Fav Manatee Photos

Companion "trip report" thread to this post of fav pics is here on WP:

Manatee Trip Report/British Invasion

Interesting thing about my three fav pics from Alex Mustard and Peter Rowland's visit is that my pick of pics are from the days with a bit less viz. The water color was still pretty though - just more particles and not quite as "gin clear" as the springs can be sometimes.

I actually find more interesting manatee behaviors (which is my main focus) when the water is not as clear. This isn't fully because manatee stir up the water (which they certainly do in large numbers), but because the very environmental factors that produce the less clear conditions back in the springs are what brings the manatee to the springs in large numbers.

So I really find better behaviors and interactions between manatee in less viz.

But Alex has got some quite stunning shots in better and less viz and I'm looking forward to his additions.

Here are my top 3 - first two were taken my first time ever down with the Tokina 10-17:

#1 - Fav - Any time you can get two manatee doing the same thing at the same time while keeping eye contact and get them all in the frame (beauty of Tokina at 10mm) well it just works (Plus I'm proud to add that Alex saw this shot "as shot" with no manipulation on my computer and even he was sort of impressed - considering the conditions really were not that good but "shoot close and wide", good color, less particles and a couple of manatee interested!) Actually the "inside" story of this shot was the manatee on the left is a male, who is trying to make an impression on the female on the right - well she was trying to play "hard to get" as female manatee do (they usually do their more "fierce mating" in herds, not in pairs). So the female on the right is interested in me as she is trying (not very hard) to "ignore" the male on the left. That's how I accomplished all the "eye contact", etc in this shot and there definitely is a "tryst" of sorts going on here.....

#2 - Capturing a tender mom/calf bond is always compelling but throw in some special "eye contact" and a baby "hugging" mom - again it just works:

#3 - This is the best depiction of this behavior that I've ever captured. Plus it showcases the manatee's direct relation to the elephant:

And one each of Alex and Peter:

I like this one of Alex because it shows how he carefully studies all aspects of the shot and subject before taking the photograph. He has an awesome shot of this manatee soon after I took this of him:

Peter learned that the hardest part sometimes in videoing manatee is keeping them far enough from the dome port. He was very taken with the manatee and BTW I miss Peter fastening my wetsuit neck and hood. He was clearly the chosen one for this task and I do indeed miss him now that I'm securing my wetsuit neck/hood by myself

OK Guys - now back to you to chime in......

I'm going in the water with the manatee......

Carol

Wonderful shots, as always. Capturing the creatures in their natural habitat engaging in instinctive behavior is always exciting and the shots of the Manatees were not too bad either

Glad the new lens worked out how you wanted.

I just got back two weeks ago. Met another Carol from wetpixel! Other than my housing flooding while testing it in the rinse tank (Kudos to Frinks article in Scuba Diving Magazine which I had just read prior to diving on Saturday). Camera saved, and manatee memories firmly planted into the cerebral cortex. One little guy just wouldn't leave me alone. He loved the good scratching I was giving him!

Wonderful shots, as always. Capturing the creatures in their natural habitat engaging in instinctive behavior is always exciting and the shots of the Manatees were not too bad either

 

Glad the new lens worked out how you wanted.

Thanks Drew!! There will be more cool stuff to come from Alex and Jeff as it was quite the adventure Alex wanted I daresay!

I've got go now to get my camera ready for tomorrow!

Thanks & Cheerio, Carol

I really like this one Carol, great capture of the moment. Beautiful image

cheers

Leander

Great shots Carol

Todd

Wonderful images, Carol. Thanks for sharing.

Doug

Wow, realy nice pictures!

I hope to see the Manatee's in a few weeks in the same conditions!

Thanks everyone,

Alex and Jeff will be adding some photos too, just allow them to "decompress" a bit after Socorro!!

Maybe you all will even get better conditions - things weren't ideal when Alex was here but that is what good photography is all about and Alex got some stunning shots in all the various conditions. Alex is a great photographer, I can vouch for that!

Fair warning though - now till the end of the season will just get busier and busier. Easter is very early this year and that will greatly add to crowds in March along with all the Spring Breakers etc. I usually stop going around the first week of March but I'll see how things play out this year.

Bring patience......... Manatees like patience (I know I'm adding up my hours in the water with them this season and it will probably add up to 100 hours - that is if this nasty severe weather stops!!!)

Just like this week, the weather forecast was so good then a cold front that didn't quite make it all the way down pulled in a low from Texas and now we have a severe Tornado warning and downpours. It will be stirred up at Crystal River for a couple of days. Hopefully I can still have manatee be my Valentines!

I've got lots more posted on my site and two pretty cool manatee slideshows. I'm going to do more manatee slideshows as they are a lot of work but are worth it! B)

Best to all, Carol

I'll try and get some images up soon.

The conditions were certainly challenging. Here is a photo taken just outside the springs on the dive/snorkel with the best viz (honestly). I had to bend my arms so that you could see something (viz about 2ft) and you still can't read the name on my chest... The viz was better inside the springs, but Crystal River is certainly something of a misnomer!

The manatees were wonderful, though. I'm quite addicted.

Alex

Being able to see your teeth through the snorkel mouthpiece is a bit disconcerting.

I'll try and get some images up soon.

 

The viz was better inside the springs, but Crystal River is certainly something of a misnomer!

 

The manatees were wonderful, though. I'm quite addicted.

 

Alex

Ah, Alex, it isn't that bad!! In fact isn't this from when we left the springs last Thursday? You know a small mating group of manatee just preceded us and that's why there was that area of cloudy (no) viz...... (But I have to agree your teeth do look "fierce", what was up w/that ??) I don't think Alex liked that snorkel too much, I loaned it to him after he forgot his....... (and the one Jeff loaned him cut off Alex's air supply when he turned his head....)

From what I understand "Crystal River" 30-40 years ago and even 20 years ago was quite "crystal" in most spots, but sadly Crystal River just like the rest of the planet has experienced major change and weather change has affected it too. But yes, since it is connected to the Gulf of Mexico (7 to 8 miles to the West) - it will never and has never, ever be totally "crystal" and that name when it was picked was probably just a bit "optimistic". Just like where I live in Clearwater here - with the shallow, silty Gulf of Mexico, mangroves removed, development - well the water isn't often very "clear" (but on occasion it is and looks like the clearer Caribbean for at least a couple of days each year or so.... )..

Still Alex I need to post a practice split level (using your suggestions) from this past Friday, Feb 8th, I'll find it..... Crystal, crystal, "shockingly", gin clear water, strong sunlight, just gorgeous....... and as I told you can happen.......... No Manatee....

As you say with the "addictive" manatee - manatee are more important than "crystal" conditions after-all.

But now everyone can understand why I go so much (and stay in the water so long!!!) and am just "addicted" to the light rays in the springs and how they change and light everything, including (hopefully) manatee!!!

More to come and looking forward to Alex's additions and Jeff chiming in too! Jeff was quite exhilarated when he went with us on Wed, Jan 30th!

Carol

Anyway, who needs viz with mermaids in the springs?

But sympathetically probably the photographers who hired the mermaid (from Weeki-Wachee) needed better viz. But so are the vagaries of the springs! Yes this was back in the legendary, larger "crystal clear" spring at Three Sister's.

The mermaid was lovely though, and her buoyancy skills would put us all to shame I think (and her conditioning to the cool water for sure)! She was stunning from the front but I didn't want to get in the way of her "photographers" so I just "snapped" this quickly from a distance. You don't usually see "mermaids" in the springs, except the manatees of course and I don't think anyone can now claim that all the sirenians in the springs are "ugly" (as has been said about our beloved manatee - just outrageous!!!)

You know after first spotting her I told Alex, rather excitedly "There is a mermaid...!". I was surprised at Alex's somewhat bla-zee answer "Yes, I know, I saw her". Then on further questioning he told me, that yes he has noticed the mermaid but that Alex "...was trying to respect the professional ethic that mermaids do not come cheap.....".

Yea Alex, good for "professional" you...... , but I can say she was just gorgeous!! I can't believe Jeff missed her as he came the day after - Jeff needs to hire her. She was awesome! She would descend like this and hang for a bit, tweaking her hair and jewelry and then take a smiling dive towards the camera! No mask, no wetsuit, no weight belt - and a quite a smile!!!!! I saw people in private boats applauding her when we finished our am manatee visit in the springs. Well deserved and I think the manatee enjoyed her also (you know the manatee were awfully frisky the next morning back in those same springs!!!!)

Carol

Being able to see your teeth through the snorkel mouthpiece is a bit disconcerting.

I was smiling!

The mermaid was cool. Quite surreal really. As Carol said I didn't take any photos - since another photog had paid for her it didn't seem like the right thing to do.

Here is one of my manatee photos:

And here is a shot I took of Carol:

I'll try and get some more of my manatee shots online today.

Alex

Love the manatee over-under - not a composition I've seen before, I don't think.

Carol, you might check out some of Wes Skiles' Florida Springs pics for inspiration - no manatees, but he does a great job playing with the crystal clear water, or tannic/clear water mixing.

The mermaid was cool. Quite surreal really. As Carol said I didn't take any photos - since another photog had paid for her it didn't seem like the right thing to do.

 

Alex

Quite right Alex. But you know I just had to snap one from a discreet distance to record the (rare) event and let my husband know what he missed!

You know while he was packing up I tried discuss with the photographer some additional data about how the wind from that direction nixed out the tide tables that he was going by. Wind from the Southwest always messes up viz there. Hopefully he can add that info to his arsenal for trying to predict the water clarity and have better luck if he tries this again. But again it is never fully predictable.

Yes, the mermaid was surreal - but in a lovely, haunting sort of way. And I was quite amazed at just how good the gal was, graceful and how she could hold her breath while doing so many other things. You know they are always going to keep the Weeki Wachee mermaids now as the area will become a State Park and the mermaids will now become "State Employees" - I wonder who their boss is? Alex, now that is surreal!

Alex, love the one of me. That is sort of "haunting" too isn't it? You kind of expect a manatee to be swimming up there - and yet there is me sauntering through!

Love the manatee over-under - not a composition I've seen before, I don't think.

 

Carol, you might check out some of Wes Skiles' Florida Springs pics for inspiration - no manatees, but he does a great job playing with the crystal clear water, or tannic/clear water mixing.

Yes, tjgreen, actually Wes has some lovely manatee photos too and I think he has seen more Florida springs than possibly anyone alive (except maybe Jill Heinerth) - he is a true artist depicting the Florida aquifer, mixing waters, caves, and light, light, light.

I am interested in broadening my manatee and springs portfolio with shots in the general direction of what you reference above plus more manatee, etc. topside shots, splits and more shots with blur in the background, etc. But actually the capture of the tender mother/very young calf bond, in a really special way is tough to get - probably the hardest (not nursing mind you, which is very dynamic; but the actual "understanding", trust and caring that exists in this most important aspect of manatee life). Today I was trying some slow shutter speeds, etc, then a mother and 1 month old baby appeared right before me, paused and looked straight at me. At that time all the "experimentation" stops and I just try to capture the "love" - the essence of it - it was Valentine's Day after-all!

Isn't it cool that we all have areas of our photography that we can expand into? That makes it a continuing "quest"........

Thanks all, More to come.......... Carol