Sardine Run 2005 topside pics

Here are a few teasers from the run this year. Still suffering from a nasty transkei infection so just a teaser for now. It was good, it was bad and it's never the same. Those going next year...well be prepared!

Humpback off the transkei

Cape Fur Seal attacking a baitball

Diving Cape Gannets

Superpod of common dolphins

Ah man, i want to see the photos!!

Not sure if its my server or is there a problem with the links Drew?

Hope you had a blast, i am jealous. Sorry to hear about the illness, but hey at least it has a cool name!

Mike

oops, here they come now...my sloooowwww server is at fault i guess, i will give thoughts after the 10 mins it will take for them to come up...

Well, the dolphins opened up, that shot is fantastic, and the top half of the gannet photo, nice bird butts!!

Damn satellite connection

Getting sick of me yet? Ok they have all opened up after numerous refreshes

That whale tail is fantastic, how close did you get???

And the look on the face of that seal is priceless, i knew they had to go to the toilet but i guess that is sardine constipation?? Too cool

Great teaser, can't wait for a full report and more photos

Mike you know there is an edit function for posts right?

Mike you know there is an edit function for posts right? 

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But that would be boring!! This way i look like your number one fan

Fantastic shots Drew - looks like an awesome trip - can't wait to see some more!!

And Mike - please be quiet - i can't hear myself think

And Mike - please be quiet - i can't hear myself think

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But that would be boring!!  This way i look like your number one fan 

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Awwww...that's nice. Btw the whale came to us... passing under the bottom as it spun round.

     

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Ahhh, now that's much better.

I can ignore your silly faces far more easily.

Wow!, you have some extraordinary photos here and in the other thread !

I guess I should not complain so much about our slow connections in Alaska, the gravel road of the information superhighway (there are a lot of gravel roads in Alaska).

Tom

Wow!, you have some extraordinary photos here and in the other thread !

I guess I should not complain so much about our slow connections in Alaska, the gravel road of the information superhighway (there are a lot of gravel roads in Alaska).

Tom

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Well at least you have great subjects without too many buildings in the background.

Excellent pictures taken with full use of some fantastic light. Thanks for sharing.

Every July I always see loads of sardine run pictures and these really stand out - lots of Brits head down there every year.

But to ask a provocative question.. do you think that the Sardine Run is a better topside photo opportunity than an underwater one?

I know many photographers who have been there many times. And the good ones always come back with stunning images. But their best shots tend to be mainly topsides. One of the reasons Doug Perrine shots from last years Wildlife Photographer were so impressive is that the Sardine run is not easy to shoot underwater?

Very much a point for discussion than a statement of fact.

Alex

p.s. excellent images.

Well I only started shooting topside seriously this year. I usually shoot video which is difficult to keep steady vs shooting film(motion pictures! not still) in a small boat with choppy water. U/w I'm still video exclusively due to the fact I think the strobes disrupt the feeding when too many people are around and I like getting the movement of the baitball more than anything else.

I do know baitballs like the one where Doug's winning shot was taken, with the right viz and the sharks in super frenzy are rare. He was also with a minimum 300 sharks in the water and knocked silly by the blacktip and dusky sharks. And the best stuff came from that one day. And it was taken by Doug Perrine. It's one thing to take pics for coral heads and nudibranchs. Super predation shots take it to another level and there aren't too many guys of Doug's caliber, at least not so many I've seen.

I know many of the brits who come down... Tony White and his crew esp. Unfortunately there are many factors besides having the right baitballs in the right viz. One of them is overcrowding. Predators like dolphins and sharks get spooked by divers, so experience in handling baitballs and basically not overcrowding it is very important. This year esp baitballs broke up even when the boat approached.

Topside shooting is definitely easier since those elements are easier to find and see. Can't really screw up shots of gannets when there are 10k of them. Or common dolphins when there are at least 2k of them. But the holy grail is the baitball. But I just love the experience...and hope the Wetpixel guys going have almost as much fun as I have every year.

Can't really screw up shots of gannets when there are 10k of them. Or common dolphins when there are at least 2k of them.

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I am sure I could. When you are good at something you always think it is easy! Getting strong, clean images like yours is probably harder when there are animals everywhere.

Thanks for the reply and great shots again.

Alex

I am sure I could. When you are good at something you always think it is easy! Getting strong, clean images like yours is probably harder when there are animals everywhere.

 

Thanks for the reply and great shots again.

 

Alex

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This is not false modesty... it really is that simple! 8 fps and 3k images later, even I can get something! A choice of different lens next year is the only thing experience would serve, getting the right lens for the right shot.

Also, remember Doug Perrine has been there every year for the last 5 or 6 years. It was certainly not a lucky shot. Its called persistance and the willingness to get "the shot" And he did it. WOnder how many shots he took over the years to get those two big winners. Kudos to him

Those two big winners are amazing aren't they?

Also, remember Doug Perrine has been there every year for the last 5 or  6 years.  It was certainly not a lucky shot.  Its called persistance and the willingness to get "the shot"  And he did it.  WOnder how many shots he took over the years to get those two big winners.  Kudos to him

Those two big winners are amazing aren't they?

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If I remember correctly, he said it was over 400+ images off the D60 for that one baitball activity where the winning shots came from. And he's "only" been there for 4 consecutive years, 4-6 weeks every year.