I recently had the pleasure of interviewing renowned underwater photographer David Doubilet. The color, intimacy, and high standard for quality in an extremely difficult environment found in his imagery has always been an inspiration for me. Simply put, his work magically reveals a world hidden world to most. (photo courtesy of daviddoubilet.com)

I have listed some of my favorite nuggets of advice he gave for any budding photographers like myself to digest.

"Have a really good grounding in art, don’t just study your field."

"Know all the techniques and technical skills that you need to know [to get the image you want]."

"Know all the tools; light... moment... color... gesture. Above all... Intimacy and light is what counts"

“Dream, think, shoot… but above all shoot”

"...The hardest part [of being a professional] is getting the job"

"The only reason you should want to become a professional photographer is, you’re a little crazy and very passionate."

"Keep shooting, aim for a frame you see and keep trying. Anticipate."

"Everybody is shooting pictures now, so you better really think about what your shooting."

"Follow your interest and heart, photography is a way of expressing your interest visually."

"...Great pictures transcend... and become a piece of art... they have a poetry to them."