Any tips for photography in Komodo Island..?

Hi sifus and gurus,

I signed up for a Komodo LOB in mid March. Care to share some tips for underwater photography in Komodo..?

I have
Olympus E-PL6
Panasonic 8mm fisheye (16mm FF Equiv)
Olympus 60m F2.8 Macro (120mm FF equiv)
2 INON Z240 Strobes

Any specific reef, divesites that's beautiful for Uw WA...?

It'll be helpful if there are some images taken at Komodo...

Thank you in advance.

Tim

Hello Tim,

Wide angle and fisheye lens certainly will be your best photo friends in Komodo, while there are a few macro ops in Wainilu, Pink Beach or Siaba Besar in teh north part some more like Cannibal in the south.

Personally I like those spots for wide angle :

- Batu Bolong that you wil certainly dive it more than once,

I think it's worthwhile staying one full dive in the shallows around 10AM or 4PM while the light is soft and nice. It's full of anthias and you get a wonderful surface effect in your image.

- Tatawa Besar some of the best coral colors in Komodo, incredible flashy orange!

- Tengah Kecil, also named Pengah, it's an emerged pinnacle that shows lots of coral diversity and beautiful gorgoninans, the mountlike topography of the site makes it great for backgrounds.

- There is an incredible bommie covered with glassfish at the end of Shotgun.

- Crystal Rock and Castle Rock may have lots of fish but the current is sometimes so violent you cannot get out your shelter to shoot them.

Afternoon light in Batu Bolong

Wrasse mayhem in shallow Batu Bolong

Shallows on Batu Bolong (look close and you'll find something interesting )

Deeper Batu Bolong :

Colors on Tatawa Besar

Gorgonians on Pengah

Final bommie at Shotgun

Surgeonfish on Crystal Rock

You may have a look at my Komodo gallery clicking here : https://www.flickr.com/photos/luko/albums/72157625084671506

Hello Tim,

Wide angle and fisheye lens certainly will be your best photo friends in Komodo, while there are a few macro ops in Wainilu, Pink Beach or Siaba Besar in teh north part some more like Cannibal in the south.

 

Personally I like those spots for wide angle :

- Batu Bolong that you wil certainly dive it more than once,

I think it's worthwhile staying one full dive in the shallows around 10AM or 4PM while the light is soft and nice. It's full of anthias and you get a wonderful surface effect in your image.

- Tatawa Besar some of the best coral colors in Komodo, incredible flashy orange!

- Tengah Kecil, also named Pengah, it's an emerged pinnacle that shows lots of coral diversity and beautiful gorgoninans, the mountlike topography of the site makes it great for backgrounds.

- There is an incredible bommie covered with glassfish at the end of Shotgun.

- Crystal Rock and Castle Rock may have lots of fish but the current is sometimes so violent you cannot get out your shelter to shoot them.

 

Afternoon light in Batu Bolong

 

Wrasse mayhem in shallow Batu Bolong

 

Shallows on Batu Bolong (look close and you'll find something interesting )

 

Deeper Batu Bolong :

 

Colors on Tatawa Besar

 

Gorgonians on Pengah

 

Final bommie at Shotgun

 

Surgeonfish on Crystal Rock

 

 

 

You may have a look at my Komodo gallery clicking here : https://www.flickr.com/photos/luko/albums/72157625084671506

Sent from my SM-N950F using Tapatalk

Luko, I'm planning a trip in 2019 and was wondering about wide angle. This sure answered my question! Wow.

Luko, I'm planning a trip in 2019 and was wondering about wide angle. This sure answered my question! Wow.

But you'll find some super macro stuff too.

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127470676@N07/38043986831/in/album-72157688598138794/

https://www.flickr.com/photos/127470676@N07/38043984721/in/album-72157688598138794/

Luko, I'm planning a trip in 2019 and was wondering about wide angle. This sure answered my question! Wow.

I used to guide in Komodo and can honestly say it is one of the best dive destinations on the planet.

There is literally a 'market' for every type of photography niche.

The macro is stunning on sites like Wainilu, Siaba Besar and even Karang Makasar (famous manta dive).

Wide angle on Karang Makasar with the mantas is epic. Batu Bolong for side angle shots to take in the action. The beginning of The Cauldron has some incredible formations that just beg to be photographed using wide angle.

You're really going to love it mate!

I haven't been in Komodo but I've heard a lot of great stuff from my friends who have dive in and did photography. They say you'll be amazed at how beautiful the view is. I guess the best advice takes a moment and enjoy each angle you can take a shot off. Dallas Texas boudoir

That 2nd picture is astounding.

it's awesome.

congratulation

Bring a long lens for dragons...