Landscape, nature and underwater photographs, tutorials and workshops.
Earlier this year, one of my Green Sea Turtle photos won the Monterey Bay Aquarium’s World Ocean Day Photo Contest on Flickr.
This photo is now part of the Aquarium’s “Take Action” campaign to encourage people to do something good for the oceans; in particular, to support National Ocean Policy.
Let’s all take a moment to think of ways we can help preserve this precious resource.
Peter Liu on the swimstep of the Vision after a dive. Photo by Kathy Becklin.
Before my wife and I moved to Maui from California’s Bay Area, I did a lot of scuba diving trips on the Truth Aquatics boats with my friends the Finstads in the majestic kelp forests of the Channel Islands. I thought it might be fun to share some photographs from those years, many of which were made with early, low resolution digital cameras.
I’ll never forget the feeling of awe I would get as I looked up through the tall stalks of kelp at the sunlight streaming through the canopies. No matter how many times I did the trip, each time was like the first.
On many occasions, I would simply hover with my camera in shallow water just under a thick kelp canopy and watch as the sun’s rays filtered through it. More often than not, if I stayed in one spot long enough, a group of sea lions would come by, or perhaps a reef shark. It’s a truly magical experience. I hope to get back there soon.
After returning from Photoshop World in Vegas, I checked out Ben Wilmore’s blog and found out he’s on Maui teaching workshops. I’d enjoyed his pre-conference class on “Shooting For Photoshop” and it inspired me to start thinking differently about my photography, so I signed up for his shooting safari.
We met at the Institute of Visual Arts in Kula, shared some images on the screen, got some instruction from Ben, then drove out to Lahaina to shoot. I also met Randy Hufford, one of the premiere experts on digital reproduction, who was also an instructor at Photoshop World.
I’ve been due for a walkabout for a while now. A great time was had by all. I learned a few things along the way too. Always a good thing.
Aloha…
I’ve been on a black-and-white kick lately. Partly, it’s because I’ve discovered I have a lot of otherwise good shots with the red channel missing due to strobes not firing, photos taken with my point-and-shoot, etc.
For those who don’t know, water acts like a prism – you start losing colors in the red end of the spectrum the deeper you go. You need strobes to bring the color back.
I decided to take some time and see what I could do with them. Tell me what you think.
I’m embarrassed to reveal I still haven’t gone through all the underwater shots I got in Kona from a year ago, and we’re going again next month. It’s not like me.
Be that as it may, this shot is irresistible. Amazing what you find when you bother to look through your own photos.
By the way, those of you with Flickr accounts, please feel free to add me.
Aloha…
So here I was, set up with my 60mm Micro in my flatport because we’ve had a southern swell lately and everybody’s been saying the vis has been lousy (well, for Hawaii anyway). So of course, half-way through our dive at Ulua Beach, look what shows up. Actually, there were two — a pair! And they were in precise formation when I showed up!
I just got my housing back from service at Light & Motion, so I needed to get it wet to see if everything was working okay (which it is, by the way). I figured I wouldn’t get anything useful with a wide-angle due to the reports I’ve been hearing about ocean conditions, and I was more than happy not to have to lug that big dome port around anyway, so I thought I’d set up for small stuff and call it good.
Mistake!! As it inevitably happens when I make a decision like that, something big shows up and I’m set up all wrong. I can’t get close, so the strobes are useless and I end up with nothing in the red channel, and I get a lot of backscatter besides. Needless to say, these shots aren’t portfolio-worthy, but I thought I’d show them anyway. Despite not being able to get a good shot, they were pretty darn cool.
Aloha…
Ever been face to face with a shark? I have, but never this close.
This was one of those “Adventure Days” with Dive Makai where we went offshore to see what we could see. We found a pod of pilot whales and slipped into the water to snorkel with them. Having dived with Dive Makai for several years, we’d done this many times, but I never got a good shot of a pilot whale because they would tend to keep their distance.
Today would be different, but not because of the whales. Just as I thought I was getting a good angle on a mother and baby, I turned my head and this guy filled my frame. I forgot all about the whales.
Looking through a tiny viewfinder gave me a false sense of security, so I just kept shooting, even though the shark was probably close enough to breathe on. For those who don’t know, these oceanic white tips aren’t like their more docile cousins, the reef white tips. These guys have a temper, and they don’t need a reason.
Kathy, who was cold from the previous dive and had stayed on the boat, was watching all this from the bow with the rest of the crew. She later told me everybody was a little surprised when they suddenly saw this dorsal fin pop up next to me. I just wish I’d gotten a better shot. Maybe next time.
By the way, it’s our anniversary today. 15 years!
Aloha…
Check out this month’s feature on Upwellings in Bay Nature, featuring one of my photographs in the opening spread.
Happy 4th!
Aloha…
Winner of the 2009 Monterey Bay Aquarium World Oceans Day Photo Contest
Enjoy a slideshow of images I made for the first ever TEDxMaui over the weekend. … [Read More...]
Our Mele is mesmerized by our Christmas tree. She hasn't attacked it yet, … [Read More...]
The Hawaiian Whitespotted Toby (Canthigaster jactator) is one of our more common … [Read More...]
