There’s something amazing about grabbing my photo gear, sealing it in my waterproof housings, and jumping in the water to take great shots of some of the most majestic and beautiful sailboats in the world. The way they glide over the water when they catch the wind just right is truly a sight to behold. As thrilling as it is to get these incredible shots, I sometimes get the opportunity to shoot a different kind of vessel.
These ships are a little bigger…
On occasion, I am hired to photograph vessels that literally lift and move other ships. Dockwise Yacht Transport is the world’s leading yacht logistics company, and offers yacht and boat transport to the world’s most desirable cruising grounds. The Dockwise carrier vessels are semisubmersible, and position themselves underneath a yacht. Divers will then swim down 35 feet and attach stands to the underside of the yacht so it will stay upright as the vessel slowly climbs out of the water. The carrier vessel can then transport the yacht anywhere it needs to go. I usually get to dive with the technicians and capture photos and videos of this delicate and painstaking process.
Conversely, I often get the opportunity to shoot this process from a few hundred feet above the water in a helicopter. The view isn’t any less thrilling from above, as the helicopter will take me to all kinds of different angles, heights and distances so I can get the right mix of shots.
Finally, I often shoot this process from the deck of the vessel. There’s really nothing like seeing a yacht go from resting in the water to being completely out of it! No matter where I’m shooting, I’m always amazed at the scale of these vessels – both the yachts and the carrier. My images and video really put size into perspective when a six foot-tall man is but a tiny detail in a frame full of steel, cables and boats!
Once delivered by me, Dockwise uses the shots in its marketing materials and on its website for a visual representation of these vessels’ capabilities.
My process
Getting these great shots takes more than just grabbing my camera and jumping into the water or strapping myself into a helicopter. The shooting process takes a lot of preparation and I have to be sure I have the right gear.
Whenever I shoot, I use a Canon EOS 1Ds Mark III. It captures both photos and high-definition video, and I’ve found that I can switch from shooting stills to motion and back again seamlessly. I also use high-capacity Lexar Professional CompactFlash memory cards. When I’m shooting, I hate to stop because I have to change memory cards. The Lexar Professional cards are reliable enough to hold lots of my images and video without me having to worry about losing them.
If I’m heading underwater, I use a Canon EOS 5D Mark II, and I of course have to protect it. I seal it in an AquaTech Underwater Housing. I never have to worry that water is going to leak into my camera and damage it, so I can just focus on positioning myself to get the best shots or footage. My high-capacity memory cards help me when I’m underwater as well: stopping to change cards requires me to open the housing and handle the camera with an increased chance of getting it wet and causing damage. Having the larger capacity cards in my camera is a huge time saver.
Workflow
Once I’m out of the water or off the deck, I need to get my images off my memory cards and onto my computer so I can find the best ones, edit them and send them to my client. After a long day of shooting, I like to charge up my camera’s battery so I prefer not to connect my camera to my computer to transfer images. Instead, I use a Lexar Professional card reader that quickly moves images over to my computer and lets me start working on them right away.
Usually, I’m pretty tired after a long day of shooting – whether I’m in the water or out – so it’s nice to have a quick way to transfer my images. Once I’ve completed my editing and I’ve sent my images to my client, I can then start plotting out my next nautical adventure.
Onne is also a Canon Explorer of Light and is based in Newport, RI. His office and gallery are located in the heart of downtown Newport on Bannisters Wharf.
