UNDERWATER :: Man and the Ray

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Chip Bunnell Photogarphy UnderwaterJust off the white sand beaches, South Florida is filled warm waters that flow up from the Caribbean.  As an avid SCUBA diver, it is one of the reasons I enjoy our tropical home so much.  Last weekend we were able to enjoy some of these treasured waters in Key Largo with some of our friends.  After 2 straight weeks of very solid rain, the waters were a bit murky, but still very inviting.

During our 2nd dive we visited a site known as Eagle Ray Alley.  In short, it is a passage way frequented by larger animals from the deeper waters of Key Largo to the shallow reefs.  While we did not see any of the name sake Eagle Rays specifically, we did find a quite large Southern Stingray waiting to pose with us.   In addition to his impressive length, his wingspan was roughly 4’.  The diver next to him shows a scale of his true size.  After a nice visit and a number of photos, our new friend swam off down the “alley” to investigate others in his underwater backyard.

Single Frame, Processed in LR and PS

www.ChipBunnell.com

NATURE :: Morning Glow on Beach Rocks

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Chip Bunnell Photography Beach SunriseI had another opportunity to visit one of my favorite morning spots in South Florida to greet the sunrise.  This area is particularly interesting to me as it is one of the few places around with some sizable boulders to give interest to the foreground in the composition.

On this particular morning, there was a small off-shore storm, which gave some interesting clouds and trails from the rain in the distance.  The golden light cast a wonderful highlight on the top edge of the crashing waves.  After the energy was expended, the water became a soft, foamy flow along the sand as it waited to retreat to the ocean, only to crash on the same rocks just minutes later.  Each boulder was bathed in salt water leaving a rich, reflective sheen.

3 Frame HDR, Processed in Photomatix Pro, LR5 and Topaz Clarity

www.ChipBunnell.com