Fish Tails and Fish-Eye Tales

Jan 29, 2011

Up before sunrise which is at 7AM this time of year and ready to head out to Hapuna Beach State Park where I will make some fab photos of perfectly curled waves.

My expectations aren't too big, now are they?

When was the last time I was in the ocean photographing the water?
NEVER!

How much experience do I have with the newly purchased DiCAPac WPS10 Waterproof Case?
NONE! Well, I did test the bag in the sink using paper towel before I put my Canon 5D and a lens in the bag at the condo…is that sufficient?

Oh, yes and have I ever used the Canon 15mm f/2.8 fisheye lens that I rented from Borrow Lenses.com before now?
NO!

Reality check, which my darling wife reminds me often: its going to take some time to become familiar with _____ [fill in the blank].

Still, haven't you ever looked at photos in a magazine or on the web and said to yourself, "I can do that!"

Happens to me all the time.

That's why photography is so wonderful…it is a very humbling endeavor that takes a lifetime to master.

Philosophy aside, I head to the beach prepared to enjoy the moments in the warm blue-green waters of Hawaii.

I find a good spot to enter the water: an outcrop of volcanic rock exposed by ocean swells and a sand bar match up nicely. I step across the rock and look down to insure my footing is true when I see lots of tiny fish swimming in the exact place I am stepping. None too graceful I step over the fish, move to another piece of rock and just about lose my balance all the while keeping the camera and bag from hitting anything hard or sharp.

Meanwhile the fish are darting to and fro, staying clear as I make my way into the water. At least once while I move between rock and water I step into the sand where the fish are now freaking out and swimming in every direction. SORRY FISH!

Now the fun begins.

Have you ever attempted to do anything with two hands while maintaining your balance in an ever shifting body of water, like the ocean?

The waves are breaking in chest-deep water. While the waves are 4 ft to 5 ft high, they look REALLY BIG from this perspective. 

Breathe Glenn, just breathe…slowly!

OK, wait for the next set, line up the waterproof case and camera so I 'catch the curl' at just the right moment and be ready for the next set of waves to crash over me. 

Ready, set and click, click, click.

Come up for air and be ready for the next set of waves…
go…click, click, click.

"Man, this is hard work!"

Let's recall what to do when waves break: dive to the bottom, grab the sand and pop up on the back side.

But wait, the waterproof case is full of air and it it pops up before I do! Good thing it has a neck strap which keeps it close to me and tends to act like a life preserver.

After 30 minutes of this exercise I decide to dry out and eat some well-deserved breakfast on the beach.

It's barely 8AM and I feel like I had a full day already. People are arriving with boogie boards, fins, surf boards, you name it.

It's gonna be a good day for water sports and people watching!

I'll check photos on the laptop back at the condo later on.

Meanwhile, I'll soak up some sun while it's still coming up.