off the coast of Mexico, but also dove in Cuba and Clipperton Island, a tiny atoll about 1,500 miles west of Costa Rica.

Compared to other undersea photographers, who often prefer large DSLRs and elaborate gear, Patjane keeps it simple. He shoots with a compact Sony RX100 in a Nauticam housing with an Inon wide angle lens and dome. The rig provides a visual field of 144 degrees that makes his camera “a powerful wide-angle monster.” He's also unique in favoring black and white, which he says allows him to focus on the contrast between light and shadow and the interaction of lines and curves.

"I have never seen a color photograph that can have such an impact on me," he says. "I'm moved emotionally by black & white photography.A Note about the Texts

Nathaniel Greenville, date unknown

As mentioned, an accurate account of the history of this curious culture is difficult. There are no known descendants of the tribe and contemporary accounts from the turn of the century were varied, impossible to verify and in some cases are hard to believe. Much of the text for Pianista exhibits in the past has come from the scholarly work of an anthropologist who taught at the Teacher’s College in Boone, North Carolina (precursor to Appalachian State University) in the late 1800’s. His name was Nathaniel Greenville, and his specialty was native cultures. He first became acquainted with Pianista artifacts while traveling in the West after the Civil War, and did extensive field work, based in Alaska and California for the