by Jayvee Fernandez (since 2006)
Two dives, 202 photos and over 140 minutes of bottom time. Sharing three shots (out of 202!!) from the weekend dive. We kicked off from Anilao PHOTO Hotel with Ivan Manzanares. Not only is he a spotter, he’s adept with a camera so he helped jog back my understanding of shooting with a P&S from … Continue reading Underwater Photography: Rhinopias, Mariona, and Pygmy Seahorse
If I were to summarize the Anilao experience into one dive site, it would have to be an area called Batok, a rich reef located right behind Sombrero Island. Huge barrel sponges seascapes with the divine hand, flat table corals lined with hovering juveniles and fry and fan corals that pipe the currents like wind. … Continue reading Video: The Coral Garden
Ed’s Note: The official distributor of this SCUBA Mask hasn’t given me a price for it yet. I’ll update this post as soon as I hear back from them. As an underwater photographer that doesn’t have a video capable camera, it’s hard to balance the logistics of wanting to take both video and photo during … Continue reading Review: Liquid Image Wide Angle SCUBA SERIES HD 1080P Dive Mask
For my 32nd birthday my wife gifted me a Light and Motion SOLA 500 SCUBA light. You really can’t go wrong with having more than enough lights underwater especially when the sun sets. Well that’s one use: in my current UW photography setup I have two YS-110a strobes that also have limited use asa real … Continue reading For my birthday, wifey got me a Light & Motion SOLA 500 Focus Light
Over the weekend, I flooded my camera. Thank heavens I was able to save everything. Luckily it happened when I dunked the system into the freshwater basin to check for leaks and when I saw the flashing red light on the moisture sensor, I immediately pulled the housing out, set it down on a towel … Continue reading Wide angle reefscape shots of Anilao
An inside look how serious enthusiasts and pros endure the most arduous of conditions just to take that perfect underwater shot. Poisonous marine life, sweeping currents, unpredictable water visibility, limited bottom time juxtaposed high risk to expensive photo gear & self are just some of the variables which make underwater photography one of the most … Continue reading The Underwater Photographer
Hey guys, back to reality! This post is long delayed. Sorry about that. If you want more real time updates, I’m almost always online on Twitter (@jayvee) and Instagram (@jayveef). Anyway, we’ve been working on a huge event — it’s basically Year II of SNUPS, the biggest underwater photo competition in the Philippines. Now, you … Continue reading Hello I’m Jayvee: All Around Geek, Diver, Photographer — and I’m Joining SNUPS!
Christmas Tree Worm Spirobranchus giganteus Found abundantly in the Philippines
One of the reasons that keeps me underwater is the thrill of finding new critters to photograph. This is a partial gallery of my favorite shots using a 60mm macro lens and one strobe. I am blessed to be a Filipino living in the richest oceans of the world. The truth is, we have to … Continue reading Through the Underwater Lens: My Macro Photography Gallery
Baby cuttlefish (1 inch in total length) shot in Secret Bay, Anilao November 15 2010 3.34pm Lembeh Strait in Indonesia is famed for being the best — if not one of the best sites for muck diving globally. No corals, no reef fish, no plants. Instead divers are rewarded with the most bizarre creatures in … Continue reading Saving Secret Bay
The stable of cameras at Casa Fernandez include a Nikon D40 with over 10 legacy lenses, a Canon 350D used exclusively for underwater shoots and a Panasonic Lumix LX3. So as you can see it’s really impractical for this geek to go out buying more cameras. When I saw Canon’s S90 release several months ago … Continue reading Hands on with the Canon Powershot S95 Underwater
Probably the best investment I made this year was for a decent underwater video camera. I accumulated over 42GB worth of raw underwater footage and I must say that documenting my dives is easily the most rewarding experience this year, perhaps ever! As a volunteer for WWF Philippines I also donate all my videos to … Continue reading Remembering 2010: Marking 102 Dives with video
Dove Koala, Secret Bay and Twin Rocks, once during the day and at night. This was a no-rush dive weekend spent with Wowie, Ilyong, Marie and Chie. Chie got to try out Wowie’s iDive 300 iPod casing and Wowie served as default barista for the two days spent in Balai making the frothiest cappuccino. Great … Continue reading Balai Weekend: Koala, Secret Bay and Twin Rocks
A new mix of dive buddies which may turn into something more regular, with more people! Ramon de Veyra asked me if I wanted to go on a day trip dive with Quark, Neva and her family. This video is the result. It’s really the ‘Ramon de Veyra Underwater Show.’ Below is raw footage of … Continue reading The Day Trip: Anilao
“Oh no there goes Jayvee talking about diving again.” I know, I know.
