Underwater pictures by William B. Tomanek

Welcome to "Life Below Sea Level"

William B. Tomanek's collection of underwater pictures taken from around the world. Well, that is a small piece of the world around the east coast and Caribbean Islands.

Latest

SCUBA Diving 2012 at CoCo View Resort

CoCo View Resort

My trip to Roatan, Honduras began in the early morning of Feb.18, 2012. The Charlottesville Virginia group met at CHO airport, checked in the bags and headed through security. And that was when I noticed something was missing.

These trips to CoCo View Resort have three goals I try to achieve. Some rest and relaxation. SCUBA diving with my friends. And last but not least, taking great underwater pictures. If not great underwater pictures, then I settle for good underwater pictures. Witch brings me back to what I noticed was missing after I passed through security. My camera!

At 5:15 in the morning I am having a hard time figuring out where I left the camera. I know it was packed in the travel bag. I am sure I took it down stairs to the kitchen. But I can not recall putting it in the car with the rest of my bags. So I called home to see if I left it there. My wife could not find it. I then called my son who dropped me off at the airport. He pull the vehicle over and started looking for the camera bag. And there it was on the floor in the back seat.

Now the stress begins. Can the camera get from Pantop to the CHO airport before I have to board the plane? If not, how am I going to take pictures while on vacation?

I walk over to security and the line is really backed up. How am I going to get the camera if it does arrive on time? I got the attention of one of the security officers and explained that I have a camera being delivered. And asked how I can get it through security? He said no problem, let him know when it gets here and he will bring it through. That was good news.

Buy now the plane has been boarded by all the passengers, all the bags are loaded and I am the only one in the lobby. I asked the attendant how much longer before the last call? She said we will announce it. Then she picks up the mike and says “This is the last call for the flight to Atlanta”. I got on the phone to see how close to the airport was my son with the camera. He said he was headed in the lobby now. I told the attendant I will be right back and quickly headed to security. Got the security guards attention, and he put the camera through the security screening for me.

Wow, what a morning that was. We arrived in Roatan that afternoon, had a quick lunch at the CoCo View Resort then headed out to sea. No time wasted when it comes to diving with our group. As they say at CoCo View “Dive-Eat-Dive” But in reality it goes more like this. Wake up… “Eat, dive, dive, eat, nap, dive, dive, eat, and sleep.” and on the last day being a Friday with a late flight out on Sat. the dive day is altered just a little bit. “Eat, dive, dive, eat, nap, dive, eat, and sleep.” Note that was altered by one dive. We do not want to get the bends on the flight home. That would surely ruin the great week of “Rest and Relaxation.”

My pictures will be posted on UnderwaterPicturesForSale.com

Underwater Photography by William B. Tomanek

 Shopping Web Site

“Life Below Sea Level”
The
Fish, Sponges, Corals, Sea Anemone and MORE…

Prints – Showcase Prints – Canvas Wraps – Wall Clings-Calendar – Aprons – Sweatshirts – T-Shirts – Bags – Bookmarks – Buttons – Coasters – Cutting Boards – Key chains – Tags – Mugs – Magnets – Mouse pads – Greeting Cards – Postage Stamps – Fotoflots – Wall Mounts – Desk Stands

Large assortment of my new pictures can be viewed/purchased at:

Shopping center

Note Cards, Underwater pictures

Note cards are here. This past week I have put together a piece of the Tomanek Collection underwater pictures “Life Below Sea Level” and a few pictures from above sea level.

These underwater Note Cards are one of a kind. Showing what life really looks like below sea level. Unlike your everyday note cards these are unique underwater pictures of Fish, Corals, Sponges and boat wrecks.

NOTE CARD: is printed on A-2 glossy card (5.5W x 4.25H) when folded and comes with envelope. These cards are selling for $3 each. If you would like to purchase more than 5, please let me know.

The underwater note cards can be purchased by visiting http://underwaternotecards.com/ then look for the link to NOTE CARDS found near the bottom of the page. I hope you like the Tomanek Collection and please pass my link on to all your friends.
William B Tomanek

Buy Local, Buy Art Give Art

Buy Local, Buy Art Give Art

Funny thing is I am not sure why I am spending my time posting to my blog, there is no one following it. I spent the majority of the day recreating my TomanekCollection.com web site. There was a few issues that I noticed in the past. Some computers could view all the images on the web site while others would only see a few pictures. I hope this has been resolved.

Now this brings to to the title of this article, Buy Local, Buy Art Give Art. The remainder of my day was spent coming up with my master plan on what to sell on line, how to produce it, and how to distribute it. So you can visit my store by going to downunderphotos.info If you buy a picture from me (Buy Local) you can give it to someone (Spouse keeps it in your home/Friend you will have to visit to see the picture) but that would fill the Buy Art Give Art part.

 

In this blog are a few of the new pictures I added today.

Buy Art Give Art

Today was “First Fridays” in down town Charlottesville, Virginia. The night was cool with cloudy skies, but the folks of Charlottesville were out looking. But not only was it First Night, it was the kick off of Buy Art Give Art. (Video) I was at Skylight Studios tonight and met with lots of friendly local shoppers. I wonder how many shoppers tonight actually bought a piece of art.
What I found to be the greatest thing about Charlottesville is the people of this small college community. It is nothing like the other towns I have lived in. The Charlottesville community is what I consider “Alive“. There is always something going on.
Having said that, I did my part today as a community member. I did “Buy Art Give Art” tonight!

Life "Below Sea Level" December 2010

Tomanek Collection now on display.



My collection of underwater pictures are now on display at the Skylight Studios and Great Graphics in Charlottesville, Virginia.

Thanks to Great Graphics for cutting the frames and showing me how to assemble them. Also they did a great job of printing my pictures. They have three pictures on display.

Thanks to Skylight Studios for allowing me to display my pictures in their studio. They have several pictures on display.

Artist Statement

I am a SCUBA diver and love to capture time through the lens of a camera. A time in life, that will never be the same again. As a diver I have found a new world to capture. And I would like to share with you, some scenes captured from this underwater world. At depths between 10 and 108 feet below sea level.

Some of my images may look like plants, because they do not have fins nor swim around. These corals that come in many shapes, colors and sizes are part of the Animal Kingdom. They reproduce, they live and they die. And when certain species die, they contribute to the growth of the reef. The fish turn tail and run. Only a few will stay for that perfect shot. And the sharks, they are not camera shy.

When diving, I will take my camera with me. I do not use a flash or any other artificial light when taking my day time pictures. These pictures are taken under natural light. But I do make an adjustment of the white balance using a white board as I change my depth.