These were all taken in about 40 feet of water. I spotted the turtle as he was gliding along the bottom of the ocean and then he decided to come up for some air and glided right by me on his way up and back down.
I tried to stay with him as he went back to the ocean floor but I just couldn't do it while snorkeling. An underwater photographer I met while in Hawaii this trip (who was a good 40 pounds heavier than me and only snorkeled to get his shots) described it as trying to push a basketball under water, it just ain't gonna happen!
The last shot in this series is about 20 feet from the sea turtle in 40 feet of water.
Because of my experiences swimming in the ocean this trip I have decided to loose some wieght and get in better shape. Cheryl and I have been on a diet since we got back and I have already lost 13 pounds. Loosing the wieght is a good thing but being on a diet really sucks!
oh, good for you!!! awesome! keep it up!
ReplyDeletelove these shots. such a sense of peacefulness and kinship...
Very nice group of underwater photos! Your camera, lens, housing combo does a great job. You might consider taking up scuba, then you could spend as much time at whatever depth you want!
ReplyDeleteI've been scuba diving since I was a teenager, we even went scuba diving the first year we were in Maui but I can't do it anymore. I have developed sinus problems in my old age and the older I get the worst my sinuses get. I am unable to equalize now underwater and going below ten feet really kills me with the pressure on my ears.
DeleteThat's one of the reasons I talked to the photographers I did on Maui. Two of the three just snorkel to get their photos and they had some really amazing photos. I just need to learn more about underwater photography and unfortunately, add to my equipment a little. I need to get a strobe for lighting because you loose a lot of light in the water, even in Hawaii. It seems everything camera related for underwater is about twice what it is for land photography.
Next year I will be shooting with the D700 underwater and I'm really curious how much shooting full frame will change how the photos look. I should get better colors and lighting from what I can tell. I'm crossing my fingers!
Too bad about not being able to equalize your ears any more... but just think of all the money you'll be saving not buying dive gear, cause that isn't cheap either!
DeleteI'm thinking you will need a 1.5 times longer lens to go with your D700 to get the same reach as you get now if you are going to use that underwater next year. But with all the money you saved on dive gear...
Now you're getting as bad as Q, trying to spend all my money on equipment. LOL!
DeleteI was shooting with a Nikon 24mm on the D300 which would give me the crop equivilant of shooting 36mm and I just bought the 50mm so I should be good. According to all the underwater photogs I have talked to and read you are supposed to shoot with the widest angle lens you can and get as close as possible to your subject (easier said than done sometimes!) so technically, I should be using the 24mm even on the D700. I'll be switching back and forth on the next trip to see which I like working with the most. I'll have a review in less than a year! LOL
Awesome shots, Ron! What a beauty!
ReplyDeleteQuite an underwater adventure swimming with this turtle. Appears it wasn't to concerned with your presence or the camera. Peaceful captures!
ReplyDeleteCongrats on the weight loss. How true it is,-Being in shape makes for better exploring and adventuring!
Thanks Parker! Just 20 more pounds and I will be where I want to be.
DeleteThe turtles didn't seem to mind people too much. I guess they are just so used to people being around them that they don't care anymore. It is against the law to touch them so they probably don't get messed with too much.
Shaving in Maui, buying more camera, and loosing weight! You're not going through midlife crisis are you?
ReplyDeleteLOL Q! If I'm driving a Crovette the next time you see me you'll know!
DeleteI've actually been wanting to loose wait for some time now but I have just been too lazy to do it. Now I'm motivated because I want to get better at the water photos and I need to swim like I used to and it's hard to do that when I"m shaped like a blimp. LOL
Oh yea, you can NEVER have enough camera equipment!
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