Capturing the Moment

      How To Take Professional Quality Photos of Dolphins in the Wild    This article hopes to help you get the most out of your wild dolphin encounter. If you have ever tried to take photos of wild dolphins you know how hard it can be trying to time it just right as they leap out of the water. Or if you are headed to a place like Hawaii you may be lucky enough to see them in the water. After living on the water for the greater part of the last decade I have had countless opportunities to photograph dolphins, and I have found several tips and tricks to nailing the best shot. Leaping Spotted Dolphins    As with any wildlife photography, the more you research and learn about your animal subject, the better position you will be in to nail the best photograph. Different species of dolphins act differently so knowing what their behaviors are can be essential. What makes dolphin and whale photography so difficult is the fact that they only spend ...

Map of Reunion Island and the Indian Ocean The Best Ways to Explore and Photograph Reunion Island   It is good to have a plan when you end up on the other side of the world. No matter where you are coming from, Reunion probably falls into that category of 'other side of the world.' In fact for me coming from Alaska, my flight went straight over the North Pole and back down on the other side instead of heading across North America, the Atlantic, and then Africa. Reunion lies at around 20° South latitude and has a wonderful tropical climate.      I'm used to volcanic, tropical islands, about 20° away from the equator because that is exactly where Hawaii lies, just in a different ocean and north of the equator instead of south. It turns out that there are many similarities between the two: both are geologic hotspots with massive shield volcanoes, both have similar climates and ecosystems, some of the same birds can be seen, and the underwater life i...

Breaching humpback whale, ( Megaptera novaeangliae ) in front of Ma'alaea Harbor, Maui, HI  Photography can be a job for some and a way to make memories for others. While it is partly both for me the true draw of it is the challenge. Getting the lighting, focus, and other settings right is a challenge that can always be bettered. Going underwater unleashes all new challenges for a photographer with less light and suspended particles to deal with. But a nature photographer takes all of this to the next level of difficulty. When your subject is a scared fish, or stalking lion, or a lightning fast humming bird all of the other challenges of photography have to be mastered before you can really come home with some good pictures. But even with a great mastery of the basics, getting to know the animal you are photographing is essential if you want to be ready to capture that apex moment.  Whales are one of my favorite animals to photograph. They are very difficult to capture si...

http://www.mauiweekly.com/page/content.detail/id/510931.html?nav=11 Check this link out. I am featured as one of the expert photographers giving tips about taking better photos of whales. I tell people that nothing will make you appreciate a beautiful whale picture more than coming out and trying to take one yourself. It has to be one of the most challenging styles of photography out there. Wildlife photography in general is very difficult. Add in the extra complication of being on a moving boat, in a restless ocean, trying to photograph an animal that only spends a tiny fraction of its life at the surface and you have the makings of a big challenge. I have been leading a photo safari whale watch on Wednesdays lately which has been a great experience. There is always a good mix of photographers on board. Last week I had a woman with a little point and shoot camera and a professional photographer who had been featured in National Geographic. Here's to many more photo opportuni...