Underwater Photography Guru Passes Away
Author:
Edward C. Cargile Jim Church teaching aboard Cayman Aggressor Jim Church was one of the best and most respected underwater photographers and videographers in the world. He was especially gifted at teaching photography and videography through his many courses and seminars, and hundreds of articles he wrote. During most of his entire adult life he was a teacher, first in schools and then through his articles, books, seminars and courses. When asked what he considered himself, his most beloved title was ''teacher.''
The granddaddy of diving publications, Skin Diver, stated that ''Jim and Cathy Church possibly have done more to turn divers on to the world of underwater photography than anyone else. Through their courses, books, articles and seminars, they introduced thousands of divers to this fascinating activity and, indirectly, taught them to appreciate the creatures of the sea.'' If anything, this is an understatement!
James Church was born in January 15, 1932 in Ann Arbor, Michigan. He first became interested in the underwater world watching black-and-white movies of hard hat divers.
In 1954 he designed and built his first homemade underwater photo housing. Jim Church earned a B.A. Degree in Business Administration from San Jose State University in 1957.
While in college, Jim Church began snorkeling off the California coast. When the television series Sea Hunt began, Jim became really hooked on diving.
Jim Church purchased a two hose regulator and tank through mail order in 1959. He didn't have any formal diving instruction, except someone told him to not hold his breath and don't rise faster than his bubbles.
After winning an award in 1964 from the Monterey Dive Club for spearing the most fish, Ted Duffy of Seven Seas Dive Shop told Jim that he was becoming a menace to the local fish population. Duffy then pulled out a Calypso underwater camera. This was the predecessor to the Nikonos camera. Jim Church bought the camera and traded in spear fishing for underwater photography. Fortunately for thousands of divers, Jim started his long and successful underwater photography career.
About a year after he started underwater photography, he was getting good enough to write his first article with his underwater photos. In May 1966, Jim Church's first article appeared in Skin Diver, ''A Beginner's Guide To Underwater Photography.'' This was the start of a very productive career in writing and teaching photography. He quickly became very proficient in u/w still photography.
Jim Church & Paul Tzimoulis At Spanish Bay Reef Resort
Moving to Hawaii in 1968 to continue his formal education, Jim Church used every spare minute to follow his main passion of underwater photography. He earned a M.B.A. Degree from the University of Hawaii in 1969.
Then Jim met Cathy. She had received her B.S. Degree in Biology from the University of Michigan in 1967 and her M.S. Degree in Marine Biology from the University of Hawaii in 1969. But they did not know each other in Hawaii. She studied at Stanford University's Hopkins Marine Biology Station in Monterey, CA. Wanting to do her studies under the water, taking a scuba class was the next logical step for her. Cathy met Jim Church one summer through a friend at a local dive shop in Monterey.
Jim and Cathy Church were married and formed a long, productive partnership in underwater photography. The husband/wife team increased their mutual strong interest in underwater photography.
Jim resumed his school teaching career. Cathy could not find a job using her marine biology knowledge and diving skills. So she also began teaching school.
They continued their jobs as school teachers during the early years of perfecting their underwater photography skills. Foremost in both their minds was diving and underwater photography. Jim and Cathy Church used every spare day they could to dive. They went on underwater photo trips during vacations.
Their high level of expertise came through considerable trial and error, attending the Underwater Photography Division of the Brooks Institute of Photography in Santa Barbara, CA, and sharing knowledge with others.
The underwater photo team began to write articles together, using their amazing photos. For many years they shared their knowledge and experience by writing a series of monthly articles for Skin Diver, entitled U/W Photography Quick and Easy.
Their underwater photos also appeared in many national and international publications, newspapers and commercial applications.
With the advent of video equipment, Jim Church soon mastered underwater videography. The Churches wrote a monthly article series for Skin Diver, entitled SDM's U/W Video Course.
The Churches conducted Seminars on underwater photography and videography in many parts of the world, especially in the Caribbean islands. They taught underwater photography in Grand Cayman and Virgin Islands from 1972-1984. Later they began their courses in St. Thomas in the U.S. Virgin Islands. More than 60 percent of their students returned for more advanced training. That is a very high complement to the quality of their courses.
Jim and Cathy Church co-authored several books that they published, including:
- Beginning Underwater Photography (1972)
- Underwater Strobe Photography (1976)
- The Nikonos Handbook (1979)
They also wrote books published by Best Publishing, including:
- Choosing and Using Underwater Strobes (1984)
- Nikonos Underwater Cue Cards (1988)
The Churches gave lecturers at conferences around the country. Their underwater photography work was highly acclaimed at film festivals, where they won many awards, honors and many other tributes.
Jim and Cathy Church were not related to another great underwater photographer and cinematographer, Ron Church. However, they were good and respected friends.
Unfortunately, after many years of marriage, Jim and Cathy went their separate ways in 1988. But they remained friends.
Jim Church continued his distinguished career in underwater photography and videography. His articles and photos on underwater photography and videography where published for 33 years.
Jim Church expanded is skill of underwater documentation by adding underwater still digital photography.
Through his articles, lectures and courses, he continued his favorite expertise - teaching. He pursued his writing about underwater photography and videography in articles he wrote for leading publications, such as:
- Skin Diver (wrote monthly articles for 33 years)
- Sport Diver (regular articles)
- Diver Magazine
- Scuba Times
- Modern Photography
Jim Church also wrote several books, including:
- Jim Church's Beginners Guide To Nikonos Systems with plastic cue cards (1994)
- Jim Church's Guide To Composition (1998)
- Jim Church's Essential Guide To Underwater Videography (2000)
He conducted numerous seminars at conferences and made presentations at film festivals, sharing his wealth of knowledge and experience in underwater photography and videography.
Mike Mesgleski & Jim Church on Aggressor
For many years Jim Church was heavily involved in teaching underwater photography and video courses aboard the Aggressor Fleet of diving cruise ships.
Jim's photo work appeared in numerous textbooks and advertisements for Nikon, Kodak and various tourist boards.
He received many awards and honors for his contributions to diving, underwater photography and videography, including: the NOGI Award for Arts from Underwater Society of America (now presented by The Academy of Underwater Arts and Sciences) (co-winner was Cathy Church -1985); and many others.
Sadly, Jim Church passed away at his home in Miami Lakes, Florida on New Year's Eve, December 31, 2002. He will be greatly missed. But thousands of divers around the world can be thankful for the dedication and love Jim Church had for sharing his hard-earned talents in underwater photography and videography. And we have a wealth of remarkable underwater photos shot by Jim Church. Goodbye old friend.
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------- This article is from the recently published book, Pioneers In Diving, by Edward C. Cargile. For more information about Pioneers In Diving, contact ecargile@cox.net
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