Photo of the Week: August 15, 2011

Hi Gang!

As I mentioned last week I will soon be heading to Mexico’s Sea of Cortez for a week of diving aboard the Rocio Del Mar in the Midriff Islands region. In preparation for my trip I was looking through some images I created last year’s to the same area during the same time of the year, and I came across a photograph that I decided to use as this week’s POTW. The picture is a shot of the face of a California sea lion. I had hoped to use this image last year as a POTW, but I used a variety of other images from that trip instead before I moved on to other destinations. 

There is no doubting the fact that California sea lions make great subjects. These pinnipeds are cute as can be, especially the pups and yearlings. They are often curious and playful, and they are often relatively easy to approach. This is especially true of the pups and yearlings when they are in a rookery area in late summer and fall.

The range of California sea lions extends from Alaska to Ecuador’s Galapagos Islands, an area that includes the Sea of Cortez. To clear up a point of potential confusion, the species we enjoy in the Cortez is the same as the one we see in California. Throughout the Cortez there are a number of well-established rookery areas, and many are favorite sites for divers. As a rule, the best action is in the late summer and fall when water conditions are typically at their best, and pups have gained confidence in their aquatic skills and their ability to leave their mothers’ sides for some in-water activity.

During the late summer, and to some degree into the fall, you do need to pay heed to the presence of the bulls. Unlike the pups and yearlings, the only interest the 600 to 800 pound bulls seem to have in divers is in keeping us out of their territory. My advice is if a bull barks and blows bubbles when he approaches you, it is best to back away now.

The pups and yearlings, on the other hand, are often extremely curious about divers. They are often quick to approach, dart around us, stop, start, and dart some more. Their natural playfulness can lead to some wonderful opportunities for photographers.

In the case of this week’s POTW this sea lion repeatedly swam though a small cave and settled on the rocks at the bottom of the mouth of the cave as it stared at me. No way I could pass up the photo opp. I was able to get within about three or four feet from the sea lion and position myself on a sand patch on the sea floor. My camera system was set up with a Nikon 17-to-55 mm zoom lens. At first I captured a series of wide-angle shots. I had expected the sea lion to dart away after a few seconds, but instead the animal rolled over and looked at me, and then settled back into its original image. That face was just too much for me to pass up! So, without changing my position I racked my lens out toward the 55 mm end of the zoom and composed this week’s POTW. The sea lion gave me a chance to shoot a dozen frames before it darted away.

This frame is my best effort. I certainly enjoyed the dive, and I hope you enjoy this week’s POTW!

See you next week,

Marty