Brad’s Brown interest in photography began while attending high school in Los Altos, California. Two years of classes eventually led to an internship at Sunset Magazine. Brad met Susan a couple years later - in 1993, while attending school at Cal Poly, San Luis Obispo. Brad was studying Biochemistry and Susan Industrial Engineering. Both were recently certified divers searching for buddies with whom they could enjoy the sport. Their first date was a dive at Gaviota Beach, 1.5 hours south of their university. A few years further down the road (in 1996) both Brad and Susan had graduated and were soon married.
In 1997 Brad decided to merge his interests in scuba diving and photography. Brad’s first subaquatic camera was an Ikelite Aquashot. After a year or so obtaining mediocre results Brad sold the Aquashot and replaced it with the more capable Nikonos V.
By 2000 Susan had grown bored with her responsibility as underwater critter spotter. An inspiring dive with the Manta Rays off Kona Hawaii was the catalyst that drove Susan to try underwater video. Susan purchased a Sony DCR-TRV8 digital video camera and a Top Dawg housing with monitor back and upgraded Light & Motion Elite halogen lights. Susan also cultivated an interest in still photography, shooting a Nikonos V as an alternative to video. In 2006 Susan purchased a Sony HDR-HC3 high-definition digital video camera to replace the aging TRV8. This new camera will be housed as soon as housings become available.
The above mentioned equipment served Brad and Susan well on trips abroad to Honduras, Malaysia, Fiji, Hawaii, Mexico as well as numerous days in Monterey and other California coastal destinations.
In 2005 Brad switched from film to digital - purchasing a Canon 20D and Subal housing. This digital SLR’s first trip abroad was to Indonesia in late 2005, where Brad carried it along on 44 dives in two weeks.
Brad and Susan have gathered a number of first place and “best in show” awards for their photographs in contests including the Malaysian Underwater Photo Festival, the Asian Diver Shootout, The Monterey Shootout and the Monterey Beach Dive Photo Completion. Their above and below water shots have appeared in Sunset, Skin Diver and Asian Diver magazines.
When they are not diving Brad and Susan enjoy skiing and hiking with their Shiba Inu. Brad likes to tinker with and occasionally autocross his '82 Porsche 911SC.