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During the workshop week before last, we rented a special place for some mermaid and other location shooting. Here's the 2nd floor of the special place with a special person.
Model: Rachel Smith (California)
Event: Mermaid Portfolio Workshop - Isla Mujeres - Session Two
Location: Isla Mujeres, Mexico
Set: Shellhouse (www.isla-mujeres.net/shellhouse) -- with Rachel Smith and Rachel Smith.
Typically, underwater photographers don't like their photos with what we call "backscatter," little white dots caused by underwater strobe light hitting and lighting particulate in the water.
But, in this case, we aren't using any lights; all these white dots are caused by sunlight hitting the fish eggs in the water; the food for a whale shark's filter feeding.
And, yes, we get covered in fish eggs and they get all in our clothes. Hey, this is just nature. Roll with it. :-)
Doing some experimental night work underwater. This frame from the first session last week.
Model: Brynna Raine
Location: Virginia Beach, VA -- with Brynna Raine.
Just returned from 14 days in Mexico with 5,000+ images; a mix of island scenes, a Shellhouse, whale sharks, mermaids and cenotes.
Interacting with whale sharks is very interesting, emotional and simple. They are majestic creatures. We leave the island at 6AM and about 45 minutes later we find typically scores of them clustered in a feeding area over about 120 (40m) of water. They filter feed on millions/billions of fish eggs the size of a pin head; slowing swimming at or near the surface with their mouth open taking in water and eggs. We simply slide into the water two-at-a-time on snorkel, move away from our boat and wait for them to come at or near us.
Simple, easy, rewarding and non-invasive so long as we employ our personal and regulatory no-touch/no-harrass rules.
Less than 100' over whale shark, mermaid and photographer.
In a subsequent flight, moved to boat stern rather than bow for takeoff (better footing for me). As Phantom (DJI P2V+) going up, gust of wind ran it into boat's rod holders and it went off into the water. Divemaster recovered it, but future flights are questionable with salt water intrusion. New one to arrive from B&H Friday. I'm comfortable flying over water, but this was clearly a pilot error. Live and learn. Press on.
Model: Malena Sharkey
In-Water Photographer: Robert Minnick
Drone Pilot - Photographer: Chris Crumley
Event: Mermaid Portfolio Workshop, Isla Mujeres, Mexico, Session Two
Location: Isla Mujeres, Mexico 7/19/14
Tail: Mertailor Mermaid Tails By Eric Ducharme -- with Malena Sharkey, Mermaid Malena and Robert Minnick.
Mermaid Portfolio Workshop - Cenote Session at KuKulKan cenote.
Model: Erin St Blaine (San Francisco, CA)
Location: KuKulKan cenote on Yucatan Peninsula near Playa del Carmen, Mexico
Tail: By Erin with digital controlled lights -- with Erin St Blaine.
Mermaid Portfolio Workshop-Cenote Session, first day beginning with coaching session around Hotel LunaSol pool. Malena Sharkey talking about breath-holding basics (clockwise l-r Malena Sharkey (Portsmouth, VA), Erin St Blaine (Fremont, CA), Robert Minnick (Portsmouth, VA), Sydney Raye Smith (Los Angeles, CA), Laurie Smith (Yosemite Village, CA), Luma Jaguar (San Francisco, CA), Iara Mandyn (Oakland, CA), Rachel Smith (Yosemite Village, CA), Susan Knight (Vancouver, BC), Canadian-Mermaid Marie (Quebec, Canada), Amanda Kaiser (Richmond, VA).
Photographer: Chris Crumley
Location: Yucatan Peninsula near Playa del Carmen, Mexico -- with Erin St Blaine, Robert Minnick, Syd Smith, Amanda Kaiser, Laurie Smith, Canadian-Mermaid Marie, Luma Jaguar, Iara Mandyn, Rachel Smith and Susan Knight.
Drone aerial from 150' at shooting location (in addition to whale sharks underwater) through 7/19 at Mermaid Portfolio Workshop Isla Mujeres Sessions One & Two.
Location: Shellhouse, Isla Mujeres, Mexico
One of the shooting locations for Mermaid Portfolio Workshop Isla Mujeres Sessions One and Two. Bungalow with king bed left; main house right.
Model: Susan Knight, Vancouver, BC
Location: Shellhouse, Isla Mujeres, Mexico
Yes, I know this is unlikely, but this is the way we think.
Model: Amanda McFarlin Kaiser
Location: Providenciales, Turks & Caicos Islands; Lakeside Studio Virginia Beach, Virginia USA (Digital Composite)
First good news airline/airfares/baggage challenges of the day. GoProfessional Custom Xtreme Roller Case for Phantom 2 drone fits perfectly crossways in Aqua Lung 1551 roller leaving top end for small stuffer items. It also turns the long way if the other items are long pieces.
Weight like this is 36.7 lbs with full Phantom kit with 4 batteries (three will come out and go to carryon per TSA/Airline specs), so have about 15 lbs to fill Economy limit; 35 lbs for Business/First for most U.S. airlines.
Drone's-eye-view just before takeoff from foredeck of Photoship 6.0 last night. Have lots of over-water flying starting week after next.
Christina Macfarlane and I shot this in Cozumel, Mexico. Played around with it today when I had a few minutes. On some islands, we end up in the strangest places; here, she's on a roof. -- with Christina Macfarlane.