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2013-05-17 13:53:13 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 13 +1s)

Off to Halfmoon Caye and Lighthouse Atoll this morning to work with Rachel Graham, Wilidlife Conservation Society and the Shark Tagging Project. A couple weeks ago, I was working with the Spawning Aggregation Team out of University of Belize on the Calabash Caye Field Station at Turneffe Atoll, and while I haven't had a chance to edit through all those photos, I wanted to post this one of a diver and a large school of Creole Wrasse, a very common sight at Turneffe. After the last couple of months, I could use some sleep ... have a great weekend.

2013-05-12 15:32:02 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

2013-05-03 13:50:14 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 5 +1s)

I spent 8 hours watching these love birds one day while working with the Scarlet Six Biomonitoring crew. They (the birds, not the crew ;) spent an awful lot of time "french kissing" ... Charles Britt says it probably was the male feeding the female, I like to think they were in love ... they are perched above the nesting hole ... usually one was inside minding the chicks/eggs, but occasionally they both came out and groomed each other. When one flew off, the other would crouch inside the next, with its head resting on the rim - with an almost sad look. When the partner reappeared, they both put up such a raucous call to each other as if they were over joyed to see each other ... OK, enough anthropomorphizing ... Chiquibul Forest Reserve, Belize.

2013-04-22 16:26:35 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 17 +1s)

Happy Earth Day all.  Wish we could get an Earth Year, or Earth Decade, or Earth Century ...

2013-03-28 15:02:25 (2 comments, 2 reshares, 21 +1s)

I hope everyone has a safe and joyous Easter Holiday. And PLEASE allow at least 3 diver lengths between you and the turtle in front ... it is no fun rear-ending one! #Belize #underwater #photography

2013-03-14 21:05:50 (3 comments, 5 reshares, 29 +1s)

The spotted scorpionfish (Scorpaena plumieri) is - paraphrasing Will Smith's character in iRobot - "one of the most beautiful ugly fish in the sea". If ever there was selective pressure to remain alert as a small creature, this is it.

2013-03-08 15:53:25 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 16 +1s)

“You need to let the little things that would ordinarily bore you suddenly thrill you.” ― Andy Warhol

I don't think I have ever had a boring dive ... even when the visibility sucks, there are so many little things to look at, like this brain coral. The long edge of this photo is actually about 2" long.

One thing about the ocean, you rarely see the clutter of birth, live, death and decay that you experience in the rainforest. A healthy reef appears relatively clean and fresh; colorful and alive.

http://www.facebook.com/belizephotography
http://www.tonyrath.com

2013-03-05 15:45:16 (2 comments, 3 reshares, 21 +1s)

“Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things that you didn't do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines. Sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” Mark Twain

2013-03-01 21:28:56 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 27 +1s)

The Belize Barrier Reef Series - Goff's Caye
Connect with me on http://www.facebook.com/belizephotography

2013-03-01 21:29:26 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 20 +1s)

Sometimes I come across a photo that makes me look twice. At first I thought "this looks like a hell of a low tide, all that coral is exposed". But looking closer, I notices a slight break of waves over the top of some of the coral heads. In fact, the water is so clear, that it is an illusion that the coral heads are above water. This photo provides a clear view of what our barrier reef is - not rubble and dead coral skeletons - but a living, growing, healthy organism.

Connect with me on http://www.facebook.com/belizephotography

2013-02-27 15:27:42 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 17 +1s)

20 Things About Photography Expeditions in the Tropics I Learned All Over Again

I recently returned from an expedition into the tropical forests Belize's most wild area, the Bladen Nature Reserve.  I traveled with rangers from a grass roots organization called Ya'axche Conservation Trust to photograph and document a recently discovered Harpy Eagle's nest.  It had been 2 years since I ventured deep into Belizean jungle - and every day I gave thanks for the past experience I gained in managing camera gear and my body in this difficult environment ... I sort of learned all over again what I already knew.  Here are 20 things I can pass on should you want to take your expensive camera gear and risk it to document one of the most wild and beautiful habitats on earth.

1. Sturdy, comfortable footwear is probably the most important consideration.  Nothing stops you in yourtra... more »

2013-03-01 21:30:01 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 35 +1s)

I spent last week with a Japanese film crew doing a documentary on Belize. I did all the underwater work for them. One site we worked at was Crawl Caye at the very southern end of the South Water Caye Marine Reserve. The day was very windy, and the in water visibility was not good. Knowing I had to capture something, I worked in the shallows around Crawl Caye where the sunlight was able to penetrate and add some color other than green to the scene. I knew there would be sunrays with the cloudier water, and was fortunate to encounter a huge school of sprat - so thick it actually blocked the light at times. It is always a little tricky to shoot into the sun, as every little scratch or piece of dirt on your lens will show. I was lucky to get the school and a nice burst of sunrays in this shot. In the video, the sun rays are dancing and the school of fish is pulsating ... the film crew was ecstatic with the... more »

2013-02-20 15:02:07 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 30 +1s)

I am finding the marine life in the South Water Caye Marine Reserve becoming more and more adapted to SCUBA divers. Last weekend I snorkeled with a large school of permit, followed immediately by a large school of tarpon. This turtle was eating a sponge on the drop off, and after giving us a once over, continued to feed. Coral growth in the shallower waters appears to be on the upswing. All in all, the health of the SWCMR seems to be recovering from the devastation of the coral die offs of the last decade. I'm off on assignment to both the SWCMR and Lighthouse Reef through the weekend - fingers crossed for good weather and clear waters.

2013-02-19 15:58:40 (1 comments, 3 reshares, 26 +1s)

This week I go from the deep valleys of the Bladen Nature Reserve to the wide open spaces of the Belize Barrier Reef. This also means a half day of prepping equipment - from cleaning lenses, cameras, sensors and recharging batteries, to testing underwater equipment and ensuring all o-rings are free of specks of dirt to the large dome port being spotless to ensuring my SCUBA gear is performing flawlessly. The mind set for underwater photography is so different from land photography in every way - light, colors, composition and the technical aspect of remembering you are in an even more foreign environment than the damp, dark, muddy tropical forest. If you are not comfortable breathing underwater and confident enough to concentrate 80% on your photography and not your equipment (SCUBA and camera gear), you will find underwater work frustrating. The photo below is a long exposure of a gentle swell breaking... more »

2013-02-18 21:18:46 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 18 +1s)

Tiger Fern Falls in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, Belize
#Belize #Cockscomb #waterfall  

2013-02-08 21:06:33 (7 comments, 4 reshares, 32 +1s)

The last morning of the expedition it rained...and the mist was thick. I could not pull my camera gear out as condensation would immediately fog the lens and inside mirrors of the camera body. Plus, the trails were difficult to walk - like trudging through a mixture of ice and mollasses. I was soaked with sweat, not damp, but like I just walked out of the water...and oh the pack was heavy. I knew that when the sun came out there was a possibility of the classic "sun ray shot" through the canopy, so kept looking for it. When I saw it, I quickly pulled out the clothes I normally sleep in to dry off my arms, hands and head - pulled out the Canon 5D Mark III and my 14mm. Being careful to keep my hands and skin away from the lens (even putting your hands a few inches from the lens puts off enough moisture to fog the lens), I swung the camera around in circles to create a flow of air, blowing the... more »

2013-02-01 15:20:11 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 17 +1s)

Woke up to pouring rain here in Dangriga - not a great sign for a week in the back country. Fortunately the forecast calls for improving weather over the week. Really excited!

Have made arrangements for a guide from BFREE (Belize Foundation for Research and Environmental Education) to show us the Harpy Eagle nest in the Bladen. We will stay about 200m-300m from the nest to ensure we don't disturb them. This means backing in another 45 lbs (20.5 Kg) of camera gear - a 400mm f/2.8 along with the necessary tripod and mounts. All together we'll backpack in about 75 lbs (34 Kg) of camera gear - 2 camera bodies, assorted lenses, LOTS of batteries, flash - and 15 lbs (6.8 Kg) of my personal gear - hammock, change of clothes, first aid, snacks and toothbrush - distributed over 2 packs.

Since I don't have any recent photos of the Bladen - my last trip was in the mid 1990's with... more »

2013-01-31 16:04:22 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

I have a great opportunity this weekend to photograph in the Bladen Nature Reserve. This is probably the most pristine protected area in Belize - pure wild tropical forest. The 5 day photo expedition will take a bit of planning as I have to carry everything in on my back, including camera gear. If I get a chance, I'll take a photo of the equipment I pack and post. This is a photo taken from an Astrum Helicopter shoot of the Bladen River in 2006.

2013-01-17 15:16:51 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 33 +1s)

I am kind of an old fashion photographer, so while I love the 50's "glamour" and "pin-up" look, I shoot in the "documentary" style - lighting, shadow, composition, subject are my concerns. It is one reason I love interacting with the younger photographers, they help me "see" with different eyes. So when the photo shoot with Miss Belize - Destinee Dominique Arnold - generated so many great photos to work with, that I decided to "play" a little with one of the images.

This is not an HDR image, it is layer upon layer upon layer in Photoshop to manipulate color, exposure, contrast, etc. to try and give me a mixture of the 50's style and the modern style. I ran it past a few friends and they seem to like it - some referred to it as "high fashion". I'll post the original later to give you something to compare it to.
... more »

2013-01-10 22:07:03 (2 comments, 2 reshares, 42 +1s)

After a very long day of shooting - the camera put away, the tripod in its case, boots off and sandals on, thoughts of a long hot shower in my head - I come around a corner and see this field of pinks, reds and oranges with bits of yellow light dancing between the blossoms. What is a photographer to do? Out come the tripod, the camera; on go the boots, take a long gulp of water and into the field I go. The number of butterflies made it possible to focus a 100mm Macro lens on an isolated flower, set the lens to f/5.6 @ 1/1000 (have to freeze the movement) and shoot till the sun disappeared. Hope this brightens your day.

2013-01-09 23:14:37 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 6 +1s)

Looking for photo inspiration? Here are 300 photographers who submitted to the Best Photos of 2012 Blog Project at JMG-Galleries
Thanks to all the G+ Photographers who took part!

Best Photos of 2012 by JMG-Galleries Blog Readers
http://www.jmg-galleries.com/blog/2013/01/09/photos-2012-jmggalleries-blog-readers/

#bestof2012   #bestof   #photographydiscussion   #photographers  

2013-01-09 16:40:14 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 20 +1s)

Dr. Rachel Graham studies sharks. She live captures, measures, tags and releases them. When she asked if I would document some field work for her (actually it was an assignment for Men's Journal), I jumped at it. There is little I find more exciting or adrenaline pumping than swimming with a tiger shark, even if it is controlled by a line around its caudal fin. The film crew is from National Geographics "Born to Explore" series, and yes that is the star of the show Richard Wiese.  There is still time to enter the sweepstakes to win a 2013 calendar of underwater Belize at http://bit.ly/VFQGje

2013-01-07 14:33:33 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 17 +1s)

Still time to win a 2013 Belize Mesoamerican Reef Calendar here http://bit.ly/VFQGje

2013-01-05 15:22:14 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 18 +1s)

Tony Rath Photography has a few limited edition 2013 Belize Mesoamerican Reef calendars left in stock and we have decided to give them away.  These stunning calendars include 18 full color images from the archives of award winning photographer Tony Rath.  The 11x16 calendars are printed on heavy stock and of the highest quality. The images depict the incredible biodiversity of the Belize Barrier Reef. ENTER TO WIN!   http://on.fb.me/102Uq2H

2012-12-31 15:58:44 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 5 +1s)

I find it useful to look back over the last year and critique the images created. I often select my 10 or 12 favorite photos to submit to various websites that highlight the "Best of 2012" - the following is what I came up with out of the thousands of images I shot. Here's wishing everyone a Happy New Year and all the best in 2013!

2012-12-28 16:31:26 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 14 +1s)

One more image from the end of the 13 Ba'qtun celebrations in Santa Cruz Village. As the festivities started outside, everyone left the house except for this man. His job is to ensure that there is a constant supply of chicharron. Here he is dipping the finished pieces from the hot oil onto large plantain leaves to drain and cool. Just in front of him are large metal tubs full of the just butchered pigs. the pork will be cooked and feasted on throughout the night on into the morning.

2012-12-22 21:50:57 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

http://500px.com/photo/21210519

2012-12-21 21:33:20 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 4 +1s)

A vote on 500px would be a great way to start the new B'aqtun!

http://500px.com/photo/21135473

2012-12-21 21:02:42 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 24 +1s)

Spent last night documenting the end of 13 B'aqtun with the Toledo Alcaldes Association, The Maya Leaders Alliance and the Q'eqchi Healers Association in Santa Cruz, Toledo. This photo has so much going on and says so much about the community of Maya ... the women in the front left are an assembly line making corn tortillas for the village; the men in the left background are eating after butchering 4 pigs down by the river. The man just to the right of the door is stirring huge chunks of pig fat in oil making chicharron - which we snacked on all night. The women to the right are doing dishes, and taking a break from cooking. This is from the first set of images only 15 minutes after arriving. Thanks Cristina Coc, Executive Director of the Julian Cho Society for the opportunity.

2012-12-17 21:07:15 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 18 +1s)

I love the way scenes underwater sometimes take on a surrealistic look when sunbeams and light are just right ... here three big tarpon check me out on their rounds. Tarpon are in the same family of fish as bonefish, ladyfish, and eels. They’ve been around since the days of Tyrannosaurus rex, so in a way, you are viewing a prehistoric scene - today.

2012-12-13 15:39:47 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 14 +1s)

A small number of photos from the 2012 Settlement Day celebrations in Dangriga, Belize. Follow me on Facebook and Google+ for more images from Belize.

http://www.facebook.com/belizephotography

http://www.facebook.com/media/set/?set=a.10151342538905792.531979.8962520791&type=1&l=96d346ee77

2012-12-12 20:11:34 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Check it out and vote if you are a 500px member, you know how incredible this site is, if not, you are really missing some fantastic work.

2012-12-12 16:46:42 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 17 +1s)

The client asked for an owners group shot, something "edgy, surreal, different". He wanted to "stand apart from other typical staff shots". So I got the owners together at sunset, in their wetsuits, in the water ... they were great sports about it. Then applied some "edginess" in post. Any thoughts?

2012-11-27 16:25:28 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 13 +1s)

After a day of guiding, snorkeling and exploring the South Water Caye Marine Reserve, guidebook author Lily Girma asked me to take an author's photo of her for the book. In an hour and a half, with no makeup, wardrobe or plan, we went from girl next door look to glamour model. Her reflective eyes first caught my attention - these are not retouched eyes and no flash or reflector was used. Then when she lifted her hair off her neck, the transformation was astonishing - hard to believe the woman in the first photo is the same as the one in the last few. This is what makes photography such an artistic process, being able to exploit light, composition and subject to create a unique look. Of course it helps to have a beautiful model. Thanks Lily.

2012-11-25 22:35:40 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 4 +1s)

Nice write up by a travel writer Lily Girma about a few days we spent together exploring Southern Belize.

2012-11-15 17:13:00 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 34 +1s)

One of the rarest herons in Belize, the agami heron, feeds along a swamp in the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary in Belize.

2012-10-25 16:42:46 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 32 +1s)

I think the Hummingbird Highway is the most beautiful road in Belize. Sometimes I get the feeling I am in some lost world where all is wild, pristine and primal ...

2012-10-22 20:08:33 (10 comments, 4 reshares, 40 +1s)

Sailboat at dawn on the Belize Barrier Reef, Dangriga, Belize

#Belize #PlusPhotoExtract

2012-10-22 19:41:38 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Concerning model releases ...  client desperately wants an image of a person that I do not have a model release for.  I have tried to locate the person without any success.  I am 99.9% sure the person will not mind signing a release .  The client is asking if there is any way that the photographer (me) can take the liability for not having the release (signing something) that will allow them to use the image with any liability.  Has any heard of such a contract or legally binding agreement that will allow me to make the sale and indemnify the client against claims from the model?

2012-10-11 17:33:59 (9 comments, 3 reshares, 21 +1s)

Nature never ceases to amaze me...a large iguana is swallowed by an even larger Boa Constrictor. Pelican Beach Resort, Dangriga, Belize

2012-08-21 17:08:51 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

I really find DropBox indispensable for sharing items between desktop, iPad and iPhone; as well as with other people.  You should check it out if you are not using it.  Always have your stuff when you need it with @Dropbox. The best part?  It is Free.  http://db.tt/ULI3Wgxx

2012-08-14 18:03:42 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

2012-07-30 19:20:30 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

A great way to view your images on Google+. Just replace my ID# with yours.

http://www.googleplussuomi.com/thumbs.php?id=107733269574737813168

2012-07-27 23:20:37 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 11 +1s)

2012-06-15 20:08:24 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 26 +1s)

New image uploaded at 500px.com.  Give it a vote if you like it anad have the time.  Thanks!

2012-06-15 15:56:02 (9 comments, 65 reshares, 42 +1s)

A few images from the underwater photo shoot with actress Kate Walsh in Belize last weekend.

2012-06-01 22:12:56 (6 comments, 4 reshares, 43 +1s)

A single shot one morning in Dangriga, Belize.  The bird is a black vulture.

2012-06-01 21:18:49 (3 comments, 4 reshares, 28 +1s)

Every day I go to the studio, I pass a beautiful rubber tree with a hole in one of the large branches. I have been watching this family of flickers raise numerous broods but never have the gear or time to capture the activity. This morning I took a couple of hours to record a feeding session. The parents kept trying to get the young to come out of the hole, they would hold their catch just out of reach of the young, so they would have to reach further and further out. Never did get to see them launch out though...

2012-05-25 02:19:28 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Anyone have any ideas why my Canon XL-H1 has suddenly started to randomly drop frames every few seconds? I will have a good 10 or 15 minutes of shooting, then suddenly a stretch of dropped frames. Tried cleaning tapes and a new tape, but still dropping. I am hoping it is the tapes and not the camera.

2012-05-15 21:52:06 (8 comments, 5 reshares, 49 +1s)

The freighter "Socrates" registered out of Monrovia ran aground in the harbor of Duluth, Minnesota one winter evening and an army of tugs tried to free her. This shot won an honorable mention in a Los Angeles Times Photo Contest in 1986.