Underpressure Photography - Blog about underwater and nature photography: 2011

Friday, December 30, 2011

Dive Report - Shaws Cove & frogfish 12/29/11

Probably a roughbar frogfish (Antennarius avalonis)

Date: 12/29/11
Location: Shaws Cove, Laguna Beach
Time in: 10:55 am
Time under: 81 min
Max depth: 40 ft
Avg temp: 57 F
Vis: 5-10 ft at depth, 15 ft in the shallows
Waves: Lake Laguna
Buddies: Mike H., Debbie K, DJ S, Cathy S

Photos: http://www.underpressurephoto.com/Dive-Reports/20111229-Scuba-Shaws/

Highlights: The frogfish, of course. We also saw a nice, large moray and a large horn shark. Finally visited Shelly of Shaws.

California Moray Eel (Gymnothorax mordax)

Mike and I joined Debbie and friends to go visit the frogfish. Without a guide, I don't think we would have found it, tucked away and camouflaged. As I always do when I set up my camera before a dive, I did some test shots. Those seemed to work without a hitch. Once underwater, however, my camera wouldn't fire reliably with the strobes on (fired once or twice and then no more). My guess is either the hot shoe flash connector on the camera or the TTL cable connectors weren't quite seated correctly. So I found myself going to visit the rare frogfish with a camera that wouldn't fire with strobes.

Probably a roughbar frogfish (Antennarius avalonis) and a treefish

I remembered Allison V. and Andy S.'s recent article on doing still photography with video lights and was inspired. I cranked up the ISO a bit, opened up the shutter and slowed down the shutter speed. I was using NOAA Jim's NiteRider dual HID light (thanks Jim, still helping me out!), which is basically a video light and was determined to make lemonade out of lemons. The photos needed a little more help in the white balance department, but actually came out ok.

Scott

Sunday, November 27, 2011

Dive Report - La Jolla Shores 11/27/2011

Catalina Triopha (Triopha catalinae) on Valecitos Pt.

Date: 11/26/11
Location: La Jolla Shores
Time in: 9:30 am
Time under: 57 min
Max depth: 86 ft
Ave temp: 55 F
Vis: 15-20 ft at depth
Waves: 2-3 ft, somewhat challenging
Buddies: Erin, Steve & Mike H.

Photos: http://www.underpressurephoto.com/Dive-Reports/20111126-Scuba-LJS/

Highlights: Beautiful day, good visibility at depth. My first clingfish.

Juvenile clingfish on a sea hare.

Had a nice dive with Erin, Steve and Mike. Mike found a tiny juvenile clingfish amongst the scattered dead market squid. I was also hoping to find the mantis shrimp below Valecitos point, but alas, didn't find any in our short time at 80 ft. My air was running low, so we quickly looked and didn't find any holes.

Saturday, September 24, 2011

Dive Report - Pt Loma Birthday Dives 9/23/11

Spencer photographing the reef near Train Wheels in Pt Loma

Date: 9/23/11
Location: Train Wheels, Pt Loma
Time in: 9:18 am
Time under: 44 min
Max depth: 90 ft
Avg temp: 54 F
Vis: 15+
Swells/surge: Calm swells, some surge
Buddies: Spencer, Marla, Kim, Mike H

Location: Lazy Days Wreck, Pt Loma
Time in: 11:17 am
Time under: 50 min
Max depth: 79 ft
Avg temp: 54 F
Vis: 5-10 ft
Swells/surge: None/none
Buddies: Mike H, Marla, Kim, Spencer

Photos: http://www.underpressurephoto.com/Dive-Reports/20110923-Birthday-Dives/

Mike H in the gloom off Pt Loma

Highlights: Fun day out on the water on the Humboldt. We were spoiled by Anita and Ryan and I had the pleasure of finally meeting Bethy. It was Kim's, Mike's and Marla's birthday and we gorged on cake, fruit, beer (root and otherwise). For the second dive, when I got in the water, I noticed a cold feeling around my waist and quickly realized water was coming into my drysuit. I quickly got my fins off and climbed back onto the boat, but the damage was already done. Apparently, my drysuit zipper was just about 1 inch away from actually being zipped shut. Oops. I completed the second dive, but was pretty cold, so I decided to sit out the third dive soggy and take photos of my dive buddies instead.

Scott

Birthday cake!

Sunday, July 17, 2011

Dive report - La Jolla Cove 7/9/11

Diver Julie Lorenzen in the murky kelp forest.

Date: 7/9/11
Location: La Jolla Cove
Time in: 8:56 am
Time under: 36 min
Max depth: 33 ft
Avg temp: 59 F
Vis: 5-10 ft
Waves: 1-3 ft, some breaking in the cove
Buddies: Julie L., Mikey B.

Photos: http://www.underpressurephoto.com/Dive-Reports/20110709-Scuba-La-Jolla-Cove/

Diver Mikey Bear in the kelp forest.

Highlights: Getting out and diving!

It was great to get out and dive with Julie and Mikey. Conditions were less than ideal underwater, but pretty darn nice above. We went searching for sevengills, but had to settle for just enjoying getting wet. I got to practice my closeup, wide angle diver shots (since vis was pretty bad).

Mikey Bear and Julie Lorenzen after the dive.

Sunday, July 3, 2011

Tribute to 'NOAA Jim' Kinane

NOAA Jim Kinane and Barbara Lloyd diving Pt Loma on Thanksgiving Day, 2009.

I met Jim Kinane in 2008, when I went out diving on the Scuba Do. Jim was always there, ready to assist. He was always ready to give advice when asked and was always concerned with the safety of other divers. He would rarely ask for any help himself. He always kept us entertained above water with stories about technical dives he'd done in the past or stories about work. Jim was my favorite diver photo subject.

Jim Kinane cleaning Donathan's plaque on the HMCS Yukon.

This past weekend (6/25/11), Jim joined Mikey, Barbara, Marla, my parents and me for a dive trip to the Pt Loma kelp beds on my parent's boat. Jim had a great day with us out on the water.

Jim Kinane scooters over the HMCS Yukon. This is my other favorite photo of Jim. I got a large print of this and it's been hanging on my wall for about 3 weeks now.

He passed away on Saturday, 7/2/11 due to health issues while on the surface, above the HMCS Yukon. He will be missed immensely by a great many people. This photo album is my tribute to him.

http://www.underpressurephoto.com/Underwater/NOAA-Jim-Kinane/17856086_XHKVsJ

Saturday, July 2, 2011

Dive report - La Jolla Shores 7/2/11

Yellow Dorid (Acanthodoris lutea)

Date: 7/2/11
Location: La Jolla Shores
Time in: 6:56 AM
Time under: 64 min
Max depth: 86 ft
Min temp: 54 F
Vis: 20+ below 60 ft and the thick green soup
Waves: 2-3 ft with some energy.
Buddies: Kim, Terry & Marla

More photos: http://www.underpressurephoto.com/Dive-Reports/20110702-Scuba-LJS/

Mating White spotted porostomes (Doriopsilla albopunctata)

Highlights: Nice relaxing dive at the old standby, LJS. My first photos of a Acanthadoris lutea (yellow dorid). Lots of juvenile octopi.

Met in the parking lot at 6 AM, trying to beat the Independence Day weekend crowds and got front row parking. Got out through the largeish surf and many surfers spread south past the life guard tower. Dropped down into the green gloom, the type where you can't see your fin tips very well from the surface. As we continued dropping past 60 feet, the visibility opened up into a dark expanse. We hit bottom around 85 feet and slowly made our way back up to the wall at 60 feet. Visibility wasn't as good along the wall, but not terrible either, probably 10-12 ft. Flashlights were handy for keeping track of dive buddies.

Mating San Diego Dorids (Diaulula sandiegensis)

There were many juvenile octopi out below the wall and at Vallecitos Point. Lots of mating nudibranchs and I saw two different yellow dorids. The point is also covered in various colors of spiny brittle stars. We exited closer to Vallecitos St and avoided the surf and surfers. Breakfast at Starbucks topped off the morning.

Sculpin

Scott

Dive report - Pt Loma Kelp Beds 6/25/11

Jim scooters by the anchor.

Date: 6/25/11
Location: Somewhere near Camel Head, Pt Loma

Dive #1
Time in: 10:55 am
Time under: 47 min
Max depth: 79 ft
Min temp: 56 F
Vis: ~20 ft below the green gloom
Waves: 2-3 ft swells
Buddies: Marla, Jim, Mikey, Barbara

Marla swims over the reef.

Dive #2
Time in: 1:42 pm
Time under: 44 min
Max depth: 88 ft
Min temp: 56 F
Vis: ~20 ft below the green gloom
Waves: 2-3 ft swells
Buddies: Marla

More photos: http://www.underpressurephoto.com/Dive-Reports/20110625-Scuba-Pt-Loma/

Highlights: Getting out on my parent's boat with good friends.

Proliferating Anemone (Epiactis prolifera) on kelp.

I took 4 dive buddies out on my parent's boat to dive Pt Loma. Conditions were good, with sun and mild swells (for the first dive). There was a thick layer of algae down to about 40 ft and it opened up a little to about 20 ft vis below that. On the first dive, I shot wide angle, though conditions weren't very good for it with a lot of surge.

Club-tipped Anemone (Corynactis californica)

In between dives, we had a yummy black forest cake for Mikey's (22nd?) birthday. :) I switched to macro, but realized after dropping down that the focus limiter on the 60mm macro lens was on. Fortunately, it was still usable, so I had to practice taking photos with with a little more surroundings, rather than closeups.

Thanks to my mom for taking photos above water:

Barbara, me, Marla, Mikey, my dad and Jim.

Ready to do a giant stride.

Mikey, Marla and I ready to drop.

Sunday, June 19, 2011

Dive report - La Jolla Cove 6/18/11

Spencer in the kelp forest." alt="Spencer in the kelp forest.

Date: 6/18/11
Location: La Jolla Cove
Time in: 7:03 am
Time under: 76 min
Max depth: 31 ft
Ave temp: 63 F
Vis: 10-15 ft, hazy, but blue
Waves: 1 ft, easy
Buddies: Mike H., Steve L., Spencer T. with surface support from Laura C.

More Photos: http://www.underpressurephoto.com/Dive-Reports/20110618-Scuba-La-Jolla-Cove/

Highlights: My second dive at La Jolla Cove, hard to believe. The water color was still a nice blue. One small GSB.

Spencer in the kelp forest.

We decided to forgo our normal LJS dive and do an early dive at the Cove, looking for sevengill sharks. Unfortunately, we were skunked. I saw one giant sea bass swim quickly in between us (no one else saw it) and later on a school of what I think were white sea bass. Visibility was not as great as earlier in the week, but the water still had a nice blue tint to it.

Giant Sea Bass (aka Black Sea Bass) (Stereolepis gigas) in the murky water with a diver in the background.

Steve and Mike in the kelp.

Saturday, June 18, 2011

Dive report - La Jolla Shores 6/12/11

Date: 6/12/11
Location: LJS Main Wall
Time in: 7:39 am
Time under: 66 min
Max depth: 65 ft
Ave temp: 57 F
Vis: 20+ ft
Waves: 1-3 ft
Buddy: Steve, Mike, Newell

More photos:
http://www.underpressurephoto.com/Dive-Reports/20110612-Scuba-LJS

Highlights: Great relaxing dive with good buddies and good visibility. Good to be in the water again after a month. We saw all the usual suspects on the wall with the bonus of two octopi either mating or fighting. It was a tangled mess of tentacles.

A pair of mating or fighting Two Spot Octopus (Octopus bimaculatus or Octopus bimaculoides)

Two Spot Octopus (Octopus bimaculatus or Octopus bimaculoides)

Sculpin

Stearn's Aeolid (Facelina stearnsi) and Spiny Brittle Stars (Ophiothrix spiculata)

Sarcastic Fringehead (Neoclinus blanchardi)

Saturday, June 4, 2011

Dive report - Pt Loma Kelp Beds 5/1/11

Date: 5/1/2011
Location: Camel Head, Pt Loma Kelp Beds

#1
Time in: 10:11 am
Time under: 45 min
Max depth: 85 ft
Ave temp: 52 F
Vis: 15-20 ft
Waves: 2-3 ft swells
Mix: 33%
Buddy: Steve M.

#2
Time in: 12:24 pm
Time under: 44 min
Max depth: 83 ft
Ave temp: 52 F
Vis: ~15 ft
Waves: 2-3 ft swells, strong current
Mix: 32%
Buddy: Steve M.

Photos: http://www.underpressurephoto.com/Dive-Reports/20110501-Scuba-Pt-Loma/

Red Gorgonian (Lophogorgia chilensis) and Kelp Rockfish (Sebastes atrovirens)

As always, on the first dive I was shooting wide angle, just in case there was epic vis. I'd rather have one dive with mediocre vis on wide angle than miss the chance to have 2 dives on wide with epic visibility. We dropped down the anchor line and I started photographing the reef. Next thing I know, I'm getting hit from behind. I slowly turn around (trying now to knock into Steve) and he's waving and pointing frantically, making the shark sign (fin on head). I missed it. Steve had seen a large sevengill shark. We spent the rest of the dive keeping one eye open for a return visit, but alas we didn't see it again.

Red Gorgonian (Lophogorgia chilensis) on a reef in the Pt Loma kelp forest.

In between dives, I switched to a macro lens and the current picked up. After backrolling off the side of his boat, we had to pull ourselves hand over fist using Steve's new granny line up to the anchor line. I pulled myself inverted down the anchor line, trying to get below the current. It slowed down significantly about 20 feet under. I reached the bottom and waited for Steve to arrive, unfolding my camera strobes. Steve helped me find the Hilton's Aeolid he had found on the first dive, in addition to numerous tritonia festivas, three lined aeolids, an aegires albopunctatus and of course too many hermissendas and spanish shawls to count.

Tritonia festiva

At the end of the second dive, I grabbed the anchor line to start ascending. Steve unhooked the anchor from the reef and the current immediately started Mr Toad's Wild Ride. :O I was hanging onto the anchor line at about 60 feet as the boat is being pulled by the current. The kelp was streaming past and I'm thinking that I better not let go of the anchor line, otherwise we're going to have a long, hard swim to the boat. Steve ascends and at one point is drifting along side me, but not holding onto the anchor line. The current was moving us at the same speed as the boat. :) We got back onboard with no issues and had a very choppy and slow ride back to the dock.

Diver Steve Murvine photographing in the kelp forest off Pt Loma.

Another excellent day of diving in Southern California!

Saturday, April 16, 2011

Dive Report - LJS 4/16/11

Date: 4/16/11
Location: LJS, Main Wall
Time in: 7:46 am
Time under: 63 min
Max depth: 65 ft
Ave temp: 54 F
Vis: ~5 ft in the shallows, 10-15 on the wall.
Waves: 2-3 feet, kind of annoying with a sinus rinse on the way out.
Buddies: Kim, Spencer & Robert

Diver Robert Casagrand and a tube dwelling anemone.

More photos: http://www.underpressurephoto.com/Dive-Reports/20110416-Scuba-La-Jolla-Shores/

Highlights: Back in the water after 2 and 1/2 months! And as a bonus, I still remember how to put my gear together!

It was great getting back in the water on such a beautiful day down at La Jolla Shores. Conditions were only so-so, with 2-3 foot waves, one right after another and mediocre vis on the wall, but we still had a good dive.

Yellow Crab (Cancer anthonyi)

I packed for wide angle, knowing that it was probably a macro day. Sure enough, in the crap patch were nudi's galore. Tons of hermissendas, dirona pictas and a couple of dendrotonus frondosus were out. We got buzzed by a cormorant at 60 feet, but it was too fast to get a photo. I busied myself playing around with the strobe settings and trying to photograph closeups (but not too close) of the 3 or 4 horn sharks we saw.

Diver Kim Mitchell above the sand at La Jolla Shores.

I turned around earlier than the rest of the group due to the cold and wanting to leave plenty of air in case the waves were still bad. I swam in under them, coming up in 5 feet of water and didn't have any problems exiting. Cap'n crunch french toast for breakfast with my dive buddies afterwards topped off the morning.

PS. don't forget the La Jolla marathon is tomorrow. Good luck to all of those running in it!

Scott

Sunday, March 27, 2011

Black and whites

Inspired by a recent article by Jim Patterson in California Diver Magazine, I decided to go back through some of my photos and try them out in black and white. In some ways, it's given new life to photos that I otherwise would not have shared, such as this one from Bali:

Sea anemone, Bali, Indonesia

And then there's one that was made for black and white. A market squid from the end of one of the recent squid runs off southern California:

Market Squid (Loligo opalescens) after a hard night

Usually colorful nudibranchs take on an even more otherworldly feel in monochrome. They seem to glow from within:

Hermissenda crassicornis

Wrecks also tend to lend themselves to good black and white photos, but the size and murky water around the HMCS Yukon makes the shape of the wreck much too large for a single photo. In this photo, I focused on the forward guns, with some giant white-plumed anemones as foreground subjects.