Lets see some sea horses!

[Jonathan Bird]

OK everyone, in the interest of fun, I thought I would start a thread where people contribute particular kinds of critters, to the enjoyment of everyone. This is the sea horse thread! Post 'em if ya got 'em! Taking it a step further as Mark suggested in another thread, please list with the image as much technical information as you have. Makes it fun.

I'll start:

This is a pygmy seahorse photographed near Malapascua, Philippines with my "old school" Nikon N80 with a Nikon 105 macro and a +4 diopter, at f/32 and 1/60. Fuji Velvia 50, Ikelite housing, flat port, and twin Ike 200 substrobes.

http://www.jonathanbird.net/jpegs5/pygmy_sea_horse1.jpg

Jonathan

[docrobina]

Here's one I took at Wakatobi, the first time I was there in 2002.

Nikon F100, S&S housing, Ike 125's X 2, 60mm lens, Velvia 50

[Jonathan Bird]

Cool! I love pygmy seahorses!

[Clay Coleman]

Crazy-good shots, Robin and Birdman. Here's one from closer to home--a longsnout in the Caribbean. Nikon N90s/Ikelite with 105mm, Provia f 100 film, dual Ike 100 strobes, f22 $ 1/250th
http://claycoleman.tripod.com/b4dbcd10.jpg
Clay

[Jonathan Bird]

Nice! How'd you get him to look at you? The little buggers always show me the back of their heads! People don't realize how hard they are to photograph, even though they hold still!

Jonathan

[Clay Coleman]

Nice! How'd you get him to look at you? The little buggers always show me the back of their heads! People don't realize how hard they are to photograph, even though they hold still!

Jonathan

They are, indeed, camera shy. This one kept its head down close to the sand with its back to me for quite a while, but I didn't have any other pressing plans. I think it finally looked up just to see if I was still there. -Clay

[Jonathan Bird]

That's the key to seahorse pictures....just keep waiting until they realize you aren't going to eat them and they let their guard down. The biggest issue I have with seahorses is that unless you find the critter yourself when nobody else is around, people mob the thing and scare the crap out of it. Even if you wait until everyone else is finished and has left so you have some alone time, usually the animal is so traumatized by that point that you have no chance of getting a decent shot.

Jonathan

[Clay Coleman]

Re: getting seahorses without the throngs of other divers--this brings me back to my favorite place in the Caribbean (if I keep saying where it is, it might not remain my favorite place). Plus, having a buddy who dedicates their dives to finding things and showing them to you is a big help. I married mine.

Here's another one--a "pregnant" male. I found this one on a rather hectic travel "FAM" trip and couldn't monitor it over time. Otherwise, I think I could have gotten a special image when it gave birth. From the old files: Nikonos V, 35mm with the Nikon close-up kit (the diopter, not extension tube), single Ike 200 strobe, Velvia 50, f22 @ 1/90th.
http://claycoleman.tripod.com/47cc9bc0.jpg
Clay

[docrobina]

Here is another one, thorny seahorse, and a relative, ghost pipefish.... :D

[Jonathan Bird]

You must hang out in the bad side of the reef where everything keeps getting eaten!! ;) Where's you find the ghost pipefish chowing down????

Jonathan

[docrobina]

You must hang out in the bad side of the reef where everything keeps getting eaten!! ;) Where's you find the ghost pipefish chowing down????

Jonathan

Komodo, on my first trip diving with Larry Smith. Everyone had just taken off up the sandy slope, and I was left at 80' with the pipefish. I saw the little fishies, and before I knew it one was in the mouth of the pipefish! Unfortunately I was going into deco at the time, and was so excited that my focus is a little bit soft on the eye and fish in mouth. :eek:

[Jonathan Bird]

Still a great shot!

[docrobina]

Still a great shot!

Thanks.

Happy Holidays everyone :p

[dbh]

No good ones. How about a couple of mediocre ones?

http://www.myunderwaterworld.com/indoweb-yellsea.jpg

http://www.myunderwaterworld.com/indoweb-orngsea.jpg

Dave

[Jonathan Bird]

Dave,
Where's that one from? The bottom looks volcanic. Lembeh?

Birdman

[dbh]

Dave,
Where's that one from? The bottom looks volcanic. Lembeh?

Birdman

Different Seahorses from the same dive in Lembeh.

Dave

[pasquale]

(nice topic pictures to everyone that posted)

House reef, wakatobi, I liked this one for a show of habitat and blending in.
(I have another, off the same fan, with a nice dark black bg. )
pygmy seahorse hippocampus bargibanti, when I share with nondive photog's they cant believe the size of these guys.
cropped,
http://www.ppfotos.com/data/images/gallery_images/user_id_13/_MG_1963.xl.jpg
Original Capture Date/Time: 2006:08:30 15:21:55 Make: Canon EOS 5D, Subal Housing, 2Ike DS125 strobes, 1/4 power.
Aperture: f/16.0, Exposure: 1/125, ISO: 125, Focal Length: 100/1

[Robyn C.]

but it bears repeating. This is an AWESOME shot PP! R

[Jonathan Bird]

Yes, an AWESOME shot!!

I have shown slides of pygmies many times in talks to dive clubs, etc. and one thing I love to do is show a series of shots, starting with a "wide" view (about 8" of seafan) and ask if anyone can find the seahorse, then get closer and closer until he is obvious. The last shot shows my finger next to him for scale and that is the shot that blows them away because the little bugger is only the size of your fingernail. It doesn't come across well otherwise just how small they are. To get a shot as close as the one above is impressive!

Jonathan

[Papa Bear]

Olympus C-5050 In L&M Tetra With dual Strobes YS90 and Y60 Filler. F4.5 @ 125 L&M wet mount lens.http://www.twotankedproductions.com/images/460_P8220571-Sea_Horse_Piller_Coral_BIBR_08-05.jpg

[Jonathan Bird]

I like how you shot that image with the lens open at f/4 so that the blue water background registers. Makes a unique look!

Jonathan

[Papa Bear]

Thank you, they are like gold where you find them. This one was at 50ft on the wall at Pillar Coral with the open ocean behind him and the red and blue could not be passed up!

[Robyn C.]

..and I'm loving this thread! :)
Here's one of mine:

http://www.myfavoritesea-nery.com/gallery/albums/album01/yel_lined_seahorse_edited.sized.jpg

I photographed this yellow lined seahorse at Phil Foster Park in West Palm Beach, FL.

My gear:
Nikonos V w/ 35mm lens and 1:3 extension tube
f-22, 1/90
Sea & Sea YS-90 Duo strobe set on full power

[Clay Coleman]

Nice job, Robyn. It's tough to get a face shot of a seahorse with a framer. -Clay

[Papa Bear]

The first poster doesn't stand a chance! LOL This a fun thread I love these little dudes!!!!! This one was on the South side of Roatan on the last five minutes of air. C-5050 in L&M Tetra with dual Sea & Seas wide angle lens. Setting was TTL F5.6 at 1/80. http://www.twotankedproductions.com/images/600_P8230128_Longsnout_Seqa_Horse_BIBR_06.jpg

[Robyn C.]

Thanks Clay. Yes, I love the results I get with using my extension tubes, but putting that framer close to anything that moves is certainly a challenge. :mad:
I've just purchased my first DSLR,,,a Canon 5D,,, and I have 50mm and 100mm lenses to use with it. Now it looks like I'll finally be retiring my extension tubes and framers.
I haven't had the new camera in the water yet, but I'll be picking up the housing on Saturday :D ...and I hope to take the new system for a dunk next week.
Are there any special instructions for testing the housing at depth before I stick the camera inside? I hope that doesn't sound silly, but this is entirely new to me. My previous cameras were a Nik V and a Sea & Sea MX-10 with the camera already built inside the housing. This may be one of manyyyy more questions. :confused: We'll see how it goes!
Thanks, Robyn

[Papa Bear]

http://www.twotankedproductions.com/images/600_P8230131_Yellow_Sea_Horse_close_up.jpg
Yellow Longsnout Sea Horse Roatan Olympus C-5050 L&M Tetra Housing F 5.6 @ 1/250

[tarczy]

I've just purchased my first DSLR,,,a Canon 5D,,, and I have 50mm and 100mm lenses to use with it. Thanks, Robyn

Finally!!! Another Canon fan on this mostly-Nikon board. True love!!

Robyn . . . congrats on your new purchase of the Canon 5D. I think you will find it to be a phenomenal tool. I know I have.

I've had my rig in the water once on a two-week T&C trip. Next up . . . Bahamas Tiger Sharks next month. Can't wait!!! :D

[sorvju-f]

..and I'm loving this thread! :)
Here's one of mine:

http://www.myfavoritesea-nery.com/gallery/albums/album01/yel_lined_seahorse_edited.sized.jpg

I photographed this yellow lined seahorse at Phil Foster Park in West Palm Beach, FL.

My gear:
Nikonos V w/ 35mm lens and 1:3 extension tube
f-22, 1/90
Sea & Sea YS-90 Duo strobe set on full power

Pure symphony of beutiness!!!:D

[Jim Austin]

Here's one of mine from the Turks and Caicos last week.

[Jonathan Bird]

Another nice blue background! Good work!

[allison finch]

This is a baby bargibanti pygmy seahorse shot in Raja Ampat. You think the adults are small.......!!

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w162/allisonfinch_photos/babybargibanti.jpg

[allison finch]

Also from Raja Ampat.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w162/allisonfinch_photos/bargibanti.jpg

[allison finch]

This beauty was found at 98' in Lembeh Straits.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w162/allisonfinch_photos/yellowpygmyseahorse.jpg

[allison finch]

I can't forget my lovely Denise pygmy shot in PNG.

http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w162/allisonfinch_photos/PNGDenisepygmyseahorse.jpg

[seabreeze]

during our stay in March 2007....

[andyt]

Here's one from the Arabian Sea a couple of weeks ago.

[dbh]

Great shot Andy!

Dave

[Papa Bear]

Pygmy Sea Horse in Bligh Water Fiji:

http://twotankedproductions.com/images/600__MG_4966_Pigmy_Sea_Horse_Fiji_Aggressor_III_07 .jpg

[allison finch]

That looks like the unnamed species that everyone is calling "Pontohi". They are extremely difficult to get because they move so dang fast. I chased several and never got an acceptable shot.

[Papa Bear]

Not to mention how darn small at 3/8" it is hard to focus on the little guys! Yes for their size they are fast! And they seem to like deep 70 to 90ft!

[beau_gust]

Ok, late to the thread, as usual. But then, until my Bonaire trip last month, I didn't have any even slightly decent seahorses - in fact, I'd only ever seen two.

This one was under the Town Pier at night - didn't want to traumatize it too badly by flashing at it too much, so I only grabbed this snapshot
http://inlinethumb44.webshots.com/41387/2961124280011322688S600x600Q85.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2961124280011322688RAzcpX)


This one was one of three we saw at Bon Bini. I had to clean up some backscatter in PS and crop it a little.

http://inlinethumb46.webshots.com/39405/2246626010011322688S600x600Q85.jpg (http://outdoors.webshots.com/photo/2246626010011322688zwYkkU)

Can anyone tell if the second one is pregnant? I don't know - he just looks a little stretched out in front.

Both shot with a Canon 20D/Canon EF-S 60mm macro lens in Ikelite housing.

[allison finch]

One from Lembeh;

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3254/2385577772_3b1ec51351_o.jpg

[redkane]

These are so hard to find. Fortunately, the crew of the Aggressor is really good at spotting them and provided me with more opportunities to photograph them.

EXIF: f/22, 1/60th, ISO 200, Nikon D200

[tarczy]

These were a b**ch to shoot! :rolleyes:

EXIF: f/14, 1/200th, ISO 50, Canon 5D

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i284/mongo255/Lembeh%202007/_MG_9014--2008-Tarczynski.jpg

[tarczy]

Okay . . . one more . . . ;)

EXIF: f/14, 1/200th, ISO 50, Canon 5D, Canon 100mm Lens

http://i75.photobucket.com/albums/i284/mongo255/Lembeh%202007/_MG_9062--2008-Tarczynski.jpg

[Daniel]

These were a b**ch to shoot! :rolleyes:

EXIF: f/14, 1/200th, ISO 50, Canon 5D



Apart from them being tiny critters, why are they so difficult to shoot?

Btw... your images and those others have posted are superb.

Daniel :)

[tarczy]

Apart from them being tiny critters, why are they so difficult to shoot?

Btw... your images and those others have posted are superb.

Daniel :)

Ha ha!! Thanks for the kudos, Daniel.

They were a b**ch to shoot cuz the sea fans they were attached to were sticking out from an outcropping that jutted out into a strong current. Hence, I'm hanging on to a tree root (or something), trying to steady myself with my right hand while my left hand held the big-a**ed camera housing with two strobes while trying to look through the viewfinder to locate a Pygmy Seahorse no bigger than a fingernail.

It was NOT easy.

After awhile, my left arm began to cramp so bad, I had to give up. The sea-fans never sat still because of the current, so I could never get a really good focus lock on the subject the few times I managed to get the subject in the viewfinder. After firing the shutter more than 200 times, I only managed to get 3 semi-good images.

All in all, it was a royal pain.

I guess I will just have to go back and get more shots. :rolleyes: Nahhh!! I'm never goin back to Raja. Too much freakin work. :D

[Ken Hawk]

Ha ha!! Thanks for the kudos, Daniel.

They were a b**ch to shoot cuz the sea fans they were attached to were sticking out from an outcropping that jutted out into a strong current. Hence, I'm hanging on to a tree root (or something), trying to steady myself with my right hand while my left hand held the big-a**ed camera housing with two strobes while trying to look through the viewfinder to locate a Pygmy Seahorse no bigger than a fingernail.

It was NOT easy.

After awhile, my left arm began to cramp so bad, I had to give up. The sea-fans never sat still because of the current, so I could never get a really good focus lock on the subject the few times I managed to get the subject in the viewfinder. After firing the shutter more than 200 times, I only managed to get 3 semi-good images.

All in all, it was a royal pain.

I guess I will just have to go back and get more shots. :rolleyes: Nahhh!! I'm never goin back to Raja. Too much freakin work. :D

If it was that easy, everyone would be doing it :rolleyes:
Ken

[seafan]

Just got back from Bonaire... but after seeing all those pygmies that have been posted here I might have to figure out a way to get back to Indonesia during my 2 week winter holiday from work.

[Papa Bear]

North side of Roatan Honduras 6 of them in 5 days of diving! http://twotankedproductions.com/images/369__MG_6838_Sea_Horse_Yellow_Close_up_BIBR_08.jpg

[Papa Bear]

Yellow Sea Horse in Roatan Honduras:

http://twotankedproductions.com/images/480__MG_6869_Yellow_Sea_Horse_close_BIBR_08.jpg

[allison finch]

Someone else posted a ornate ghost pipefish, so I will too. This pair was actively fertilizing eggs. You can peep into the fin pouch of the female and see her eggs.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3289/2480764395_e6a5d1f35e_o.jpg

[ftansari]

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/243/456762531_b435ff3154.jpg
this one is my best shot. Took it on Manado in muck diving area :D it has a baby lion fish using the seahorse as a hunting station

Next time if i get to lembeh, i'll try to get the Noldy's sea dragon.... anyway where can I get a +4 diopter guys? the seahorse only as thick as a hair.

[sorvju-f]

this one is my best shot. Took it on Manado in muck diving area :D it has a baby lion fish using the seahorse as a hunting station

Next time if i get to lembeh, i'll try to get the Noldy's sea dragon.... anyway where can I get a +4 diopter guys? the seahorse only as thick as a hair.

You have great shots Ftansari, thanks for sharing ( when seeing good picture audience always wants more :D )

I didn,t find the list of your gears you are using.

Jukka

[scubagirl]

That's a cool photo of the tiny lionfish on the seahorse!

[ftansari]

You have great shots Ftansari, thanks for sharing ( when seeing good picture audience always wants more :D )

I didn,t find the list of your gears you are using.

Jukka

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3058/2648579231_aa080a138e.jpg
here's probably one of the best of my pygmy seahorse. I was pretty lucky on this one because the pygmy seahorse in a secret place in Manado rarely being flashed by strobes so many time, so the pygmy does not as shy as any other seahorse :D and the pygmy was only at 12 meters deep, so I got lots of waiting time

I was using Olympus e-500 with 50 mm macro lens for my first seahorse, but I sold it to change to nikon due to the expensive wide angle lens from olympus

[sorvju-f]

here's probably one of the best of my pygmy seahorse. I was pretty lucky on this one because the pygmy seahorse in a secret place in Manado rarely being flashed by strobes so many time, so the pygmy does not as shy as any other seahorse :D and the pygmy was only at 12 meters deep, so I got lots of waiting time

I was using Olympus e-500 with 50 mm macro lens for my first seahorse, but I sold it to change to nikon due to the expensive wide angle lens from olympus

It is great with 50 mm. Composition could be better, but I really know how difficult it is with these.

Which Nikon you have...I am olympus user ( E-3 and E-330 ) and have really considered still to move to Nikon.

Jukka

[ftansari]

It is great with 50 mm. Composition could be better, but I really know how difficult it is with these.

Which Nikon you have...I am olympus user ( E-3 and E-330 ) and have really considered still to move to Nikon.

Jukka

I changed to a D80 now. I can't afford olympus' lens. its just way too expensive. although I loved olympus's gray color tho.

[Papa Bear]

From Klein Bonaire in September 2009:
http://twotankedproductions.com/images/820__MG_0197_Orange_Seahorse_Klein_Bonaire_09.jpg

[Clay Coleman]

Nice shot, Reed!