As my second season of business nears its end, I wipe my brow, take a deep breath and head into the 2015 holiday season. What an amazing, interesting and busy year it has been. Puget Sound Photography Underwater has been in business for about 19 months. I've made mistakes. I've misjudged my market and demographics, but as a result, I have learned a lot! I've made important improvements and crucial adjustments, I'm preparing for an amazing holiday season and looking forward to a fabulous 2016. The 2015 Holiday and Gift show season is beginning. The first, largest and one of the most important holiday shows in the Northwest is next weekend at the Tacoma Dome. The 33rd annual Tacoma Holiday Food & Gift Festival begins Thursday, October 22 and runs through Sunday. Tickets are available online and are good for the entire weekend. Call for information at (800)521-7469. I will have my beautiful ready to hang fine art prints on metal, canvas, acrylic and more available for sale. Prominently featured will be my 2016 'Made In Puget Sound' 15 month calendar. You can also purchase copies of 'The Salish Sea: Jewel of the Pacific Northwest'. Come enjoy the festivities, great food, gifts and fun. Don't forget to stop by booth 516 while you're there. New on my Website: A few weeks ago I completed my latest video project: Red Octopus: Masters of Disguise. Learn about these small, plentiful and amazing animals that inhabit our local Puget Sound waters. Watch as they use their cyphons to propel themselves then change color and texture in a fraction of a second.
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It has been a long and busy summer with Art Festivals almost every weekend, almost every Thursday to Sunday through the summer of 2015. I was able to get in some quality diving this summer and below are a few of my latest shots. A few of these shots are on sale now on canvas, metal, mat print and note cards.
New: 2016 'Made in Puget Sound' CalendarMy brand new 2016 'Made In Puget Sound' Calendar is available for sale. I've worked very hard completing all the layout, editing and design work. I am very pleased how well it has turned out.
It contains 15 brand new full color images of truly spectacular animals from Puget Sound and the Salish Sea. The retail price is $19.95 and will make an excellent Father's Day, graduation, holiday or any gift occasion!
New: Images on Canvas, Metal, AcrylicI have worked hard to create beautiful new and unique pieces of fine art. All are available in various formats, sizes and prices. Some exciting new pieces will be unveiled this weekend, May 29 - 31, at the Edmonds Waterfront Festival. In the past year I have expanded my product line to include notecards, coasters, shirts and more. Almost everything I produce is printed local, and some are made only from local materials. Please stop by my booth this weekend to say hello and check out my new and exciting pieces. The Salish Sea: Jewel of the Pacific NorthwestAll of this year I will have for sale copies of the amazing and beautiful new book The Salish Sea: Jewel of the Pacific Northwest. Authors Audrey DeLella Benedict and Joseph K. Gaydos (SeaDoc Society) have created the definitive book about the most beautiful part of the world we inhabit. Released just a couple months ago, this publication has gained incredible and well deserved popularity. Retail price is $24.95
This past week, my family and I spent a glorious week on the most southern tip of Baja in Cabo San Lucas. The weather was near perfect with exceptional sunrises and sunsets. The most stunning array of colors providing this or any photographer the perfect canvas. Our resort, Hacienda Encantada is 15 minutes from the marina in Cabo and only 20 minutes from San Jose del Cabo. The resort provides many wonderful dining options but we love to explore local cantinas and restaurants. A local to Cabo recommended that we eat at 'Tres Islas' for amazing seafood, very popular with locals. We were not disappointed. While in San Jose we dined on the best Mexican food we've ever tasted at 'Restaurant Jazmin', located in the heart of San Jose. I was able to enjoy seven excellent dives with Manta Scuba. Five were local dives only about seven minutes from the Marina. The two final dives in the 'Corridor', about 30 minutes out. Octopuses, Seahorses, Sea lions, Whitetip Reef Sharks, Banded guitarfish, Mobula rays, one Bat ray, and much more. My one night dive at Pelican Rock included a completely different array of animals that only come out to hunt at night. Our last full day we spent on a truly amazing whale watching tour with Cabo Escape Tours. This late in the season I had very low expectations of viewing whales, but to my surprise we we were shocked and awed! After a tour of the Marina, the Arch, and the Sea lions, our Captain set out to find the Humpback Whales. Within 30 minutes we were treated to multiple sets of humpbacks, a 30 to 40 minute show of a mother and calf. A truly stunning performance of breaching, fin and tail slapping by these massive 60,000+ pound creatures as they prepare for their long journey to feed in Alaska. To view my complete gallery from this trip go to my 'Cabo 2015' Gallery page. The Salish Sea: Jewel of The Pacific Northwest book launch and events: On March 31, the most definitive book to date about the Salish Sea was released. I'm very excited! Sasquatch books and the SeaDoc Society published 'The Salish Sea: Jewel of the Pacific Northwest'. Order your copy today through multiple sites like Amazon, etc. This publication will help to educate and enlighten people around the world about the most beautiful part of our world. A list of events promoting the launch of this magnificent publication is provided by the SeaDoc Society. Recently I had an opportunity to view a Red Rock Crab tearing open and eating a clam. I was intrigued. Fortunately I had my camera (as I always do) and was able to capture some video. These animals are native to Oregon waters, but are becoming more abundant to our waters and are rather tasty. Enjoy my short video and send the link out into the world. I've just completed an update to an earlier video: Kelp Greenling Eggs. Quite a few changes. Also, recently while on a dive in Elliott Bay, I noticed the tiniest of eggs. Rather than Kelp Greenling, these were Painted Greenling eggs. Yes, it gets confusing to me as well. Six years ago I didn't even know what either fish was. Now I can tell them apart from their eggs. The shots below will allow you to see the difference too. Finally, on March 31, the most definitive book to date about the Salish Sea will be released. Sasquatch books and the SeaDoc Society have published 'The Salish Sea: Jewel of the Pacific Northwest'. You can preorder through multiple sites like Amazon, etc. I'm very excited . This will help to educate and enlighten people about the most beautiful part of our world.
On Friday Feb. 27, and Saturday, Feb. 28, 2015, the King's eighth grade drama class presented a fabulous production of Disney's'The Little Mermaid'. The kids worked extremely hard and did a fantastic job at both performances - to a sold out house on each occasion. I spent a couple afternoons taking a few shots of the cast and crew. CD's with 259 original images can be purchased at the school for $10.00. Only a few sample shots are presented in my Blog. Please order yours now by contacting Mary Hudon. Puget Sound Photography Underwater has been incredibly busy for the past five or so weeks. First and foremost I have a very exciting new product line to announce adding to my already incredibly popular and beautiful Giclée prints on Metal, Canvas and Acrylic. I worked with a local printer to find a new and exciting format that I've not seen anywhere else, and is printed local with mostly or all local materials. I introduced this new format last week and I am so pleased to announce it was a hit! This week I have added two more sizes of this new and unique format. They're available in 8"x10", 11"x14" and 16"x20" sizes. Like all of my Fine Art Prints, these are Ready To Hang. You do not need to buy a frame to display my beautiful work. If you have some free time this Sunday come out and see all of my gorgeous local underwater art.
Second announcement, last month I was hired by Chef Mark Marsh to take shots of his new line of Middle Eastern cuisine. We discussed his concept at length to make certain I would be able to capture the quality, color and flavor of his foods. As it turned out he also needed a website, a logo, a menu board for display and finally a 7' banner. This turned into a rather large project and was so much fun. When you have a moment take a look at what he creates in the kitchen and on the grill at The Bedhouin Oasis. Then see what I created online to promote his wonderful and delicious foods! The Bedhouin Oasis will be coming to a few venues near you very soon. After Chef Marsh hired me to create his website, I was hired by two more vendors to do photo shoots of their food items. A few of those shots of The Flying Kolache are displayed below. Harvey and Ellyn prepare and serve fresh, wonderful and very tasty traditional Czech Republic foods. As always, all of my work is available for sale on my website, at a few fine retail stores and almost every weekend at the Fremont Sunday Market (Blog page). I spent a few hours this morning with some wonderful people doing some great work. About 80 volunteers with 'Friends of North Creek Forest', 'Whale Scout', and local residents joined together to help the only only urban forest in Bothell. We cleared away brush, removed ivy, repaired paths, planted trees and much more. This and other forests are vital to filter runoff and remove toxins before the water in the streams, creeks and rivers reach our Puget Sound. This is very good for the Salmon and the Orcas. At about 11:00 AM the entire group gathered in front of the Giant Orca. With a few Seahawks shout outs, we were able to get the whole group cheering and smiling. Then I got the shot to the left. A great BBQ cookout was also provided. It was a fabulous event. If you'd like to get involved contact either of these groups. Every little bit of help can go a very long way. After weeks of observation, shooting Macro and Super Macro still photography, and HD video, I'm posting my final update to my project on Kelp Greenling Eggs (Hexagrammos decagrammus). I began observing up to eight separate egg masses on November 19, 2014. My final dive was on the evening of Monday, December 29, 2014. Early winter is the height of egg laying season for Kelp Greenlings because the water temp is cold enough - around 46 °F. Each dive was about 15 to 20 minutes of observation time at an average depth of 80 FSW, The 14" male Kelp Greenling that was guarding the eggs was very protective and not happy that I was invading his space. He guarded his eggs with vigor. I was shooting with my Canon 5D Mark III dSLR. For the Macro stills I used my Canon 100 mm f2.8L IS USM Macro lens. Early on I also utilized my Nauticam Super Macro Converter. Soon after I began attempting to shoot HD video with my SMC. This was very challenging since the focal length is incredibly short. Much of the early video was completely useless until I learned how to hold, focus and shoot with no movement at 80 feet under the water, sometimes in the dark. Finally I began to 'dial in' the process and was getting amazing footage of the larvae. In much of the video I was not only able to view the eyes, spine and tail, but was able to see the heart beating. Enjoy my most recent video. Pass on the link to friends. Like on FB and Twitter if you so desire. Kelp Greenling Eggs in Puget SoundThe Greenling family (Hexagrammidae) in Puget Sound is made up of primarily five animals. The Lingcod is the largest and most recognizable, but also included are the Painted, Rock, White Spotted and Kelp Greenling (Hexagrammos decagrammus). Both female and male are beautiful and colorful. The female (image to left) has yellow dorsal, pectoral and tail fins. Her color pattern is freckled with yellow spots on her silver body. The male is darker with fewer and larger blueish spots, usually on the front half of his body. I love to observe and photograph Kelp Greenlings. They are flighty and skittish, which makes it difficult to get within six feet. For a photographer six feet may as well be sixty feet in Puget Sound. Much of the time we have a great abundance of backscatter (floating particulate matter) in the water column. In learning about these animals, it seems the male will typically entice one or more females to lay her eggs in a protected area. Usually an empty barnacle shell or something similar. Then he'll fertilize and guard the eggs. Like other species of fish, such as Sculpins for instance, the male will guard the eggs during development. I've been monitoring a patch of eggs on some recent dives. On each visit to the egg mass, I am visited by the agitated male. His behavior is to demonstrate to me that he is protecting his eggs. Although he never attacked me, it was clear I was in his territory. With regard to the eggs mass, I could clearly view different colored patches of eggs, probably from at least one other female Greenling. The first image I shot below (far left) was early in the incubation period. Only a few of the larvae have begun to develop eyes. Just one month later I witnessed substantial development. The larvae now have very clearly defined eyes. Many have developed spots on their bodies. It almost looks as though you can differentiate the males from the females. All of these macro shots were taken with my Canon 5D Mark III. I only shoot with Canon glass, and these were shot with my 100 mm lens. The forth shot was taken using my Nauticam 'Super Macro' Converter. With this +12 diopter it's very easy to see the advanced development i'm referring too. I am hoping our northwest winter weather will allow me the opportunity to revisit these eggs to witness and photograph the birth of a few hundred new Kelp Greenlings. 'Made In Puget Sound' Productions is giving back on #GivingTuesdayI have been an avid scuba diver for more than five years and have made some amazing contacts in the diving and photography community. In early 2014, I started 'Puget Sound Photography Underwater'. It has been a fun and rewarding experience. I'm looking forward to 2015 and where this journey will take me and my business. Since starting my business, I have researched the best ways to support local organizations that are doing important work in and for the community and the environment. For three years #GivingTuesday has been the global response to all the crazy frenzy that happens every year to kick off the holiday season. I am very pleased that I've been successful enough to give back to not one, not two, but three great organizations. "The Whale Museum, located in beautiful Friday Harbor, Washington, was opened to the public in 1979 as the first museum in the country devoted to a species living in the wild." Besides educational and naturalist programs, and the Marine Mammal Stranding Network, The Whale Museum is successful at promoting the stewardship of the Salish Sea and our endangered local Southern Resident Orca population. I am proud to promote the fine work of the individuals associated with the Museum. Puget Sound Photography Underwater is proud to donate to Jenny Atkinson, Executive Director at the Museum, a 16"x20" 'Giclée Print on Metal'. The photo is of a 'Decorated Warbonnet' that was shot in Puget Sound.. These animals are somewhat rare and rather difficult to find and photograph. This image was part of my first prints and is one of my personal favorites. Almost four years ago I began as a volunteer interpreter in the Life on the Edge exhibit at the Seattle Aquarium. Just about every Monday morning for the past few years when asked "How are you today?" I respond "Well it's Monday morning and we're at the Seattle Aquarium, whats better than that?". The Aquarium provides volunteers a wonderful and well rounded education of the Puget Sound, its tributaries, animals, plants and much, much more. I highly recommend to anyone with some time, give some of that time to the Aquarium. The staff, biologists, and curators are all incredibly supportive of the many hundreds of volunteers that give so much of their time to this great organization. For the last couple years, I've been a volunteer with the 'Cold Water Life Sciences' team. This provides me with up close and personal exposure to the display animals that I dive with and photograph in the wild every week. I enjoy learning from and working with the many great Marine Biologists there. This year I have produced a beautiful 15 month Calendar, five of which I am proud to donate to Bob Davidson, President and CEO of the Seattle Aquarium. Reef.org has been doing very important work for years attempting to conserve marine ecosystems. Janna Nichols is the regional representative who has also helped educate me on local Rockfish and other species. I've donated five of my beautiful 2015 'Made In Puget Sound' 15 month Calendars to Reef.org. A few weeks ago I also donated some of my beautiful 'Ready to Hang Fine Art' to the Western Society of Naturalists. You can read more about this group in a blog below. I hope you have a chance to give in your own way on #GivingTuesday or on any day. "It's alive", well it's been live for a couple years, but my Puget Sound Photography Underwater website has just received a complete makeover and face lift. I'm so very, very pleased with how it turned out. I spent months searching for the right company to host my site. Once I found it I rolled up my sleeves and spent weeks porting information, images, and videos over to the new site. Then I began sorting through many images from past years to present in an attractive and logical way. With this new site I have much more capability and functionality - it really turned out so well.
I especially like the clean, uncluttered look of each section. The site is much easier to navigate with a simpler and clearer menu. With this upgrade I'll be able to more easily maintain my site and post relevant and timely news, information and images. For instance I now have the capability to post 'Blogs' like this one. Then not only receive comments, emails and tweets, but also hopefully, get constructive criticism that may promote discussion about diving, photography,videography, whatever... Also, readers can like on FaceBook, tweet on Twitter and reTweet anything on my site. I already have few new blogs that I am developing, to be posted soon that many local divers and biologists may find of interest. At your leisure peruse my site. Perhaps you'll want to view my underwater images from recent or past dives both local in Puget Sound or from around the world. For example view a few images I shot while recently diving The Sea of Cortez. Or take a look at some of my work on land. I've also been building a repetoire of videos, with more to come, and with higher quality. Anytime you're looking for some great resources, whether is be on dive sites, photography or diving gear, or photographers, go to my links page. I will always consider including more and other pertinent site links on this page. Just contact me. 2014 has been an amazing year since I launched my photography business. My focus has been "Made In Puget Sound", but in 2015 I'll be expanding greatly into the Salish Sea and beyond. For now any image on my website is available for purchase online at my newly designed store. I've chosen to display only a few samples of my eight different product lines and photography services. For the remainder of 2014 I will have for sale all of my 'Ready to Hang, Fine Art, Underwater Photographic Giclée Prints' each Sunday at the Fremont Sunday Market. Come out and not only see my work but pick up some unique arts and crafts from other local vendors. At this time, some of my work, including my amazing 2015 Made In Puget Sound Calendar is available at some fine retail outlets around the Sound. All are listed on my about page. Of course you can always contact me directly via email on my connect page. The last couple days I was displaying my Fine Art at the 95th annual convention for the Western Society of Naturalists. Until just a couple months prior I had never heard of this group. I am very thankful that Dr. Dr. Shawn Larson from the Seattle Aquarium introduced me. Shortly after I contacted the group via email. I conducted some basic research into what they are all about. I learned how important this group is and I am very impressed and amazed with these people. Not only are they providing a forum for the sharing and dissemination of very interesting information regarding the health of our planet and some of its most delicate and vital species, but they also do wonderful work helping students achieve their goals. This is inline with my goals as well. I feel very privileged to have been able to display and sell my art to these wonderful people. Through many conversations with the students, professors, scientists, speakers and attendees I learned some amazing things that are not only interesting about our planet and environment, but also pertinant to my world of underwater photography. Thank you one and all for being so kind to me and showing me such support. Over a six week period in the winter of 2013, I did over 28 dives in the cold, the rain, the snow - all to document the life, death & birth of the Real Octo-Mom and her 68,000 eggs. It was an amazing experience working with three of the top Octopus experts in the world. I am continually searching for new and different studies like this one. Click on the button below. Read and enjoy my work. Then click this link to view my video - Octopus Life, Death & Birth at Three Tree Point. Thank you On a local dive at Saltwater State Park in late January 2013, a Giant Pacific Octopus decided he was displeased with me trying to take his picture. Perhaps he felt it would 'steal his soul...' After only three shots the GPO emerged from his den and we engaged in battle over my camera. Read about it on Underwater Photo Guide. Then learn how it all ends in the short video included.
Author Brent Durand has written a wonderful story. Deception Pass Bridge, just 90 minutes north of Seattle Washington, connects Whidbey Island with the mainland. On July 31, 1935, the 976-foot span Deception Pass Bridge connected Whidbey Island to the tiny Pass Island, and Pass Island to Fidalgo Island. Before construction of the bridge, travellers would use an inter-island ferry to commute between Fidalgo and Whidbey islands. “It’s like Scuda diving in a washing machine,” I have heard it described that way from a few fellow divers. Deception Pass currents can lead to standing waves, large whirlpools, and rolling eddies. This current marvel can be viewed from above on the twin bridges’ pedestrian walkways or from the trail leading below the larger south bridge on the Whidbey Island side. Boats sometimes must wait on either side of the pass for the current to stop or change direction before going through. Thrill-seeking kayakers go there during large tide changes to surf the standing waves and brave the class 2 and 3 rapid conditions. As a diver, we are more cautious and may wait months for the opportunity to dive the pass safely. This last month we have had the good fortune to have three days of perfect dive conditions allowing us to attempt the treacherous and dangerous currents that are a couple hundred feet below the famous bridge. On May 10, 2011, four of us from the Marker Buoy Dive Club carefully prepared and braved the treacherous waters for another attempt at capturing the amazing beauty and abundance of life that is constantly fed by the nutrient rich waters of the Puget Sound, Skagit Bay and the Strait of Juan de Fuca. Exceedingly strong currents, up to seven knots at times are forced through the narrow pass constantly. The maximum depth is about 145 feet. For divers, the window of opportunity and safety (slack current) is very short, sometimes really only a few minutes. We ride the almost ½ knot current east as the flood tide drops to slack, then return on the increasing ebb tide back to our entry point. Sometimes, as long as 45 minutes. Today, we were very lucky, and this month we have been fortunate enough to do three dives with about thirty minutes of ‘slack’ waters. With my camera in hand, I captured the shots posted left. Amazing animals living in and with the beautiful plantlife. The south wall, where most divers typically dive, the life is very thick and rich. Much of the life grows so large you can hardly find the rock behind it. Huge Plumos Anemones, small Dahlia Anemones, Hydroids and Feather Dusters cover the steep vertical wall. Colorful Seastars and many species of crab blanket the wall and are everywhere on this dive. The walls are thick with Giant Barnacles, bigger than a softball, Chitons, Glove and Carpet Sponges, and many other Sponges too. Curious little Scalyhead Sculpins are everywhere. These little guys will creep ever closer as I setup my shot. Perhaps they're curious about me, maybe they’re protecting their territory. It was not uncommon for a small Scalyhead Sculpin to jump at my lens port. They were attempting to fend off preditors or intruders - it was very cool. At about 20 to 60 feet we saw Kelp Greenling, Ling Cod, schools of Black Rockfish. It is pretty rare to see a Giant Pacific Octopus, but I've been fortunate enough to spot a few. Tucked away deep in a cavern the GPO hid. I was able to snap only a few shots before he quickly moved deeper into the den. I would say that Deception Pass has become one of my very favorite dive spots. If you dive there, check the dive conditions, tides and currents very closely. In terms of underwater photography, the viz can be low, usually only a few feet. Zoom Macro photography will probably be your best shooting method, probably with a 60mm or 100mm lens. Cozumel Mexico is one of the great dive spots in the world and only 6 hours from Seattle. I have vacationed in the Yucatan a few times, primarily Cancun, but had never taken the ferry from Playa Del Carmen across the bay to Cozumel Island, an easy 40 minute trip. Cozumel is just off the east coast of the Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula and is Mexico’s largest island, around 300 square miles. The town has less than 100,000 residents and may receive as many as four million visitors each year. Unlike Cancun, Cozumel is not a touristy location. In recent years many tourist shops have sprung up to feed the hunger of the cruise ship guests, but travel two blocks from the town center and you’re in a very quaint area filled with wonderful old world charm. The beach is the main attraction in Cozumel. The clear warm waters of the Caribbean are perfect for a wide range of aquatic activities from swimming, to snorkeling, to sport fishing, and scuba diving. Cozumel is also home to the second largest coral reef in the world which attracts divers from all over the world, and with amazing beautiful blue rich water with 100 feet of visibility on an average day anyone will cherish diving in Cozumel. Snorkeling is a popular activity and small underwater scooters are available for rent to help you cover the miles of reef which make Cozumel famous. There are also numerous opportunities to swim with Dolphins, Manatees or Sea Lions. The jungles of Cozumel can be a fun way to spend a day also. Whether guided tour by jeep or a rugged ATV on your own. Also there is much to see in the Jade Caverns. You will encounter dramatic waterfalls and cool lagoons for swimming as well as ruins from the Mayan civilization. Most of the dive sites are rocky reefs with plenty of rich, beautiful Coral. Large and small sea fans are present everywhere and the area is home to more than 200 species of tropical fish representing every color in the rainbow. It simply teems with huge schools of fish; Turtles, large Surgeonfish, Barracuda, Blue and Gold Snapper, Triggerfish, Moorish Idols, Butterfly Fish, and huge Parrotfish. I was very fortunate to get a shot of a passing Dolphin on my first visit, which is rare. I also captured shots of Morays; Green, Jewel and Striped. A very appealing time to dive in Cozumel is twilight. Many of the nocturnal creatures begin to hunt and present themselves for great photographic splendor. I took many shots on night dives of small to large octopus, lobster and varieties of crab. This was my first dive trip to Cozumel and for future trips I will only dive with Aldora Divers. Aldora Dive Charter company has earned the reputation of being the most professional and has the most knowledgeable dive masters. They also provide steel 120 tanks on each dive, larger tanks than a typical dive company. Everyone from Memo Aldora (owner - operator), to Steve who manages the Villa, to the Dive Master’s like Javier, Raul and Liang will take you to the best dive spots. Palencar Reef is the main attraction on the south west side of the island. Most other dive companies will only dive a few of the more shallow areas repeatedly. Aldora Dive Master’s are very familiar with the reef; they know where to dive, even if it’s just a few hundred feet north or south of where the other dive charters go. They want their guests to explore the less traveled, and more interesting areas. I cannot speak highly enough about Aldora, they are simply the best dive company providing wonderful professional and safe diving in a beautiful place to dive. |
AuthorDrew Collins professional underwater photographer and environmentalist living and diving primarily in the beautiful Emerald green waters of Puget Sound near Seattle, Washington. Categories |