Vancouver anesthesiologist wins National Geographic photo award

North Garrison Heights — Jim Obester, an anesthesiologist with the Columbia Anesthesia Group, earned a first-place finish in National Geographic’s 2017 Nature Photographer of the Year contest on its website. Obester finished first in the underwater category for his shot of a fluorescent anemone taken at Sound Rock, north of Hoodsport on Hood Canal. Obester has been diving 38 years, and started taking underwater pictures shortly after learning to dive. He took an underwater digital photography class from Steve Zedekar with Seven Seas Scuba in Vancouver in 2013. Obester mainly photographs sharks, but he decided to enter the anemone picture after Dr. Rick Green at Salmon Creek Plastic Surgery told him he should enter. Obester moved to Vancouver in 1996 after being accepted to Oregon Health & Science University and starting medical school when he was 38. He specialized as an anesthesiologist and was chief of surgery at Legacy Salmon Creek Hospital from 2013-2017. More of his photography can be seen at www.jimobester.com