A Ventura Thanksgiving

Spent time with Extended Family in Ventura CA for the holidays.

Feeding Frenzied Fray

The Boat went out on a Great Wednesday! We found some Bottlenosed dolphin, as well as 4-5 feeding Blue/Fin Whales! Quite a sight, although I'll never live down not having my snorkel gear: The water was easily 50-100ft viz. At least I got to see some whales up close and personal! Also got to meet and watch Richard Herrmann at Work, shooting both from a boat and the water! Check out his images from the day on the "Behind the Scenes" portion of his website: richardherrmann.com

Tidepools.

Went to the Tidepools just North of Scripps Pier a bit later in the afternoon yesterday. Quite a difficult shoot carrying a 15 lbs camera system while navigating over slippery sharp rocks barefoot all the while racing the sun.

In the (Sea) Lions' Den

Dan and I took a snorkel around the cove on Wednesday November 9 where we came into contact with a very unhappy sea lion, who was kind enough to show a threat display. Here's to you Daniel!

Snorkel for the Kill!

My World-renowned dive buddy, Daniel, went out in search of spearin' some fishies. Alas, the Hunt was fruitless, excempt a few pictures.

Details

On-Campus Photo Shoot for class concerning details and textures. Got to use "ol' Blue", my 60mm Macro lens.

Breaking In the Lens

Woke up yesterday morning and first thing first: quick trip to the restroom. In the short time it took for me to use the commode and return to my bedside, my dutiful Neighbor called me and left a message, one of most spectacular luck: We are launching!

I accept the call of the Big Blue, and We're off on voyage for adventure 7-miles off the coast of Southern California, My hometown! Today will be the day I break in my new Whalin' Lens, a Nikon 55-200mm Zoom complete with Vibration Reduction technology.

We first cross paths with a small pod of dolphins, and head out further until we spot our first spout on the horizon: our first Blue of the day!

Throughout our incredibley fortunate and fruitful triup we spot a total of 3 Blue whales and My first Fin whale, the second largest animal on Earth!

PS My Whalin' Lens worked like a charm! Its my Baby!

                                          ^A Fin Whale, the Greyhounds of the sea, discernable from the Blues for their well-defined Fin

Belmont Park

As part of a class assignment to shoot "Urban Portraiture", I headed for Mission Beach, and Belmont Park. Grabbed this interesting take on the Coaster and the crossroads Ventura and Mission

San Diego Harbor

Recently took a trip to San Diego Bay in the early evening to shoot some frames off for class. Also got to stretch my 55-200mm VR zoom lens' Legs before taking her on the Boat.

Seal Day

Quick trip to a very open Children's pool. Usually, This beach is void of people, open for hundreds of seals to settle up on the beach only. Today, the beach was filled with people, both on the beach and in the water snorkeling with a few seal pups.

Eclipse

                              

                                          Captain Courageous, Careful and Calm, Careens towards Cetacean

                                         

                                             Karl and the Blue Whale... Paddleboarding in for the Krill



Blue Haze

A Spur-of-the-Moment day on the boat brings a beautiful bounty of Blue whale happenings! We venture straight out, using a distant white vessel as our steady way point. As the boat grew larger and larger, closer and closer, a spout is spotted starboard the apparent commercial whale watcher. As we investigated closer, we found ourselves following two giant Blue Whales, the largest animals on Earth! A spout and spray every few minutes kept us tight on their tales, without us getting too mesmerized in their beauty. It wasn't long before the Whales' motives became clear: lurking just below the surface were balls of a tiny shrimp-like animal called krill. The pinkie nail-sized crustacean, ironically, is the main food source for the world's largest Mammal! Out of no where, a large side flipper cuts through the surface followed by a speeding mass of gray flesh as the animal curves through the water, gulping up as much of the red it can grab. Truly a magnificent sight!

                                         Apologies for the poor quality, but this image depicts the feeding 100-ft. Blue Whale

Back in the Game!

Did you see the new National Geographic Magazine? Did you? Did you pick it up, thumb through the pages and find your eyes scanning the Beautiful photographs of California Tidepools? I sure Did!

I found June 2011 Issue inspiring me to venture down to the Tidepools here at La Jolla Shores, just North of the Scripps Pier, It felt incredible to venture down to the beach and see the creatures of the big blue with my newfound energy and Health!

Salvage from the Deep

A Very Special "Thank You" to Aaron for his generous time and effort (As well as letting me borrow his Camera)...

And Titus, My second-unit Director...

A Whale's Tale

Today began as any ol' gray bearded fisherman or sea-farer would tell:

"Ominous was the fog that swallowed any poor souls that dare venture into 'er ocean's mighty grasps!"

Slowly, swell by swell, we ventured deeper into the unknown. With no visibility, we had but GPS to guide us as we gradually headed due West. Swell-by-Swell, we pushed forward. At 3 miles off, we stop to have a cup of sailor's coffee. The warmth satisfies even the most hardened of the crew. We collectively agree to head North to find the creature which we are once again after, the ever elusive Gray Whale.

The more we push forward, North-Bound, the clearer the view becomes. Therefore the throttle is pushed up and we are headed North, wake trailing behind like entrails of the Giant Squid feared by many-a sailor!

Alas! Blue Skies are spotted to the West, and now become our current waypoint! Sunshine hits us o'er head, the heat lights up the cold and drenched crew. We are on our way, one step closer!

But yay! o'er port-bow! A sharp eyed sailor points and whimpers like a Mad Dog, "Dolphins! O'er Yonder Cap'ain!"

Hundreds of dolphins swarm the bow of our mighty vessel, frolicking like puppies in the dampness. Clicks, the sounds of the sirens themselves! The over-powering thrusts of Dolphin tail slapping the surface, followed by a hard pound to the side of our esteemed vessel! A-vast! We're hit by wayward sea lions caught amidst the confusion of the fray! Our beloved Captain surveys the damage: "She still be sea-worthy! Davy Jones not be takin' this mighty ship today! A-vast, ye Scallywags!"

We circle around once more the dolphins at-play, Sun rising high into the afternoon sky. "Thar she blows!" comes a cry from behind the helm! Our Cap'ain spots a spout on the horizon!

"This be a friendly whale, ne'er have I seen such a creature this close!"

We be headin' home much richer and experienced Sailors than e'er before!

Dolphin Appreciation Day

6:45am comes really quick. Especially when one goes to bed at midnight, a "collegiate" hour.

I board the boat, and am off on my third whale watching tour of 2011 by 8:15am. The morning's fog can still be seen resonating as the boat rushes towards the southern-most isle of the Coronados. My trip takes me around the southern bend of the island looking for the spouts of the elusive Gray Whales as they make their perilous trek to the lagoons of Mexico. As I round the tip and head eastward, my confidence in finding these beautiful creature never falters. I keep my eyes peeled, jacket held to my chest as I scan the horizon for any sign of the cetaceans. Whether it be spouts of water resulting from the animal's exhale, or a whale "foot-print", a disturbance in the surface made by the tail of our bounty as it dives.

I head North, back towards home. After an hour or so closer to home, I spot a few spouts near a small group of whale watching tour cruises. Settling for a position parallel to the cetaceans, I watch as they come up for air. A few breaks in the water, and the whale comes up for air: dolphins are leading the whales. The sight is quite amazing but it isn't long until I am surrounded by dolphins. I break from the whales to allow the dolphins to swarm the bow and ride along side me. A sensation swells inside my chest at the sight of these beautiful and graceful creatures. I realize that in search of whales, I have inadvertently rediscovered a strong sense of appreciation for the smaller and far more numerous cousin of that which I had originally set out after. Now, ain't that a story?

                                 

A day at the Zoo

Took a trip to the zoo, where I was lucky enough to visit the animals of the wild kingdom! Although I prefer shooting somewhere a little more wet, I used this as an opportunity to create some images in a more controlled environment.

Adventure at the Coronado Islands!

Bent knees and a firm grasp all but steady me as I bounce across a vast deep blue sea.   I am ambitiously looking for migrating Gray Whales, which breed in Mexican lagoons after a long migration from the North. My first destination is the Northern-most island of Los Coronados.  I see no Gray Whales. Between islands, I see a small pod of dolphins, whose dorsal fins can often be mistaken for ripples in the water. They momentarily swim , hopping furiously in the waves. After circling the islands, I decided to head back North in search of these elusive Cetaceans. It is not long after passing the North Island that I begin seeing spouts of water in the distance, which I quickly change course towards: the Gray Whales are here!