Image of the Month 2011
December 2011
Our son Zac really wanted to see a Grass Snake, so we took him on a “Reptile Ramble” run by the RSPB at the excellent Arne reserve in Dorset in the hope of fulfilling his dream. It turned out that he didn’t just see one, but was able to handle one. This image shows him in action, looking somewhat apprehensive whilst he handles the snake. Image taken on 28th May 2011 using a Nikon D200. Settings were ISO 400, f10, 1/200th second.
November 2011
Fish faces, if shot well, are always popular. This is one of Amanda’s images from Lankayan Island in Borneo, of a blenny peering out of the Lankayan Wreck. Image taken on 31st January 2010 using a Nikon D200, a 60mm macro lens and Subtronic strobe. Settings were ISO 100, f22, 1/60th second.
October 2011
I particularly liked this image, shot in a fairly scruffy and nondescript part of Kowloon in Hong Kong. Shooting the pedestrian through the mesh with the colour of the flowers to the right makes for a very pleasing image. Image taken on 22nd August 2010 using a Nikon D200. Settings were ISO 1600, f16, 1/250th second.
September 2011
This image was taken in the Hong Kong Museum of Art, looking through the window towards Hong Kong Island. For some reason I liked this idea and shot quite a few images. Image taken on 20th August 2010 using a Nikon D200. Settings were ISO 400, f8, 1/125th second.
August 2011
This image was taken in Dubai, whilst waiting for the lift at the Burj Khalifa (the world’s tallest building at the time of writing). Image taken on 20th March 2010 using a Nikon D200. Settings were ISO 800, f8, 1/20th second.
July 2011
The annual kite show on Weymouth Beach in Dorset presents some interesting opportunities for photographers. We had no idea the event was happening and were fortunate that we’d took one of the cameras. This image was one of the favourites that was captured. Image taken on 1st May 2011 using a Nikon D200. Settings were ISO 400, f11, 1/1000th second.
June 2011
I quite like photographing obscure and weird reflections when the mood takes me. This one was taken whilst waiting in a queue. Image taken on 20th March 2010 using a Nikon D200. Settings were ISO 200, f5.6, 1/40th second.
May 2011
Cod Hole is one of the most “famous” dives in Australia. It’s chaotic, good fun, and presents underwater photographers with some good opportunities. This image features Mossy from the Spirit of Freedom liveaboard at work “in the office”. Image taken on 6th August 2010 using a Nikon D200, a 10.5mm fisheye lens and Subtronic strobe. Settings were ISO 100, f8, 1/160th second.
April 2011
Malapascua might well be “famous” for its Thresher Shark encounters, but there’s plenty of other things to keep divers interested, especially “macro” subjects. This image shows a crab’s face up close, which was encountered on a fascinating night dive in near perfect conditions. Image taken on 17th September 2010 using a Nikon D200, a 60mm macro lens and Subtronic strobe. Settings were ISO 100, f22, 1/60th second.
March 2011
This image was taken at first light on the beach at Malapascua, before setting out on one of the early morning Thresher Shark dives. Whilst the gear was being loaded onboard, I spent a few minutes shooting a few “zooming and rear curtain sync” images with a slow shutter speed, with this image being arguably the best. Image taken on 18th September 2010 using a Nikon D200, a 12-24mm wide angle lens and Nikon SB800 flash. Settings were ISO 400, f8, 1/30th second.
February 2011
This image was taken at the end of a dive at the excellent Gato Island, close to Malapascua in the Philippines. It features “JN”, a dive guide who works for Thresher Shark Divers. I only had a single dive day at this excellent location, so I was glad have JN with me, to show me some of the best areas. Image taken on 19th September 2010 using a Nikon D200, a 10.5mm fish eye lens and Subtronic strobe. Settings were ISO 100, f8, 1/350th second.
January 2011
I photographed this tiny shrimp on a colourful sea urchin at one of the “soft coral sites” around Malapascua. Without the good dive guiding provided by “JN”, one of the Thresher Shark Divers crew, opportunities such as this would almost certainly be overlooked. Image taken on 20th September 2010 using a Nikon D200, a 60mm macro lens and Subtronic strobe. Settings were ISO 100, f25, 1/60th second