Monthly Inspiration / March
Inspiration • April 1, 2025 • Written by Ashley Vemwell & Zachary Vemwell
March was a quiet teacher, guiding us to appreciate change for what it is: opportunity. As winter’s grip loosens and spring settles in its place, we find ourselves in a season that asks us to adapt. It’s been a time of subtle vulnerabilities, where clarity has emerged in the gentle unfolding of the present moment.
In March, we drew inspiration from Thích Nhất Hạnh’s words that echo the sense of transformation that comes with openness, Dostoevsky’s White Nights speaks to the bittersweet beauty of fleeting connections and the courage it takes to embrace impermanence, and through the lens of artist and friend Matt Draper, whose art and innovation capture the silent magnificence of the ocean’s depths.
A QUOTE
“In true dialogue, both sides are willing to change."
Thích Nhất Hạnh
Thich Nhat Hanh’s insight suggests that genuine communication is not about defending one’s perspective but about stepping into a space of non-ego, fostered by openness and curiosity.
When we engage with this openness, dialogue becomes less about convincing and more about discovering. Rather than remaining fixed, both individuals explore the edges of their understanding, where change naturally unfolds.
Perhaps true dialogue is less about agreement and more about connection—where both hearts meet in a space beyond certainty, allowing the unknown to reveal something new. What if the greatest shifts happen not when we hold firm to what we know but when we soften into what we are willing to learn?
The paradox is that dialogue is still essential to transformation, even when values seem irreconcilable. Without dialogue, polarization deepens, and change becomes impossible. Genuine dialogue, however, does not require compromising on core values—it requires understanding the roots of the other side’s beliefs and uncovering the fears, narratives, and experiences that shape them. Change happens when both sides move beyond ideological rigidity and engage at the level of shared humanity.
For dialogue to occur in these polarized spaces, both sides must be willing to see each other as humans first. This does not mean justifying harmful beliefs or actions but rather recognizing that people’s views are often rooted in fear, misinformation, or profoundly ingrained conditioning. True dialogue does not ask anyone to tolerate injustice—it invites each side to question how they arrived at their beliefs and to explore the fears that keep them attached to those positions.
Maybe the real question is not whether both sides can “change” in equal measure but whether both sides can engage with honesty and vulnerability. Neither may need to change their core commitments, but they may need to soften their approach to create space for dialogue that fosters growth rather than immediate alienation.
A BOOK
White Nights by Fyodor Dostoevsky
White Nights is a tender and melancholic exploration of loneliness, longing, and the fragile hope that blooms in fleeting connections. Set against the backdrop of St. Petersburg and summer nights, where the sun barely sets, the story follows a solitary dreamer—an unnamed young man who lives more in his imagination than in reality. He wanders the empty streets, absorbed in fantasies that fill the void of his isolated life.
One night, he meets Nastenka, a young woman who is also lost in her own world of longing and unfulfilled desire.
Dostoevsky invites us to consider the beauty found in fleeting moments and the quiet courage it takes to hope, even when love remains unrequited. White Nights leaves the reader wondering: Is it better to have lived briefly in the light of connection or to have remained untouched by its warmth?
An Artist
Matt Draper & SUB13
Matt Draper is a fine art photographer and conservationist recognized for his evocative black-and-white underwater imagery that captures the heart of marine life. His work offers uniquely intimate portrayals of oceanic creatures such as whales, sharks, and seals, emphasizing their grace and presence beneath the waves. From December 2024 to February 2025, Draper's "Black" series was exhibited at Leica in Bellevue, WA, providing a rare opportunity for the public to engage with his otherwise elusive art.
His work is not available for public purchase outside of exhibitions, making this show a truly special moment for his collectors and those who appreciate the intersection of art, the ocean, and innovation.
Matt’s dedication to his craft is profound. He immerses himself in the ocean for over 100 days each year, relying solely on natural light and freediving techniques to minimize disturbance to his subjects. This approach allows him to reveal the raw beauty and hidden behaviors of some of our ocean’s most inaccessible marine life. His commitment extends beyond photography, too: Matt collaborates with scientists and explorers to promote ocean conservation, using his art to inspire awareness and connection.
In his pursuit of capturing the underwater realm, Draper identified a need for specialized equipment that could match his artistic vision utilizing Leica cameras. This led to the creation of SUB13, a project eight years in the making, aimed at developing custom underwater housings for Leica's manual focus rangefinder cameras. They currently offer housings for the M6, M6 TTL, M7, M10, M11, Q2, Q3, and Q3 43. Partnering with engineer Matt Hipsley, Draper designed and produced these housings to seamlessly integrate with Leica's precision engineering, ensuring functionality without compromising the cameras' renowned quality. The name "SUB13" reflects a fusion of "Subversive" and "Submarine," honoring the innovative spirit of the project and paying homage to DOER Marine, founded by Dr. Sylvia Earle. The number 13 symbolizes the letter "M."
SUB13 has garnered recognition within the photography community, supporting distinguished artists such as Leica Oskar Barnack Award winner Narelle Autio. The in-house team, comprising Matt Draper, Matt Hipsley, Toby Barnhill, and Kate Powell, meticulously manages all aspects of design, engineering, and assembly, ensuring each housing meets their exacting standards. Production runs are intentionally limited, with inquiries processed on a first-come, first-served basis, underscoring the exclusivity and craftsmanship of each piece.
Through his art and innovations like SUB13, Matt Draper continues to connect the realms of human and marine life, inviting viewers and fellow artists to explore the depths of our oceans with renewed perspective and respect.
