7 replies to this topic

[les11222]

I am a photographer but only a novice diver, so I want to photograph hammerhead shark schools and rays, and cleaning stations off the Cocos Islands on the Agro using the Deepsee  submersible, for one dive a day. I would  like to know what is the best time of year for such a venture. There is an opening this October 3-12. Is this a good time?  Need some detailed advice, as this can end up being very expensive.  

[John Bantin]

It's very difficult to get good photographs from inside the dome of a submersible, thanks to the refraction. Are you mounting your camera on the outside?

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Edited by John Bantin, 22 March 2013 - 11:03 AM.

[matt215]

June - September is the best time for hammerheads. Even better in La Nina conditions, and you may strike out in  el Nino conditions. A dive a day in the submersible is gonna get expensive. Quickly. I'd take that submersible to the deep deep and photograph stuff most people have never seen.

[les11222]

Thanks Matt215 and Giant squid. What facilities are there for outside mounting and control. I am  taking  only still images. Have a 5D mkIII and 1DX with various lenses. Have a housing for the 5D, Can you get up close to the dome and what focal length would not be too compromised but still useful.  Do you have any images taken inside or with camera mounted outside. Am I right in surmising early October may be quite good, with the neutral La Nina /El Nino predictions at present?

[John Bantin]

I thought that the trip in the DeepSee was a great once-in-a-lifetime experience. However, the only successful pictures I got with the camera dry inside the sub with me was of my fellow passengers! You need to position the camera lens node at the correct spot inside the dome to get good images and as anyone with an underwater camera will tell you on looking at the dome of the sub, that will leave the camera looking directly upwards. You would need to contact Avi or Schmolic at understatement.com about the possibility of mounting your camera in its own housing on the outside of the sub.

[Drew]

I think you'll want at least 2 dives with the DeepSee.  I believe they only do 2 sites now, Everest and Wall, both with different life and seascapes.

As John says, you'll have to apply dome dynamics dynamically.  I used a 70-200, 16-35 and 24-70 on my dives.  I put a 12/25mm extension tube on the 70-200 so it could focus closer on the virtual image.  Just don't go higher than f13 since the diffraction is mush detail  A diopter can be used as well.  I never recorded exactly what strength diopter I used for the telephoto  but you'll want that to shoot the smaller fish like the jello nose  which are usually more downward between your legs through the dome. I can't remember the dome specs now but if you ask Schmulik, Nico or Avi, they'll tell you.

You may also have to do some yoga poses to shoot wide angle and feel free to get into the center space.  Use the 5D3 since the extra resolution will help when you have to shrink down.  Use the 1Dx with the 70-200 to catch the smaller fish and the 5D3 with the 24-70.  The Pricklies I had weren't so shy but subsequent dives, they stayed a bit further away, so the 16-35 was a bit too wide. 

 

John, I think Schmulik and Avi will be glad to hear you think they are understated. You may wish to turn off autocorrect next time.

[les11222]

Thanks for that detail. Would the canon liveview using an external video screen or laptop be useful in positioning the camera in the confined space?

sorry for the slowness in reply.

Have just flown from Sydney to Mont St Michel in France to catch the spring tides.

Edited by les11222, 29 March 2013 - 02:52 AM.

[John Bantin]

I thought that the trip in the DeepSee was a great once-in-a-lifetime experience. However, the only successful pictures I got with the camera dry inside the sub with me was of my fellow passengers! You need to position the camera lens node at the correct spot inside the dome to get good images and as anyone with an underwater camera will tell you on looking at the dome of the sub, that will leave the camera looking directly upwards. You would need to contact Avi or Schmolic at understatement.com about the possibility of mounting your camera in its own housing on the outside of the sub.

Oops! That should have read underseahunter.com!