Image of the Month 2006
December 2006
The Big Island of Hawaii is the world’s newest land. Lava from Kilauea has been flowing almost constantly for twenty years or more, quite often reaching the sea. This image is taken from a helicopter, which provides one of the most spectacular, if fleeting, ways of viewing the volcanic action. It’s also difficult photographically because of rotor blades, reflections and the constantly changing angles of the helicopter as the pilot manoeuvres over the lava flow. Image taken on 30th September 2006.
November 2006
The incredible Manta Ray night dives on Kona Coast of Hawaii are a unique and special experience. A good number of years ago, lights shining over the water from the Kona Surf Hotel (now the Marriott) attracted plankton, which attracted mantas, which attracted divers, who put in even more lights. This unique “symbiosis” has happened ever since. Image taken 28th September 2006.
October 2006
Yellow Tangs are common along Hawaii’s Kona Coast but it’s another thing to get
a good image of one. At Rob’s Reef, the perfect opportunity presented itself at a
cleaning station, with a cleaner wrasse perfectly positioned above the head of the Tang. Image taken 26th September 2006.
September 2006
The beach at Treasure Island on the Gulf side of Florida is usually fairly empty, especially in the week. These volleyball nets provided an interesting foreground when combined with the yellow windbreaks in the distance. Image taken 30th April 2006.
August 2006
In the south of France, I had the first tryout our new Nikon D200 camera/Subal ND20
housing combination. It took a while to get familiar with the “extra” controls but the instant feedback was useful to say the least. Whilst on the boat, I’d accidentally changed one of the camera settings – the instant feedback allowed me to see that there was a problem, and I was thus able to get some reasonable images. Image taken in Calanque de Ciotat on 27th June 2006.
July 2006
Some groupers won’t tolerate a diver at close proximity, but others actively seek them out. “Fred” is found around the wreck of the City of Washington, off Key Largo in Florida and often approaches divers, especially those with cameras. Image taken on 3rd May 2006.
June 2006
I only managed two very shallow dives at Ginnie Springs in north central Florida
thanks to picking up a nasty ear infection while diving in the Dry Tortugas. However, even a short and shallow dive can reveal some fantastic photographic potential in these incredibly clear springs set amid mature woodland. Image taken with a 16mm fisheye lens on Tuesday 16th May.
May 2006
Reflections can produce some interesting results. This picture, taken in Swanage, combines the contents of a shop window and reflections of the sky and nearby buildings. Image taken 1st April 2006.
April 2006
The Bahrain Formula 1 Grand Prix is the only motor race of its kind in the Middle East. It’s held at the new state-of-the-art circuit at Sakhir, in the desert south of Manama. As is normal for the first race of any season, much discussion and speculation surrounded the event, like these two race-goers deep in conversation against a backdrop of “grand prix art”. Image taken on 12th March 2006.
March 2006
Late afternoon light bathes the buildings on Bournemouth sea front on a remarkably
clear winter’s day. Image taken on Sunday 29th January 2006 .
February 2006
The beach at Le Touquet in France is huge and expansive, especially when the tide is out. There’s great photographic potential here, even if you get close up, like these bubbles on the sand. Image taken on 21st January 2006. .
January 2006
Storm clouds gather on the edge of Salisbury Plain, near Battlesbury Hill
in Warminster, December 2005.