Our Mission
BUY A PRINT, SAVE A WHALE.
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Sea Bound Goods' mission is to bring awareness to the ocean and all its mystical beings. Our goal is to educate, inspire, and most importantly, to start a conversation about the future of our oceans. Because we, all of us, get to decide what they will look like in the next 50 years. Our choices will either save, or kill the ocean and its inhabitants, and we believe that knowledge and understanding are the first steps to making the right choice for the future we want.
To this end, the statement "a picture is worth a thousand words" really does speak true. I believe photography is one of the best ways to begin this long-needed conversation, and to spread the correct awareness and knowledge to those who can make a difference: you.
Buying a print may not seem like much of a contribution to the ocean itself, but it is a start. It is a way to share the joy and beauty and fragility of our oceans. Furthermore, 10% of print proceeds go to Ocean Alliance, a non-profit organization that has been active in ocean conservation, research, and clean-up since 1971. Our tagline, buy a print, save a whale, is made true by their efforts. And by yours.
To this end, the statement "a picture is worth a thousand words" really does speak true. I believe photography is one of the best ways to begin this long-needed conversation, and to spread the correct awareness and knowledge to those who can make a difference: you.
Buying a print may not seem like much of a contribution to the ocean itself, but it is a start. It is a way to share the joy and beauty and fragility of our oceans. Furthermore, 10% of print proceeds go to Ocean Alliance, a non-profit organization that has been active in ocean conservation, research, and clean-up since 1971. Our tagline, buy a print, save a whale, is made true by their efforts. And by yours.
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The Artist
DIVER, PHOTORAPHER & OCEAN CONSERVATIONIST
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My name is Shannon Ryan, creator of Sea Bound Goods. At 7 years old I fell deeply in love with the ocean, though at the time I was unaware of how it would shape my future.
When I was 16 I did my very first ocean dive off the coast of Boston, and I still remember it vividly. It was freezing, even in the middle of June, and we were hoping to see some seals. But after 15 minutes under the water, everyone in our group was shaking. Our dive instructor decided to cut our losses after only glimpsing a handful of seal shadows far off in the greenish water. We started swimming back to the boat. |
Before we reached the surface, we passed a huge, eight foot seal hanging out in a crevasse, happily munching sea weed. It easily weighed 600+ pounds, and we didn't bother it in the slightest. It even waved at us. We watched for as long as we could before the cold set in again and we had to make our assent.
Before I could follow, I felt a tug on my fins, pulling me back. At first I was annoyed, thinking it was my instructor being playful, but when I turned around I was face to face with the seal! By nature, seals are very curious animals, and this particular seal had taken interest in my bright yellow fins. Then the seal leaned in and started gnawing on my mask. I realized he wanted to play, so I held out my hand, and like a big cat, he rubbed his face and neck against my hand.
That dive was the beginning of a life-long relationship with the ocean. Afterwards, I went on to earn my master diver and 3 other certifications. I started documenting every dive trip. I took thousands of photos of the many different species I encountered during every dive. Sharks and rays, urchins and sea stars, octopus and anemone, and sea horses and flounders. I took pride in identifying them, and in capturing their strangeness and beauty in their natural home.
Years later, I had an opportunity to share this beauty with the world. In August 2017, a local library held a contest for artists, and the four winners would share the large gallery space in the library for a show. I submitted my photographs, and was thrilled and honored to be picked out of 300 artists.
I got to work framing and matting the mystical creatures of the ocean. And then I hung them on the walls for the world to see. But I could never have predicted the responses I got to my images. The people who saw the sharks, rays, eels, and sea robins were amazed, awed, and inspired, and they genuinely wanted to learn more about the ocean. They looked at these creatures - many of which they had previously regarded with fear (like sharks) - and they wanted to know more. The images made them care.
And I discovered that this was what I needed to do. I needed to break the stigma and misguided fears towards sharks and other "scary" marine animals. My photographs allowed them to experience these animals, and the ocean itself, in a way that they hadn't before. They felt curiosity, wonder, and ultimately started asking questions and gaining knew knowledge about the ocean and its inhabitants. This was a way to create change and to spread awareness. This was a way to make a difference. Sea Bound Goods was born, and my desire for my photography has stayed the same. I want everyone to find wonder and curiosity when they see my photos of the ocean.
Before I could follow, I felt a tug on my fins, pulling me back. At first I was annoyed, thinking it was my instructor being playful, but when I turned around I was face to face with the seal! By nature, seals are very curious animals, and this particular seal had taken interest in my bright yellow fins. Then the seal leaned in and started gnawing on my mask. I realized he wanted to play, so I held out my hand, and like a big cat, he rubbed his face and neck against my hand.
That dive was the beginning of a life-long relationship with the ocean. Afterwards, I went on to earn my master diver and 3 other certifications. I started documenting every dive trip. I took thousands of photos of the many different species I encountered during every dive. Sharks and rays, urchins and sea stars, octopus and anemone, and sea horses and flounders. I took pride in identifying them, and in capturing their strangeness and beauty in their natural home.
Years later, I had an opportunity to share this beauty with the world. In August 2017, a local library held a contest for artists, and the four winners would share the large gallery space in the library for a show. I submitted my photographs, and was thrilled and honored to be picked out of 300 artists.
I got to work framing and matting the mystical creatures of the ocean. And then I hung them on the walls for the world to see. But I could never have predicted the responses I got to my images. The people who saw the sharks, rays, eels, and sea robins were amazed, awed, and inspired, and they genuinely wanted to learn more about the ocean. They looked at these creatures - many of which they had previously regarded with fear (like sharks) - and they wanted to know more. The images made them care.
And I discovered that this was what I needed to do. I needed to break the stigma and misguided fears towards sharks and other "scary" marine animals. My photographs allowed them to experience these animals, and the ocean itself, in a way that they hadn't before. They felt curiosity, wonder, and ultimately started asking questions and gaining knew knowledge about the ocean and its inhabitants. This was a way to create change and to spread awareness. This was a way to make a difference. Sea Bound Goods was born, and my desire for my photography has stayed the same. I want everyone to find wonder and curiosity when they see my photos of the ocean.
~Shannon Ryan, creator of Sea Bound Goods
