Diving in Alor. Indonesia, July 2012.

Photograph or palmer

Corinne Bourbeillon·
Dear English-speaking readers, this page is an automatic Google translation from a post originally written in French. My apologies for the strange sentences and the funny mistakes that could gave been generated during the process. If you can read French, the original and correct version can be found here PetitesBullesdAilleurs.fr
en_US English
en_US English fr_FR Français
Share7
Tweet7
Pine1
Share
15 Shares

  Indonesia: Alor + Raja Ampat - July 2012

Take photos under water, I love it. But palmer, much less. I realized this well by diving in Alor, Indonesia.

Sports dive

More than a month has passed since my stay in so, in July 2012. A trip to the far reaches of Indonesia, dedicated to what I love most of all: diving and taking pictures underwater.

Since my return, I continue, day after day, to sort my underwater images brought back from this lost archipelago - more than a thousand photos!

On the screen of my computer, I rediscover the beauty of the reefs, full of huge barrel sponges, tables of coral, colorful gorgonians ... And I remember my dives there. Dives sometimes "sports", as they say.

Yes, it was necessary to palmer ... 😆

Barrel sponge in Alor. Indonesia, July 2012.
Barrel sponge in Alor. (Indonesia, July 2012)

Strategy of least effort

I knew, before leaving, that there were strong currents in Alor. Having already touched those of Nusa Penida / Lembongan, from Komodo or Raja Ampat, I'm starting to have a little experience of this type of dives.

But I know my physical limits and I am also a little crowded under water by the bulky box of my 7D. Underwater photography involves a strategy of least effort. Drifting dives, where you just have to let yourself be carried away by the current, without the need to fight, go well with me. The dives where we hook on the reef in the current, to admire the show without running out, I'm fine too. On the other hand, palmer against the current, or to follow a group that advances too quickly for my taste, with big strokes of energetic palms, it is much less my thing.

I admit it willingly: I am aquatic, but not sporty. I am a contemplative diver (understand: slow). I am economical with my movements, I try to make the air last as long as possible ...

Games of light on a delicate gorgon, "overflown" by a cloud of anthias. Alor, Indonesia, July 2012.
Games of light on a delicate gorgon, "overflown" by a cloud of anthias. (Alor, Indonesia, July 2012)

Diving in Alor. Indonesia, July 2012.

Safety first

As a result, the dives rather "sports" Alor do not always fit with my usual strategy of the slightest effort, it must be admitted ...

😁

I often find myself lagging behind the team, because of my habit of taking pictures on the road (instead of palmer thoroughly like my classmates). Then, I am totally unable, physically, to catch up with others ... (How are the photographers shot ?: twisted:)

Result, if it is necessary to return against the current at the end of the dive, I do not even try any more, knowing that I risk going right to the breathlessness. Not worth it Both meet on the surface, rather. Safety first, huh.

In these cases, I prefer to let my little non-photographic comrades continue to furiously fart (after all, if they like that) and me, I go back to shallow depth, a little above them, history of to finish my painful dive, to make a few more images closer to the surface, where there is more light, and to degass quietly without risking exhausting my air. A sign to Gilles or JennyAlor Divers - always vigilant - enough.

Palmer or photograph? I have chosen ! ! !

Diving in Alor. Indonesia, July 2012.

Diving in Alor. Indonesia, July 2012.

Yellow and red crinoids. Alor, Indonesia, July 2012.

Photos

That said, I do not regret at all these few dives "sports" in Alor. Nor to have often dragged behind the palanquée for the photos. It was worth it ! The funds of Alor are beautiful, fish, colorful ...

The proof with the continuation of the photos below. Click on the thumbnails to see them in large format.

👌

  Indonesia: Alor + Raja Ampat - July 2012

Share7
Tweet7
Pine1
Share
15 Shares
Pantar Island. Alor, Indonesia. July 2012.
Previous On the beach of Pantar
Nudibranch. Alor, Indonesia. July 2012.
Next Bouquet of nudibranchs
Corinne Bourbeillon
Traveling diver and underwater photographer, Corinne loves to make bubbles beneath the waves with fish! The wonders of the world and the ocean have inspired her to write this travel and diving blog

18 Comments

  1. I look at these beautiful pictures on my computer screen, it is a delight, a little "ruined" however by a small technical problem; they take a while before appearing full-screen, and so it breaks a little charm of the sub-aquatic ride.

    Reply

    1. @Ysbilia: as under water, "who's going to go sano piano" ... 😆
      The concern comes either from the server that hosts my blog, which regularly has slowness, or your connection ... The bottom line is that the photos end up appearing !!!

  2. All the same! Not a fan of the current, and he does not love me anyway, he does not do anything to adapt to my pink flippers in 36 girl! And it's not funny to take your time to observe, search, discover, photograph the child.
    For the wide angle, I admire your photos! Superb!

    Reply

    1. @Manta: I'm not kicking in the current, but I realize that it also depends a lot on the way the diving is organized ...

      For comparison, Raja Ampat, then, I sometimes had currents of madness, even more furious than Alor, but there, everything was fine: I had a guide for me alone almost every time, and we were still in very small numbers, moving at the same leisurely pace. And for the strong sites in juice one was hooked, to be able to film and photograph without tiring or getting carried away.

  3. And again you only have 1 flash, but when you buy the 2nd, try to see for a group purchase with an underwater scooter! 😆 😆
    On the other hand with all these pictures of sponges, barrels and barrels, your readers will end up suspecting something. You will not be able to hide them for a long time your atavistic dependence on alcoholic beverages and your multiple detox treatments hidden under cover of tourist trips ➡
    Still BRAVO for this beautiful series of photos of atmosphere and in the current ...

    Reply

  5. Hello Corinne
    I join you on these palanquées or on one side we have the marathoners, stalled behind their compasses and all the points of passage to see without exceptions. The stakhanovists of the kicking who always arrive first. And on the other the photographers who They are enchanted by a color, by a light of a creature, whatever its size, which frolic on the left then on the right, which remain for a quarter of an hour on a shrimp and that all the squalene cursed.
    Conclusion we must dive between us! and at our pace! and that's all! 😉

    Reply

  6. Impressive your photos, it must be said that with a 7D ...
    Bravo in any case, it leaves dreamer, especially in the fall or holiday memories are far.

    Reply

    1. @Denis: thank you !!! Me too, it makes me feel good, to get out of the hard drive, these pictures ... Like a bubble of escape in this period of return ... 😉
      As for the 7D, yes, I am very very happy, I must say. I am getting used to playing with wide angle and better control - even when there is power!

  7. Hi Corinne,
    I just discovered your blog and ... I am amazed at the quality of your photos. I have already tried to take pictures under the water but it was far from having this result! At the same time, you seem to have the necessary equipment. Congratulations. 😀

    Reply

    1. @Benjamin: thanks for the compliments! It's not only a matter of apparatus, there is also learning and experience ... All the pictures dating from before 2010, on this blog, were made with a modest compact. We can already obtain excellent results, especially in macro. But it is certain that for the photos of atmosphere, there is no photo as the other would say: when one passes to the SLR, with a suitable objective, the quality is of another level, inevitably.

  8. Between photographing or palmer against the current my choice is the same as yours! On your good advice and fear of the effects of the full moon for our dives Komodo, we invested in a nice hook before the cruise Mermaid 1. I am disappointed he served us only 2 times for fun on our 27 dives ??? !!! The DM have chosen the right moment to dive and reassure the team ... .not running on sites like Takat Toko and Crystal Rock ?? The counterpart is the lack of action, little hunting scene, but sharks and giant jacks at the appointment. Drifting dive of madness in Tatawa Besar ... impossible to take pictures !!! My best memory in the current is in the company of the MANTAS Takat Makassar 2 times, sensational photos a little blurred so the box vibrated, I had only one free hand to hold it!

    Reply

    1. @Lisemet: My hook served me well afterwards, during my stays in Raja Ampat. Well appreciated when everything vibrates, indeed, in the "underwater wind", from the regulator to the box of the camera ...

      In Komodo, I used Crystal Rock, no way to do otherwise. However, there was no need to take him out to Karang Makassar (magnificent, non-stop passage of rays-mantas). Well, tell yourself that you had good guides, who took care of the security by not sending the team to put in the moment of strong currents ... You will find the opportunity to serve you the hook.

      For my part, I do not hesitate to use it, even in moderate current, when I want to be installed "comfortably" to film or photograph.

  9. I must say that your sentence "(How are the photographers bullets?") "Made me laugh a lot, I make videos and I must say that the feeling of my" comrades "of palanquée is as follows:" But he does not care what else, there is nothing about this branch of coral. I love your site that inspires me a lot for the continuation of mine.

    Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

This site uses Akismet to reduce spam. Learn how your comment data is processed.

15 Shares
Share7
Tweet7
Pine1
Share