Getting wet in the Philippines

Post by **buksida** » Tue May 26, 2009 9:09 pm

Because I have no strobes I needed to rely on the built in flash which is not very powerful so I needed to put it on macro mode, don't use the zoom at all, and get as close as possible to get the right lighting balance.

Some are also heavily cropped ... the first pic for example:

Post by **lindosfan1** » Tue May 26, 2009 9:13 pm

Buksida superb pictures, another way of making money, is through the "freelance photographers market handbook" they list all the agencies where they are held as stock plus magazines and books, your photographs are good enough to be sold on. Good luck hope you make some money.

Post by **charlesh** » Wed May 27, 2009 9:02 am

Great pics and thanks for sharing them with us. Surprised that anything still exists over there below the waves what with cyanide/TNT fishing.

Post by **interested** » Wed May 27, 2009 10:09 am

I personally love the Philippines, to such an extent that I am seriously thinking of returning later this year with a view of renting (I will never buy again in Asia).
I agree with the posted comments, as for the internet, I found that they seem to be still be experiencing some teething troubles but in general it is acceptable.
I must say that Manilla is a place to keep your wits about you at night, some shady characters hanging about.
Other than that I wish I had visited years ago!

ozuncle · Post by **ozuncle** » Wed May 27, 2009 11:00 am

Thanks Buksida,
Wonderful photos.
It's hard to believe that such beautiful coral reefs are still around, especially in areas of high population.
Are the locals aware of the need to take care of these areas? Dumping rubbish, dropping anchors etc?

Post by **buksida** » Wed May 27, 2009 2:04 pm

There were a few spots where the coral had been blasted with dynamite but the authorities are slowly realising the tourism potential they have if they preserve the reef so are starting to make an effort. The dive spots we visited have only experienced tourism for 10-15 years and its nothing on the scale of what Thailand gets so at the moment the conditions of the reefs are a lot better over there. For many spots in Thailand the damage has already been done and locals still continue to abuse the ocean.

Round 3:

Goatfish getting a clean

Pufferfish hiding amongst some wreckage

The dance of the anemone crabs

Eye to eye with a Mantis shrimp

Fimbriated Moray getting a teeth polish

Mantis shrimp of the larger variety

Eye to eye with a juvenile lionfish

Coleman's shrimp on a fire urchin (Periclimenes colemani) - (the money shot!)

Tiger cowrie (Cypraea tigris)

Dorid Nudibranch

More on the way ...

Post by **sandman67** » Wed May 27, 2009 6:29 pm

The Colemans shrimp/Fire Urchin is definitely the money mate......also looks like stuff I used to see a lot at University care of little things called Flints.

Envious I am mate......something I only see in piccys and on TV.

Thanks for these tho

Post by **migrant** » Wed May 27, 2009 8:21 pm

Again. great pics

Post by **buksida** » Thu May 28, 2009 1:28 pm

Here we go with batch number four ...

Nudibranch perched on the end of a steel beam

Seahorse 'legging it' across the ocean floor

Hingebeak shrimp

Is it a rock, a coral or a scorpionfish?

Mushroom coral (Fungia)

Nudibranch (Phyllidia varicosa)

Video dude getting up close

Crinoid featherstar clings to a coral

Nudibranch (Nembrotha chamberlaini?)

Huge Gorgonian seafan - this thing was bigger than a person!

We're still not through em all yet!

Post by **charlesh** » Thu May 28, 2009 7:40 pm

Vibrant, beautiful colours. As good as anything I've seen in National Geo!!!

Post by **PeteC** » Thu May 28, 2009 8:10 pm

I won't lie. I'm in the process of switching over to Apple from PC's and have a new IMac upstairs, primarily to easily introduce my daughter to the wonders of computers and internet.

She has been glued Buksi to your photos for the past 3 days and she is entranced, looking at these photos on a 24" screen rather than on my small laptop screen.

Regardless of any other kudos you may receive for your efforts, you are helping educate a child about the wonders of the oceans. Good on ya! Pete

Post by **buksida** » Thu May 28, 2009 8:55 pm

prcscct wrote: She has been glued Buksi to your photos for the past 3 days and she is entranced, looking at these photos on a 24" screen rather than on my small laptop screen.

Regardless of any other kudos you may receive for your efforts, you are helping educate a child about the wonders of the oceans.

Good stuff, was beginning to thing I was boring the board to death, here is another batch ...

Diver silhouette

This moray got a little aggravated by me shoving a camera in its face

Nudibranch or modern art?

Banded sea snake on the hunt (Laticauda colubrina)

Diving deeper

Transparent sea slug (Thecacera picta)

Nudibranch (Chromodoris magnifica)

Reef scene

Hard corals (Family Mussidae?)

The shy Yellow boxfish (Ostracion cubicus)

And we're still not through them all yet ...

Post by **PeteC** » Thu May 28, 2009 9:31 pm

You know, of the pics of humans all are wearing full wet suits. Is that really necessary as doesn't appear too deep or too cold.

Anyone just using the tops because of possible tank abrasion, and not the bottoms? Pete

Post by **buksida** » Thu May 28, 2009 9:42 pm

Average sea temp was 29 degrees so not cold at all. But when you're doing 3 or 4 dives per day, often deeper than 40 meters and are down there for an hour at a time it can get chilly as your body looses heat far quicker in water than air.

A full suit is also better for overall protection, absolutely everything you come into contact with down there bites, stings, scrapes, scratches and hurts in one way or another!

Post by **PeteC** » Thu May 28, 2009 9:53 pm

How deep and how long before you have to worry about decompression? Pete

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