{"product_id":"crush-by-ben-steele-photograph-on-fine-art-paper","title":"\"Crush\" by Ben Steele, Photograph on Fine Art Paper","description":"\u003cmeta charset=\"UTF-8\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eDETAILS:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e30\" x 45\"\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003ePhotograph on Fine Art Paper\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eLimited Edition\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFramed\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan\u003eA Hawaiian Green Sea Turtle cruises by off the southern shore of Oahu. Likely attracted by the reflection of my underwater housing, it seemed he came over for a closer look.\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cspan style=\"text-decoration: underline;\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eABOUT THE ARTIST:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/span\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\u003cb\u003eBen Steele\u003c\/b\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eTo save you the time that it would take to convey my entire life story, I’ll give you the “spark notes” version.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul data-rte-list=\"default\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"sqsrte-small\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eSpent much of my early life in Colorado where I found a love and appreciation for the outdoors.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cul data-rte-list=\"default\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"sqsrte-small\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAt the age 19 departed for England and South Wales where I spent two years serving a foreign mission trip. These were some of the most beneficial and inspiring years of my life thus far.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"sqsrte-small\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAttended university at Brigham Young (still Mormon at the time) and received a degree in Public Relations. I quickly learned that the best education comes outside the classroom.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"sqsrte-small\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eDuring my time studying I founded a men’s accessory brand called Sir Wylde and sold it for enough to cover my costs. Although this was far from a “home run” company, I learned a ton and loved every minute of it. I will never forget the nights I fell asleep at my small office after a 14 hour day of painstakingly working to build something great.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"sqsrte-small\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eAfter selling the brand and having the yearning (naive as it may have been) to serve the country in the military, I decided to join the military as an officer. I met with recruiters and decided Marine Corps because it seemed like the best of the best.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"sqsrte-small\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eSpent nearly a year in the Washington D.C. area, Quantico specifically, first passing Officer Candidate School then follow on trainings and had a hell of a time. Got my ass kicked, but met some great friends and challenged myself in ways I had never imagined.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"sqsrte-small\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eGot selected as a Logistics Officer in 2018 and completed this stage of training in North Carolina. Received orders to Camp Pendleton to 2nd Battalion, 4th Marines the Magnificent Bastards as part of the fighting 5th Regiment the most decorated regiment in the Marine Corps.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"sqsrte-small\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eFor the following three years I did my best to do right by my country, my family, and most importantly the men and women that I had the privilege of serving alongside. Completed a Marine Corps workup of training and deployed to Southeast Asia on the 31st Marine Expeditionary Unit.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003e\n\u003cp class=\"sqsrte-small\" data-mce-fragment=\"1\"\u003eThis brings us roughly to today. Over the experiences I’ve packed into the past decade I have gained a love for adventure, good people, the outdoors, unique cultures, and meaningful stories. This is largely what has led me to my current pursuits of photography and video as it provides a medium for me to share some of my experiences with those around me.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e","brand":"LagunaART.com","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":40058538098753,"sku":"","price":1125.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0008\/0219\/3473\/products\/OPHEN-Edit-3.jpg?v=1658807477","url":"https:\/\/lagunaart-com.myshopify.com\/products\/crush-by-ben-steele-photograph-on-fine-art-paper","provider":"LagunaART.com","version":"1.0","type":"link"}