Your best shot of 2007 (deadline: early Oct)

My 3 happen to all have "rainbows"

Manatee Mom & Child

Crystal River, Florida

Subal ND20/8"dome/d200/Nikon 16mm/Sea & Sea 110

Water color in the back where three springs meet always changes - fortunately this was one of the "bluest" water days back there and I captured an idyllic mom/child resting w/rainbow light, HEAVEN!!!

Very Young Manatee Showing Off What He Just Learned

Crystal River, Florida

Subal ND20/8"dome/d200/Nikon 16mm/2X Sea & Sea 110

Since I have observed so many manatee I know that many young manatee just love to show off what they have just learned from mom. As you can see "Junior" here has just learned that if he flips only his left flipper really fast he will turn around. It was so hard to get a head on shot of him because he kept turning and turning - but I finally got the shot.

Winter the [spunky!] Dolphin

Florida - SE Stranding Network Facility @ Clearwater Marine Aquarium

Subal ND20/8"dome/d200/Nikon 16mm/ambient light/no strobes

This is my absolute fav photograph of 2007 (and the hardest to capture by far)! I was chosen to photograph Winter underwater and document her prosthetic tail mainly because Winter knows me and is comfortable with me around. Access is very limited and ambient light is always changing like crazy but I got this shot with Winter checking out the dome and rainbow light illuminating her sweet face. Note the scar on her jaw is also from her crab trap entanglement at 2 months old - she tried to bite through the line. She is doing so well now and it is just an amazing story.

Carol

Note I've found it odd that I thought I'd be taking 85% macro when I first got the DSLR one year ago; but it has turned out now to be 85% wide angle - ya never know and best to be prepared for sure!

I hope this isn't being sent in too late.....here are some of my favourites from Komodo/Bali this March

1. Here's Lookin' at You

2. Komodo, Indonesia

3. D100/105mm/L&M Titan housing/Ikelite 100 and 50

4. This comatose blenny was being bombarded by "night mosquitos" attracted to my modeling lights. I had to wait a few minutes between each set of photos to let the bugs clear out.

1. Bubble-Ring Abstract

2. Tulamben, Bali, Indonesia

3. D100/105mm/L&M Titan housing/No strobes

4. Try setting your camera down, laying on your back, holding your breath, blowing 4 perfect bubble-rings at different positions, getting your camera back and taking a photo WITHOUT letting any bubbles come out of your mouth/reg.....not an easy shot to get solo. Just thought this was an interesting abstract.

1. Nudibranch

2. Komodo, Indonesia

3. D100/105mm/L&M Titan housing/2 Ikelite 50's

4. It was the last diving day of the trip, and we thought that we had nearly exhausted the different species of nudibranchs Indonesia had to offer over the past 6 weeks, but were pleasantly surprised when we found another 12 unique species on a single dive...this was one of them. I dug a small depression in the sand adjacent to it to allow the horizontal shot necessary to achieve the black background.

Keri Wilk

ReefNet Inc.

www.reefnet.ca

Wow Carol!!!! I think I recognize that ugly mug in photo number 2!!

Wow Carol!!!! I think I recognize that ugly mug in photo number 2!!

Oh, maybe but I don't think so.... (plus don't let his mom hear you say that!!! Egads!!!) I think he is supremely good looking!!!

There were lots and lots of moms and young ones that went and did the springs "circuit". This pair was a few weeks after you were there and even though they do frequent the same spots often they also move around a lot to show their youngsters around. But who knows, I did see some of the same mom/calf pairs from time to time at the same spots.

Keri Wilk

ReefNet Inc.

www.reefnet.ca

Keri is one talented photographer!

Love the bubbles, Best, Carol

Great shots everyone;

Carol, Winter is love at first sight. And those manatees in that crystal water....when will I ever see that!

Great shots everyone;

 

Carol, Winter is love at first sight.

 

And those manatees in that crystal water....when will I ever see that!

As to the former, yes and doesn't she know it! How did I come to sing "My Funny Valentine" all day long to her - Valentine's Day '06 - she was still recovering and it was just something that just sort of "happened"? She loves "singing".

As to the latter - well........

Thanks and yes great photos everyone!!!

Best, Carol

Wow people, fantastic shots out there!!!

Here's my three:

1, Thought

A small cave opening at 5m with a small room inside. Shot at Pag island, Croatia.

Nikon D200/Ikelite/10-17/DS125s - 1/30, f8

2, Murena

White murena peeking out of his home at Marsa Shagra, Egypt.

Nikon D200/Ikelite/105/DS125s - 1/125, f22

3, Reef scene, nothing special, I just like the flow of glassfish and...anyway Hurghada, Egypt

Nikon D200/Ikelite/10-20/DS125s - 1/60, f16

Zook

This is the first time that i have shown any of my pictures, except for on my own web and blog sites, so it is with a gulp that I put them up. I shoot with a NIKON D200, aquatica housing, viewfinder and Ikelike DS125 strobes. The system flooded last night, so it is bittersweet that I put these up! Takes us a bit to order things into the islands. These were all taken in the British Virgin Islands.

This Batfish, was taken with a 105mm lens, and I had just dropped into the mud under the boat on Guana Island while the charter guests were having dinner.

The jacks were taken with a 12-24 wide angle on the wreck of the RMS Rhone

Turtle was also taken with the 105mm lens off Salt Island in the BVI

am i too late?

something from a humble P&S user on borrowed equipment...

#1

Diving in the sun

Location: Barracuda Point, Sipadan, East Malaysia

EXIF: Aperture priority @ f/8, 1/500, iso100

Equipment: Canon A640, Ikelite housing, Inon UWL100 WA lens, Inon D2000s strobes x2

Description: We were heading to the shallows for our safety stop when I saw a shadow over me. I rolled over and saw this diver in a great position. Fired off 1 shot, and the moment was gone, replaced by this image.

#2

Precariously perched

Location: Seaventures Rig, Sipadan, East Malaysia

EXIF: Aperture priority @ f/8, 1/500, iso100

Equipment: Canon A640, Ikelite housing, Inon D2000s strobes x2

Description: A fairly common Chromodoris magnifica in an interesting position spotted with only 1 minute of NDL time left. The last of 3 shots taken, which were fairly challenging, since I was operating the set-up with only my right hand. The left hand was held up high to avoid going into deco! Not the smartest thing to do...

#3

Sun patrol

Location: The Drop-Off, Sipadan, East Malaysia

EXIF: Aperture priority @ f/3.2, 1/1000, iso100

Equipment: Canon A640, Ikelite housing, Inon UWL100 WA lens

Description: I knew I wanted this shot the moment I entered the water and saw the beautiful rays in the water. It was just a matter of waiting patiently for the right subject at the right time. Ignoring the many turtles and sharks below me, I kept looking upwards hoping for the moment. 32 minutes into the dive, a small white-tipped reef shark cruised overhead. Rolling over, I brought the camera up and took this shot before the shark swan out of the frame.

I couldn't tell when the deadline turned out to be, so here are a couple of my favorites.

Caption: I'm ready for my close-up, Mr. Demille.

Location: Shiprock, Catalina, California

Gear: Nikon D80, Ikelite Housing, Nikon 60mm lens, Woody diopter, Ikelite DS125 strobe

Description: I knew this nudi was in a great position out on a small branch, but I could only hope that the photo was in focus. The skin texture and the transition from purple two orange were just exceptional.

Caption: Yep, I'm another Garibaldi, but a real nice one.

Location: Casino Point, Catalina, California

Gear: Nikon D80, Ikelite Housing, Nikon 60mm lens, Ikelite DS125 strobe

Description: My new dSLR setup was brand new. There's nothing better than a Garibaldi for a patient model. They're bold, curious, and brightly colored.

Caption: Who says the fish in California are boring?

Location: Casino Point, Catalina, California

Gear: Nikon D80, Ikelite Housing, Nikon 60mm lens, Ikelite DS125 strobe

Description: I was experimenting with bluring the background, so I took the photo at a hard angle to the surface, throwing everything in the back out of focus. I didn't realize that the little piece of kelp was perfectly positioned and focused until afterwards.

Thanks for looking

David

ooooops

Are we still in the begining of September Mr Wong?

Probably not, but here anyway are 3 pictures that I liked this year.

Three of them were taken with Nikon D200 and 10.5mm housed by Aquatica and enlighted by two strobes Nikonos SB105.

The two first pics were shot in Brussel's Nemo33 diving pool: F8, 1/60

The third pic has been shot in Eilat - Red Sea: F11, 1/60, 100ASA

All the best,

Michel

FANTASTIC images, guys. We've pushed the deadline back to early October, so keep 'em coming.

Three favorites for '07

Lemon shark at sunset reflected in the surface, Tiger Beach, Bahamas

Emma the Supermodel, Tiger Beach, Bahamas

Sea Lion and Salema, North Seymour, Galapagos

All three were shot with a NikonD200 and 17-55mm lens

Caption: Rhinopias in Hong Kong.

Location: Hong Kong

Gear: Canon 30D, 60mm macro, Aquatica housing and 2xINON D2000W strobes.

Description: Taken on 3rd June 2007, extremely lucky to discover it in Hong Kong.

 

 

hope to get my third image from the upcoming trip

third image

Caption: funny eyes.

Location: Peurto Galera, Philipines

Gear: Canon 30D, 60mm macro, Aquatica housing and 2xINON D2000W strobes.

Description: Taken on 24th August 2007.

Garden Eel at the Hilma Hooker, Bonaire

Canon 300D with 100mm lens

Nudibranch at Komodo, Indonesia

Canon 300D with 100mm lens

Sand Tiger Shark, North Carolina

Canon 300d with 10-22mm lens

caption: Dos Ojos cenote

location: near Playa del Carmen Mexico

gear: Nikon D100 in Light&Motion Titan housing, 12-24mm lens

description: Divers entering the cenote with entrance behind them.

caption: Kukulcan cenote

location: near Playa del Carmen Mexico

gear: Nikon D100 in Light&Motion Titan housing, 12-24mm lens

description: Divers near exit of the cenote.

caption: Juvenile Trunkfish

location: Bari Reef Bonaire

gear: Nikon D100 in Light&Motion Titan housing, 60mm macro lens, single YS120 strobe

description: Very tiny juvenile trunkfish floating around the top of reef.

caption: Friendly Lionfish

location: Grand Central Station, Gizo, Solomon Islands

gear: Canon G7, Ikelite housing, single Ikelite DS-51

description: A whole family of lion fish were hovering in a small cave. This one came out to check me out.

caption: Peaking Nemo

location: Grand Central Station, Gizo, Solomon Islands

gear: Canon G7, Ikelite housing, single Ikelite DS-51

description: A rather long deco stop gave me a chance to check this little guy out.

caption: Fish Disco

location: Fish Rock Cave, South West Rocks, Australia

gear: Canon G7, Ikelite housing, single Ikelite DS-51

description: Heading back into the cave, a diver coming the other way provided the extra lighting for me.

OK, I'll play in cold water...

California Gold - Garabaldi

Anacapa Island, CA

3-lined Aeolid

Keystone Jetty, WA

Cave Dwelling Scaly Sculpin

Gulf Islands, Canada

I like this one the best, these guys are usually super colorful, but he was in a cave and almost pearlescent.

All taken with Nikon D80/60mm macro/Fantasea FD80 housing/Inon z240 or Nikon SB800 strobes.

Jack

I play in cold water, too.

"Wings and Whiskers"

Lobos Rocks, Big Sur, CA

Nikon D200, 12-24mm, YS120s, Aquatica, ULCS

A rare kayak dive out to Lobos Rocks, two California Sea Lion haul outs located off Garrapata State Park. The visibility was only about 40', but the sea lions were abundant, active, and curious. I have only dove here a handful of times due to its remote location, but this time marked the most activity and interaction with the locals. Staying shallow increased my bottom time and also kept the sea lions interested.

"A Jim Henson Creation"

South Monastery Beach, Carmel, CA

Nikon D200, 105mm, YS90s, Aquatica, ULCS, Niterider focus light

After rolling around in the surge on the sandy bottom photographing a sculpin, I gave up and immediately noticed this little guy with one stylish hairdo. He must have been wondering what all the commotion was about. Timing the shots with the surge coupled with trying not to scare the subject back into its den were the main challenges.

"Top to Bottom"

Mono Lobo, Carmel, CA

Nikon D200, 10.5mm, YS120s, Aquatica, ULCS

One of those rare Central Californian days when it's calm, the sun is shining, and the visibility is, well top to bottom. Immediately upon descending, I knew it was a special day, and I quickly looked for a foreground subject to balance the kelp forest vistas.

Jim Patterson

http://www.jimpattersonphotography.com/