DEAN BURKE
For the past decade, I’ve been photographing the dark, cold waters of the Pacific Northwest — especially my home waters of Tacoma, in the southern reaches of the Salish Sea (often called “Puget Sound”). I paddle and swim, capturing what I see along the way. My favorite themes are cold-water swimming (no wetsuits), the abstract interplay of water and light, and, whenever possible, surf photography along the coast.
In my underwater/ swim photography, I seek to unveil the hidden poetry of the sea through collaborative artistic design. Each image is a haunting exploration of the underwater realm, capturing the ethereal dance of light and shadow in a world where the line between reality and myth blurs. My work invites the viewer into a silent, submerged dreamscape - evoking the timeless mysteries of the sea, and the soulful whispers of an unseen world beneath the waves.
These images tell more than an artistic story. They reveal the living results — and fragile possibilities — of environmental recovery. What may not be obvious is that these same waters were once home to eight EPA Superfund cleanup sites. For decades, swimming or paddling here was unthinkable. Today, thanks to years of restoration and stewardship, an ecosystem that was nearly destroyed is beginning to heal. The work is ongoing, but progress is real.
And now, the human experience in these waters mirrors that transformation. We are slowly becoming more connected — to the sea, and to one another — in ways we might not have imagined before.
These are the stories and images as seen through my lens.
I hope you enjoy them.
~Dean
Additional notes:
On Collaboration: For many of these images, my artistic partner underwater is Jillian Nettels. Together we create these ethereal, dreamlike seascapes much like a band composes music. While I handle the photography, Jillian’s contributions are vital. She is far more than a “model” — she is a creative collaborator. Together we shape concepts, refine movements, and bring our shared visions to life beneath the surface. The work is a balancing act, forged through years of experience, mistakes, and discovery.
On “Salish Sea” vs. “Puget Sound”: I use the term Salish Sea rather than “Puget Sound.” Modern cartography recognizes Salish Sea as the proper name, while locals often use “Puget Sound” to describe the southern basin. The Salish Sea as a whole includes three “neighborhoods”: the Puget Sound, the Strait of Juan de Fuca, and the Strait of Georgia — all European names from exploratory expeditions.
(Fun note: the name “Juan de Fuca” itself may have been born of vanity — coined by a later explorer who found his own name insufficiently heroic. Historians still debate whether “Juan de Fuca” ever truly existed.)
In any case, I choose the name Salish Sea to honor the Coast Salish peoples and align with contemporary geographic recognition.