projects that I am working on, but I am fortunate enough to have seen most sea creatures you can name,” he said.
O’Neill said his interests as a photographer have allowed him to capture other parts of the world.
“I just came back from Iceland, where I was able to photograph the northern lights and an active volcano,” he said. “I also took a trip to Brazil and was able to photograph some jaguars there.”
As a Federal Aviation Administration Certified (Part 107) drone pilot, O’Neill uses a drone to get these images.
“A good photographer has to know all these skills. My interests all come from me working to be a good photographer. I would just much rather keep my feet on the ground,” O’Neill said.
Staying grounded is big for O’Neill, but one thing photographing nature has taught him is how to be patient.
“Nature doesn’t take an appointment. You’re not at a zoo. Sometimes to be respectful of the animal’s home you really must put your camera down, enjoy the moment and not take the photo,” O’Neill said.
O’Neill has authored eight non-fiction marine life books under Batfish Books publishing. From starting out underwater photographing marine wildlife to later hosting lectures on land, O’Neill says the evolution of his interests as a photographer were a part of a maturing process.
“You start out and your focus is very specific and as you grow so do your interests. I used to joke and say I’m not the best photographer, but I am the hardest working,” O’Neill said. “Now I say, ‘I am a storyteller.’ I tell stories with images and words.”
For more information about O’Neill or to view his photography, visit mpostock.com. To register for O’Neill’s class or any other TEA class, visit theenrichmentacademy.org.
Staff writer Brea Jones can be reached at 352-753-1119, ext. 5414, or brea.jones@thevillagesmedia.com.
