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Jason B (odyssey)
Aspen, Colorado,
United States of America
Gigapans: 110
Snapshots: 583
Bookmarks: 8
Last Visited: November 15, 2009
Tags:
odyssey,
expeditions
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Marine Biologist/Underwater Photographer/Adventurer jasonbuchheim @ gmail.com
Director, Odyssey Expeditions Tropical Marine Biology Voyages
http://www.odysseyexpeditions.com
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Nikon D200 |
| Manual Panoramic Custom Mount |
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Gigapan Mount, Olympus 7070 |
| Olympus 7070 |
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Nikon D200 |
| Custom Bracket on Gigapan Beta Mount |
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Panasonic Lumix DMC-FZ50 with Gigapan Beta Mount |
| SLR like digicam with 35-420 equivalent lens |
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Nikon D200 with Orion Teletrack Robotic Mount and Papywizard |
| DSLR Robotic Mount |
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This is a restitch using images that have first been anti-vingnetted. It is shot with a 500mm Samyang mirror lens on a Gigapan Beta unit on Nikon D200.
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14
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Galapagos Sea Lion Sleeping
Author: Jason B (odyssey)
Tags:
odysseyexpeditions,
odyssey,
portrait,
sleeping,
lion,
sea,
galapagos,
marine,
biology,
life,
mammal
Size: 0.09 gigapixels
Added: October 15, 2009
Total Views: 139
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Latin Name Zalophus wollebaeki
Conservation Status Vulnerable
Location Galapagos Islands
Colour Brown
Length 150 - 250 cms (59 - 98 inches)
Weight 50 - 400 Kgs (110 - 880 lbs)
Main Characteristics
Galapagos Sea Lions are one of the most conspicuous and numerous marine mammals on the Galapagos Islands. They have a body length between 150 and 250 cms (59 - 98 inches) and they weigh between 50 and 400 Kgs (110 - 880 lbs), males being much larger than females.
Males are coloured brown, females tend to be a lighter tan and juveniles are coloured chestnut brown. Their bodies are streamline and they have well developed fore flippers which they use to propel themselves through the water. They can control their hind flippers independently which enables them to move around more effectively on land.
When males reach puberty they begin to develop a raised forehead and sometimes their hair is lighter coloured on their crest.
Habitat
Galapagos Sea Lions are found on the islands of the Galapagos Archipelago. They spend a lot of their time swimming in the ocean but while on land they prefer sandy beaches and flat rocky areas that have plenty of shade and tidal pools. While at sea they will rarely venture further than 16 Kms (10 miles) from the coast.
Females gather in colonies of approximately 30 individuals and each colony is dominated by one bull. He will hold his territory for a short time before he is displaced by another bull. Bulls that are not dominating a colony will gather together in a bachelor group.
Diet
Galapagos Sea Lions mainly feed upon fish, squid, octopus and crustaceans.
Breeding
Galapagos Sea Lions breed between May and January and mating usually occurs in the water. Males hold their territories for 10 days - 3 months and during this time they aggressively defend it.
After a gestation period of approximately 11 months, females give birth to 1 pup. When the pups are born they weigh approximately 6 Kgs (13.2 lbs) and they are approximately 75 cms (29.5 inches) long. The pups are attended continuously by their mothers for 6 - 7 days after they are born, then the females have to go to sea to feed themselves, returning to their pups at night.
When the pups reach 1 - 2 weeks old they will venture into the water and start to learn how to swim. They are weaned when they reach 11 - 12 months old but because of the long breeding season and the length of time pups are cared for by their mothers, there are dependent pups on the rookeries all year round.
Predators
The main predators of Galapagos Sea Lions are sharks and killer whales. Dogs are also known to prey upon pups.
Interesting Facts
Galapagos Sea Lions are also known as:Pagos Sea Lion
Nikon D200 handheld 9 shots, stitched with PtGui. Brick floor carefully removed in Photoshop leaving a black background.
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128
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Galapagos Bait Ball of Salema Fish
Author: Jason B (odyssey)
Tags:
biology,
bait,
ball,
salema,
scuba,
odysseyexpeditions,
odyssey,
galapagos,
isabella,
island,
marine,
fish,
school
Size: 0.05 gigapixels
Added: October 15, 2009
Total Views: 345
View in Google Earth 4.2+
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A huge school of Salema fish avoid predation by aggregating into a ball. D200, 10 photos with 15mm lens for full 360 which looks great in Googleearth. A few scuba divers are found in the scene too. Stitched with PtGui.
A view from INSIDE the bait ball can be found here: http://gigapan.org/gigapans/34662/
Salema fish can actually be hallucinogenic to eat! Known as 'dream fish', the herbivorous fish have toxins in their flesh from the algae that they eat that when ingested by humans produce severe auditory and visual hallucinations. No, I did not try it. It was spooky enough inside the baitball.
Definition of 'Bait Ball': Schools of small fish cruise near the ocean's surface, feeding on plankton and other organic foodstuff. This schooling behavior evolved as a means of protection. If a shark or other predator approaches, the group parts in unison - making it difficult for the invader to target any individual. As a result, this type of attack often fails. Group hunting changes the odds. In a baitball feeding frenzy, a hunting party may consist of bottlenose dolphins, silky sharks, yellowfin tuna, rainbow runners, wahoo, marlin, jacks and even booby birds. They work in a cooperative effort to ensure a feast for all. A typical main course features teeming schools of juvenile jacks and chubs. When a lone predator, usually a shark or dolphin, discovers one of these floating smorgasbords and attacks, a number of events are set into action. Frightened fish elicit a unique odor and other sharks in the area rush to the scene. The fleeing fish then intensify their frantic swimming patterns, alerting even more nearby predators. Now, each member of the murderous team begins to execute its role. The silky sharks and bottlenose dolphins, which are usually mortal enemies, start to surround the school. Gradually, they increase speed and narrow their path, trapping the fish in a tight ball against the surface. Next tuna and marlin rip through the center of the ball, further disorientating the confused prey. Many of the injured bait fish quickly tire and are easily eaten. A full-blown baitball feeding frenzy leaves few survivors. As predators become satiated, new enlistees arrive to continue the slaughter. Against the odds, small groups of baitfish may escape. They will continue to cruise pelagic waters, eating as much as they can as quickly as they can. Once again, the rule of the ocean is clear and simple: get as big as you can before you get eaten.
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So I decided to take a panoramic shot of the worlds largest fish as we swam together at two knots up current in 100 feet of water. Somehow, while holding a large dual flash camera and kicking, kicking, kicking to keep up, I was able to grab 7 frames of this 'Gigashark' as we swam away from the 'Theater' at Darwin's Arch. Darwin Island, Galapagos. Unfortunately, two of the seven frames did not focus... And you don't get any re-try's of this, so I publish it anyways. I really wish my autofocus had been turned off, it just could not find enough contrast on the whale shark midsection's white underside.
I will have to go back and try again someday. It was a thrill and more trying. You literally have to strap yourself to the rocks to stay put in the high currents and wait for these amazing creatures to come out of the blue. Then you release your reef hook and swim out into the blue to meet your new friend.
Whale sharks are baleen feeders, they eat plankton, filtering it out of the water column. They are the largest of all fishes, up to 50 feet long. I believe this one was surely more than 35 feet. Notice the size of the Galapagos shark by its ventral fins.
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Absolutely must love these slow moving wildlife in the Galapagos that allow you to approach closely and take multiple frames for a panorama without moving, they are so well photographically behaved.
8 images stiched using PtGui. Nikon D200. Handheld.
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66
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Galapagos Coral Reef and Fishes - 360 degree underwater panorama
Author: Jason B (odyssey)
Tags:
fishes,
underwater,
odyssey,
odysseyexpeditions,
marine,
biology,
ichthyology,
360,
scuba,
adventure,
galapagos,
coral,
reef,
diving
Size: 0.06 gigapixels
Added: October 14, 2009
Total Views: 285
View in Google Earth 4.2+
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The many fishes of the Galapagos Island swim the cool temperate equatorial waters near Bartoleme Island. (9 images stiched with PtGUi with hand layer blending in Photoshop). 15mm lens, Nikon D200 in Ikelite housing and handmade underwater panorama bracket.
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On the inside of a 'bait ball' of salema fish off Isabella Island, Galapagos. This is 9 photos taken with a 15mm lens, stiched with PtGui and a lot of photoshop work post processing to try to have each fish complete. This experience is being completely engulfed and surrounded on all sides and above by millions of fish. It darkens the sky! Looks pretty cool in Googleearth. Taken with a housed Nikon D200 with the new Underwater Gigapan Mount (not)! Actually taken with a monopod underwater, rotating the camera lens through its nodal point underwater is challenging and fun. Salema fish can actually be hallucinogenic to eat! Known as 'dream fish', the herbivorous fish have toxins in their flesh from the algae that they eat that when ingested by humans produce severe auditory and visual hallucinations. No, I did not try it. It was spooky enough inside the baitball.
Definition of 'Bait Ball': Schools of small fish cruise near the ocean's surface, feeding on plankton and other organic foodstuff. This schooling behavior evolved as a means of protection. If a shark or other predator approaches, the group parts in unison - making it difficult for the invader to target any individual. As a result, this type of attack often fails. Group hunting changes the odds. In a baitball feeding frenzy, a hunting party may consist of bottlenose dolphins, silky sharks, yellowfin tuna, rainbow runners, wahoo, marlin, jacks and even booby birds. They work in a cooperative effort to ensure a feast for all. A typical main course features teeming schools of juvenile jacks and chubs. When a lone predator, usually a shark or dolphin, discovers one of these floating smorgasbords and attacks, a number of events are set into action. Frightened fish elicit a unique odor and other sharks in the area rush to the scene. The fleeing fish then intensify their frantic swimming patterns, alerting even more nearby predators. Now, each member of the murderous team begins to execute its role. The silky sharks and bottlenose dolphins, which are usually mortal enemies, start to surround the school. Gradually, they increase speed and narrow their path, trapping the fish in a tight ball against the surface. Next tuna and marlin rip through the center of the ball, further disorientating the confused prey. Many of the injured bait fish quickly tire and are easily eaten. A full-blown baitball feeding frenzy leaves few survivors. As predators become satiated, new enlistees arrive to continue the slaughter. Against the odds, small groups of baitfish may escape. They will continue to cruise pelagic waters, eating as much as they can as quickly as they can. Once again, the rule of the ocean is clear and simple: get as big as you can before you get eaten.
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1
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Dogwoods In Bloom - Black and White Study
Author: Jason B (odyssey)
Tags:
black,
and,
white,
b&w,
odysseyexpeditions,
odyssey,
georgia,
atlanta,
spring,
forest,
bloom,
dogwoods
Size: 0.41 gigapixels
Added: April 21, 2009
Total Views: 274
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Dogwoods in bloom in a forest north of Atlanta off I-25.
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Along the edge of a closed golf driving range on the outskirts north of Atlanta these Dogwoods compelled me to take a gander at them.
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0
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Fern b&w black and white
Author: Jason B (odyssey)
Tags:
b&w,
black,
white,
fern,
florida,
crystal,
river,
flora,
forest,
odyssey,
odysseyexpeditions
Size: 0.12 gigapixels
Added: April 20, 2009
Total Views: 226
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A black and white study of a fern in Crystal River, Florida
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