Timelapse of Tony Wu and me packing cameras and dive gear in Isla Mujeres (timelapse images taken with Canon 5D Mark II — 1 frame every 2 seconds. around 1750 frames in total).

3D (cross-fused) video tour of Isla Mujeres from our golf cart, taken with dual Canon 5D Mark II cameras and Canon 15mm fisheye lenses. Special thanks to Sterling Zumbrunn for his help, and to Tony Wu for the loan of a 15mm lens. The color in the videos is different because Tony’s lens is much older.

Sterling Zumbrunn, Tony Wu and me in front of our sailfish boat, the Lilly M (3D)
- click image for larger photo -

I’ve been experimenting with shooting 3D stereoscopic images with the Canon 5D Mark II and discovered that it is a very limited platform for taking 3D images. When two 5D2 cameras are mounted next to each other, there is a minimum of 6″ between the center of each of the two lens mounts. This extreme separation produces a stereoscopic effect that is too pronounced when using normal lenses (20mm and longer) — unless you shoot subjects that are very far away.

However, I have had some success shooting 3D images and video using two Canon 15mm fisheye lenses. Subjects still have to be at least a few feet away, but at least it is possible to shoot close subjects. (read more »)

Tony Wu sleeps while Rogerio and Juan look for sailfish

Skunked — and in perfect conditions, too! You can’t win ‘em all…

Atlantic sailfish (Istiophorus albicans) with a sardine in its mouth.

We left dock at 6am this morning in search of more sailfish. The sun broke through for half an hour on our way offshore, which was fantastic — until she was swallowed up by a sky full of clouds. As Anthony so cheerfully exclaimed yesterday, “Come to Mexico! Bring a snow jacket!” (read more »)

Tony Wu, Sterling Zumbrunn and I have just returned from our first day out on the water looking for Atlantic sailfish (Istiophorus albicans) with Keen M International. We had great luck and dropped into the water with two schools of sailfish hunting sardines. Both schools numbered more than 25 individuals — and those were just the ones we could see at once.

Sailfish took turns approaching the baitball of sardines, slashing individual fish with their bills and wounding them enough to separate them from the safety of their school. Isolated sardines were consumed within seconds by sailfish moving at incredible speeds. In some cases, the sailfish would actually spear sardines instead of slashing at them — the precision with which they hunt is truly awe-inspiring.

Now all we need is for the sun to come out! (read more »)

Tony Wu (in 3D) poses with two Reefnet diopters

Photographer Tony Wu arrived today from Japan. He is jetlagged and isn’t quite thinking properly. I’m sure he’ll be functional after a good night’s rest. He did, however, have enough energy to write a blog entry about his arrival.

If you’re having problems seeing the 3D effect, there is a larger version of the image on Flickr. If you still can’t see it, here is a page that has some hints.