Douglas J Hoffman Photography

Diving with Prodiver

2011-06-29T17:08:00.001-07:00

Wow what an awesome day. I went diving with Prodiver today.
We were in the water at 6:45 AM for the first dive and had the pleasure of a pelagic manta, Hawaiian Slipper Lobster, Several turtles, and some great fish life. Back on the dock before 11:00 AM too.

www.prodivermaui.com/

packing photography equipment for long international trip

2011-06-08T19:22:00.000-07:00

In a few months I will be traveling to the south pacific for 4 weeks of photography. What makes packing for the trip difficult is the amount of gear I use coupled with the restrictions the airlines have. These days airlines like Chatham allow for 20 Kilos or about 44 pounds and have fees for extra pieces. Air pacific always seems to charge a hundred or two on each leg. On a multi-stop ticket the charges add up fast.

On this trip I will be doing ambient light and flash wide angle, & macro photography. Breaking that down into a list looks like this. A Nexus housing with two wide angle ports, Ikelite housing with one macro port, one wide angle port, 4 Ikelite DS 160 strobes, Small video system, cables, batteries with charger,2 Nikon D300 bodies, a 10-17 Tokina fish-eye lens, 12-24 Nikon zoom lens, 50 mm standard, 60 mm macro lens, 28-70 Tamron Zoom, 70-200 mm Nikon 2.8 mm zoom lens, 1.4 Nikon tele extender, Nikon SB flash, 3 - 16 gig, and 1- 32 gig compact flash media cards, & three 500 gig external hard drives.

This will require more than the baggage allowance allows and so that limits the clothes, and dive equipment I will bring. I will bring three pair of shorts, four t-shirts, one pair of sandals, a few boxers, jeans, rain jacket, fleece, one long sleeve shirt, a 3 mm vest with hood, a pair of 1 mm lycra shorts, 2 long sleeve rash guards, 2 masks, fins, 2 snorkels. I will take a tamrac back pack and computer case with me and fill it with computer, cameras and lenses to lighten the load in the case.

Making a list and packing well before a big trip enables me to make sure I have not forgotten anything important like adapters for different countries power plugs, battery chargers, & sun screen.

Happy travels to everyone.
To see recent work or learn about an upcoming trip please log onto www.douglasjhoffman.com

Recent interview in Maui News

2011-06-04T11:57:00.000-07:00

Lens a catalyst for environmental causes

WITH EVERY IMAGE, ISLE PHOTOGRAPHER SPEAKS A THOUSAND WORDS ABOUT LOCAL AND GLOBAL EFFORTS

June 2, 2011

The Maui News

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KIHEI - Local photographer Douglas J. Hoffman uses his lens as a language. His underwater photographs, many of which are taken in waters off Hawaii, have been picked up by international organizations to aid environmental activism, thus helping causes where Hoffman can use his creativity to communicate.

"My pictures speak so I don't have to," Hoffman said. "Important environmental concepts are being addressed that I could never put to words. They have experts who write compelling reasons, and my images drive the message home. I hope my photographs evoke an emotional response."

In April, Hoffman's shark photographs were used by two Humane Society International projects to help end shark finning in China. His photos reached thousands via large displays, brochures and Internet. While shark fin soup is a traditional Asian delicacy, HIS's global campaign aims to draw global attention to shark finning and its impact on shark populations and the ocean's delicate ecosystem.

Hoffman's images have also been used in international campaigns to protect whales, dolphins, turtles and other marine life. He also created Art for Conservation, where 50 percent of the net proceeds from his limited-edition portraits go to nonprofit organizations such as The Whale Dolphin Conservation Society, the Pacific Whale Foundation and the Japanese Red Cross. Each of which are "dedicated to protecting whales and our marine environment," according to Hoffman.

"I love our ocean and our planet," Hoffman said. "We all have a responsibility to do what we can. Maybe this is my way to give back and to preserve the Earth for my kids and for their kids."

Hoffman's underwater photography has received numerous awards and his work was recently added to Lahaina Artist Emporium at 700 Front St. Known for underwater photography of whales, sharks, turtles and coral reefs, Hoffman's collection includes new pieces that capture local scenes - the old church past the Kaupo store on the backside of Hana, a waterfall along the road to Hana, sunset from Makena and the bamboo forest in Huelo, among others. His portraits are printed on aluminum and canvas.

The artist, who lives with his two daughters and wife, Mieko, in Kihei, said that global issues have local impact, and that each individual can bring about change.

"We have to think not only about here at home, but also globally," Hoffman said. "In Hawaii, we are a combination of every race on earth. If we all make an effort, we can all make a difference.

Doing our part to raise money for local schools

2011-05-31T16:06:00.000-07:00

Each year my wife Mieko and I donate several certificates for family portraiture to help raise raise money for education in our community. The King Family purchased a certificate at a Montessori fund raising event and just recently we got together.

The Kings own a motorcycle and scooter dealership and wanted to incorporate some of their toys into their portrait. That being said Mieko scouted a great location and made a date to create some portraits.

Meiko and I worked together on the day of the session. As parents with two young children we rarely work together anymore. Anyway, I took care of the lighting while Mieko created the portraits. I have to say it was awesome watching my wife interact with the King family. During the set up Mr. King took this image of us. Nice shot!

2012 live-aboard adventure dedicated to whales

2011-05-11T19:44:00.000-07:00

I am really excited to announce three exciting live-aboard trips dedicated to observing, swimming with, and photographing Southern Hemisphere Humpback Whales. I have been asked to be the host photographer. What makes these trips special is that the boat will take only 6 guests and go to locations that are known to be productive in terms of wild life sightings but are too far out of range for most of the day boat operators.

The boat has three guest cabins. One has bunk beds, and the other two have double beds. A divider can be used should it be necessary. Each cabin has a hot water shower and toilet.

Each adventure is for 10 days. The cost is $6325 AUD

September 12-21, 2012

The adventure will start in Ha'apai, the middle island group of Tonga, and end in Vavau' the Northern island group. The plan is to spend five days sailing among the myriad of islands in the Kotu islands of Ha'apai. This area is known for having an abundance of whales and few if any other boats. From there we will head north to the Seamounts that are in the Vavau group but too far south to be visited by land based operations in Vavau. This area is productive having had consistent Humpback and dolphin encounters over the last several years. Next, we will head north to Toku and Fonualei islands located 40-50 nautical miles north of Vavau'. These islands are isolated and known to have Humpback Whales as well as False Killer Whales, & Oceanic White Tips. We will stay in this area for two nights before heading to Vavau where guests will depart. Toku island is too far North for most of the boats from Vavau, and we should have the area pretty much to ourselves. Blue Planet filmed all their whale footage in these waters.

Sept 22- Oct 1

Guests will board at 9:00 Am and we will set sail for Toku and Fonualei Island 40-50 nautical miles north of Vavau'. These islands are known to have Humpback Whales as well as False Killer Whales, & Oceanic White Tips. Blue Planet filmed all their whale footage in these waters.We will stay in this area for a 4-5 days before setting sail for Late island about 45 miles to the south. This island is too far for the day boats from Vavau and is known to have frequent sightings of whale sharks and Mola Mola (sun fish). We should have the area pretty much to ourselves. We will spend two nights here then sail to the southern seamounts about 40 miles south by south east. These seamounts are just a bit too far for all but a few of the day boats from Vavau' and are known to be popular spots for mother and baby whales and dolphins. We will spend 2-3 nights in this area and the last night will be at anchor near the main harbor in Vavau making it easy for guests to disembark the next morning.

Oct 2 -12, 2012. Guests will board in vavau' around 9 AM and our first destination will be Toku & Fonualei islands located 40-50 nautical miles north of Vavau'. These islands are known to have Humpback Whales as well as False Killer Whales, & Oceanic White Tips. The Blue plant crew filmed the Humpback sequences here. We will spend 2-3 nights here. Our next destination is a about 70 miles south and consists of a series of seamounts just a bit too far south for all but a few of the day boats from Vavau'. These waters are known to be popular spots for mother and baby whales and dolphins. We will stay in this area for 2 days then continue south to the Kotu islands in Ha'apai. The plan is to spend five days sailing among the myriad of islands. Most of which are uninhabited. This area is known for having an abundance of whales and few if any other boats. Guests will depart in Ha'apai, the morning of October 12^th.

Mating Turtles

2011-05-03T18:47:00.000-07:00

I went diving yesterday in Maui and during our surface interval I saw in the distance something bobbing up and down. I feared for the worst thinking it was a dead tourist but as we approached we saw it was not a body, but two turtle mating. So I did what any photographer would do and and got in the water. I floated on the surface and little by little the current brought them close by. I created several portraits and left them alone. While the encounter lasted only a few moments, I will never forget it.

Earth Day April 23rd, 2011

2011-04-25T15:31:00.000-07:00

These photographs were created on April 23, 2011 in Beijing China. They were created by the Humane Society International. The photographs feature shark images I donated for a HSI project specifically designed to end the practice of Shark Finning.

The time has come for fisherman the world over to stop catching sharks, and harvesting only their fins for soup. While the campaign is world wide, these photographs were created in China at the Beijing Zoo. In addition the HSI is doing a joint venture with the Dr. Jane Goodall Institute and is created an educational resource for their database and website that includes these shark images.

It is a privilege to participate in campaigns designed to educate people and preserve marine life.

If anyone is interested in traveling to Fiji in 2013 to photograph Bull, Black Tip, Grey, Lemon, Silver Tip, Tiger, & White Tip Sharks as well as colorful soft coral and wrecks, please check out the trips section on www.douglasjhoffman.com

Art Galleries on Front Street

2011-04-10T18:31:00.000-07:00

Years of effort have paid off recently with opportunities to sell my work at two art galleries on Front Street, in Lahaina Maui. The addresses are 700 and 780 Front street. Well known artist Jim Kingwell and I are the featured artists at the first location, while the second location has antique maps and several artists work that share an affinity for the sea.

During April, I will feature a collection of Maui's scenic locations, Humpback Whales, turtles, sharks, and sunsets printed on aluminum, canvas, and fine art rag paper. Also displayed will be a piece made by Mieko called Prayer for the Whales.

The hours are 10:00 -10:00 daily.

Honorable mention in 2011 international competition

2011-03-31T11:44:00.000-07:00

Today, I got an email letting me know that one of my images received an honorable mention in International Competition. While competitions of this type are subjective in nature it is very rewarding to know ones work is well received by other professionals. Check out all the winning images at http://underwatercompetition.com/Competitions/deep-indonesia.2011

This image is called Living Art and was created in Fiji last year while on a weeks cruise on the Naia' one of the worlds finest live aboard dive boats. http://www.naia.com.fj/

To see more images go to www.douglasjhoffman.com

Photography exhibit at Honua Kai Resort and Spa in Kaanapali Maui

2011-03-23T12:38:00.000-07:00

My photography exhibit has four more days at the Honua Kai Resort & Spa in Kaanapali, Maui. I introduced 14 new portraits on aluminum and the response has been very positive. There is a sunset, waterfall, and a few whale portraits that will make your jaw drop. Please come by to see the photography and say hello. The show is in the Molokai room at the resort, & the hours are 5-9 daily. This saturday I will also be there from 9 am - noon.

My work is also featured at Gallery Oceanica at 780 front st. Lahaina, and on my website at www.douglasjhoffman.com

making a difference

2011-03-21T15:20:00.000-07:00

This week the Humane Society International asked if they could use my shark images for two projects next month. www.hsi.org

First is for the Jane Goodall Institute China project web site in which the Humane Society Internationals shark education project will have its own sub-site under http://www.genyuya.org.cn/ JGI China is currently revamping this website and the new one will include interactive features attractive to young students. Inaddition the images will appear in a one-page leaflet and 500 posters.

Second, is an Earth Day event: The Humane Society International will be displaying photos of sharks (24’ x 34’ or 15’ x 25’ ) at the Beijing Zoo on April 23, Saturday. The Beijing Zoo attracts tens of thousands visitors a day. We’ll have a table with No Shark Fin brochures & photos of sharks.

Its an honor to have my images used in these campaigns. I hope they evoke an emotional response that leads to positive change in terms of the shameless killing sharks just for their fins.

Those interested in shark diving in Fiji , please check out my trips page.

www.douglasjhoffman.com

Chef James picking beets

2011-03-14T19:25:00.000-07:00

Last week I had the opportunity to create a portrait of Chef James from Io', pacific'O, and Feast of Lele. The chef is a firm subscriber to the point of view food should come from the farm and go right on the plate. Here is the chef picking beets at O'o farm.

I hope to include this image in a exhibition on Maui chefs later in the year. Details when available will be posted on www.mauiphotography.net

Photo by www.douglasjhoffman.com

Portraits of Maui Chefs

2011-03-12T12:15:00.000-08:00

Aloha,

I recently got a request for images from Douglas Peoples the photography editor for the next edition of the coffee table book "Maui on My Mind". This book is famous and has been an iconic symbol of Maui for as long as I can remember and I have lived here since the early 80's.

In addition to submitting scenic and underwater images of Maui, for some reason I decided to contact some of our islands most famous chefs. I offered to come to the location of their choice and create a portrait for consideration.

In the process I became inspired to do a public exhibition of the chefs portraits.

So, I am looking for venues and for a few more chefs.

This image is of Chef Sheldon Simeon from the restaurant Star Noodle in Lahaina.

http://www.starnoodle.com

survivor pulls out of Tonga

2011-03-03T14:03:00.000-08:00

Traveling to Tonga has always been an adventure and perhaps the main reason it has stayed off the grid in terms of mass eco-tourism. This year a television show called Survivor made plans to do a show in Vavau' Tonga. While in the long run this might have helped bring tourists to Tonga in the short term it it preempted it.

The local hotels blocked hotel rooms, motels, and B&B's in order to accommodate the show's 300 crew. As a result there were no accommodations left for the normal tourists coming to Tonga to sail, scuba dive, and swim with whales.

The big news today is that the show decided to go to Samoa. Now accommodations in Tonga are open and local businesses are hopeful tourists will book. Since I am offering a photography workshop Sept 12-19th in Vavau' Tonga this news is fantastic. I have secured the necessary rooms in the most convenient hotel and am looking forward to a great season in Tonga.

If anyone is interested in submerging themselves into a week of whale swimming and photography please go to my web site http://www.douglasjhoffman.com/DH/trips.htm#Tonga_Whale_Expedition,_Land_Based_-_September_12_-_19,_2011

Skype presentation on Fiji & Tonga for Colorado Underwater Photography Society

2011-02-14T18:29:00.000-08:00

On Feb 11th, I have the honor of doing a presentation For CUPS at the Denver Aquarium.

Topics of discussion include Fiji's incredible reefs, Naia' live-aboard, and the Sharks of Pacific Harbor. Also included will be a segment on the whales of Tonga and how the whale swimming industry works.

Six music slide shows and videos have been incorporated into the program using a wide range of music that is hoped to resonate with the audience.

http://www.cupsonline.net/CUPSForums/CUPSOnlineForumsEntryPage/tabid/125/forumid/12/postid/715/view/topic/Default.aspx

Presentation on Whales January 20th, 2011 in Maui

2011-01-14T16:19:00.000-08:00

The Pacific Whale Foundation has invited me to do a presentation on whale photography on January 20th, from 6-7:30 PM at the Discovery center in Ma'alaea Harbor. It is downstairs of the PWF main office.

The presentation will include a variety of color and black and white Humpback Whale photographs, a description of how I do it, and a discussion about swimming with whales.

The presentation is open to the public. Please consider yourselves invited.

See you there!

If you cant make it check out some whale images at www.douglasjhoffman.com

Creating art is one thing, selling it is another.

2010-12-30T12:22:00.000-08:00

Today is the fourth day of a nine day photography exhibit. While its wonderful hearing comments about my work, I'm learning that selling is an art form on its on. So far the experience has been gratifying and humbling.

Photography exhibit at Honua Kai Resort and Spa in Kaanapali Maui

2010-12-29T11:42:00.000-08:00

From December 28- January 4th, 2011 a collection of my fine art photography will be on exhibit from 4PM - 8PM. Featured will be Canvas, Aluminum, 300 gm Cotton Rag Paper, and Metallic prints of Maui's magical sunsets, flowing waterfalls, dolphins, and Hawaiian Green Sea Turtles. Humpback Whales are also featured.

My goal as an artist is to create compelling images of nature in order to evoke an emotional response. Please come by and join me celebrate the sea. Also check out www.douglasjhoffman.com

Naia Fiji - A Diver's Paradise

2010-11-16T13:48:00.000-08:00

The images in this show represent what a diver can expect aboard a Naia cruise. The diving and service are world class. I can't wait to go back.
Video by: Douglas J Hoffman - DouglasJHoffman.com

Vavau' Tonga - a paradise for whales

2010-11-03T18:48:00.000-07:00

Aloha

Check out this short slide show featuring images of Vavau' Tonga. It features some incredible views, and friendly Humpback Whales. http://shareitvideo.com/watch.php?v=241555634068078

I will be returning to Tonga in September 2011 for my 6th season and there is space available on the boat. If interested log onto http://www.douglasjhoffman.com/DH/trips.htm#Tonga_Whale_Expedition,_Aboard_the_NAIA_-_September_2_-_12,_2011

sharks

2010-10-20T17:48:00.000-07:00

Sharks of Fiji Video

Flying baby whale

2010-10-09T11:09:00.001-07:00

I have just returned home after enjoying 10 days in Vavau' Tonga. This was my fifth whale season in a row. While conditions made it a bit more challenging than the last few years, we were able to witness heat runs, mother and calf interaction, male singers, and social groups.

One of my favorite images was created while snorkeling but is of a whale in the air. I saw the calf swimming for the surface and thought it was going to breach, so I lifted the camera housing out of the water and started pressing the shutter. To my amazement this image captured the baby in the air.

I am planning to return to Tonga next year, however the destination will be the Ha'apai island group. Rather than do a land based trip we will go on the Naia' a 120 foot live-aboard coming over from Fiji. The dates are Sept 2-12. http://www.douglasjhoffman.com/DH/trips.htm

If there is interest another tour will start Sept 13th in Vavau'.

Lemon Shark

2010-10-04T20:04:00.000-07:00

I have just returned from a 30 day trip dedicated to shark, coral reef, and humpback whale photography. The first week, I saw eight species of sharks and a huge Queensland Grouper. This image is of a Lemon Shark. Notice the small jacks swimming with it. See more images from the trip here. http://www.mauiphotography.net/Blog/

comments form recent workshop

2010-09-03T09:56:00.000-07:00

Last night I received this comment from Mark Hull who participated in one of my workshops recently. Thanks Mark!

"After returning from your workshop I told myself that it was the smartest thing I could have done on my trip to Maui. Your personal attention and knowledge was very much appreciated. You challenged me to do things differently and offered great suggestions to help improve in areas I was having trouble with. I like that you asked me in advance what I wanted to focus on and wanted to know about my problem areas. The special locations we traveled to allowed me to see parts of the island that many don't get to see, and I returned with great images to boot."

I would highly recommend your workshop to anyone interested in learning more about photography or just looking for an educated tour guide that knows the best locations for the ultimate photographs.

Thanks again for a great time, I hope to see you again on my next trip to Maui.

PS. Meeting your great family and viewing your studio was also very special and gave the day that "personal touch".

Mark Hull

Those interested in workshops please click on this link. http://www.douglasjhoffman.com/DH/workshops.htm

art for conservation gets double page spread in Whale Dolphin Magazine

2010-09-01T16:23:00.000-07:00

I received the Fall 2010 issue of Whale Dolphin Magazine and saw the publisher included a double page spread in the center of the magazine that mentioned art for conservation. Check it out here. http://www.douglasjhoffman.com/DH/Graphics/WDCS_Spread.jpg

To go to the art for conservation link click here http://www.douglasjhoffman.com/DH/conservation.htm

diagonal lines are strong compositional elements for u/w imagery

2010-08-27T19:21:00.000-07:00

This image of two nudibranchs preparing to mate has a diagonal line running through the center which serves a leading line that draws the eye into the subject. The dark background adds depth to the the image. I used two strobes. The one on the left side was 2 f-stops stronger than the strobe on the right creating a nice light ratio.

Composition, lighting, and buoyancy skills are three of the most important elements of u/w photography. If interested in taking a workshop that concentrates on the skills check out

http://www.douglasjhoffman.com/DH/workshops.htm

Lemon Shark

2010-08-24T16:56:00.000-07:00

In 2007, I was in Tonga, on a humpback whale trip with underwater photographers Mark Strickland and Tim Rock. During the week we had dinner a few times with Mike Neumann, the owner of Beqa Adventure Divers in Pacific Harbor Fiji. Known as BAD divers, this operation offers one of the most famous shark dives in the world where divers can expect to see as many as 6 or 7 species of sharks on a single dive. http://www.fijisharkdive.com/

Up to this point in my diving career of 10,000 plus dives, I had not fed animals in order to get a photograph. I felt it changed their natural behavior. So during during dinner I listened to the conversation and asked a lot of questions.

I learned that the dive shop owners had a part in creating a 30 mile long marine reserve and that fishing was not allowed. The thinking being that in order to study and sustain all the shark species its a good idea to protect the entire ecosystem. Since the reserve limited the fishing rights of the local villagers, the dive shop pays the village for every diver coming in to the reserve.

I have written more about this experience and it will be published soon on the http://www.uwphotographyguide.com/

To join me on diving and photography adventures in Hawaii, Fiji, or Tonga please check out my site www.douglasjhoffman.co

Free Lunch

2010-08-20T13:50:00.000-07:00

This shrimp is doing more than just getting a free ride. Its working its way around the eel feeding on debris and parasites.

This image was created in the Lembeh Strait located near Manado Indonesia.

Natural frames to draw viewers eye into an image

2010-08-19T17:35:00.000-07:00

This compositional technique has dual purposes. First it can add a great deal of depth, especially if the frame selected is connected to the main subject. Second, it has the affect of making the scene more appealing.

Perhaps the most common way of framing an image on the reef is to look for areas where their is a ledge, overhand, or coral formation that extends around, under, or over the subject. This image of a Moray Eel has a natural frame of coral reef around it. The out of focus foreground serves to draw the viewer directly to the Eye of the eel.

The benefits of framing photographs include:

1. Gives context.

2. Gives images a sense of depth.

3. Leads the eye towards main focal point.

4. Intrigues viewer.

tridents trumpet feasting on Clown of Thorns Starfish

2010-08-18T15:28:00.000-07:00

Sometimes when diving I get to see bizarre glimpses of nature at work. On this particular dive I got to see what appeared to be an alien creature eating a venomous Crown of Thorns Starfish. As it turns out it was a Tridents Trumpet Shell feasting away on the starfish. This species of starfish is eating coral reefs around the word and deserves in my opinion to be eaten alive. Thats what's happening in this image and I call it poetic justice.

To view more marine life images go to http://www.douglasjhoffman.com/DH/fineArtOpen-Marine.htm

Frog fish face

2010-08-14T19:34:00.000-07:00

I went diving today at Molokini and the wreck of the St. Anthony. It was during the second dive I saw this frogfish. I had a 105 mm lens that was really about 150 mm when you factor in the size of my digital sensor. The frog fish was the size of a small pumpkin, so I decided to concentrate on just the fishes face.

Fast shutter speeds freeze the action when doing ambient light

2010-08-01T13:46:00.000-07:00

Southern Hemisphere Humpback whales are migrating through Tonga this time of year. This is one of the few places in the world where it is permitted to snorkel with whales.

When photographing whales and other large animals in the blue try setting your camera to shutter priority and using a speed of 1/250th of a second. This will minimize camera shake and blurry images.

Check out this article on Tonga for more information. http://www.uwphotographyguide.com/diving-tonga-humpback-whales

To see a collection of whale portraits go to www.douglasjhoffman.com

Story about the live-aboard Nai'a in Fiji

2010-07-15T17:10:00.000-07:00

I just heard from the publisher that my story about a world class live-aboard dive boat called the Naia was just published. check out the story here. http://www.uwphotographyguide.com/naia-liveaboard-fiji

I was on the boat last October and had an incredible experience. In this story I talk about the great diving and service onboard and compare live-aboard to land based diving.

Enjoy!

Cover of WDCS magazines 50th edition

2010-07-01T16:51:00.000-07:00

Today, I received an email from WDCS magazine which included a look at the cover. It features an image of mine that includes three Southern Hemisphere Humpback Whales. The image was created last year in Tonga. To see more images of whales click here www.douglasjhoffman.com

Even on a rainy day landscape images can be made

2010-06-27T13:12:00.000-07:00

When creating landscape and scenics portraits on Maui, weather can be a factor. Rain brings water needed for agriculture to thrive and for the streams and waterfalls to flow. On these kind of days shelter can sometimes be found inside the bamboo forest.

When the wind and rain persist along the north and eastern shore, its a good idea to drive to the south side of the island where chances are the weather is completely different. Take for example this beach image created in Wailea. It was made approximately one hour after the image in the bamboo forest.

Indeed, there are many different climates around Maui, making this island very unique and beautiful.

One step closer to reaching a personal goal

2010-06-23T19:15:00.000-07:00

Since becoming a member of the Professional Photographers of America I made a goal to earn the coveted degree of Master of Photography. This year, I almost made it. The PPA has annual print competitions in which prints thats score well earn merits that go towards advanced degrees. In the recent competition, two of my images did quite well. As a result I am now only one merit away. Perhaps 2011 will be my year.

More fine art images can be see at www.douglasjhoffman.com.

Snorkeling with Southern Hemisphere Humpback Whales

2010-06-21T19:17:00.001-07:00

Whale season in Tonga is starting, and Southern Hemisphere Humpbacks are migrating to the tropical waters of Tonga to mate, give birth, and nurse young calves.

For the fifth year in a row, I am organizing an adventure dedicated to Humpback whales in Vavau, Tonga. The goal is to observe and photograph Southern Hemisphere Humpback Whales.

www.douglasjhoffman.com As of now there are a few spaces available. Please call 808 879 0260 and reserve a space today.

Just because its legal does not mean swimming with whales is easy. The fact is whales are wild and are not on anyone's time schedule. They can come or go as they see fit, and all encounters are on their terms. For the safety of the whales, and fairness to others, several protocols are followed. The standard is to watch the whales, to observe their behavior and let them get used to our presence. If they feel we are not a threat, they will relax and that's when good interaction happens.

This adventure is limited to a small group, so each person will gets the experience of a lifetime. I charter a small boat that has the proper permits and specializes in working with film crews and scientists, as opposed to a larger boat with a boat'em and float'em attitude.

I have found that with the exception of a heat run that most encounters are best when swimmers float motionless and as needed swim together in a parallel course not an intersecting course with the whales. Imagine how you would feel if several large fish were swimming at you from multiple directions. I would feel threatened, so it only makes sense that the whales do too. Staying in a group allows the mother to relax and become comfortable with our presence. Once this happens the baby is free to check us out.

The baby whale in this video from last years trip is a perfect example of what happens when people relax and don't force the encounter. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Calz1ZbKJA0

When it comes to nature photography, the daily plan is to hurry up and wait. As a result, a lot of time is spent looking at the horizon for whale sign. When whales are sighted, many factors have to come together before we get in the water. These include the demeanor of the whales, good visibility, low winds, and flat seas. Some days the water the water is clear and there are no whales. Other days there are plenty of whales but visibility is poor, e.t.c... Thats why the adventure includes 8 days on the water.

Read more about Tonga in my recent article in http://www.uwphotographyguide.com/diving-tonga-humpback-whales

Participants must be comfortable snorkeling in deep water and be in good health.

The crew of the Waterfront Restaurant

2010-06-19T20:15:00.000-07:00

I just had the opportunity to create a few portraits for The Waterfront Restaurant. This is one of Maui's most established restaurants. They are known for incredible fish, steaks, & lobster. My wife and I went there for our 14th anniversary and had champaign with dinner. Nine months later our little girl Aya was born...............

Sunset to remember

2010-06-17T17:15:00.001-07:00

After a family session with the McCalls last night I stayed at the beach and enjoyed a beautiful sunset.

Fire in Maui

2010-06-09T11:45:00.000-07:00

On June 8th, a brush fire broke out in the West Maui Mountains. Strong winds caused the fire to spread and by evening the fire had consumed over 2000 acres and threatened the Maui wind farm.

After the sun set, the sky had an erie glow, so I grabbed my camera and went to Sugar Beach. I needed a high Fstop for depth of field, and a slow shutter to capture the glow. So I set the camera at F8 and F11 and used shutter speeds of 15-20 seconds.

My friend Peter also created photos of the fire.

Summer photography workshops

2010-06-07T14:24:00.000-07:00

Summer is here and over the next few months I will be doing three types of photography workshops. The first is all about portrait photography, lighting, & posing. The second is on landscape and scenic photography in which we will get into composition, lines of repetition, frames, slow shutter speeds, and high dynamic range. The third is about u/w photography in which we get into wide angle and macro photography, TTL and manual operations, composition, & lighting.

The first workshop has just taken place and it went from dawn till after sunset. We started at the beach, explored dirt roads, streams, the bamboo forrest, the incredible coastline of Makena, big beach, and Sugar Beach in Kihei.

High Dynamic Range - first attempt

2010-05-31T22:57:00.000-07:00

Having read so many articles in the last year on HDR, I thought I would give it a try. So I grabbed my tripod and Nikon D200 with a 10-17 Tokina lens and went for a walk in a field that had burned less than a yea ago. I set my camera to aperture priority and selected F8. The ISO was 200 and the auto bracket for 7 stops in 1 stop increments.

I found the burned out car wrecks and thought this was a great subject. Here is the result. I used Photo Matrix software as a sample. Now I think I will purchase the plug in.

Tips on landscape photography

2010-05-21T13:06:00.000-07:00

Limitations of Film or digital sensor
Try to keep in mind the range of light that your film or digital camera's imaging sensor will capture. A dark subject on a white beach for example has such a wide range of exposure that it is all but impossible to capture enough detail in this sort of image.

One technique that is becoming popular to day deals with dynamic range. Say for example your photographing a scene with high contrast and five or more F-stops range in exposure. Raw digital files have a lot of latitude but not that much. Thats why photographers today set their cameras to auto bracket and shoot 7-9 exposures of the same scene. The F-stop is the same to maintain depth of field. The shutter speed is bracketed in 1 stop increments. In all you want a good exposure and three that are over and three that are under. A TRIPOD IS REQUIRED for this style of photography.

One thing you can do when creating images is try to keep the sun behind you or at least 90 degrees to your side. Thee techniques produce the best landscape photographs.

The Rule of Thirds
Position key points of interest in a landscape on the intersecting point between imaginary ‘third’ points in an image and you’ll help give your image balance and help those focal points to really capture attention.

Avoid putting the horizon in the middle. Instead place the horizon in the upper or lower third of your shot.

Foreground Mid-ground Background
One element that can set apart your landscape shots is to think carefully about the foreground of your shots and by placing points of interest in them. When you do this you give those viewing the shot a way into the image as well as creating a sense of depth in your shot.

Ansel Adams, the famous B&W landscape photographer stresses the importance of making compositions that had foreground, mid, and background elements. It creates depth, scope, aids in composition and helps tell the story of the image.

Another element to consider is the sky. Most landscapes will either have a dominant foreground or sky – unless you have one or the other your shot can end up being fairly boring.

Diagonal & Leading Lines
Using converging lines can draw the eye of those viewing an image into it and to the main focal point. The lines could be the shape of a path, a line of trees, a fence, river or any other feature in an image.

S-curves
Using lines that are elegant and that resemble an S also serve to draw the viewer into the image and provide places for the eye to go leading it to the main focal point of the image.

Geometric Shapes

By positioning key aspects of a landscape on points of a geometric shape you can help create a balanced composition.

Framing Images
Adding interest to the foreground is an important technique for adding interest to landscape shots – a similar technique is to ‘frame’ the shot by adding interest to other parts of the edges of an image.

Perhaps the most common way of framing a landscape shot is to include an overhanging branch in the upper section of a shot. Similarly framing a shot with a bridge might work.

The benefits of framing pictures include:
1. giving the photo context (for example framing a scene with a lava flow can convey a sense of being out in nature in Hawaii).
2. giving images a sense of depth. (foreground, mid& background)
3. leading the eye towards your main focal point.
4. intriguing your viewer. Sometimes it’s what you can’t see in an image that draws you into it as much as what you can see in the picture.

Frames for photographs come in all shapes and sizes and can include shooting through overhanging branches, lava, foliage, etc. Your frame doesn’t need to go completely around the edges of your image – they might just be on one or two edges of your shot.

If you do use framing techniques you also need to consider whether you want your frame to be in focus or not. In some instances a nicely blurred frame will really add a sense of mood and depth to your shots (in this case use a large aperture) but in other cases to have your frame in focus can help with adding context to the scene (in this case choose a narrow aperture.

Adding Movement to landscapes
Movement adds mood and drama to an image. Wind, waves, waterfalls, birds flying , moving clouds. Use slow shutter speeds to soften the feel of waves lapping on the sand, and feel the action of the birds wings.

Take your time and look for several different points of view. When going to scenic places try to look for new angles. So get on a step ladder, or try looking from from a low perspective. Explore the environment and experiment with different view points and you could find something truly unique.
High Dynamic Range
This is a relatively new concept in photography that allows photographers to use the best information relating to shadow and highlights throughout a wide range of exposures. This is great for situations with there is great contrast. Software is available as a plug into photoshop to make the process fun and creative. Photomatix is the industry leader and allows their software to be downloaded for free for trial use.
Set the camera to auto bracket to 7 or 9 stops, then select one stop as the increment of exposure added or subtracted to each exposure. Also set the camera for aperture priority with a decent depth of field like F8. The camera will then set the shutter speed for each exposure during the auto bracket. Maintaining the F-stop will make sure all images have same depth of field.
Tripod

A light weight carbon fiber tripod with a ball head is a great tool to insure your images are sharp. It provides a steady platform for you to depress the shutter and minimize camera shake caused by body movement. Tripods allow you to use slow shutter speeds, as well as a variety of heights for different points of view. Tripods also make it easier to create multiple exposure panorama style photographs as it maintains the same angle throughout the range of exposures making it easier to align in photoshop.

First and last light is the best of the day – GOLDEN LIGHT
Sunsets and sunrises that are facing the horizon in which the sun is going to rise or set on usually look best if there is water or something reflective in the foreground as a compositional element. In Hawaii for example lava rocks, trees,and even dogs work well.

If the sun does not have a layer of clouds in front of it, the contrast in light intensity between area around the sun and the edges of your composition will be extreme. Some very dramatic sunset and sunrise colors can be captured by finding a scene that is on the opposite horizon from where the sun is actually rising or setting.

This type of composition allows the soft directional light of pre and early sunrise or early and post sunset to evenly illuminate the entire scene. Clouds can help reflect these colors and add content and texture to the sky.

Enjoy and have fun. douglas

2010-01-28T14:00:00.000-08:00

Just back from an exciting blue water adventure to Tonga and Fiji looking for large animals. While Whale Sharks, and Sperm whales were not observed, I saw loads of sharks including white and black tip reef, Grey reef, Bronze whalers, Oceanic White Tip, and over 25 different Bull Sharks. I see great potential and will start organizing another exploratory trip for next January trip.

Vavau' Tonga Blue Water Adventure

2010-01-16T10:42:00.000-08:00

I went to Vavau' in January as each year the fishermen tell me they see big schools of Tuna, bait balls, sharks, and occasionally Sperm Whales. So far I have had two days out. The first day we went out to a FAB buoy and swam with three Bronze whaler sharks. It was amazing. We also went to some sea mounts that come to within 180 feet of the surface. We saw some birds working something but it was moving really fast and we could not get in the water. From the boat it looked like a school of Mahi was working small fish.

The second day we went to Late a dormant volcano about 38 miles out to sea. The diving there was world class. The topography was incredible, and their were colorful soft corals and very impressive hard corals.

Swimming in blue water when you cant see the bottom is very exciting because you never know what will swim by. I have four more days and cant wait to see what we find.

www.douglasjhoffman.com

11 night dive trip to West Papua Indonesia, Aug 2012

2009-12-23T13:27:00.000-08:00

I have chartered the Indonesian Boutique live-aboard dive vessel Damai, for an 11 night adventure to Cendarawasi Bay, Monokwari, and Mapia Atoll. The dates are Aug 10-21, 2012 The boat takes 8 passengers plus group leader. Each cabin will have king size bed or two double beds, private bath tub, shower and toilet. Each diver will have their own camera rinse tank. The boat has 4 dive masters and three dive tenders. There will be a dive guide for every 2-3 divers. The boat offers unlimited diving and includes nitrox fills of 32 and 36 percent. For those that get sore after travel and diving, the boat features a spa with a trained masseuse. Everything is included including spa treatments, harbor fees, & alcohol. The price is $465 per night.

These areas are considered part of West Papua Indonesia. The whole area around Cenderwarawshi Bay is under dived. The two reasons to go are the wrecks and the atolls on the north. The wrecks around Manokwari are the best in Indonesia and are teaming with life and full of soft coral. Mapia and other remote atolls are places where big schools of fish can be found.

This will be world class diving that offers the wide angle photographer the chance to create dramatic portraits of shipwrecks, as well as macro photographers because of all the marine life growing on the wrecks and biodiversity of the reefs.

MANOKWARI has amazing WWII wreck diving and includes a P-40 Tomahawk fighter, Cross Wreck, and the Japanese freighter Shinwa Maru. Living on the wrecks is an entire marine ecosystem that while impressive during the day is off the charts during night dives. Divers will not get bored looking at vibrant soft coral plus the incredible variety of species of life. Dive profiles extend down to the 30 meter range.

Mapia and other Atolls

The atolls will provide a lot of excitement and action as we dive sites with large schools of barracuda, jacks, rainbow runners, tuna, bumphead parrot fish, Napoleon Wrasse, big Groupers, Grey sharks, and endless streams of fusiliers. The atolls are not dived often because they are remote and few if any boats go there. Macro life includes hundreds of species of fish, nudibranchs, crabs, and shrimps. This area is the next place to explode on the diving scene.

The cost of the trip is $5,125 per person (DBL)

The dates are Aug 10-21, 2012

To see more go to www.douglasjhoffman.com or www.dive-damai.com

Email questions to Douglas at dhimages@maui.net

Swimming with Whales Sept 10-20th on the Naia

2009-11-04T16:21:00.001-08:00

Whale Swimming in Tonga on the Naia 2011

Well known professional marine photographer Mark Strickland and I will be co-hosting an exclusive 10-night trip in Tonga aboard the renowned live-aboard vessel Nai’a, in late August 2011. This special, limited-load trip will be dedicated to observing, photographing and especially swimming with the large population of Humpback Whales that visit these islands every year to mate and give birth.

The itinerary is designed to provide the best possible opportunities for quality in-water time with these magnificent animals, Of course the whales themselves decide when it’s playtime, but we’ll be employing some special tactics to tilt the odds in our favor as much as possible. For one thing, instead of competing with the growing number of day trip vessels operating out of Vava’u, our trip will concentrate on the little- visited island group of Ha’apai. There are lots of whales in these waters, but almost no other boats.

Another key strategy will be to limit the number of guests to 12 instead of the usual 16. This approach does make the trip more expensive, but I firmly believe it is worth it to make the most of our time. Both Mark and I have spent many hours among marine mammals in various conditions and locales, and we keep coming to the same conclusion: the fewer people in the water, the better the encounters.

The Nai’a has two 30 ft. tenders, providing ample space for 6 passengers plus guides in each boat. This way we can rotate two small groups in and out of the water from each boat, to ensure the most time in the water for every participant.

Other than a lunch break on the big boat, we’ll spend most of each day patrolling in the tenders, scouting for the whales’ telltale spouts and flukes. We’ll mainly be looking for mothers and their calves, but will likely come across heat runs, singing whales, romantic displays and dramatic breaches. Mostly, though, we’ll be looking for curious, playful calves and their mothers, since such encounters can sometimes last for hours.

The main focus of this special trip is in-water whale encounters, where we’ll be using snorkel gear only. If you’re a diehard diver and can’t resist bringing scuba gear that’s fine, but please realize

that diving opportunities will be limited to dusk and night night dives beneath the boat. In my opinion it’s not worth dragging your dive gear along, especially considering today’s restrictive baggage policies.

Swimming with humpback whales requires patience. If you swim straight at the whale, it will swim away and everyone on the boat will look at you with angry eyes. If you float in a small group and stay still, the baby whale will get curious and come to check you out. In order to ensure good encounters for everyone we have prepared guidelines for behavior in the water and will forward them after the deposits are received.

Payment will be based on Naia’s standard rates, which for 16 passengers would be $4895 p/p. However, for our trip with only 12 passengers, it works out to about $6530 p/p, not including airfare, alcohol or tips. Nai’a does apply a fuel surcharge, which is currently $14/person/day. If it changes, we’ll be given three month’s notice before our trip. Happily, there are no port fees, local taxes or other hidden charges. For more about Nai’a, visit http://www.naia.com.fj/tonga/index.html

If you wish to come, please don’t delay - DEPOSITs are being accepted.

As many people will purchase 2 week tickets in and out of Fiji, there is an option to add a few days of shark diving in Pacific Harbor Fiji before or after the live aboard. Participants will be met at either Nadi or Suva airports and driven to Pacific Harbor where they will spend 3 nights at the Uprising resort. Two days of shark diving with Beqa Adventure Divers and transportation to Suva or Nadi airport is provided. The cost will be around $750. Scuba gear can be rented.

Whale Swimming in Vavau Tonga Sept 21-30, 2010

2009-11-04T15:24:00.000-08:00

Tonga – Sept 21-30, 2010

For the fifth year in a row, I am organizing a nine day adventure in Vavau, Tonga to swim with and photograph Southern Hemisphere Humpback Whales. This experience is limited to a small group, so each person gets the experience of a lifetime.

Just because its legal does not mean swimming with whales is easy. The fact is whales are wild and not on anyone's time schedule. They can come or go as they see fit, and all encounters are on their terms. For the safety of the whales, and fairness to others, several protocols need to be followed.

That means we won't just motor up to the humpbacks and jump in the water. The standard is to watch the whales to observe their behavior and let them get used to our presence. If they feel we are not a threat, they will relax and that's when good interaction happens. There will be a maximum of four people plus guide in the water at any time.

I have found that with the exception of a heat run and really relaxed mother and calf, that most encounters are best when swimmers float motionless or swim together in a parallel course not an intersecting course with the whales. Imagine how you would feel if several large fish were swimming at you from multiple directions. I would feel threatened, so it only makes sense that the whales do too. By swimming and floating in a group, the whales are better able to become comfortable with our presence.

When it comes to nature photography, the daily plan is to hurry up and wait. A lot of time is spent looking at the horizon for whale sign. When whales are sighted, many factors have to come together before we get in the water. These include the demeanor of the whales, good visibility, low winds, and flat seas.

Just getting to Tonga can be an adventure as it is a remote location. From most places it takes 2 days to get to, and one long day to return. The airlines in this part of the world are safe, but follow a logic not many people understand. I tell people to bring along their sense of humor and two extra books, as the flights don't always operate as advertised. Please make sure you purchase trip insurance and be prepared for excess baggage fees.

Continental Airlines and Pacific Airlines are the best airlines to use to get to Tonga. If you don't have a travel agent McCoy travel in Hawaii will be happy to take care of all your travel arrangements. They specialize in Fiji and the pacific.

This trip we will be staying in the Puatake Hotel right on the water, in the center of town. The rooms are large, and have a/c and internet hook ups. Each room has an incredible harbor view. The boat will meet us up at 8AM and drop us off after 4PM each day. A catered lunch will be provided.

The cost is $4,740 per per person and includes 10 nights hotel ( double occupancy), 9 boat days with catered lunch featuring some fruit, veggies, salad, fish or chicken, muffins, cookies, coffee and cocoa, as well as bottled water on the boat. If traveling alone, add an $800 single room adjustment. The cost of the trip can be split up into 2 or 3 payments depending on when you commit to the trip. The cost of the trip must be paid in full by July 1st, 2010.

In Vavau, there are two good cafes for breakfast, and ½ dozen good restaurants for dinner. One place has the best Italian food I have ever eaten. There places that serve meat, fish, indian food, mexican food, spanish food, pizza, and lobster. The prices are very reasonable.

Shark Dive

Depending on the length of your vacation plans, there is an option to add a few days of shark diving in Pacific Harbor Fiji before or after the Vavau trip. Participants will be met at either the Nadi or Suva airports and driven to Pacific Harbor where they will spend 3 nights at the Uprising resort and two days of shark diving with Beqa Adventure Divers. Roundtrip transportation to the Suva or Nadi airport is provided. The cost will be around $750. Scuba gear can be rented.

Custom art for Hokulani tower at Honua Kai Resort & Spa

2009-07-01T13:08:00.000-07:00

Last year, I was commissioned to create 12 limited editions of marine art to be room decor in guest suites of the Hokulani Tower which is part of the new Honua Kai Resort and spa in Kaanapali Maui. The project entailed everything from creating the concept to hanging the finished pieces on the wall. It was a great experience working with designers, engineers, and developers.

Lehua Rock & Niihau Hawaii

2009-06-30T10:53:00.000-07:00

In the state of Hawaii, their are a lot of great scuba diving locations. One of my favorites is Lehua Rock. This a huge volcanic tuft cone located a few miles off the forbidden island of Niihau. The entire area is beacon for marine life and one can see schools of small plankton eating fish feeding in the water column, majestic mantas, white tip, grey reef, occasional Galapagos sharks, green sea turtles, and endangered Monk Seals.

The topography is dramatic too with steep drop offs, caves, crevices, walls, and canyons. For those that don't dive the closest way I can explain how it looks is to look at pictures by Ansel Adams of the rugged mountain ranges and canyons of the American west.

The site is only dive-able during summer months, and then it is at the mercy of weather. I think it is about a 17 mile journey depending upon the harbor, charter company and boat. There are three operators that go to Lehua Rock. They are Bubbles Below, Fathom Five, and Sea Sport Divers.

Over the years I have gone with each company. I usually prefer small dive boats following the thinking that less is more when it comes to underwater photography. However, when it comes to diving Lehua Rock, I prefer a larger boat. For me, its all about being comfortable on a 2.5 hour crossing in open ocean. As the seas can get rough, being able to sit back and relax rather than take a beating is priceless. Thats why I go with Sea Sport Divers. Their dive boat is very spacious, has a toilet, hot water showers, and plenty of space to store cameras dive gear, and dry gear. http://www.seasportdivers.com

In my gear bag

2009-06-28T23:20:00.001-07:00

As a working professional, I get asked frequently by divers I meet what kind of gear do I use and why.

I will start with dive equipment. For at least 10 years I have used Sea Quest BCD's and been quite happy with the quality, construction, and durability. Five years ago or so I got an Atomic Titanium regulator. It was expensive and worth every penny. It is by far the best breathing regulator I have used. I have an oceanic wetsuit and set of split fins that are 4 years old, and while the fins still work great the wet suit is ready to be replaced. I also use a pair of Cressi free diving fins when doing blue water snorkeling with whales. I love the power.

For topside images, I use the Nikon D3 , D2X, D700 bodies. For underwater photography, I use the Nikon D300. As I do a lot of scuba diving & blue water snorkeling I found that I need a housing specific to each purpose. The Ikelite features ttl flash exposure compensation which is very cool and allows me to concentrate on composition. I can adjust the ttl exposure by 1/3 f-stops by rotating a dial, rather than reaching out and changing strobe settings. The only negative with the housing is the way ports attach. The system relies on pressure to seat the o -ring. When using the housing while scuba diving the pressure seats the port and there are no issues. I cant say the same when snorkeling with the Ikelite housing.

That why I also use the Nexus housing. Simply put its small and built like a tank. The quality of the 10-17 optical glass port cant be beat. The negative of this system is that to take advantage pf the glass optics, you need a port specific to each lens and that is expensive. The 10-17 port cost just under a thousand bucks. The system has 2 sync ports for traditional strobes and 2 fibre optic ports for high tech digital strobes.

I use the following lenses. The 10-17 fisheye zoom Tokina, 10.5 mm fisheye, 16 mm fish eye, 60 & 105 macro Nikon lenses. For strobes I use three Ikelite DS160's. The strobes have ttl and manual power settings. They are 5000 degree kelvin in temperature which produces lovely blues and requires less time spent in photoshop. I also use two Sea and Sea YS 300 strobes from the film days that only work on manual settings. I love using them as slaves, set 1-2 stops lower than the main light to create rations and dimension in my images. Too many times a ttl exposure will result in flat lighting. This is when there is an equal amount of light throughout the scene. When creating light ratios underwater the light is not even so there is more shadow detail and depth to the image.

When I travel, I use Tamrac back backs, Velocity 9x camera bag, and Rolling Studio case featuring plastic armor. These products are light weight yet heavy duty. The amount of equipment they accommodate is impressive as is the style and appearance. I bring a Mac lap top, 3 external hard drives for back up, 3 - 16 gig cards, 8- 8 gig cards, 3 - 4 gig cards.I bring an I-phone loaded with 2 movies and Skype .

Other bits include a small glass reflector for the BCD pocket, as well as a safety sausage and a whistle. These are items I hope not to use, but am glad to have with me. I use the Aladin Nitrox computer, but tend to keep it set on air for added safety.

The last thing I pack is a sense of humor and a bit of patience. The wonderful thing about traveling is that there is a lot of time spent waiting. Rather than get frustrated, I just go with the flow.

Tamrac Rolling Studio case for travel

2009-06-25T16:09:00.000-07:00

Underwater photographers frequently ask what I use to transport my housings when flying to exotic destinations around the world. Back in the days when airlines were generous and gave divers large baggage allowances I used the industry standard pelican case. It was both big and heavy duty. The bummer if any is that it weighed a lot.

Over the last 3-4 years airlines around the world have dramatically decreased the number of bags and weight allowed. As spending hundreds of dollars on excess baggage is not something I want to do on each leg of a journey, I did some research and looked for heavy duty cases that were light weight. In the end I selected the Rolling Studio case made by Tamrac, the leader manufacturer of bags & cases for professional photographers. It is large and reinforced with light weight plastic armor. Empty the case weighs about 20 pounds.

Today I did a dry run just to see how much I could put in and I was amazed. I packed two u/w camera housings, 4 ports, 4 large strobes, 5 sets of sync cords, 2 extra strobe batteries, 2 strobe chargers, 2 camera battery chargers, tools, and spare parts. The total weight was 55 pounds. If I had to take 5 pounds of gear out, I could and put in my other suitcase.

Cover of WDCS Spring 2009 Magazine

2009-06-19T15:28:00.000-07:00

This image created in 2008 in Pico Azores, was selected while on an assignment for the WDCS and on a permit issued by the portuguese government. I provided a selection of several of species of dolphin, Southern Hemisphere Humpback Whales and Sperm Whale images to the portuguese government and to the WDCS for educational and scientific purposes. One image from that trip is being used a the campaign called art for conservation and can be seen at douglasjhoffman.com What a privilege it is to support such a dedicated organization.

Swimming with Humpback Whales in 2009

2009-01-07T16:08:00.000-08:00

Tonga - 2009

For the fourth year in a row, I am organizing small expeditions to Tonga to observe, document, and photograph Southern Hemisphere Humpback Whales above and below the surface. This expereince is limited to a small group, so each person gets the experience of a lifetime.

Participants will be taught how to enter the water making as little noise as possible, When to float & when to swim, and how to swim properly in the presence of whales. Our goal is to observe the whales without changing their behavior.
I will do everything possible to help make the trip a success, but when in the water all participants must be self-sufficient. The waters are deep and those interested in coming must be good swimmers and be in good shape.
The boat chartered is small, and fast. The captains are extremely knowledgeable, have decades of experience, and uncanny intuition that helps them recognize which cetaceans are on the move, and which are curious and playful.
Just because its legal does not mean swimming with whales is easy. The fact is whales are wild and not on anyone's time schedule. They can come or go as they see fit, and all encounters are on their terms. For the safety of the whales, and fairness to others, several protocols need to be followed.

That means we wont just motor up to the humpbacks and jump in the water. The standard is to watch the whales to observe their behavior and let them get used to our presence. If they feel we are not a threat, they will relax and that's when good interaction happens. There will be a maximum of four people plus captain and myself.

The rules state there can be no more than four swimmers plus a guide in the water at a time. I have found that with the exception of a heat run and really relaxed mother and calf, that most encounters are best with two or three swimmers and a guide in the water. A small group of people swimming together in a parallel course not an intersecting course will have better interaction as the whales will be curious not defensive. Imagine how you would feel if large fish were swimming at you at full speed from multiple directions. I would feel threatened, so it only makes sense that the whales do too. By swimming in a group, the whales are better able to become comfortable with our presence.

When it comes to nature photography, the daily plan is to hurry up and wait. A lot of time is spent looking at the horizon for whale sign. When whales are sighted, many factors have to come together before we get in the water. These include the demeanor of the whales, good visibility, low winds, and flat seas.

In nature there are days when the sun is out, seas are calm, and whales are present but the underwater visibility is terrible. And, there are days the sky is cloudy but the water is clear. As Mother Nature doesn't always cooperate, I am planning to two back-to-back 6-day trips. Weather can be a factor so don't be surprised if out of seven days the boat stays in for one or two. The first group starts Sept 14th, 2008 and the second group starts on September 24th, 2008 and goes till Oct 1st.

Just getting to Tonga can be an adventure as it is a remote location. From most places it takes 2 days to get to, and one long day to return. The airlines in this part of the world are safe, but follow a logic not many people understand. I tell people to bring along their sense of humor and two extra books, as the flights don't always operate as advertised. Please make sure you purchase trip insurance and if there is any chance at all you might want to extend your vacation, be prepared to spend a day taking care of the details, and to pay change fees. Excess baggage is a reality. Tell everyone at the airline you're a diver and ask for it to be noted on your ticket. If lucky you may get an allowance of 20 extra pounds.
The boat fee includes pick up and drop off at closest dock to hotel, lunch, bottle of water, and fuel. The price is $400 per day. Final cost is subject to change as fuel costs may increase. Hotel, and airplane tickets are additional. On average it costs about $1,600 to fly to Vavau' Tonga.

There are three standard of hotels.  The finest accommodations is at the residence. It is one of the princesses' homes. There are only two rooms and they are luxurious. The rooms are $250-300 per night.
The Pua International and Paradise hotels cost about $150. The Pua is in town, while the Paradise is a 12 minute walk from town. The paradise includes breakfast, the Pua does not. I have stayed in both. The bottom line is the Pua is more convenient, but the Paradise includes breakfast and is a bit nicer. The back packer hotel is about $60 per night. It is nice, clean, and in town. There ather lodging options and those interested should call 808 879 0260 or send me an email at dhimage@maui.net

A 50% retainer is required to hold space. -This fee is non refundable. -The final payment is due 60 days before the trip. -Trip insurance is required.

Fun pictures in the pool

2008-12-21T16:28:00.000-08:00

This week I introduced a new portrait service creating portraits of kids, families, and dogs in the pool and ocean. In these hard economic times I needed to find a way to draw attention to my company to generate new business. After considering all kinds of ideas it occurred to do to what I am passionate about which is scuba diving, underwater water photography, my family and dogs. Thats how the idea of making portraits of kids, families and dogs in the pool evolved. Time will tell it if its a good idea.

new resort in Maui features 300 black and white marine images

2008-12-20T10:56:00.000-08:00

This week our team installed 300 black and white marine themes photographs into the suites of the Honua Kai Resort in Kaanapali, Maui. Eight images featuring local marine life were selected and printed in various sizes to complement the décor of each suite type. The scope of the project involved an incredible amount of logistics and planning and included image selection, printing, mounting, matting, framing, and installation. From inception to completion the project took a year.

As a marine photographer it is an honor to have a collection of my work in such a nice resort.

comments from client on last Tonga trip

2008-12-15T13:31:00.000-08:00

I just received these comments from Mark Strickland, regarding our recent Whale Expedition in Sept/October 08.

Thanks Mark!

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I recently returned from my third dedicated whale photography expedition with Douglas Hoffman, and couldn’t be more pleased. There is always an element of luck involved with such endeavors, and we enjoyed some very good fortune on this trip. More important, though, are factors that only come together through the efforts of a capable group leader: thorough planning, attention to detail, and a flexible, conscientious attitude that is invaluable in remote locales. As always, Doug sought out the most experienced captains and operators, and generally made sure things ran smoothly, often in spite of considerable difficulties. He also offered valuable insight on whale behavior and photographic techniques, and invariably treated his guests fairly and respectfully. I think everyone who participated in this trip would agree: Doug is enthusiastic, knowledgeable, and a pleasure to travel with… I recommend any of his expeditions highly.

Sincerely,

Mark Strickland
Marine Photographer

Advantages of seeing how to take a picture underwater

2008-12-13T13:23:00.000-08:00

I recently did a 2 day work shop on the basics of underwater photogrpahy. I covered metering, flash, and composition but buoyancy skills were stressed the most. As divers, we are working in an alien world and we need to respect it. As photographers we are good will ambassadors to the sea and need to do everything possible to avoid contact with the reef, stir up sediment on the bottom, break coral, touch or move marine life, etc. As divers we need to use our underwater knowledge to make better photographs.

For example, if working in a current, its wise to set up your exposure, adjust your flash and prepare to take the image a bit up current so your all set when you float by and are able to get the shot. Stopping in the current means you will have to swim hard and or grab coral. This will in most cases damage the reef, and disturb water clarity making you unpopular among the other divers.

For me the best part of the class was demonstrating how I would take a picture in current, on sand, in the reef, and in the water column. After showing each diver how I would do it, each one had the opportunity to practice. On one of the dives there was a bit of current and each diver could feel it and had to struggle to get set up in order to be in position at the right time. After the dives the students remarks indicated they understood how important it is to manage the current and ones buoyancy to take the photograph without damaging the environment.

The clinic was a lot of fun, and prepared Georgia and Jim for a two week dive holiday. I just got a letter from them telling me about the trip and how they were able to manage their buoyancy and concentrate on composition. Best of all they had a blast and cant wait till the next dive trip.

Had a great time in Tonga

2008-10-19T15:54:00.000-07:00

Having just returned from Tonga, I am already planning the next trip. I will be going back for a fourth season. Words are hard to find that aptly describe the feelings experienced when snorkeling with whales. Having led several small groups to swim with whales, I get to witness and hear peoples excitement, so one would think I could describe the feeling. The truth is its hard to put into words how a person can feel so alive and at the same time awes struck and humbled. It really is an amazing experience.

Swimming with Sperm Whales & Dolphins

2008-09-14T07:59:00.000-07:00

I have gotten involved with the whale Dolphin Conservation Society, and recently went to the Azores to photograph Sperm Whales and Dolphins for a book project. Cherllye Millard Dawe was in charge of the project and working with us was Bruce Watkins and Aqua Acores a Pico based whale and dolphin watching company. Our goal was to capture animals in the environment without changing their behavior. The weather was a bit difficult as we had plenty of rain, wind, and wave action, but over the course of 2 weeks, we were able to create some nice images.

Azores and Tonga

2008-08-19T13:47:00.000-07:00

Next week I am traveling to the Azores, a group of islands off of Portugal to contribute to a book sponsored by the Whale Dolphin Conservation Society. I am looking forward to the experience and making new friends. From Pico, I will travel to Tonga. The flight will take over 38 hours, not to mention 44 hours of lay overs in Boston, LA, Nadi, and Tongatapu. Once in Vavau, I will lead a small group of photographers on an expedition to swim with and photograph Humpback Whales.

The goal of our trip is to create images of humpbacks without changing their behavior. We will not motor up in a boat and drop in on the whales. Instead we will watch, and observe their behavior. When appropriate, enter the water and float near them. Previous trips taught me that whales are curious and will swim by us to get a look.

Diving to Mozart

2008-08-19T13:28:00.001-07:00

Recently I had the chance to dive with Daniel Opitz, the producer of a film called the Humpback Code. Danny uses a rebreather and it was incredible to see a diver without bubbles. The fish were not afraid and let him get quite close. While that was great to see, what made the dive really interesting was Danny likes to listen to music while diving. So, before we descended he lowered a speaker system into the water and turned on his ipod. As we were diving on the wreck of a replica whaling boat that used to be a floating museum, it seemed appropriate that the music was Mozart. I was 90 feet deep and could hear the music well. The music was also heard by an Atlantis Submarine full of tourists. The pilot could not believe what he heard and made two passes. The whole dive was surreal and one I am not likely to forget.

Whale Quest 2008

2008-04-03T18:07:00.000-07:00

In February of 2008, the third annual Whale Quest symposium was held in Kapalua, Maui Hawaii. It was a three-day event organized by Whale Trust and sponsored by National Geographic.

Each day the worlds best nature photographers, movie -makers and researchers gathered to share information, network, debut films, and talk about whales. The event was open to the public, and more than 1000 people attended.

This was my second year participating as an artist, and it was an honor to display my B&W edition of whale portraits in front of the lecture hall and to donate $1,000 to Whale Trust. This NPO does a lot of good, and is run by people who are passionate about what they do.

During the event, I had the chance to hang out with marine photographers Flip Nicklan, Chuck Nicklan, David Doubilet, Paul Nicklan, & Doug Perrine. It was fun sharing stories, and talking about underwater photography.

All the presentations were well attended and informative. Two of them however blew my mind. One was a movie that showed sperm whales taking fish of long line fishing boats, and another was a slide show of the seals in Antarctica hunting penguins.

I would say that this years event was a success, and that a lot of earning took place and money was raised to continue current and start new research projects.

I hope to be invited back next year!

To view a sampling of my fine art whale portraits, click here

Swimming with Humpback Whales

2008-04-03T18:03:00.000-07:00

Getting in and out of the water is very important. There are many ways to slide into the water slowly and smoothly creating as little noise and disruption as possible. What works for me is to sit on the side of the boat and lower myself in the water. I tend to favor facing the boat using one hand to support me and then glide into the water.

Once wet, I reach up and grab the camera from the captain, and move off to make room for others to get in or the boat to move away. While in the water, stay as quiet as possible. Big fin kicks that break the surface and create wake are bad and will ruin an encounter. Depending upon style of fin, it might be wise to swim side-ways to keep fin tips underwater.

When swimming always stay together in a group and travel in a parallel course to the whale, and not strait at it. Do not break up and approach whales from opposite sides. Imagine how you would feel if an animal the size of a bus came at you and you d id not know its intentions. The bottom line is that we have to be respectful and patient.

More often than not I have found success by simply floating in the proximity of the whales. There is no doubt that the whales are aware of our presence, so if we stay nearby, but don’t approach it lets the whale relax, but it also awakens the whales curiosity. That’s when good things happen.

Whales are wild animals, and have free will. They can swim wherever they want, as well as dive whenever they want. Please respect them at all times,

swimming with humpback whales

2006-12-05T13:12:00.000-08:00

Since 1993, I have led 2-3 trips a year dedicated to marine photography to a destination within the Indo-pacific. Many of the trips ( 17) have been to Indonesia as the people are friendly and the bio-diversity of marine life is incredible. Lately however my focus has been on pelagic life in the blue, as opposed to macro life on the reef. It started in 2005, with a lucky encounter with pilot whales and an Oceanic white tip reef shark off the big island of Hawaii.

In 2006 I led a small group to Tonga and had the opportunity to swim with a new born humpback whale. It was incredible, so I have decided to return to Tonga in mid September 2007 and again in late August 2008. The first trip will be based in Vavau' where I have organized a small speed boat, a very expereinced captain, and hotel accomodations. The trip in 2008 will be to the Happai Island group and will be conducted from a 50 foot sailboat. I am limiting the size of the groups to 3- 4 people, as a smaller group means a bigger chance for encounters.

I have learned that a small group of people staying together does not cause a mother whale to fear for the safety of her calf, but several people swimming from all directions, including downward certainly does. This is a snorkel trip, so participants need not be certified divers. Those who are interested are invited to email me for details.

Take the plunge - learn under water photography

2006-12-04T16:54:00.002-08:00

All to often photographers dive into underwater photography with a lot of enthusiasm but end up discouraged because the images made did not meet expectations. The bottom line is that many elements have to come together in order to create good images underwater. Understanding what works and more importantly what does not, takes time. The good news is one does not have to master everything at once, and the learning process is half the fun.

All the experts agree that is best to become a good diver, then learn one aspect of u/w photography, before starting to study another. The most important diving skill is buoyancy control. This is having the ability to regulates ones breathing so that they neither sink, nor float. All to often, divers can be seen laying on the bottom or clinging to coral, while at the same time their fins are constantly moving stirring up sediment that will get dispersed into the water column. This is a bad thing as it takes a while to settle and while floating in the water, will reflect light towards the lens. These particles in the water are referred to as backscatter and they will ruin photographs. If that was not bad enough anyone down current will also be affected. That's not cool.

The ability to control ones breathing not only enables the photographer to limit the turbidity his presence has in the water but also to become part of the environment. Fish feel threatened when a large diver with a camera starts stalking them. So, it makes sense that after they get used to a diver, they will relax and resume their normal routine. This in turn enables photographers to make good pictures.

It is important to know the kinds of images you want to make before going diving, because once underwater it is not easy to reconfigure equipment. Changing lenses requires surfacing, drying off, changing the lens and the port. This takes time and if hurried will result in a camera flood.

Murphys law as applied to underwater photography says: When you set your camera up for macro, you will see wide angle subjects like turtles, mantra rays, & dolphins. And, when set up for wide angle you will see rare fish posturing in the current, mating squid, or two eels in the same hole. The lesson here is to enjoy the special moments then get back to the dive and continue looking for subjects appropriate for the lens you have. Underwater photographers just starting out will do better shooting macro. The reason is that the subject matter is very close to the lens and ambient light is not an important part of the overall image. That’s why the majority of macro images have black backgrounds.

Wide-angle photography under water is all about using the ambient light as part of the overall exposure. This is a very important topic and will be the scope of future lessons. For now we will concentrate on macro photography. Fish portraiture requires a similar mind-set as when photographing people. Invest a little time learning about your subject. This includes where it lives, what it eats, e.t.c. In underwater terms this means what kind of coral does the fish live around, where does it hide when threatened, and what does it eat. Once you know a little bit about your subject, you will know where on the reef to look. Sooner or later your knowledge and patience will get rewarded, and the opportunity will arise to get the shot.

After the subject is located the next task is to expose and light it correctly. This requires the proper use of strobe, shutter speed and aperture. Don’t let these words scare you. Instead embrace them, as these are key elements to making good pictures. Depth of field in Macro photography is important. Setting the camera on F22 or F16 is the place to start. These F-stops allow great depth of field and at the same time help to eliminate ambient light.

Proper use of shutter speed will help control how much ambient light is in your image and if the image is sharp or blurry. Shooting at speeds of 1/60, 1/90, & 1/ 125 of a second will enable you to freeze the action and limit the ambient light. When shooting macro, use two strobes set on manual. The primary is set at full and the other at 1/2 power. If using a flash with F-stops, make the secondary strobe 2 - 3 stops lower than the primary. This ratio of light allows creativity, shadows and depth to the image. Some photographers love TTL, and if it works for them great. I want to know exactly what I am doing right or wrong, that’s why I use manual power.

Lets put this information to use and plan a dive to make fish portraits. The first thing to do is research the dive site, and find out what fish are common there, what kind of corals and bottom topography is present. I suggest asking the local dive shop if there are any cleaning stations on the reef your going to dive. This is an area underwater where fish gather to get cleaned by very specialized fish. Its kind of like when we take the family car to get washed. This is a great place to make photographs. Once you have an idea of what fish might be at the dive site, make photographing them part of your dive plan. This will remind you to take your time to get used to the surroundings as opposed to chasing after each fish that crosses your path.

Marine life is delicate, and it is our responsibility to respect and protect it. Don’t move or touch anything for the sake of a photograph. While you may see others do it, set an example by passing on an image as opposed to breaking coral or handling an animal just to get a shot. Remember everything you do while underwater has an immediate and long-term affect on the world below.

By respecting the sea, maintaining good diving skills, using shutter speed, strobe, and depth of field everyone can create beautiful macro pictures underwater. See you underwater!