Your best shot of 2007 (deadline: early Oct)

Hi, thanks for sharing all the great pics.

 

Here are some of my pcitures taken with an Olympus C-5050 and 2*Inon D-180 strobes and UWL -100 and Dome Lens.

 

All taken in Sydney Australia, other than the Brain Coral taken at Hamilton Island, Australia

Well, here are three I like. All pictures taken with my Canon EOS 10D in Sea&Sea housing with two Ikelite DS-125 strobes.

 

 

Location: Seram, Indonesia

Explanation: OK -- before someone comes after me, I'll say it up front -- this is a crop. I took the picture and wasn't so happy with it. I was back on the boat going through the "what-ifs" and a couple people said, "Just crop it". In the past, I've been convinced that unless the shot is full-frame perfect it isn't worthy but the bottom line is that people have been cropping for years (even with FILM, even with screaming turtles!) so why should I feel guilty? Anyway, this is one of those lucky ones -- I wasn't out looking for a clownfish shot but at the end of a dive I had some air, there was this clownfish and I just burned off a few exposures. He did a good job of hiding but I luckily ended up with his eye, if not my camera, in just the right place.

 

ISO 100

1/90

f22

Canon 100mm macro lens

 

 

 

Location: Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Explanation: On my last trip, I was introduced to someone who tends to have a different view of the world. He used to be a designer in the textile industry and is fascinated by textures and patterns. He showed some of his work and it blew me away. So, quite naturally with imitation being the sincerest form of flattery and all, and having just gotten an adapter (fabricated by another friend from a previous trip to the Bahamas) that let me add an INON macro lens to my macro port, I decided to try to adjust my view as well. I'm pleased with this result, though now that my eyes have been opened to a new way of seeing I've still got a long way to go.

 

ISO 100

1/60

f4

100mm lens with INON UCL-165 macro lens

 

 

 

Location: Raja Ampat, Indonesia

Explanation: In between the islands of Wiageo and Gam, there is a narrow channel. The tides drive water back and forth through this area and we were diving in the shallow eddies along the sides of the channel. This dive rarely takes one below 20fsw but it is both a wonderful macro spot and a good CFWA opportunity as well as there are soft corals and fans within a few feet of the jungle canopy. On two previous trips, I struggled with equipment and operator stupidity issues (what, there is a limit switch? what, there is a MF/AF switch?) but this time I finally got a nice shot of the fans. I was able to hold my breath just long enough that most of my bubbles have been taken bby the current and the water at the surface is fairly still. I think I got the right strobe positioned pretty well to cast some shadows and add depth -- but then again I'm probably biased.

 

ISO 100

1/60

f8

Tokina 12-24mm lens at 12mm

Hi all

 

It's very hard to decide but here's three of my favourite shots from this year. All were taken with a Reefmaster DC600 and 2 x Sealife Digital Strobes.

 

 

A beautiful Mandarinfish taken at Malapascua, Philippines

 

 

One of the many extremely chilled out Green Turtles to be found around Sipadan, Malaysia

 

 

An extremely angry Blue Ring Octopus that went on to attack my husband twice. Luckily he lived to boast about it in the pub! Taken at Kapalai, Malaysia.

 

Simon (the husband) says if I get in Diver mag he will buy me an Olympus E-410, which I really really really want, so please help me get my dSLR !

 

Zoe

Here are my three shots.

 

Caption: Perch in trap

Location: Lake Ruokjärvi, Finland

Gear: Canon 350D + 60 macro in Patima housing. Available light

 

Caption: Trevally

Location: Similan islands, Thailand

Gear: Canon 350D + 18-55 mm in Patima housing + Magic filter

 

Caption: Water lily

Location: Lake Ruokjärvi, Finland

Gear: Canon 350D + 18-55 mm in Patima housing. Available light

 

Teemu

My favorite shot is usually a function of my last trip. I recently returned from the bilikiki/solomons. I remembered Marys island as one of my alltime favorite spots. There are always schools of jacks and baracudas. This shot was taken witha nikon/aquatica/ 10.5 lens at 90 to 100 feet shooting up 60th at 2.8.

 

Flying in Formation - Giant manta rays

Socorro, Mexico

Canon 1Ds Mk II with dual Inon z220 strobes

 

 

"How's this pose?" Bottlenose dolphins

Bahamas

Canon 1D Mk IIN, no strobes

Here are my three

 

 

Reef shark

Turks and Caicos

Canon 5d ikelite housing Ikelite ss200 16-35 lens

Manual flash exposure ISO 320 1/160th @ f9 focal length 35mm

 

 

moray eel with cleaner shrimp

Turks and Caicos

Canon 5d ikelite housing Ikelite ss200 100mm macro

Manual flash exposure ISO 400 1/30th @ f13 focal length 100mm

 

 

A white fish

Turks and Caicos

Canon 5d ikelite housing Ikelite ss200 100mm macro

Manual flash exposure ISO 400 1/200th @ f11 focal length 100mm

OK, Why not? Me too! Me too!

Low res. picts to fit into the forum.

 

Hermissenda crassicornis

Santa Cruz Island, California

Sony DSC-P10, Inon D2000

 

 

Rockfish Portrait

San Miguel Island, California

Sony DSC-P10, Inon D2000

 

 

Oops, I need a little more space for one more picture!

 

Snubnose Sculpin

San Miguel Island, California

Sony DSC-P10, Inon D2000

 

marys island, solomons taken with nikon/aquatica/inons 125/f4.0 10.5 lens

 

Jawfish with Eggs

Cayman

Canon 300d, 100mm macro

f/20, 1/60

 

 

 

Up to My Gills

Cayman

Canon 300d, 100mm macro

f/20, 1/60

Fan coral

Egyptian Red Sea

Nikon D200 with Nikkor 10,5/2.8 FE

2x Inon Z240 strobes

Impressive fan corals like this one can be found on the deep walls of Elphinstone and Brother Islands.

 

Hammerhead

Egyptian Red Sea

Nikon D200 with Sigma 10-20/4-5.6

2x Inon Z240 strobes

A small group of curious hammerheads stayed with us on a couple of dives. They came shallow and close to the divers, which is unusual for this rather shy shark. But as anyone who has ever been under water with a camera knows – close is never close enough!

 

Wall

Egyptian Red Sea

Nikon D200 with Sigma 10-20/4-5.6

2x Inon Z240 strobes

The colours of the Red Sea reefs are very special and nicely set off by the clear blue water.

California Sea Lion

Breakwater, Monterey

Nikon D200, 16mm FE, Sea & Sea DX200 Housing, 2X YS90DX Strobes

Manual flash exposure, ISO 200, 1/125th @ f6.3

Triplefin feeding on seafan

Tioman , Malaysia

Canon 400D, Canon 100mm Macro, Ikelite Housing, 2 x Inon Z-240, Woody's diopter

Saw this little guy open mouth feeding on seafan. Managed to get this shoot after 3 attempt.

 

 

Lionfish

Mabul , Malaysia

Fujifilm E900, Ikelite Housing, Inon Z-240, Inon D2000s

Taken during checkout dive underneath Seaventure oilrig. I waited this guy for 10 minute to get this shoot.

 

 

Huge Table coral

Redang , Malaysia

Canon 400D, Tokina 10-17mm @ 12mm, Ikelite Housing, Inon Z-240, Inon D2000s

Taken with ambient light at 7m , the visibility was good and sunny day.

 

Arlequin ghost pipe fish in Alor Archipelago

This lovely guy play with me during 20 minutes

Nikon D200 + 15 mm sigma

Strobes: inon Z-240 + inon z-220

 

 

 

Zebra crab in his beautiful urchin

Why thoses urchins are so beautiful???

Nikon D200 + 60 mm macro nikkor

Strobes: inon Z-240 + inon z-220

 

 

Seahorse in mediterranean sea

I waited until he looked at me directly in the eyes....

 

Nikon D200 + 60 mm macro nikkor

Strobes: inon Z-240 + inon z-220

Because I feel the P&S are a little under represented here, ill throw in some of mine.

 

 

White Leaf Scorpionfish Taenianotus triacanthus

 

The fish remained completley still, even as I get closer, depending on its camoflouge for protection. This allowed me to get fairly close and play with different angles and settings. These were the two I liked the most.

 

 

Bali, Indonesia

Olympus c-5060

Iso 80 1/160 @ f/8.0

Strobe: 1 x Sealife 960d

 

 

Neon Triplefin (Helcogramma striata)

 

Bali, Indonesia

Olympus c-5060

Iso 80 1/160 @ f/8.0

Inon 165 close up lense

Strobe: 1 x Sealife 960d

 

I found the Neon Triplefins to be beautiful, but overlooked fish around the Tulamben area. I found it a nice common fish that was perfect for preparing my strobe and camera settings at the beginning of the dive. Though it did tend to move around a lot, it returned to this same spot over and over again. I prefocused, in order to cut down on shutter lag from my point and shoot system, remained still as to not stir up the fine black Tulamben sand and then snapped when he came back to the spot.

 

Caption: Beauty in the beast.

Location: Guadalupe Island

Gear: Canon 400D, EF-S 18-55mm, Ikelite Housing, 2 Inon z220 strobes

Description: We attracted the sharks by wrangling fish carcases on the surface. The great whites would come right up to the surface to try grab a bite of the dead fish.

 

 

Caption: Smile

Location: Guadalupe Island

Gear: Canon 400D, EF-S 18-55mm, Ikelite Housing, 2 Inon z220 strobes

Description: This comical looking great white shark was looking into the cages that we were standing in. Not sure what he was thinking of.

 

 

Caption: A great white natural montage.

Location: Guadalupe Island

Gear: Canon 400D, EF-S 18-55mm, Ikelite Housing, 2 Inon z220 strobes

Description: The great whites are attracted by the scent of dead fish. This image shows two different perspectives of this awesome predator in one image.

Jellyfish Lake, Palau

Canon 400D, Tokina 10-17mm @17mm, Athena Dome

 

Xeno crab and shrimp

Cabilao Island, Philippines

Canon 400D, Canon 100mm macro, S&S Housing, Inon Z-240's

 

Square Crab

Cabilao Island, Philippines

Canon 400D, Canon 100mm Macro, S&S Housing, Inon Z-240's, Woody's diopter

 

If I may, can I replace that last crab shot with this Hammerhead?

 

Dirty Rock, Cocos Island, Costa Rica

Canon 400D, Sigma 180-50mm EX DC @18mm, S&S Housing, Inon Z-240's

While Alcyone had the marquee scene of massive schools of hammerheads overhead, Dirty Rock was one of my favorites as it offers some nice hideouts in the rocks allowing the hammerheads to come in real close...

 

Garibaldi

Catalina Island, Casino Point

SP-350 FL-20 strobe

Cruisin along on a shore dive and ran into this guy at about 25ft. Loved the pose

 

3 Eyes

Cozumel

Sp-350, FL-20 strobe

This was at Palancar Gardens, My sister was certifying so I had time to cruise the reef. Found these3 guys just huddled next to a coral.

 

Sea Bass

Catalina Island, Casino Point

SP-350 FL20

These guys were everywhere on my dive and weren't camera shy

Here are mines.

 

Cenote dos ojos. Playa del Carmen.

Olympus 5060. Inon WA Lense. 2xDS50.

1/10. f2,8. ISO 200

Snorquellers swimming at the cenote.

 

Coleman Shrimp. Komodo. Indonesia

Olympus 5060. 1xDS50.

1/350. f8. ISO 80

Looking how beautifull a fire urquin was i met this brave friend.

 

Small frogfish. Tulamben. Bali. Indonesia

Olympus 5060. 1xDS50.

1/350. f8. ISO 80

Diving the wreck Liberty something very small catch my attention, something yellow over the oxidized metals...

 

1. Pygmy Portrait

2. Raja Ampat, Indonesia

3. Canon 350d, canon 100mm 2.8 macro, ikelite housing, dual ds-125 strobes

4. seafan with fire coral just to the left of the scene made it a difficult shot to get

 

 

 

1. Clownfish in Anemone

2. Raja Ampat, Indonesia

3. Canon 350d, canon 18-55 lens, ikelite housing, dual ds-125 strobes

4. clownfish in its anemone. had to wait for around 5 minutes before i was able to get this shot

 

 

1. Eye of the Croc

2. Raja Ampat, Indonesia

3. Canon 350d, canon 100mm 2.8 macro, ikelite housing, dual ds-125 strobes

4. Extreme Close-up of the eye of a crocodile fish. the picture was fairly easy to frame, but the lighting had to be adjusted many many times before getting that perfect reflection in the eye.