the joyful survival of sea life

September 20, 2005 3:31 PM

Undersea images from veteran NG photographer David Doubilet. This is my favorite shot. (Related: photos of breaching rays by Michael Albert; underwater photography on blueoceanart.com -- 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6).
posted by of strange foe (24 comments total)

Wow! your favorite shot is *amazing*.
The breaching rays stuff is incredible too - saw it on BB a few days ago, had to convince the girl it wasn't a joke.

Great post, thanks.
posted by freebird at 3:34 PM on September 20, 2005

Fantastic!
posted by Gyan at 3:41 PM on September 20, 2005

I've always liked that shot of the ray, it's been my favorite too. I saw it in one of his books, but never bought the book. Cool thanks! And, as someone who enjoys SCUBA diving, it's amazing how difficult it is to get good underwater shots.
posted by Eekacat at 3:45 PM on September 20, 2005

Uh Oh! Mama!!
posted by Gyan at 3:53 PM on September 20, 2005

I had the distinct pleasure of listening to David Doubilet speak at a National Geographic annual meeting. The man has just as many incredible stories as he does photos. What a life of accomplishment.
posted by NationalKato at 4:05 PM on September 20, 2005

Wow, your favorite is quite superb! I'll have to check in on this in alot more depth (lookee, I made me a funny) tonight.
posted by fenriq at 4:20 PM on September 20, 2005

I've managed some decent clownfish (hanging upside down taking an entire roll trying to get the right moment) and a few decent moray shots, but this guy is on a whole other level. Nine levels above me.
posted by dreamsign at 4:24 PM on September 20, 2005

Some breathtaking images -- great post, foe!
posted by eddydamascene at 4:36 PM on September 20, 2005

really great post... breathtaking photography.

I don't think i've ever seen Rays jumping like that!

my fav orites
posted by blastrid at 4:43 PM on September 20, 2005

Holy heck, there are some amazing shots there. Thanks a ton for the Doubilet link!

Is anyone else creeped out by the idea of skinny dipping (NSFW) in something called Jellyfish Lake?
posted by dilettanti at 5:18 PM on September 20, 2005

dilettanti, since when is MeFi's front page NSFW?
posted by five fresh fish at 6:06 PM on September 20, 2005

excellent post. thanks. i like the jellyfish.
posted by brandz at 6:57 PM on September 20, 2005

fff: dilettanti, since when is MeFi's front page NSFW?

Ugh. I forgot to take my stupid drugs today. The appropriate inappropriate link is here (NSFW).

And MeFi is definitely NSFW - my productivity drops to zero when I browse the Blue.
posted by dilettanti at 8:17 PM on September 20, 2005

Another vote for excellent linkage!

I needed to be amazed by natural beauty combined with superb photography.

Thank you.
posted by sillygit at 8:21 PM on September 20, 2005

Best link I've seen in ages, great stuff!
posted by jonson at 8:25 PM on September 20, 2005

RE: "crocodiles" - No.
posted by nautone at 9:35 PM on September 20, 2005

Really amazing stuff! This makes me want to fly to somewhere warm and go diving. Thanks.
posted by Staggering Jack at 9:57 PM on September 20, 2005

Some of these pictures were so beautiful I could barely breathe. Thank you so much for posting this.
posted by jesourie at 12:56 AM on September 21, 2005

as an aside, did this remind anyone else of Michael Zulli's short-lived mid-80's comic The Puma Blues?
posted by russm at 3:30 AM on September 21, 2005

Wow!
posted by OmieWise at 11:39 AM on September 21, 2005

amazing! does anyone know how it could be safe to swim with the crocs? i assume for the shark pictures he had a cage or something, but the crocs, they're swimming right with them. do they not attack underwater or something? just curious.
posted by roaring beast at 7:38 PM on September 21, 2005

What makes you think the photographer wasn't in a cage?
posted by five fresh fish at 7:57 PM on September 21, 2005

i guess the photographer could have been, but there are two photos where the diver is swimming right with the croc, even touching it.
posted by roaring beast at 2:13 PM on October 6, 2005

Oh, well, a swimmer. Swimmers are cheap, no problem.
posted by five fresh fish at 6:49 PM on October 6, 2005