I had the pleasure of diving with “seasoned” divers last April 26 & 27. It was a doubly fun because I did not have to worry about being left behind while taking snapshots underwater.

There were four (4) of us clicking away to our hearts content. Each dive lasted for more than 80 minutes Dives were done at the Sepok and Twin Rocks on the first day, Beatrice and Mainit on the second day.

It was a great weekend for me and my new photo divebuddies. Cheers to the old and new paparrazis.

Here are some of the pictures taken that weekend.

CARLOS’ SHOTS

JETT’S SHOTS

TORPEDO JOHN’s SHOTS

John kindly send me your pics via e-mail or post them on Diveshoppe Multiply. Thanks.

More underwater scenes…

Paparrazi Angel Alberto

Carlos and the fishes

Formal Divewear

‘D BOSS

and a few topside shots…

]]> http://diveshoppe2003.wordpress.com/2008/05/13/fundive-426-2708/feed/ Paz http://diveshoppe2003.wordpress.com/2008/05/05/paul-vincent-napoles-polys-boy/ http://diveshoppe2003.wordpress.com/2008/05/05/paul-vincent-napoles-polys-boy/#comments Mon, 05 May 2008 03:46:14 +0000 lea alissa http://diveshoppe2003.wordpress.com/?p=2202

This is Poly’s wife (Jenny) and son (Paul Vincent). It’s his son’s birthday/baptism on the 25th of May! (sorry I couldn’t find a photo of Poly..)

Poly is the best boatman in Anilao and there is no doubt about it. He is known at various resorts and all the boatmen of Anilao believe he is the best. He knows where the dive sites are and he can drop you at exact points in any dive site. He grew up by the sea and was trained by the best instructor (shempre si Tatay Dave lang po!). He understands every diver’s needs and more. He is every divemaster’s dream boatman. I have known him since 2000. He still remembers my first dive, my first cave dive and completely understands my fear of big waves. He believes I am jinxed because every time I dive the winds come and the waves grow. But that’s just me.

Anyhoo, if you feel like sending anything to wish Paul Vincent a happy birthday, please contact Dave. (volunteer na kita tay..) It will make Poly very very very very very happy!!!

CONGRATULATIONS to the new PADI Open Water Divers Mark, Matthew, Monica, Pam, Kay & JN. Welcome to the Diveshoppe Family.

Jett was on-hand to assists Dave and also acted as their official topside and underwater photographer. Way to go Jett

More Palau pictures taken by Dave

Congratulations to the new PADI Open Water Divers: Joseph, Marianne & Bernard Aurelio.

I had the pleasure of diving with them last April 2 - 3. Their Dad, Bernie was Dave’s student way back in the early 90’s while his eldest son, Bernard was a former student of mine at UA&P. Small world indeed.

Looking forward to more diving with you guys

Photography: Paz Santos

Last night, I chanced upon a segment shown on the PROBE program about thresher shark killings in Wawa, Batangas. It was alarming. According to the local fishermen, the thresher sharks are usually caught in their nets and that they do not deliberately catch them. The shark meat is being sold for Php 150/kilo and the shark fin at Php 1,000/kilo in Batangas public markets. One of the local official interviewed said that they cannot stop the fishermen from fishing the sharks because there is no national law to back them up (Grrr!!!)

According to Inquirer.net, “Since Dec. 23, 2007, at least 40 thresher sharks have been killed in the coastal villages of Wawa, Pagkilatan and Mabacong in Batangas City, Bauan town and Barangay Talaga in Mabini town, the environmental group First Philippine Conservation Inc. reported.”

“Dr. Simon Oliver, shark specialist and chair of the Thresher Shark Research and Conservation Group based in the United Kingdom, who attended the forum on Thresher Shark Conservation held at the University of Batangas, said that in March alone, 22 thresher sharks had already been hunted in the bay. One of them was a female that had just given birth based on an examination of the shark specimens found. The animal produces only two offspring and it takes a long time. Thresher sharks mature late. A female shark must be 8-13 years old to reproduce, while a male shark has to be 7-10 years old.”

“Because thresher sharks are oceanic, they migrate throughout the Philippine seas. This means that the sharks taken from the Batangas area may impact the same populations that visit other areas. He was specifically referring to the Malapascua Island in Cebu, where 80 percent of the local economy depended on tourism industry generated by the sharks. But reports that reached him last week said the place “has not seen sharks for the past two months.” Dr. Oliver said that the only reason they’re not there is because they’ve been fished out.”

“The population of thresher shark species (Alopias vulpinus) worldwide has already declined by around 75 percent, said Oliver, quoting a 2003 report from the authoritative Science journal. Scientists like him, were particularly concerned with the dwindling populations of bigeye, common and pelagic thresher sharks in Philippine waters since all three species were already declared “vulnerable” by the International Union for Conservation of Nature. This means that the thresher sharks are now facing a “high risk of extinction in the wild.”

“Oliver likewise believed that the problem of thresher shark hunting in Batangas could be addressed by developing and implementing shark dive tourism similar to Malapascua, which would help earn money for the city. It will also help provide alternative jobs among local fishers who had once hunted them. Based on the Malapascua experience, Oliver expected that Batangas City could earn some P16,000 daily and P5.8 million annually for a single live thresher shark.” In Malapascua, a single dive costs around Php 1,300 - 1,500 per diver. “Oliver said that establishing a tourism industry in Batangas would not be easy since there was a need to know which places the sharks regularly visit and how frequently they go there.”

“City administrator Felipe Baroja said “The problem here is we don’t have an existing national law that prohibits hunting and selling of thresher sharks so we couldn’t simply arrest people. What we need is a local ordinance”. Mayor Eduardo Dimacuha has already formed a task force on endangered species that would oversee the hunting and selling of the sharks, particularly in the public market. Councilor Marvey Mariño, committee on environment chair, said the council would sponsor an ordinance “soon” for the protection of thresher sharks.”

Based on the investigation conducted by local tourism chief and the prime mover of this issue, Ms. Cecille Rosales, the thresher sharks were usually seen by fishermen at the Matuco Point. She has already conducted a series of surveys of the area with conservationist Gerry Reyes. Visit Cecilia’s Site to learn more about this issue.

We need to help conserve not only the thresher sharks but all types of sharks. In Anilao, you’re considered lucky if you see a shark while diving. Let’s do what we can to ensure that this issue does not die and is dealt with immediately by the local government of Batangas.

REFERENCE: INQUIRER.net

PHOTOGRAPHY: Scubaboard

This is the shot Dave took while Albert was taking a picture of him.

Dave saw a total of six mantas in the German Channel, but this particular manta took everyone’s breathe away. Everyone had to leave the manta because others were low on air already. Their German Channel dive lasted for approximately 75 minutes (Nitrox) and they were with this manta for 15 - 20 minutes.

No, I didn’t go.
But Albert has a nice write-up on the trip, with photos too!
So for those who went here, the link to Albert’s post:
http://maxovrdrive.wordpress.com/2008/04/11/4-days-palau/

Here’s the partial unofficial list of winners/awards in the recently concluded MADAboutUS3:

OPEN Level

• Jeffrey de Guzman (Special Mention Award/2nd MACRO/3rd Fish Face)
• Brad Turvey (Best-of-Show/1st Wide Angle & Fish Face)
• Adrien Uichico (People’s Choice Award/ 3rd MACRO)
• Gurney Fermin (2nd Fish Face)
• Bunnee Santos (1st MACRO/3rd Wide)
• Jovic Santos (2nd Wide Angle)

Intermediate Level

• Larry Medenilla (1st MACRO/2nd & 3rd Fish Face)
• Jayson Hui (3rd place)
• Mike Santos (1st place Fish Face)

Special Beginners

• Paz Santos (3rd place MACRO & Wide-Angle)
• Kurt Domingo (1st place Fish Face & Wide-Angle)

The event was hosted by Joel Uichico and Allona Villanueva. The judges were Gutsy Tuason, Marissa Floirendo, Torben Bohn and two other female photographers. The event was also graced by Marc Leviste (Vice-Governor of Batangas), Rowell Sandoval (Mayor of Mabini) and Ms. Bea Zobel Jr. To complete the picture, here are some of the shots Ali & I took during the Awards night held at the Ayala Museum in Makati:

The recently concluded MadAboutUS 3 event opened a new window of opportunity for me to learn how to appreciate each of the photo entries. To see what the author of the photo wanted to relay to the audience and to understand why the judges chose a particular photo over the other, was an enriching and humbling experience.

Anyone can critique a picture but doing so constructively to help the photographer improve and enhance his work is another thing. When the judging gets tough and a tie-breaker is needed (as what happened in MadAbout Us 3, Best of Show Category), judges Marissa Floirendo and Gutsy Tuason agreed that the experienced eye would rely on the technical aspect used in capturing the subject matter.

Today, while going through my favorite websites, I chanced upon a Wetpixel post by Jeff which aims to help less experienced photographers like me evaluate our photographs.

Let’s read and learn

What makes a good photograph?
A guide to critiquing images.

What makes a good or great photograph is a subject of much debate. There is however some general agreement on things that one should consider when viewing and evaluating a photograph. For experienced photographers most of these considerations have become second nature; for less experienced photographers I think it can be valuable, particularly when submitting photographs, to do some self-evaluation according to some of these generally agreed upon principles. I have started with a list of some principles applied to topside photographs, which can usually be applied underwater, and then I will add some ideas that I have learned regarding underwater photographs. I hope that we can generate some constructive comments to add to this list, particularly from the pros. As always, rules in art and photography, can be broken at will, but it is still valuable in my opinion to evaluate a photograph from this perspective, even if only to see where a rule may have been broken with good effect. The following list is a summary of things I have read and learned from others. There is nothing new or original here.

Hopefully this list and any discussion that follows, will be helpful, especially to beginners and new posters, particularly in the image galleries. I think it will also be helpful when regular members critique other peoples images, particularly newcomers, to refer them to these guidelines and critique accordingly.

1. FOCUS

Most of the time the main subject at least should be in focus and sharp even if the background and other components may not be. Notice the depth of field and see if it is working well for the image. Evaluate the depth of field, is the depth of focus effectively controlled with aperture and lens angle of view to have the desired areas sharp, and others out of focus?
There may be times where the photographer is purposely trying to create an out of focus or softer effect, or trying to create the effect of movement.

2. CLEAR SUBJECT IN THE PHOTOGRAPH

Does the photograph have a purpose. Is it clear what the main subject or subjects of the photograph are? If one has to look for it or the photographer has to explain it, this may be a problem. On the other hand the photographer may be trying to create some mystery within the photograph, though generally the photograph should have a purpose.

3. COMPOSITION

Again is it clear what the main subject is? Are there areas or parts of the photograph that do not contribute to the overall visual effect of the image.Is the subject lost in a distracting background? Consider vertical versus horizontal orientation of the image. How do the lines of the subject lead into or out of the photograph? Should one get closer, does the photograph need to be cropped preferably at the time the photograph is taken. Consider Rules of composition like ‘Rule of Thirds’, ‘Bottom right or left’. Does your eye move easily within the photograph or do they jump around?

4. LIGHTING AND EXPOSURE.

Is the lighting well balanced, and does it support the elements of the composition to create the desired effect. Are there good shadow and highlight details with good range of shades in between? No ‘blown’ highlights except for some desired specular highlights. Does the lighting direction fit with the composition, are any of the lighting elements creating a distraction? Does the image have adequate contrast, is it a high key or low key image, and does this contribute or detract from the image. Is the use of ambient and strobe used to good effect?

5. COLOR.

Particularly in underwater photography is the color well balanced, are there any color casts that detract from the image or do they genuinely help create mood or effect.

6. WHAT MAKES THIS PHOTOGRAPH DIFFERENT OR SPECIAL?

Is it an interesting composition, does one see an interesting perspective. Look for dramatic angles, lines, colors, textures, and shapes

7. EMOTION AND MOOD?

How does this shot make you feel? Does it create a mood or generate an emotional response? After all the technical discussion, good or great photographs usually evoke an emotional response at some level.

REFERENCE: Wetpixel.com