Once again this year, the Wrinkles shore dive for July fell onto Catalina Island.
One of the best things about summer on Catalina is the big three are always there: Giant Black Sea Bass, Bat Rays and the huge schools of Jack Mackerel ("Jack Macks".)
My wide angle objectives were simple this weekend:
* Get some shots of the park this time of year - capture the high sun through the kelp, the giant schools of silver Jack Macks. Try to convey the unique feel of the park in the summer.
* Shots of the DSS Monkey Diving rig - the DSS Super Scooter 12, in action. I wanted to capture some shots of Monkey Diving through the kelp and amongst the Jack Macks.
* Re-shoot the Free Diving scooter series. We shot the tests about a week after we got the scoots a year ago. We know a lot more now, I'm a better shooter now - time to re-shoot.
I knew we'd also shoot some stuff outside the park, as well.
The water wasn't in the best of condition - surely not as nice as last July. It was the best water we've seen this year, but as anyone who was there can tell you, the viz wasn't as good as it could be.
That said, Claudette was patient as I shot nearly 470-some wide angle shots this weekend. I was shooting everything. As always, some came out OK, some came out great, some stunk up the place and in some shots I was fortunate to have it all come together.
HBDG, you rock. Thanks for everything. We're gonna keep looking until we find November water. You're getting better and better at this stuff. Keep pushing.
Photos below. Full gallery from the weekend is here: Linky
Enjoy.
---
Ken
======================================
Part 2 of 3: The Wides
======================================
LIFE IN AND AROUND THE PARK
On one of our dives, we sprinted over to the Valiant (OK... on several of the dives...) and I was stunned to see the starboard side covered with gorgonians. Its always been the side of the hull with the most life, but its just exploded since I was last there in June. It looked more like a tropical reef than some picked-over rotting hulk.
As we came off the Val, I found a Garibaldi nest. I motioned 'dette to get close to it. I'm all get closer, closer... get CLOSER. The 'baldi was going a little nuts, all clacking and drumming. I love the reflection in her mask.
On the way back to the park, we started encountering the Jack Mack schools. OMG - the schools were so huge. This shot is also my shameless plug for our DSS gear...
Wall 'o Fish
Auntie 'Em, Auntie 'Em - its a twister!
Later in the afternoon on Friday, the sun got higher and started to blast through the kelp and light up the Jack Macks
More Jack Macks in the afternoon sun
Ken Not Being Ready: I was hovering and shooting the Jack Macks in the sun. After about 10 or 15 shots of looking right into the sun, my eyes are fried, so I take a break and just relax on the hover. As I'm relaxing, I look over and there is this huge Bat Ray flying right at me. I shoot in manual, and have been shooting directly into the sun, so all of the settings are completely wrong. I start spinning dials and the Ray is bearing down on me. He sees the commotion and changes his trajectory and then flies about a foot under me and I get off about three really bad shots.
Strobe in the wrong place, wrong intensity, my clip is hanging, etc, etc...
I include this shot mostly as a reminder to me that if I'm in the water, I need to be ready all the time. On deck, on duty. I muffed the best opportunity I would get all weekend for a head-on Bat Ray shot because I was "taking a break..." Sux.
We scooted over to the wreck of the Kismet - and there was this 'baldi with an anger management issue. We hovered and watched him for quite awhile, and I took a lot of shots. As we scooted away to go to the SueJac wreck, we looked down and saw he was guarding a nest way down in there we didn't see at first...
Chica on the top swim through of the SueJac, checking out one of the Fed Ex that are always, ALWAYS there. This shot is an homage to Dale Sheckler. If you're a SoCal, you get it...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
One of the best things about summer on Catalina is the big three are always there: Giant Black Sea Bass, Bat Rays and the huge schools of Jack Mackerel ("Jack Macks".)
My wide angle objectives were simple this weekend:
* Get some shots of the park this time of year - capture the high sun through the kelp, the giant schools of silver Jack Macks. Try to convey the unique feel of the park in the summer.
* Shots of the DSS Monkey Diving rig - the DSS Super Scooter 12, in action. I wanted to capture some shots of Monkey Diving through the kelp and amongst the Jack Macks.
* Re-shoot the Free Diving scooter series. We shot the tests about a week after we got the scoots a year ago. We know a lot more now, I'm a better shooter now - time to re-shoot.
I knew we'd also shoot some stuff outside the park, as well.
The water wasn't in the best of condition - surely not as nice as last July. It was the best water we've seen this year, but as anyone who was there can tell you, the viz wasn't as good as it could be.
That said, Claudette was patient as I shot nearly 470-some wide angle shots this weekend. I was shooting everything. As always, some came out OK, some came out great, some stunk up the place and in some shots I was fortunate to have it all come together.
HBDG, you rock. Thanks for everything. We're gonna keep looking until we find November water. You're getting better and better at this stuff. Keep pushing.
Photos below. Full gallery from the weekend is here: Linky
Enjoy.
---
Ken
======================================
Part 2 of 3: The Wides
======================================
LIFE IN AND AROUND THE PARK
On one of our dives, we sprinted over to the Valiant (OK... on several of the dives...) and I was stunned to see the starboard side covered with gorgonians. Its always been the side of the hull with the most life, but its just exploded since I was last there in June. It looked more like a tropical reef than some picked-over rotting hulk.
As we came off the Val, I found a Garibaldi nest. I motioned 'dette to get close to it. I'm all get closer, closer... get CLOSER. The 'baldi was going a little nuts, all clacking and drumming. I love the reflection in her mask.
On the way back to the park, we started encountering the Jack Mack schools. OMG - the schools were so huge. This shot is also my shameless plug for our DSS gear...
Wall 'o Fish
Auntie 'Em, Auntie 'Em - its a twister!
Later in the afternoon on Friday, the sun got higher and started to blast through the kelp and light up the Jack Macks
More Jack Macks in the afternoon sun
Ken Not Being Ready: I was hovering and shooting the Jack Macks in the sun. After about 10 or 15 shots of looking right into the sun, my eyes are fried, so I take a break and just relax on the hover. As I'm relaxing, I look over and there is this huge Bat Ray flying right at me. I shoot in manual, and have been shooting directly into the sun, so all of the settings are completely wrong. I start spinning dials and the Ray is bearing down on me. He sees the commotion and changes his trajectory and then flies about a foot under me and I get off about three really bad shots.
Strobe in the wrong place, wrong intensity, my clip is hanging, etc, etc...
I include this shot mostly as a reminder to me that if I'm in the water, I need to be ready all the time. On deck, on duty. I muffed the best opportunity I would get all weekend for a head-on Bat Ray shot because I was "taking a break..." Sux.
We scooted over to the wreck of the Kismet - and there was this 'baldi with an anger management issue. We hovered and watched him for quite awhile, and I took a lot of shots. As we scooted away to go to the SueJac wreck, we looked down and saw he was guarding a nest way down in there we didn't see at first...
Chica on the top swim through of the SueJac, checking out one of the Fed Ex that are always, ALWAYS there. This shot is an homage to Dale Sheckler. If you're a SoCal, you get it...
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
.
