Category: Underwater

Humpback Whale 1

My Top 10 Favorite Photos of 2008, #4

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It is pretty pathetic outside in Seattle today. I have been home all day listening to NPR while working on several submissions and doing a printing project for a client. Both I-5 and I-90 are closed due to extensive flooding throughout the state. We even made the national news for how miserable it is. I’ve only been back from Panama for 1 week, but I am already vowing to not be here at all next winter from my daughters Christmas break through January. I really get bummed out and depressed in this weather so that is why I started traveling and working for myself 8 years ago. I am really looking forward to my diving trip next week. The weather forecast is starting to look very promising, so I’ll keep my fingers crossed. I am also looking forward to going back to Patagonia for a backpacking and photography trip in 2 weeks.

My February trip to Hawai’i was my best trip that I have ever had for humpback whale photos. I talked Paul Souders into joining me for 2 weeks on the water and we had a great time together. (Paul is also going to Hornby Island with me and Ken next week.) I created this image using my Canon 5D digital SLR and 20mm lens in my Ikelite underwater camera housing at f2.8 and 1/250 second.

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Humpback Whale 3

My Top 10 Favorite Photos of 2008, #10

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I just got back from a very relaxing family holiday in Bocas del Toro, Panama. We missed all of the bad winter weather in Seattle while working on our sun tans and drinking too many pina coladas. I lost a lot of my motivation to do anything other than sit around in a hammock. My kids are now going to bed at 7 pm and waking up at 4:30 am, since there is a 3 hour time difference between Panama (EST) and Seattle (PST). With all my free time early in the morning, I’ve been thinking about a new blog entry and came across an idea on an acquaintances website for posting my Top 10 Favorite Images of 2008. That sounds like the right amount of effort to ease me back into reality. So, over the course of the next 10 days, I will endeavor to add a new image and story each day for you my visitors.

This image of “Humpback Whales Underwater” was taken in March in Hawai’i. It takes weeks of patience on the water in order to have the opportunity to get this close to a whale, let alone photograph it. I have always said that if I could do only one thing photographically, it would be to follow whales everyday of the year, but it is also the most difficult and expensive thing that I do. This image is of 2 enormous males that were pursuing a female and her calf during what is called a “heat run”. I created it using my Canon 5D digital SLR and 20mm lens in my Ikelite underwater camera housing at f2.8 and 1/200 second. You can enjoy many more spectacular photos of humpback whales in the multiple galleries on my site.

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Guadalupe Great White Shark 12

Guadalupe Great White Shark 12

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This is another one of my favorite images from my recent trip to photograph great white sharks down in Mexico. As I mentioned in my previous post, it was a tough trip, but I did come away with a few new images that are worth sharing.

I have been working on updating my website and moving some of the galleries and pages around. The new layout is a work in progress, but it should be all straightened out by the end of the month. The major change that is coming to my site is the e-commerce update. Soon you will be able to order and purchase fine-art prints directly from my website. Please visit more of my Great White Shark Photography.

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Guadalupe Great White Shark 1

Guadalupe Great White Shark 1

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I recently returned from my second trip to remote Guadalupe Island to photograph great white sharks. Guadalupe is located in the eastern Pacific Ocean 180 miles west of the central Baja Peninisula. I first visited Guadalupe in 2002, shortly after my first daughter was born. Maddy is now 6 and in 1st grade. Time flies. I was hoping to greatly improve my coverage by joining a 7 day trip, which would allow me 5 full days at the island. The weather and sharks did not cooperate as much as I was hoping they would. Most of my better images were taken on the first day at the island, including this one. Please visit more of my Great White Shark Photography.

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Humpback Whale 2

Alaska Airlines Magazine September 2008

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If you happen to be on an Alaska Airlines flight this month, take a look at the in-flight magazine and the feature on Hawaii. This recent image from an encounter with a humpback whale is featured in the article. This large male came incredibly close to me, with his pectoral fin coming within a foot of my camera moments after this images was taken! Please visit more of my Humpback Whale Photography.

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Humpback Whale Mother & Calf 10

Humpback Whale Mother & Calf 10

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I’m still editing my images from this winter and thought that this was a pretty unusual image. When I encountered this group of whales, I noticed after a while that the calf was taking a break and was nursing! It was pretty amazing to witness and photograph. Please visit more of my Humpback Whale Photography.

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Green Sea Turtle 9

Green Sea Turtle 9

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Back in February, I noticed this little pelagic turtle floating in the deep blue many miles off shore of the Big Island. The seas were calm and there weren’t any bigger critters around, so I decided to jump in and take this little guys picture. It was not very big and had probably not seen land for a long time, so it immediately took an interest in the boat and anyone who jumped in the water. This turtle even climbed on top of my camera housing while I was swimming next to it! All the fun ended when an enormous Galapagos shark that was bigger than myself came rocketing out of the deep to check me out. I did not see it until it was upon me. Fortunately, it just came at me and turned very abruptly at the last second. My boat captain heard me screaming and quickly came over to pick me up. I did not get back in the water that afternoon, but I did the next day and the rest of the trip. Sorry, I did not get any images of the shark! Please visit more of my Sea Turtle Photography.

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Nanaimo Harbor Seal 1

Nanaimo Harbor Seal 1

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My buddy Paul and I went up to Nanaimo last week for a few days. I have been wanting to do some cold water diving for awhile. I also just bought a new 8″ dome port for my Ikelite housing that I wanted to try out. Paul has the same boat that I do, a 22′ C-Dory, so we took it on the ferry with his big truck and wasted a lot of gas. After all of the expense and effort to get up there, the underwater visibility was less than 5′. It sucked. I managed to get this one image (which is not that great in my opinion) of a harbor seal staring at its reflection in my dome. Even when the images are not that great, it is always amazing to swim with marine animals. I will have to try again when the visibility is better next winter. Please visit more of my Harbor Seal Photography.

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Oceanic Whitetip Shark 1

Oceanic Whitetip Shark 1

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I have been spending the last few weeks updating and organizing the website. I hope that you like the new layout. I am now starting to get back to editing my recent images from my trip to Hawaii. My friend and well-known underwater photographer Doug Perrine was kind enough to take me out on his boat for a shark encounter. We went out to one of the FAD buoys and waited for a few minutes, and sure enough 2 oceanic whitetip sharks made their appearance! We spent about 2 hours in the water trying to photograph them. It was my first time with oceanics and it was very beautiful. I’ve always heard that they will come right up to you and bump you, which sure enough they did. This was the best shot that I got while the sun was still out. Please visit more of my Shark Photography.

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