Pictures and Words, a Blog

Monday, June 15, 2026

Good-looking Leaves

"Photographers are the only people who can turn a normal walk into a 45-minute investigation of shadows, walls, puddles, and suspiciously good-looking leaves." - Anon

All writing and images ©Cliff Hutson unless expressly noted. Do not use without permission.

Monday, June 8, 2026

A Not So Deep Dive

A Dive Watch: photo by Cliff Hutson

World Ocean Day is an international day that takes place annually on June 8. The day is supposed to highlight the ocean's vital role in life, this year's theme focuses on reimagining humanity's relationship with it. Oceans form an integral part of the Earth’s ecosystems as well as human culture.

Casio Duro (MDV106-1A)

Some might think it strange, given my background, that I have long had a love of the ocean. For many years, I once spent as much time as I could near it, in it, and on it as I could. However, it has been a while since I have the ocean. It was May 19, 2024 to be exact. It has longer since I did any diving. That may be as far back as 1979.

Bulova Snorkel - Great White: photo by Cliff Hutson

Bulova Snorkel: photo by Cliff Hutson

Back then, we called it "skin diving". Wearing just flippers (or fins), a swim mask and snorkel it was fun to swim with the fishes down at the Palos Verdes Peninsula. There was no need to wear a watch as there was no air supply to track nor decompression time to calculate.

Today, I have even less excuse to have a "dive watch"; yet, somehow I own two of them as pictured here. However, I am not alone in this. I have read that arguably dive watches are almost certainly the most popular style of traditional men’s watches today, and it’s an open secret that the vast majority of those who own one don’t actually take them diving.. Some refer to them as “desk divers”, as that is where they are more likely to be worn.

So, at my age, while I have no plans to go diving again, it's been so long since I've seen the ocean I guess I should.