Tag: underwater photography

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Mostly Everything

Through the Underwater Lens: My Macro Photography Gallery

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 see it to believe it: I hope these photos can inspire you to learn more about our beautiful country. It’s already beautiful topside, but the real beauty is what lies beneath the surface.

This is my official entry to Blog Action Day 2011.

A highly territorial tomato clownfish (named after its deep red color) defends its anemone home from almost anything that swims by.

Click for the full gallery.

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Underwater

NUDI Interview on ANC Mornings

Jan Acosta and I guested on ANC Mornings to talk about the fast growing underwater photography club in Manila. NUDI or the Network of Underwater Digital Imagers (check us out on Facebook and yep, here’s the link to our site) is an underwater photography club that was formed to get diver-photographers together to share techniques and experiences in shooting underwater.

The Philippines is a biodiversity hotspot and the things we find down there are simply amazing. We talked about diving as a viable hobby in the Philippines, conservation, our gallery exhibits and the SNUPS competition that we’re co-organizing this year.

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Underwater

AQUA OBSCURA at La Regalade

Might I suggest a nice date place for you and your special someone? There’s a three star Michelin chef that runs the kitchen at La Regalade along Pasay Road, Makati. It’s a French Bistro. Good food. Serious wine. It’s also an art gallery. And between now and March 2, I will help provide the eye candy for your romantic evening with an underwater photo exhibit.


From left to right: myself, Jan Acosta, Marie Lat, Wowie Wong, Joshua Castro, Jules Terrado

Together with five other friends who shoot underwater, we’ve set up a 6-man exhibit titled “Aqua Obscura.” Opening night was a huge success with one of my photos being reserved for purchase. If you’re craving for French cuisine or just want to chill over a bottle of wine, I invite you drop by and have a look at the exhibit. It’s up till the 2nd of March.

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Underwater

Worse than a needle in a haystack

This article first appeared UNO Magazine’s December-January ’11 issue

Pygmy seahorse by Jan Acosta

What does it really take to shoot underwater photos?

“Are the pygmies still there?”

The spotter nods, implying something that Jan and the rest of the group already know. At about 80 ft deep, there is a white fan coral about 1 meter high in full plumage. There’s a pygmy seahorse somewhere there. That’s what we’re looking for today.

Take a grain of rice, split it in two, and then throw one half into the ocean. That grain, split, is roughly the size of one of nature’s smallest creatures. In all irony, they’re also one of the more territorial, with their tails clasping on to the veins of fan coral, their natural habitat. To add to the frustration, pygmies take on the color and texture of the host corals. Jan, the group’s fearless leader checks his buoyancy control device, fins, straps, and tank, making sure everything’s in place.

Read the full article.

Categories
Mostly Everything

Finally, it’s complete: Sea & Sea DSLR housing with single YS-110 strobe

Procured from parts found all over, I finally completed my first professional housing set up. I’d like to send out thanks to Wowie Wong, Jan Acosta and Jovic Santos for giving really good buying advice (and in Wowie and Jovic’s case … parts!).

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