paolobl65
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Posts posted by paolobl65
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Reverse ring macro ( extreme supermacro )
We used a Cason EF-S 24 mm F2,8 pancake reversed with kooka adapter ( to be able to adjust aperture ) on Canon 7D + 37 mm ext tube .
In this way 5 mm fill the long side frame and this means , considering the Canon /d sensor 22,5 mm , an optical magnification x 4.5 ( stronger than any wet supermacro lens available today on the market )
Usually stopped down F5,6 – F8 to avoid too much diffraction ( you can see Exif data in Flickr ) .
Illumination was made by different kind of snoot ( all by fiber optic ) because working distance from port was only 2,5 cm .
It was not so easy to work with this lens because so close to the subject , manual focus only and fix frame , anyway we had a lot of fun .
A good focus light and a good external viewfinder were a must to clearly see when in focus .
Here are some shots we taken .
( if you like to see more , and in high resolution , here is the dedicated Flick gallery : https://www.flickr.com/photos/paolobl65/albums/72157689139160906 )
Finally let me say again it was an amazing experience to dive and shot with Ajiex Dharma ( ... and I already hire him again for my next trip in Tulamben )
all my best
Paolo Isgro
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I spent 9 day diving in Tulamben ( Bali ) last August and I hired Ajiex Dharma as my private dive guide .
Ajiex is a skilled and expert freelancer dive guide , worked many years in Villa Markisa , is very knowledge in nudibranches and a talented underwater photographer as well .
The feeling was perfect : above and below water .
We usually make 2 dives in the morning , lunch together ( fantastic have a lunch on the beach with super fresh grilled fish ) , and another dive in afternoon .
All shore dive , pick up from my resort … all perfectly organized .
We split our underwater photography in two session : macro with snoot and reverse ring macro ( extreme supermacro )
Macro with snoot .
We used mostly a Fabio Iardino snoot ( fiber optic + sealed optical lens custom snoot ) on a slave Inon Z240 triggered to have the maximum flexibility in targeting the light to create some side light and back light ( and not the standard spot light ) .
The goal was to create a light that give a great result to the subject but , sometimes , do not completely dark the background .
Just as less light as possible in the “right place “ to create te effect "we like" : this is the way we used the snoot .
( btw : “right place “ is a subjective meaning of course …. anyway hope you like the following photos )
Here are some shots we taken .
( if you like to see more , and in high resolution , here is the dedicated Flick gallery : https://www.flickr.com/photos/paolobl65/albums/72157685661275064/with/36874751275/
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Beautiful photos!
I have a technical question, regarding WA: did you ever use the Tokina 10-17mm with the same camera/dome and can say how the image quality is compared to the Canon 8-15mm fisheye?
Wolfgang
thanks Wolfang .
I didn't made any side by side test comparision with Canon 8-15 and Tokina 10-17 ( I have also it and I used in my first trip to Triton Bay ) , but I can say Canon is a little bit sharper and has much much less cromatic aberration .
Hope this help .
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Very nice! Love your split shots, especially the last one. What lens are you using for wide angle?
thank you !
I used Canon 8-15 on Canon 80D in S&S housing and ZEN DP170
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The two morning dives ware mostly dedicated to reef and fish . So go for wide angle photography !
Visibility was very good the first week , so we could appreciate the untouched reef and the great fish life of this area .
Sadly No whale shark in the period I was there .
Hoping can give you an idea how beautiful is diving in Triton Bay here are some shots .
If you like to see more photos , here are the links to my Flickr macro and wide angle gallery about Triton Bay
macro : https://www.flickr.com/photos/paolobl65/albums/72157664633106908
wide : https://www.flickr.com/photos/paolobl65/albums/72157668927318229
Definetely .... I have to came back again to Triton Bay .... and again .... and again !!
Wish all my best to everybody
Paolo Isgro -
I came back again to Triton Bay last January 2018 .
It was my second time there ( first time you can read here : http://wetpixel.com/forums/index.php?showtopic=60852 )
The place is still wonderful above and below the water .
What is changed from my first time ?
Now Garuda fly from Jakarta to Kaimana so it is easy ( and reliable ) to get there .
The resort has two more bungalow ( now 6 ) anyway the atmosphere is still intimate and friendly .
There is one more boat ( now 3 ) so group are still maximun 4 divers per DM .
Bungalow , food , great beach , amazing landscape ... all as my past trip .
the resort house reef :
Triton Bay area is one of the best place for pigmy sea horse , and this time finally I saw the Satomy Pigmy .
As small as pontoy ( 1 cm ) , live in the seaweed and often move from one point to another .
Have a look at these two photos and see the kind of arm on the back he use to balance himself during is Flying ! Fantastic creature !
Again many other pigmy and macro subject . Usually the afternoon dive ( 3 ° dive ) was macro oriented . The guide are very good spotter for elusive and mimetic critters .Here some pigmy denise :
can you see the second pigmy ??
and a very small hairy shrimp :
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I use INON UCL-67 with Canon 7D + Canon 60 mm macro
I found this combination very good : great magnification ( 10,5 mm fill the long side frame on Canon 7D , so considering 22,5 mm sensor , it means more than x2,1 optical magnification ) , enough working distance even at max magnification , very sharp and limited cromatic aberration . Better using with manual focus to be sure you get max magnification , anyway autofocus work well enough .
here same samples ( 2000 x 3000 ):
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paolobl65/34388319285/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paolobl65/39688545591/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paolobl65/36734898841/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paolobl65/34226525471/in/dateposted-public/
https://www.flickr.com/photos/paolobl65/36813608462/in/dateposted-public/
hope this can help
Paolo
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Whale Shark experience :
Just a 1 hour boat ride to arrive to fisherman platform and we jumped in the water with whale shark .
This was the best experience of this holiday , maybe becuase my first time with whale shark .
We spent 2 hours there , again the water was not so clear , anyway was fantastic to be so close with so a gently giant .
Here some shots :
Definitely I really had a gret time in Triton Bay !!
The best memory was the feeling to be a pioneer in the last dive frontier , and I can't wait to get there again .
Hope this help . Do not esitate to contact me for any question .
best regards
Paolo Isgro-
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Wide angle :
I think the best reason to get there is for reefscape and underwater panorama .
It really seems the jungle and the reef mix each other .
Wide angle photography was my real goal but so many pigmy take me out to left my wide angle lens so often .
I was impressed by biodiversity and density of coral and fish ( btw : the fish approach you very close without fear ... )
The blak coral forest was unbelievable ! And the soft corals were like in Fiji : so beautiful .
Be aware this is not a big fish destination : I didn't see any shark or manta , just two wobbegong . But I was in a fish soup every time in the water .
Better stop to chat and show you some shot ( ... even if I'm not a wide angle specialist ) :
and really amazing black coral forest :
Sometime the current was very strong , anyway the dive master know how to manage the dive for divers safety .
The only issue was visibility sometime poor and the water with a little green color cast .
And when the visibility is good .... it is a dream !
If you like , other wide angle shots here : https://www.flickr.com/photos/paolobl65/albums/72157679783634576-
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Macro :
As macro lover ( btw : I dove the most important macro destination may times : Anilao , Lembeh , Tulamben , Ambon ) I was really impressed about the variety of pigmy sea horse in Triton Bay .
This was the real highlight of Triton Bay as my macro point of view .
Many different kind of Denise , Bargibanti . And Pontoi also . And all these 3 species during the same dive . And not only one dive site ... !
And sometimes Satomi pigmy can be seen also ( ... I missed it for 2 weeks ) .
Just some pigmy shots :
very interesting behavior as well , ie mating nudibranch :
or pigmy denise releasing ( ? ) eggs :
this is also the place for nudi lovers .
another highlight is the dive to see the flasher wrasse : a challange for macro shooter :
For macrophotography the condition was really good with subject no deeper than 24 m and really no current . Warm water ( 29 °C ) so possible to stay longer ....!
If you like , other macro shots here : https://www.flickr.com/photos/paolobl65/albums/72157677301099011-
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I was in Triton Bay - West Papua - Indonesia ( Triton Bay Dive Resort ) last December 2016 for a dive vacation and I'd like to share my experience .
( .. I just beg your pardon for my English .. )
Getting There :
the trip begin many months before with a good e-mail comunication with resort owners ( Jimmy and Leeza ) to receive all the info about the location and diving and to set up the flights to get there .
I arrived from Italy in Jakarta in the afternoon and then a night flight Lion + Wings Air to Kaimana via Ambon . I arrived in Kaimana airport h 10:00 AM , Jimmy , the owner , is waiting for me and other guest and than half hour drive to the pier and 2 and half hours to get the resort . Long but not difficult .
Same for the way back : starting in the morning from resort and landing in Jakarta h 4:00 PM .
Actually Wings Air seems do not fly anymore to Kaimana , but there is now Garuda : so for getting there next time ( ... ah , yes I already planned next Christmas again in Triton Bay ... ) I will fly Garuda from Jakarta to Kaimana via Ambon ( arriving in Kaimana H 9:45 AM ) but way back Garuda has orrible connection in Ambon , so better Kaimana to Jakarta via Sorong ( Wings + Batik Air , landing in Jakarta h 7:00 PM )
Location and Resort :
Triton bay is in West Papua , south-est from Raja Ampat , a very remote and still untouched area for diving . Only one resort actually ( Triton Bay Dive resort - Home ) and very few liveaboards .
The resort is in a quiet and amazing bay .This was the view from the door of my bungalow :
and this the view of the beach from the restaurant :
and this the bungalow and the diving from the beach :
I loved very much this resort : so small , intimate and well organized .
The room was very nice , well ventilated even without aircon , with a big open air bathroom , and just a step from the beach .
The restaurant offered buffet breakfats and family style lunch and dinner . Always delicious .
One per week a wonderful barbeque on the beach .
The electricity run from 6:00AM to 11:00 PM , this was my main concern before to arrive there , but really no problem at all , just a little planning to charge all the battery camera , strobe , laptop, and remember to have a little flash light on my bed during the night just in case .
Maybe the only issue is the slow wifi connection : whatsapp worked but no e-mail , FB .... anyway sometimes is also good in this way to better enjoy the holiday !
Be aware No mobile signal as well .
Again about location : I was really fascinating about the surrounding area , every morning the short boat ride to dive site gave me amazing view and after the first dive we always spent the surface interval in a unspoiled beach .... fantastic .
Just few example :
and I was very impressed to not see anyt plastics in the water and to the beach !
DIVING :
the main reason to get there !
Just few words about the diving operation : there were 3 very skilled Dive Master from Manado , and this was the mailstone to have a very good experience !
The boat leave 8:00 AM for two dives in the morning , diving time 60-80 min , then back for lunch in resort . As I already said : surface interval in a fantastic and desert beach for relax and some snack .
Third dive 3:00 PM and night dive h 6:00 PM if you like ( I made only one time and it was beyond expectation )
Even with only 5 guest the resort always used two boats , so very relaxed and enjoible diving . Someimes I was with private dive master for better opportunity in phothography
As underwater photographer , I can divide the diving in three section : MACRO , WIDE , Whale Shark experience .-
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Macro Dive in Tulamben-Bali : where Dive Guide can make the difference .
in Trip Reports and Travel
Posted
Thank you very much !
the detailed set up description about remote flash triggered with snoot is here in my Facebook page ( https://www.facebook.com/paolo.isgro/media_set?set=a.10206286908305743.1073741835.1057154245&type=3 ) , just beaware the snoot in this link is my DIY double fiber optic snoot , instead the snoot I used in above Tulamben macro shots was the Fabio Iardino Snoot . Anyway the triggered system is the same .
Iardino Snoot is designed , engineered and produced by my friend Fabio Iardino and , sorry , I have to ask him the permission to post any photos of his snoot .
Anyway you can also ask to him directly through Facebook ( https://www.facebook.com/iardino ) more info about his snoot ….. he is one of the most famous Italian underwater photographer , a pioneer in underwater snoot technology and always more than happy to answer any question about his snoot !
Hope this can help
Paolo Isgro