Photographer James D. Watt and a pair of friendly humpback whales, Megaptera novaeangliae, Pacific Ocean. Image #: 013583

For those who didn't know about his condition, he had been battling with lung cancer for about a year. He passed away peacefully at around 9:00 am in the morning of July 19th, 2007, surrounded by his family and friends. I was able to kiss his forehead and say goodbye to him last week just before he went into the ICU.

Normally I am not so good at expressing myself...but the sad news in the morning of July 19th, 2007, suddenly threw me into the harsh reality that he's gone, and urged me to write this tribute. It was very hard to imagine how my world would be like without him until it really happened. If you have ever lost anyone close to you, you know what I am talking about. I knew the day would come someday when he told me about his illness about a year ago, but I think I avoided facing straight-up to this sad truth until that morning. When the day really happened, it just shocked me hard. He was different, though. He stood up and fought hard his losing battle with dignity and good spirit until the end.

Wildlife photographer, James D. Watt, and Manta Ray, Manta birostris, off Kona Coast at night, Big Island, Hawaii, Pacific Ocean. Image #: 004510

I've known Jim ever since I got here in Kona, Hawaii in the summer of 1998. Jim and I were connected immediately through our common interests: diving, fishing, photography, boating, marine life and the love of the ocean. For these nine years in Hawaii, I don't know how many times Jim and I went out on the ocean together. For those who knows me very well perhaps heard me saying I did this and that with Jim or Jim said this and that...again and again...

Sometimes we went out on my boat, but most of the time I went on his boat as his deck hand and bait handler since he likes to be the captain. I hope I was a good boat buddy to Jim. I handled all the stinky baits (he calls it) for him when we go fishing or shark diving. When the water is too chilly for him in the winter, Jim made me jump in the water first to see if creatures are friendly enough to photograph or not (although most of the time I was able to get better shots by doing that, ha ha). One time we fished so many tunas until we broke our rods in half. We had never had a bad time together on the ocean. We only had a good time whenever we got together. That's probably because of his great personality. He is always positive, cheerful, funny, and seems to have no downtime with him. Even when nothing happens out on the ocean, we talked for hours about our next big adventures, next big gadgets, next good food & drinks...you know all those guy things... I learned a lot from Jim. Without a doubt I wouldn't be who I am today if I hadn't met him. He took me under his wing and showed me how to get sharks closer to the boat, how to fish around Kona, how to photograph marine mammals, how to drive a boat in a rough sea, where to dive...I seem to have an endless list of things I learned from him...I will miss him, my friend, mentor, the greatest inspiration of my photography.

On February 26, 2007 at Puako, Big Island, Jim was able to attend my wedding despite his worsening condition. My wife and I, as well as many guests who knew his condition, were so glad to see him make it to our wedding and to see him having a good time there. He ate a lot that day, and he even took some great wedding shots for us. We really had a great time together on that day. Thanks for the great memories, Jim. I love you, buddy, and I know you will be with me forever out in the ocean. Aloha, Jim.

Masa Ushioda