Friday, February 13, 2009

NEW MARINE PHOTO COVERAGE

Striped Marlin feeding on baitballs I just returned from a wildly successful photography expedition and have something very cool to share with you: brand new underwater pictures of striped marlin. Not struggling on a fisherman’s line, but totally wild and free, lording it over the blue. Quality underwater photos of these majestic gamefish are very rare. I was fortunate enough to finally find myself in the middle of amazing baitball action with dozens of billfish on the hunt. Displaying remarkable agility and speed, the excited, neon-flashing "stripies" rocket into the spinning mass of sardines and mackerel, slashing with spear-like bills to separate, stun, and then swallow one unlucky baitfish at a time. Photographing these eight-foot long menacing "superfish" hunting in the open ocean was one of my career highlights. ( More photos of marlin feeding on sardine baitballs )



Fiji While it's undeniable that many of the world's coral reefs are suffering, it's wonderful to find some which go against the tide and are as healthy, or healthier, than I remember fifteen years back. On a ten day extended live-aboard diving cruise through Fiji's Bligh Waters and beyond, Melissa and I joined close friends and fellow photographers and experienced colorful coral nirvana. ( New photographs of colorful soft corals and pristine hard coral reefs from Fiji )



Orcamania in my blood 5am wake-ups and 100 mile plus days on the water in my little boat under a scorching sun is the price I must pay for a few minutes alone with Killer Whales, my ancestral totem animal. ( New high resolution stock photos of Orca whales breaching, spyhopping, at sunset, etc )



California August found me tangled in the golden clutches of Southern California kelp forests, and racing alongside herds of Common Dolphins. Meeting up with old dive buddies to revisit old stomping grounds, we photographed Giant Black Sea Bass, San Clemente Island's reefs, blue whales, and more. ( New underwater images of marine life from the Channel Islands )



South Australia I ventured Down Under to throw myself into the middle of 1) a mating frenzy of Giant Australian Cuttlefish, and 2) a swirling million-dollar mass of Bluefin Tuna. Great new pictures of alien invaders and endangered sushi. ( New underwater digital photos of Southern Bluefin Tuna and behavior shots of Australian Giant Cuttlefish )



Mangroves As part of my commitment to diversify and photograph some new subjects in 2008, I visited Bimini Bahamas to work in the mangroves alongside shark researchers. A fascinating shoot! ( New lemon shark photos taken in mangrove habitat and images of marine biologists at work )



To view our complete photography library of underwater photographs and marine wildlife, please link to our main web site where you will find a keyword search engine

Monday, February 2, 2009

Under Construction! Thank you for your patience while we build our blog.

In the meantime, please visit our main web site at http://www.brandoncole.com where you will find thousands of photos from the world's oceans. Images of whales, dolphins, sharks, manatees, scuba diving, coral reefs, kelp forests, fish, invertebrates, marine habitats, environmental issues and more await. Our knowledgeable staff delivers personal, professional service to editorial and advertising clients worldwide.