After bobbing around 7.3 for a couple of days, my score was at 7.17 one hour before rollover. It took a couple of bad hits and then the vote scrubber really killed it for me.
I have my places for alligators, dolphins, water birds, and big fish, and I have them all trained to do as I tell them...sort of. Actually, I do influence each of these animals when taking pics and it's always with food. In this case, I know of a place where they have been providing people with bait fish to feed the tarpon so that the tarpon never leave. It's pretty exciting to toss the fish to them, or, if you dare, to hold it so that they snatch it from your hand. They don't have teeth, just some very rough 'lips' so it doesn't hurt bad. I took a DPC GTG there one time which was a lot of fun.
I put a new twist on it this time though. I tied a line to the fish so that I could control where and when the tarpon would jump. I did this because it happens too fast to react and get good focus, so I focus on the bait once I have determined the length of the line. Then I put the camera on burst mode and fire away at the first sign of action. I've begun to read the fish and I can often anticipate when they are about to strike.
Oh yeah, rdemuro, those colors are exactly as they came out of the camera. The water does have a strong green hue to it with the sun overhead.
Here's what the scene looks like with all of the people feeding the tarpon...
Here are a few outtakes:
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The fish in this last one almost got my camera...seriously!
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A place that everyone should visit when in the keys...not so much on a holiday weekend though, trust me. Less than two hours from Margate, FL. My wife doesn't even come out on the dock with me anymore. She doesn't understand the thrill of a six foot Tarpon leaping out of the water to grab a fish from your hand. Awesome!
We have a winner! Yes, it's Robbie's. Well known to people who have a profile pic like yours. That is definitely South Florida water, maybe even Keys water. Where are you located?
Congratulations, Robert. A great idea and great shot. You really turn up the heat for these team challenges. It's impressive that you can do that so reliably. For me it's much more of a hit or miss thing! Using a camera strap these days. :-) ?
LOL, that is so funny that you should ask about the camera strap. I thought of you and Bear while I was shooting this without a strap and I knew that if you saw me that I would be admonished by both of you. I didn't come close to dropping it, but a couple of times the tarpon went for the camera and almost got it. They were as big as me and definitely could have swallowed the D700 and 28-70 lens together.
Congratulations, Robert. A great idea and great shot. You really turn up the heat for these team challenges. It's impressive that you can do that so reliably. For me it's much more of a hit or miss thing! Using a camera strap these days. :-) ?
I had such fun with you there at the GTG. I remember you were quite bloodied from letting the tarpon take your arm into it's mouth. I have been back with friends and family.
This shot is amazing. I haven't seen that far down their throat. It's interesting how you can see right through the gills.
Actually, I'd like to see a picture of that if anybody still has one. That GTG was definitely a lot of fun. I don't think that I've seen a week long GTG on DPC since.
I had such fun with you there at the GTG. I remember you were quite bloodied from letting the tarpon take your arm into it's mouth. I have been back with friends and family.
This shot is amazing. I haven't seen that far down their throat. It's interesting how you can see right through the gills.
I'd love to hear the story of this pic. It's a pretty awesomely timed shot. Did you just happen to catch it? or did you plan it? either way, it made me sit up and say WOW! Good job
Down the Hatch
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