Douglas J Hoffman Photography

Swimming with Whales Sept 10-20th on the Naia

2009-11-04T16:21:00.001-08:00

Whale Swimming in Tonga on the Naia Sept 10-20, 2010

Well known professional marine photographer Mark Strickland and I will be co-hosting an exclusive 10-night trip in Tonga aboard the renowned live-aboard vessel Nai’a, September 10-20, 2010. This special, limited-load trip will be dedicated to observing, photographing and especially swimming with the large population of Humpback Whales that visit these islands every year to mate and give birth.

The itinerary is designed to provide the best possible opportunities for quality in-water time with these magnificent animals, Of course the whales themselves decide when it’s playtime, but we’ll be employing some special tactics to tilt the odds in our favor as much as possible. For one thing, instead of competing with the growing number of day trip vessels operating out of Vava’u, our trip will concentrate on the little- visited island group of Ha’apai. There are lots of whales in these waters, but almost no other boats.

Another key strategy will be to limit the number of guests to 12 instead of the usual 16. This approach does make the trip more expensive, but I firmly believe it is worth it to make the most of our time. Both Mark and I have spent many hours among marine mammals in various conditions and locales, and we keep coming to the same conclusion: the fewer people in the water, the better the encounters.

The Nai’a has two 30 ft. tenders, providing ample space for 6 passengers plus guides in each boat. This way we can rotate two small groups in and out of the water from each boat, to ensure the most time in the water for every participant.

Other than a lunch break on the big boat, we’ll spend most of each day patrolling in the tenders, scouting for the whales’ telltale spouts and flukes. We’ll mainly be looking for mothers and their calves, but will likely come across heat runs, singing whales, romantic displays and dramatic breaches. Mostly, though, we’ll be looking for curious, playful calves and their mothers, since such encounters can sometimes last for hours.

The main focus of this special trip is in-water whale encounters, where we’ll be using snorkel gear only. If you’re a diehard diver and can’t resist bringing scuba gear that’s fine, but please realize

that diving opportunities will be limited to dusk and night night dives beneath the boat. In my opinion it’s not worth dragging your dive gear along, especially considering today’s restrictive baggage policies.

Swimming with humpback whales requires patience. If you swim straight at the whale, it will swim away and everyone on the boat will look at you with angry eyes. If you float in a small group and stay still, the baby whale will get curious and come to check you out. In order to ensure good encounters for everyone we have prepared guidelines for behavior in the water and will forward them after the deposits are received.

Payment will be based on Naia’s standard rates, which for 16 passengers would be $4895 p/p. However, for our trip with only 12 passengers, it works out to about $6530 p/p, not including airfare, alcohol or tips. Nai’a does apply a fuel surcharge, which is currently $14/person/day. If it changes, we’ll be given three month’s notice before our trip. Happily, there are no port fees, local taxes or other hidden charges. For more about Nai’a, visit http://www.naia.com.fj/tonga/index.html

PLEASE NOTE: OUR COMMITMENT DEADLINE IS FAST APPROACHING FOR THIS TRIP. If you wish to come, please don’t delay - DEPOSIT IS REQUIRED BY DECEMBER 1, 2009. Sorry about the short notice, but there are only a few trips in Tonga each year, and we have to either

commit to these dates or make them available for someone else.

As many people will purchase 2 week tickets in and out of Fiji, there is an option to add a few days of shark diving in Pacific Harbor Fiji before or after the live aboard. Participants will be met at either Nadi or Suva airports and driven to Pacific Harbor where they will spend 3 nights at the Uprising resort. Two days of shark diving with Beqa Adventure Divers and transportation to Suva or Nadi airport is provided. The cost will be around $750. Scuba gear can be rented.

Whale Swimming in Vavau Tonga Sept 21-30, 2010

2009-11-04T15:24:00.000-08:00

Tonga – Sept 21-30, 2010

For the fifth year in a row, I am organizing a nine day adventure in Vavau, Tonga to swim with and photograph Southern Hemisphere Humpback Whales. This experience is limited to a small group, so each person gets the experience of a lifetime.

Just because its legal does not mean swimming with whales is easy. The fact is whales are wild and not on anyone's time schedule. They can come or go as they see fit, and all encounters are on their terms. For the safety of the whales, and fairness to others, several protocols need to be followed.

That means we won't just motor up to the humpbacks and jump in the water. The standard is to watch the whales to observe their behavior and let them get used to our presence. If they feel we are not a threat, they will relax and that's when good interaction happens. There will be a maximum of four people plus guide in the water at any time.

I have found that with the exception of a heat run and really relaxed mother and calf, that most encounters are best when swimmers float motionless or swim together in a parallel course not an intersecting course with the whales. Imagine how you would feel if several large fish were swimming at you from multiple directions. I would feel threatened, so it only makes sense that the whales do too. By swimming and floating in a group, the whales are better able to become comfortable with our presence.

When it comes to nature photography, the daily plan is to hurry up and wait. A lot of time is spent looking at the horizon for whale sign. When whales are sighted, many factors have to come together before we get in the water. These include the demeanor of the whales, good visibility, low winds, and flat seas.

Just getting to Tonga can be an adventure as it is a remote location. From most places it takes 2 days to get to, and one long day to return. The airlines in this part of the world are safe, but follow a logic not many people understand. I tell people to bring along their sense of humor and two extra books, as the flights don't always operate as advertised. Please make sure you purchase trip insurance and be prepared for excess baggage fees.

Continental Airlines and Pacific Airlines are the best airlines to use to get to Tonga. If you don't have a travel agent McCoy travel in Hawaii will be happy to take care of all your travel arrangements. They specialize in Fiji and the pacific.

This trip we will be staying in the Puatake Hotel right on the water, in the center of town. The rooms are large, and have a/c and internet hook ups. Each room has an incredible harbor view. The boat will meet us up at 8AM and drop us off after 4PM each day. A catered lunch will be provided.

The cost is $5475 per per person and includes 10 nights hotel ( double occupancy), 9 boat days with catered lunch featuring some fruit, veggies, salad, fish or chicken, muffins, cookies, coffee and cocoa, as well as bottled water on the boat. If traveling alone, add an $800 single room adjustment. The cost of the trip can be split up into 2 or 3 payments depending on when you commit to the trip. The cost of the trip must be paid in full by July 1st, 2010.

In Vavau, there are two good cafes for breakfast, and ½ dozen good restaurants for dinner. One place has the best Italian food I have ever eaten. There places that serve meat, fish, indian food, mexican food, spanish food, pizza, and lobster. The prices are very reasonable.

Shark Dive

Depending on the length of your vacation plans, there is an option to add a few days of shark diving in Pacific Harbor Fiji before or after the Vavau trip. Participants will be met at either the Nadi or Suva airports and driven to Pacific Harbor where they will spend 3 nights at the Uprising resort and two days of shark diving with Beqa Adventure Divers. Roundtrip transportation to the Suva or Nadi airport is provided. The cost will be around $750. Scuba gear can be rented.

Custom art for Hokulani tower at Honua Kai Resort & Spa

2009-07-01T13:08:00.000-07:00

Last year, I was commissioned to create 12 limited editions of marine art to be room decor in guest suites of the Hokulani Tower which is part of the new Honua Kai Resort and spa in Kaanapali Maui. The project entailed everything from creating the concept to hanging the finished pieces on the wall. It was a great experience working with designers, engineers, and developers.

Lehua Rock & Niihau Hawaii

2009-06-30T10:53:00.000-07:00

In the state of Hawaii, their are a lot of great scuba diving locations. One of my favorites is Lehua Rock. This a huge volcanic tuft cone located a few miles off the forbidden island of Niihau. The entire area is beacon for marine life and one can see schools of small plankton eating fish feeding in the water column, majestic mantas, white tip, grey reef, occasional Galapagos sharks, green sea turtles, and endangered Monk Seals.

The topography is dramatic too with steep drop offs, caves, crevices, walls, and canyons. For those that don't dive the closest way I can explain how it looks is to look at pictures by Ansel Adams of the rugged mountain ranges and canyons of the American west.

The site is only dive-able during summer months, and then it is at the mercy of weather. I think it is about a 17 mile journey depending upon the harbor, charter company and boat. There are three operators that go to Lehua Rock. They are Bubbles Below, Fathom Five, and Sea Sport Divers.

Over the years I have gone with each company. I usually prefer small dive boats following the thinking that less is more when it comes to underwater photography. However, when it comes to diving Lehua Rock, I prefer a larger boat. For me, its all about being comfortable on a 2.5 hour crossing in open ocean. As the seas can get rough, being able to sit back and relax rather than take a beating is priceless. Thats why I go with Sea Sport Divers. Their dive boat is very spacious, has a toilet, hot water showers, and plenty of space to store cameras dive gear, and dry gear. http://www.seasportdivers.com

In my gear bag

2009-06-28T23:20:00.001-07:00

As a working professional, I get asked frequently by divers I meet what kind of gear do I use and why.

I will start with dive equipment. For at least 10 years I have used Sea Quest BCD's and been quite happy with the quality, construction, and durability. Five years ago or so I got an Atomic Titanium regulator. It was expensive and worth every penny. It is by far the best breathing regulator I have used. I have an oceanic wetsuit and set of split fins that are 4 years old, and while the fins still work great the wet suit is ready to be replaced. I also use a pair of Cressi free diving fins when doing blue water snorkeling with whales. I love the power.

For topside images, I use the Nikon D3 , D2X, D700 bodies. For underwater photography, I use the Nikon D300. As I do a lot of scuba diving & blue water snorkeling I found that I need a housing specific to each purpose. The Ikelite features ttl flash exposure compensation which is very cool and allows me to concentrate on composition. I can adjust the ttl exposure by 1/3 f-stops by rotating a dial, rather than reaching out and changing strobe settings. The only negative with the housing is the way ports attach. The system relies on pressure to seat the o -ring. When using the housing while scuba diving the pressure seats the port and there are no issues. I cant say the same when snorkeling with the Ikelite housing.

That why I also use the Nexus housing. Simply put its small and built like a tank. The quality of the 10-17 optical glass port cant be beat. The negative of this system is that to take advantage pf the glass optics, you need a port specific to each lens and that is expensive. The 10-17 port cost just under a thousand bucks. The system has 2 sync ports for traditional strobes and 2 fibre optic ports for high tech digital strobes.

I use the following lenses. The 10-17 fisheye zoom Tokina, 10.5 mm fisheye, 16 mm fish eye, 60 & 105 macro Nikon lenses. For strobes I use three Ikelite DS160's. The strobes have ttl and manual power settings. They are 5000 degree kelvin in temperature which produces lovely blues and requires less time spent in photoshop. I also use two Sea and Sea YS 300 strobes from the film days that only work on manual settings. I love using them as slaves, set 1-2 stops lower than the main light to create rations and dimension in my images. Too many times a ttl exposure will result in flat lighting. This is when there is an equal amount of light throughout the scene. When creating light ratios underwater the light is not even so there is more shadow detail and depth to the image.

When I travel, I use Tamrac back backs, Velocity 9x camera bag, and Rolling Studio case featuring plastic armor. These products are light weight yet heavy duty. The amount of equipment they accommodate is impressive as is the style and appearance. I bring a Mac lap top, 3 external hard drives for back up, 3 - 16 gig cards, 8- 8 gig cards, 3 - 4 gig cards.I bring an I-phone loaded with 2 movies and Skype .

Other bits include a small glass reflector for the BCD pocket, as well as a safety sausage and a whistle. These are items I hope not to use, but am glad to have with me. I use the Aladin Nitrox computer, but tend to keep it set on air for added safety.

The last thing I pack is a sense of humor and a bit of patience. The wonderful thing about traveling is that there is a lot of time spent waiting. Rather than get frustrated, I just go with the flow.

Tamrac Rolling Studio case for travel

2009-06-25T16:09:00.000-07:00

Underwater photographers frequently ask what I use to transport my housings when flying to exotic destinations around the world. Back in the days when airlines were generous and gave divers large baggage allowances I used the industry standard pelican case. It was both big and heavy duty. The bummer if any is that it weighed a lot.

Over the last 3-4 years airlines around the world have dramatically decreased the number of bags and weight allowed. As spending hundreds of dollars on excess baggage is not something I want to do on each leg of a journey, I did some research and looked for heavy duty cases that were light weight. In the end I selected the Rolling Studio case made by Tamrac, the leader manufacturer of bags & cases for professional photographers. It is large and reinforced with light weight plastic armor. Empty the case weighs about 20 pounds.

Today I did a dry run just to see how much I could put in and I was amazed. I packed two u/w camera housings, 4 ports, 4 large strobes, 5 sets of sync cords, 2 extra strobe batteries, 2 strobe chargers, 2 camera battery chargers, tools, and spare parts. The total weight was 55 pounds. If I had to take 5 pounds of gear out, I could and put in my other suitcase.

Cover of WDCS Spring 2009 Magazine

2009-06-19T15:28:00.000-07:00

This image created in 2008 in Pico Azores, was selected while on an assignment for the WDCS and on a permit issued by the portuguese government. I provided a selection of several of species of dolphin, Southern Hemisphere Humpback Whales and Sperm Whale images to the portuguese government and to the WDCS for educational and scientific purposes. One image from that trip is being used a the campaign called art for conservation and can be seen at douglasjhoffman.com What a privilege it is to support such a dedicated organization.

Swimming with Humpback Whales in 2009

2009-01-07T16:08:00.000-08:00

Tonga - 2009

For the fourth year in a row, I am organizing small expeditions to Tonga to observe, document, and photograph Southern Hemisphere Humpback Whales above and below the surface. This expereince is limited to a small group, so each person gets the experience of a lifetime.

Participants will be taught how to enter the water making as little noise as possible, When to float & when to swim, and how to swim properly in the presence of whales. Our goal is to observe the whales without changing their behavior.
I will do everything possible to help make the trip a success, but when in the water all participants must be self-sufficient. The waters are deep and those interested in coming must be good swimmers and be in good shape.
The boat chartered is small, and fast. The captains are extremely knowledgeable, have decades of experience, and uncanny intuition that helps them recognize which cetaceans are on the move, and which are curious and playful.
Just because its legal does not mean swimming with whales is easy. The fact is whales are wild and not on anyone's time schedule. They can come or go as they see fit, and all encounters are on their terms. For the safety of the whales, and fairness to others, several protocols need to be followed.

That means we wont just motor up to the humpbacks and jump in the water. The standard is to watch the whales to observe their behavior and let them get used to our presence. If they feel we are not a threat, they will relax and that's when good interaction happens. There will be a maximum of four people plus captain and myself.

The rules state there can be no more than four swimmers plus a guide in the water at a time. I have found that with the exception of a heat run and really relaxed mother and calf, that most encounters are best with two or three swimmers and a guide in the water. A small group of people swimming together in a parallel course not an intersecting course will have better interaction as the whales will be curious not defensive. Imagine how you would feel if large fish were swimming at you at full speed from multiple directions. I would feel threatened, so it only makes sense that the whales do too. By swimming in a group, the whales are better able to become comfortable with our presence.

When it comes to nature photography, the daily plan is to hurry up and wait. A lot of time is spent looking at the horizon for whale sign. When whales are sighted, many factors have to come together before we get in the water. These include the demeanor of the whales, good visibility, low winds, and flat seas.

In nature there are days when the sun is out, seas are calm, and whales are present but the underwater visibility is terrible. And, there are days the sky is cloudy but the water is clear. As Mother Nature doesn't always cooperate, I am planning to two back-to-back 6-day trips. Weather can be a factor so don't be surprised if out of seven days the boat stays in for one or two. The first group starts Sept 14th, 2008 and the second group starts on September 24th, 2008 and goes till Oct 1st.

Just getting to Tonga can be an adventure as it is a remote location. From most places it takes 2 days to get to, and one long day to return. The airlines in this part of the world are safe, but follow a logic not many people understand. I tell people to bring along their sense of humor and two extra books, as the flights don't always operate as advertised. Please make sure you purchase trip insurance and if there is any chance at all you might want to extend your vacation, be prepared to spend a day taking care of the details, and to pay change fees. Excess baggage is a reality. Tell everyone at the airline you're a diver and ask for it to be noted on your ticket. If lucky you may get an allowance of 20 extra pounds.
The boat fee includes pick up and drop off at closest dock to hotel, lunch, bottle of water, and fuel. The price is $400 per day. Final cost is subject to change as fuel costs may increase. Hotel, and airplane tickets are additional. On average it costs about $1,600 to fly to Vavau' Tonga.

There are three standard of hotels.  The finest accommodations is at the residence. It is one of the princesses' homes. There are only two rooms and they are luxurious. The rooms are $250-300 per night.
The Pua International and Paradise hotels cost about $150. The Pua is in town, while the Paradise is a 12 minute walk from town. The paradise includes breakfast, the Pua does not. I have stayed in both. The bottom line is the Pua is more convenient, but the Paradise includes breakfast and is a bit nicer. The back packer hotel is about $60 per night. It is nice, clean, and in town. There ather lodging options and those interested should call 808 879 0260 or send me an email at dhimage@maui.net

A 50% retainer is required to hold space. -This fee is non refundable. -The final payment is due 60 days before the trip. -Trip insurance is required.

Fun pictures in the pool

2008-12-21T16:28:00.000-08:00

This week I introduced a new portrait service creating portraits of kids, families, and dogs in the pool and ocean. In these hard economic times I needed to find a way to draw attention to my company to generate new business. After considering all kinds of ideas it occurred to do to what I am passionate about which is scuba diving, underwater water photography, my family and dogs. Thats how the idea of making portraits of kids, families and dogs in the pool evolved. Time will tell it if its a good idea.

new resort in Maui features 300 black and white marine images

2008-12-20T10:56:00.000-08:00

This week our team installed 300 black and white marine themes photographs into the suites of the Honua Kai Resort in Kaanapali, Maui. Eight images featuring local marine life were selected and printed in various sizes to complement the décor of each suite type. The scope of the project involved an incredible amount of logistics and planning and included image selection, printing, mounting, matting, framing, and installation. From inception to completion the project took a year.

As a marine photographer it is an honor to have a collection of my work in such a nice resort.

comments from client on last Tonga trip

2008-12-15T13:31:00.000-08:00

I just received these comments from Mark Strickland, regarding our recent Whale Expedition in Sept/October 08.

Thanks Mark!

--------

I recently returned from my third dedicated whale photography expedition with Douglas Hoffman, and couldn’t be more pleased. There is always an element of luck involved with such endeavors, and we enjoyed some very good fortune on this trip. More important, though, are factors that only come together through the efforts of a capable group leader: thorough planning, attention to detail, and a flexible, conscientious attitude that is invaluable in remote locales. As always, Doug sought out the most experienced captains and operators, and generally made sure things ran smoothly, often in spite of considerable difficulties. He also offered valuable insight on whale behavior and photographic techniques, and invariably treated his guests fairly and respectfully. I think everyone who participated in this trip would agree: Doug is enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and a pleasure to travel with… I recommend any of his expeditions highly.

Sincerely,

Mark Strickland
Marine Photographer

Advantages of seeing how to take a picture underwater

2008-12-13T13:23:00.000-08:00

I recently did a 2 day work shop on the basics of underwater photogrpahy. I covered metering, flash, and composition but buoyancy skills were stressed the most. As divers, we are working in an alien world and we need to respect it. As photographers we are good will ambassadors to the sea and need to do everything possible to avoid contact with the reef, stir up sediment on the bottom, break coral, touch or move marine life, etc. As divers we need to use our underwater knowledge to make better photographs.

For example, if working in a current, its wise to set up your exposure, adjust your flash and prepare to take the image a bit up current so your all set when you float by and are able to get the shot. Stopping in the current means you will have to swim hard and or grab coral. This will in most cases damage the reef, and disturb water clarity making you unpopular among the other divers.

For me the best part of the class was demonstrating how I would take a picture in current, on sand, in the reef, and in the water column. After showing each diver how I would do it, each one had the opportunity to practice. On one of the dives there was a bit of current and each diver could feel it and had to struggle to get set up in order to be in position at the right time. After the dives the students remarks indicated they understood how important it is to manage the current and ones buoyancy to take the photograph without damaging the environment.

The clinic was a lot of fun, and prepared Georgia and Jim for a two week dive holiday. I just got a letter from them telling me about the trip and how they were able to manage their buoyancy and concentrate on composition. Best of all they had a blast and cant wait till the next dive trip.

Had a great time in Tonga

2008-10-19T15:54:00.000-07:00

Having just returned from Tonga, I am already planning the next trip. I will be going back for a fourth season. Words are hard to find that aptly describe the feelings experienced when snorkeling with whales. Having led several small groups to swim with whales, I get to witness and hear peoples excitement, so one would think I could describe the feeling. The truth is its hard to put into words how a person can feel so alive and at the same time awes struck and humbled. It really is an amazing experience.

Swimming with Sperm Whales & Dolphins

2008-09-14T07:59:00.000-07:00

I have gotten involved with the whale Dolphin Conservation Society, and recently went to the Azores to photograph Sperm Whales and Dolphins for a book project. Cherllye Millard Dawe was in charge of the project and working with us was Bruce Watkins and Aqua Acores a Pico based whale and dolphin watching company. Our goal was to capture animals in the environment without changing their behavior. The weather was a bit difficult as we had plenty of rain, wind, and wave action, but over the course of 2 weeks, we were able to create some nice images.

Azores and Tonga

2008-08-19T13:47:00.000-07:00

Next week I am traveling to the Azores, a group of islands off of Portugal to contribute to a book sponsored by the Whale Dolphin Conservation Society. I am looking forward to the experience and making new friends. From Pico, I will travel to Tonga. The flight will take over 38 hours, not to mention 44 hours of lay overs in Boston, LA, Nadi, and Tongatapu. Once in Vavau, I will lead a small group of photographers on an expedition to swim with and photograph Humpback Whales.

The goal of our trip is to create images of humpbacks without changing their behavior. We will not motor up in a boat and drop in on the whales. Instead we will watch, and observe their behavior. When appropriate, enter the water and float near them. Previous trips taught me that whales are curious and will swim by us to get a look.

Diving to Mozart

2008-08-19T13:28:00.001-07:00

Recently I had the chance to dive with Daniel Opitz, the producer of a film called the Humpback Code. Danny uses a rebreather and it was incredible to see a diver without bubbles. The fish were not afraid and let him get quite close. While that was great to see, what made the dive really interesting was Danny likes to listen to music while diving. So, before we descended he lowered a speaker system into the water and turned on his ipod. As we were diving on the wreck of a replica whaling boat that used to be a floating museum, it seemed appropriate that the music was Mozart. I was 90 feet deep and could hear the music well. The music was also heard by an Atlantis Submarine full of tourists. The pilot could not believe what he heard and made two passes. The whole dive was surreal and one I am not likely to forget.

Whale Quest 2008

2008-04-03T18:07:00.000-07:00

In February of 2008, the third annual Whale Quest symposium was held in Kapalua, Maui Hawaii. It was a three-day event organized by Whale Trust and sponsored by National Geographic.

Each day the worlds best nature photographers, movie -makers and researchers gathered to share information, network, debut films, and talk about whales. The event was open to the public, and more than 1000 people attended.

This was my second year participating as an artist, and it was an honor to display my B&W edition of whale portraits in front of the lecture hall and to donate $1,000 to Whale Trust. This NPO does a lot of good, and is run by people who are passionate about what they do.

During the event, I had the chance to hang out with marine photographers Flip Nicklan, Chuck Nicklan, David Doubilet, Paul Nicklan, & Doug Perrine. It was fun sharing stories, and talking about underwater photography.

All the presentations were well attended and informative. Two of them however blew my mind. One was a movie that showed sperm whales taking fish of long line fishing boats, and another was a slide show of the seals in Antarctica hunting penguins.

I would say that this years event was a success, and that a lot of earning took place and money was raised to continue current and start new research projects.

I hope to be invited back next year!

To view a sampling of my fine art whale portraits, click here

Swimming with Humpback Whales

2008-04-03T18:03:00.000-07:00

Getting in and out of the water is very important. There are many ways to slide into the water slowly and smoothly creating as little noise and disruption as possible. What works for me is to sit on the side of the boat and lower myself in the water. I tend to favor facing the boat using one hand to support me and then glide into the water.

Once wet, I reach up and grab the camera from the captain, and move off to make room for others to get in or the boat to move away. While in the water, stay as quiet as possible. Big fin kicks that break the surface and create wake are bad and will ruin an encounter. Depending upon style of fin, it might be wise to swim side-ways to keep fin tips underwater.

When swimming always stay together in a group and travel in a parallel course to the whale, and not strait at it. Do not break up and approach whales from opposite sides. Imagine how you would feel if an animal the size of a bus came at you and you d id not know its intentions. The bottom line is that we have to be respectful and patient.

More often than not I have found success by simply floating in the proximity of the whales. There is no doubt that the whales are aware of our presence, so if we stay nearby, but don’t approach it lets the whale relax, but it also awakens the whales curiosity. That’s when good things happen.

Whales are wild animals, and have free will. They can swim wherever they want, as well as dive whenever they want. Please respect them at all times,

swimming with humpback whales

2006-12-05T13:12:00.000-08:00

Since 1993, I have led 2-3 trips a year dedicated to marine photography to a destination within the Indo-pacific. Many of the trips ( 17) have been to Indonesia as the people are friendly and the bio-diversity of marine life is incredible. Lately however my focus has been on pelagic life in the blue, as opposed to macro life on the reef. It started in 2005, with a lucky encounter with pilot whales and an Oceanic white tip reef shark off the big island of Hawaii.

In 2006 I led a small group to Tonga and had the opportunity to swim with a new born humpback whale. It was incredible, so I have decided to return to Tonga in mid September 2007 and again in late August 2008. The first trip will be based in Vavau' where I have organized a small speed boat, a very expereinced captain, and hotel accomodations. The trip in 2008 will be to the Happai Island group and will be conducted from a 50 foot sailboat. I am limiting the size of the groups to 3- 4 people, as a smaller group means a bigger chance for encounters.

I have learned that a small group of people staying together does not cause a mother whale to fear for the safety of her calf, but several people swimming from all directions, including downward certainly does. This is a snorkel trip, so participants need not be certified divers. Those who are interested are invited to email me for details.

Take the plunge - learn under water photography

2006-12-04T16:54:00.002-08:00

All to often photographers dive into underwater photography with a lot of enthusiasm but end up discouraged because the images made did not meet expectations. The bottom line is that many elements have to come together in order to create good images underwater. Understanding what works and more importantly what does not, takes time. The good news is one does not have to master everything at once, and the learning process is half the fun.

All the experts agree that is best to become a good diver, then learn one aspect of u/w photography, before starting to study another. The most important diving skill is buoyancy control. This is having the ability to regulates ones breathing so that they neither sink, nor float. All to often, divers can be seen laying on the bottom or clinging to coral, while at the same time their fins are constantly moving stirring up sediment that will get dispersed into the water column. This is a bad thing as it takes a while to settle and while floating in the water, will reflect light towards the lens. These particles in the water are referred to as backscatter and they will ruin photographs. If that was not bad enough anyone down current will also be affected. That's not cool.

The ability to control ones breathing not only enables the photographer to limit the turbidity his presence has in the water but also to become part of the environment. Fish feel threatened when a large diver with a camera starts stalking them. So, it makes sense that after they get used to a diver, they will relax and resume their normal routine. This in turn enables photographers to make good pictures.

It is important to know the kinds of images you want to make before going diving, because once underwater it is not easy to reconfigure equipment. Changing lenses requires surfacing, drying off, changing the lens and the port. This takes time and if hurried will result in a camera flood.

Murphys law as applied to underwater photography says: When you set your camera up for macro, you will see wide angle subjects like turtles, mantra rays, & dolphins. And, when set up for wide angle you will see rare fish posturing in the current, mating squid, or two eels in the same hole. The lesson here is to enjoy the special moments then get back to the dive and continue looking for subjects appropriate for the lens you have. Underwater photographers just starting out will do better shooting macro. The reason is that the subject matter is very close to the lens and ambient light is not an important part of the overall image. That’s why the majority of macro images have black backgrounds.

Wide-angle photography under water is all about using the ambient light as part of the overall exposure. This is a very important topic and will be the scope of future lessons. For now we will concentrate on macro photography. Fish portraiture requires a similar mind-set as when photographing people. Invest a little time learning about your subject. This includes where it lives, what it eats, e.t.c. In underwater terms this means what kind of coral does the fish live around, where does it hide when threatened, and what does it eat. Once you know a little bit about your subject, you will know where on the reef to look. Sooner or later your knowledge and patience will get rewarded, and the opportunity will arise to get the shot.

After the subject is located the next task is to expose and light it correctly. This requires the proper use of strobe, shutter speed and aperture. Don’t let these words scare you. Instead embrace them, as these are key elements to making good pictures. Depth of field in Macro photography is important. Setting the camera on F22 or F16 is the place to start. These F-stops allow great depth of field and at the same time help to eliminate ambient light.

Proper use of shutter speed will help control how much ambient light is in your image and if the image is sharp or blurry. Shooting at speeds of 1/60, 1/90, & 1/ 125 of a second will enable you to freeze the action and limit the ambient light. When shooting macro, use two strobes set on manual. The primary is set at full and the other at 1/2 power. If using a flash with F-stops, make the secondary strobe 2 - 3 stops lower than the primary. This ratio of light allows creativity, shadows and depth to the image. Some photographers love TTL, and if it works for them great. I want to know exactly what I am doing right or wrong, that’s why I use manual power.

Lets put this information to use and plan a dive to make fish portraits. The first thing to do is research the dive site, and find out what fish are common there, what kind of corals and bottom topography is present. I suggest asking the local dive shop if there are any cleaning stations on the reef your going to dive. This is an area underwater where fish gather to get cleaned by very specialized fish. Its kind of like when we take the family car to get washed. This is a great place to make photographs. Once you have an idea of what fish might be at the dive site, make photographing them part of your dive plan. This will remind you to take your time to get used to the surroundings as opposed to chasing after each fish that crosses your path.

Marine life is delicate, and it is our responsibility to respect and protect it. Don’t move or touch anything for the sake of a photograph. While you may see others do it, set an example by passing on an image as opposed to breaking coral or handling an animal just to get a shot. Remember everything you do while underwater has an immediate and long-term affect on the world below.

By respecting the sea, maintaining good diving skills, using shutter speed, strobe, and depth of field everyone can create beautiful macro pictures underwater. See you underwater!