Tulamben/5050/INON 165 Macro

I just returned from a last-minute short trip to Tulamben, Bali.

Seeing many impressive Macro shots by shooters using the INON 165 Macro lens, I decided to purchase one from Yuzo, here in Asia.  I had virtually no time to practice topside, so use of the lens underwater for a first-timer, was to say the least, a little frustrating. However, with a little practice, I was able to get some decent shots and overall I am very happy with the lens.

Diving at Tulamben far exceeded my expectations.  IMHO, it is truly one of the great dive venues that offers a subject-rich environment, ideal for photography.  Cost-wise it is excellent value.  I stayed with very efficient and friendly Australian-run Tulamben Wreck Divers http://www.tulambenwreckdivers.com/.  The resort provided my OWN personal dive guide for my entire six-day stay, who was excellent at finding all the critters on my Tulamben wish list.

Here are a few shots I'm please with.  It will take me a while to go through the rest and post more.  All constructive comments and suggestions welcome!  All were taken with the Olympus 5050.

Harlequin Shrimp f8.0, 1/250s, INON 165 Macro, Single INON Z-220 strobe.

Nembrotha kubaryana Nudibranch (striped form) f8.0, 1/125s, INON 165 Macro, Single INON Z-220 strobe.

Pygmy Seahorse, Hippocampus bargibanti (yellow variation), f8.0, 1/100s, INON 165 Macro, Single INON Z-220 strobe.

Excellent shots....makes me want to go

Karl

That's very good to know! I will spend five days with them next May! I researched packages at several hotels/resorts and they had the best price, but I was a little hesitant to stay there because nobody had recommended them.

Excellent shots and thanks for sharing on the dive outfit... thinking about a trip there as I write

That's very good to know! I will spend five days with them next May! I researched packages at several hotels/resorts and they had the best price, but I was a little hesitant to stay there because nobody had recommended them.

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Rocha,

Glad to be of some assistance. A couple of comments on Tulamben Wreck Divers:

a) I chose the superior over the deluxe room. The superior is very roomy with a good table for working on camera gear etc., as well as it's own ensuite bathroom with hot water shower. The deluxe rooms have a shared bathroom/shower.

B) While a basic breakfast is provided at the resort, they do not have their own restaurant. There are several nearby. I always chose to eat lunch and dinner at the Mimpi Resort, which is a short, ten minute walk down the road (turn right as you go out the front entrance). Mimpi has a very nice al fresco restaurant, overlooking an infinity pool and the sea. It has a varied menu, with good food and service. While it may be more expensive than other nearby restaurants, IMHO it is worth it for the atmosphere and food quality. Nevertheless, I never paid more than US$6 for a meal and drink(s), including tax and service charge.

c) As a photographer, I would highly recommend the dive guide, Made (pronounced Ma-Day). He is excellent and knows where to find all the good macro stuff for photographers. Please tell him "Michael from China" says hello!

I hope this helps.

Cheers.

Michael.

Rocha, I will be there too in May just for the weekend, 14-15 May, since I am on the island to catch a good friend's wedding.

Maybe we'll catch each other and update the "Who have you met in Wetpixel" Thread.

Reefwreck, tks fo sharing. where did u see the Harloquin Shrimp? I have been waiting to see one!

eric

Excellent Michael,

Where was the yellow pygmy? Was it on the seafan in the middle of the wreck? There weren't any yellow ones there when I was there in October.

Let's hope they stick around until I am there in September!

Alex

p.s. the focus/composition on the Nembrotha shot is very nice.

Thanks for the kind comments. Much appreciated.

Eric, I saw probably close to 6 Harlequin shrimps during my stay at Tulamben. The easiest one to find is upon leaving the shore towards the Liberty Wreck. It's at about 3m. It's in a well protected mound of boulders. All the local guides seem to know it's location.

Alex, others elsewhere feel the yellow pygmy is Hippocampus denisei, not H. bargibanti and upon reflection, I tend to agree, yet I'm no expert. On one dive we found at least three on a single sea fan, port side, probably midships, in the 30 m range. I hope this helps and that they are still there for you!

The critters seem to come and go. There had reportedly been a large Frogfish on the Liberty bow, but it hasn't been seen for weeks. On one dive there was a GPF at about 30 m off the bow, as I recall, but it was gone by the time of my next dive on the Liberty a few days later.

Here's a few shots of nudis, which can be found on every dive. All constructive comments and suggestions welcome!

Cheers.

Michael.

I love the first nudi short (blue spotted duo). They almost seem to float off of the page.

Good job on all of the shots.

David

tks Michael. I'll go bug Tony about the Harloquin Shrimp

Hi Reefwreck! I purchased that INON 165 lens from Yuzo too, and I understand when you say that your first experience was frustrating: some friends of mine have this lens and they tell me that focusing is quite difficult, almost impossible in most of cases, some of them even decide to sell it to second hand buyers

But my own experience is quite good, maybe at the beginnig I found focusing was a bit hard, but with patience and practise I think that good macro pics can be taken, I really like that lens (I have to say that it's the only one I've tried )

Yu have really nice shots! I like the good color and light in all of them, and the compositions too. Harlequin Srhimp is excellent!

Congratulations for that macro pics, thanks for sharing!

Excellent shots Michael!! I really like the Nembrotha kubaryana Nudibranch one, but I would maybe crop it a little tighter (to get rid of the coral branches on the left).

thanks for sharing!

David.

Excellent Michael,

 

Where was the yellow pygmy? Was it on the seafan in the middle of the wreck? There weren't any yellow ones there when I was there in October.

 

Let's hope they stick around until I am there in September!

 

Alex

 

p.s. the focus/composition on the Nembrotha shot is very nice.

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I have photos of what I think is the same critter. Taken a couple of weeks ago. It's on the fan at midship, port side around 21m depth. There was a hawkfish hovering around the general area when I was shooting. I had to chase it away a couple of times. Hope it didn't come back and find the pygmy afterwards.

I'm at Kuala Lumpur at the moment making my way back home. I'll post the pics in a couple of days.