Obsessed with wide angle! (Wakatobi Indonesia trip)

So we got back last week from Wakatobi where I could hardly bring myself to take off the Tokina 10-17. When I did it was to add a 1.4 Telecoverter to it to shoot "Fisheye Macro" (for Aquatica shooters used the 10-24 zoom gear and a couple of extension rings with a 6" dome). So it was on the body 90% of the time. Also got a little obsessed with shooting on the vertical but to me the gin clear water and incredibly healthy reefs just lent themselves to it. But excuse the "sameness" of the shots.

That is some clear water!

Cheers

Todd

So we got back last week from Wakatobi where I could hardly bring myself to take off the Tokina 10-17. When I did it was to add a 1.4 Telecoverter to it to shoot "Fisheye Macro" (for Aquatica shooters used the 10-24 zoom gear and a couple of extension rings with a 6" dome). So it was on the body 90% of the time. Also got a little obsessed with shooting on the vertical but to me the gin clear water and incredibly healthy reefs just lent themselves to it. But excuse the "sameness" of the shots.

No need to excuse those shots at all. Great shots and the water looks perfect. (I have the 6" Dome officially on my shopping list as of a few days ago to use as a carry-on dome. Probably now need to add the 10-17. Have been kicking it around for awhile and looks like I need to carry it next trip out.)

Very nice. which camera and which extension ring for aquatica?

Thanks, was by far the best viz we have had on any trip. I am shooting the D200 and Aquatica recommends the 18696 zoom gear and 18453 extension, I stacked it with a 18456 and it seemed to work.

Taken with the 10-17 and 1.4 set up

I think the my 17-70 Sigma has become redundant. Could travel with the 10-17, 1.4 tele and 60mm if wanting to travel light.

Beautiful guys. How did you like the resort from a diving standpoint?

Cheers,

Steve

Very nice! I head out there myself in a couple of weeks. I can hardly wait!

A few random questions:

* Which TC do you have? I played with a Sigma 1.4tc and it flutters the autofocus on my 105vr & 70-300vr.

* What is the water temp this time of year? I've been advised that a 3mm suit is going to be a bit cool and to bring a 5mm.

* Was it totally awesome?

Thanks!

Dave

Cracking

Dive safe

DeanB

Great shots-love nos 2 and 3 of the first posting.

Well done with the lighting!

Adam

Beautiful work, number 2 with the sun rays and Snell's window is a killer

Thanks all, the gallery is up at our site for those interested and now on to reviewing the +10hrs of video we shot...

I will write a full trip report but probably won't be for a couple of weeks soooo.....The house reef at Wakatobi is by far the best we have seen anywhere! I could have dived it the whole trip and never gotten bored. Many want to compare it to Raja but now seeing both I just don't think that is fair. To me Raja is the best all-around diving we have seen. I would say Wakatobi has better topography and EVERY INCH is covered in incredible corals and fans; but Raja has more diverse fish and invert life. That said another photog on our trip shot his 105mm most of the time, found 12 species of nudis and a ton of macro that I never saw as I was so taken with the WA vistas.

What I came to respect is how hard Wakatobi has worked with the locals to establish this as a dive spot and is doing to preserve the health of this reef. No gloves, no tripods, they "ask" you don't fire 20 photos in a row of the pygmy seahorse and they tell you up front if you want a shot that needs to be steadied use the dive guide as your tripod. They mean it and the guides are happy to do it. Now they are not dive police, the only time I saw them intervene is when one photog was trying to position a large mantis shrimp with his finger for a better shot. I don't think he realized that is a good way to lose a finger and the guides explained that to him on deck. Reality is if you see a good shot from Wakatobi it was taken in the way that all images should be taken, with respect for the reef and its creatures.

I used the Kenko 1.4 N-AF Teleplus Pro 300. Seemed to work fine with the Tokina a little slow on my Nikon 105mm VR

Water temp was around 80 degrees, I wore a 3mm the whole time and was plenty warm. But that is a very personal thing.

Yes we loved Wakatobi, great diving, great resort, excellent food, class operation from start to finish. Only hassle is analyzing 8 tanks every morning.

Sounds great, thanks for the mini review. Look forward to the full blown version in a couple of weeks!

Just Beautiful! I love the shot from below looking up at the bottom of the boat with the pyramid butterfly fish. You just gotta love the Tokina 10-17!!!! I'll be using mine for the first time in May in the Solomons....

I'm glad we get to visually share in your obsession. Very Nice!