Winston Churchill summed it up quite nicely “A fanatic is one who can’t change his mind and won’t change the subject.”

It is good to be passionate about equipment and knowledgeable, but one should never lose sight of the most important factor, equipment is a tool for a photographer nothing more.

I have been a huge fan of Nikon for many years and successfully used Nikon gear for studio and mainly outdoor, expedition and underwater photography. I have treated all my Nikon cameras with varying degrees of respect and sometimes been punished with broken gear, but basically satisfied and more with the results and quality of the gear made by Nikon. My first Nikon camera was in fact a Nikonos III and then a Nikonos V.

My first purchase was based on the advice of one man *the salesman (*Saleman = Alan James Wildlife Photographer of the Year 1994), at the time there were magazines to give advice and comparisiums, but there was certainly no internet!

It is almost as if we are spoilt for choice nowadays. I have attempted to look into forums and online chat rooms for advice about cameras and end up living in fear of not only posting but being turned into the same pathetic individuals that seem to spend more time plinking away on keyboards then balancing light and exposure. I have never been able to find good information in photography forums, they seem like a huge white elephant.

I would not go as far as too say I was pro Nikon, but I like their gear. The glass is superb and cameras are bullet proof. I dated a girl that worked as a high-end wedding photographer and she used canon and for similar reasons could not explain why she originally chose that brand.

I have never been foolish enough to consider one brand like a Jedi order and the other like being that of a Dark Sith Lord , but some camera crazy fools would have you believe choosing one before the other would leave you working with Satan or having a light saber poked up your bottom!

What I have gotten used to was my Nikon cameras being and extension of my body. After many years the layout is more or less the same on all high end Nikon SLR and Canon SLRs. You just know where things are….

While dating the wedding photographer we decided to take only her canon cameras on vacation with us, this decision was based on having just flooded one of my nikons…

Now I would occasionally grab her canon camera and attempt to snap away…..OH MY!….nothing is where you need it to be and all the dials and buttons go in reverse! How thoroughly horrible is that? Really is not that bad and only takes a little getting used too, but it is frustrating and does not help when you first try the other brand or switch to the dark side, whatever you want to call it….

The thing that impressed always with the canon cameras was threefold, they are lighter, quieter and the colour saturation is much more vivid. Colour saturation is somewhat subjective and all is possible in photoshop.

When I first started out in underwater photography Nikon was the only answer. Canon came in a very poor second. Right now there is very little difference and virtually nothing between the two brands. In fact other brands are catching up.

Canon have made a huge dent in the market with their incredible HD SLR recording video, Nikon seem to playing catch-up, but they are doing it quickly and effectively.

Why did I buy Nikon this year, 2011? Simple….I have a big box of Nikon lenses! Nikon make great lenses, actually it is all they do…binoculars, telescopes, microscopes and lenses…….Nikon would never dream of creating copying machines, printers and all the other stuff Canon make.

I know that a Nikon camera will survive a drop far better than any Canon, they are simply more robust.

I could start talking about comparing exposure, low light levels, pushing the ISO and dynamic range, but why? I am not a tedious bore………

Here are my basic guidelines to buying a camera:

1. Get in the shop, pick a camera up and play with it – SEE HOW IT FEELS! The camera must become an extension of your body. Imagine as if your choosing a light sabre (just avoid making the light sabre noise in the store).

2. Avoid anyone that Religiously suggest one brand before another – They are mad despots, Nuttier than squirrel poo!

3. If for underwater…..investigate all the other stuff first, housing cost, flash guns etc………

4. Find out what your friends have…….buying a similar system…means you can share lenses!

5. MOST IMPORTANT! Your the one making the beautiful images not the camera. When you put the photo up on facebook and your mother clicks “like” She does not care if you used Canon or Nikon!

FUNDEA in collaboration with the Foundation Manuel Arango asked me to assist the German film director Thomas Riedelsheirmer – internationally recognized by his documentary work on artists. I was asked to provide Photos and video images for Thomas´documentary about the creation, fabrication and placing of a collection of statues underwater at Isla Espiritu Santo. The documentary “Garden in Sea” was part of a bigger project to recognise and celebrate the Island becoming a protected area within the Sea of Cortez.

Cristina Iglesias the artist chosen to complete this project is recognised for creating works of art in several countries around the world, of which the monumental bronze doors of the Prado Museum, in Madrid. The Deep Source in front of the Royal Museum of Art, in Antwerp.

For more information about this project:

http://www.estanciassumergidas.com/

Divers Demonstrate Desire for Tec at PADI Tec Xplor Day

Nowadays filming anything requires a permit. The Mexican Institution that issues these permits is called CONANP (Comisión Nacional de Areas Protegidas). Technically it is illegal to enter the water with the Grey Whale, so an extra special permit is required and an interview with the CONANP director. To ensure I am not going to bash the whale of the head with my housing.

Being allowed into the water to film these animals is a privilege and I am honoured to have been allowed to do it before, this time however it feels different. The difference is the water temperature. Baja´s beautiful Pacific lagoons are cold and I am preparing with my Fourth Element thermals and lots of hot chocolate, although too many liquids may prove awkward in my drysuit later.

Like all productions I work on, we woke sometime before we slept….or at least that what it felt like. We travelled out of Guerro Negro and into a vast lagoon called Ojo de Liebre (Eye of the Hare) named because the lagoon used to be red like a hare´s eyes, red with the blood of hunted Grey Whales…..

After several brief encounters with some mothers and calf we finally found a calf and mother willing to play with us for enough time to get in the water and film……simply wonderful experience. I very rarely talk to subjects underwater, but I was chatting away vigorously with the baby grey whale calf. For the few moments we spent together, I am not sure how long, but time kind of stood still, even though I could see time code running in my monitor I did not really pay attention…….

Grey Whale Calf - Ojo De Liebre Copyright 2011 www.lukeinman.com

Here is a press release from Estrella´s trainer Aharon Solomons:

The Cortez Cup Challenge was concieved to give my students a chance to experience competition , to make marks and break Mexican National records. In this we had a resounding success 6 National records broken by 3 of the Freediver’s Students . There were no Blackouts and no disqualifications in this competition .

In my estimation we had a narrow window of opportunity before the Northerly winds and winter water temperatures put an end to our aspirations till the summer of 2011.

One of the problems we faced was lack of personal equipment by all the students .Only Estrella and Gonzalo had equipment , Estrella had an excellent monfin a very good suit provided by her sponsors Costa Baja , and her liquid goggles , neck weight , weight belt and nose clip were provided by her trainer , Aharon. Gonzalo had complete equipment , but Esteban had only a suit so was limited to doing dynamic no fins in the pool and Free Immersion and Constant Weight no Fins in the sea .
Linton had no equipment at all , so was limited to doing dynamic no fins in the pool.
Mario had a suit ,neck weight and mask but was no better off than Esteban.

Estrella has a natural aquacity from her swimming back ground , she is , like her brother, a competitive swimmer, and has tremendous genetic advantage ,tall slender and we will not discuss the rest of it !!
She very quickly mastered the correct classic style with the monofin and the under water adaptations of the breast stroke for the no fins disciplines . She aquired an excellent breath hold of 4 mins . static in her first week of training . Later she mastered the techniques of equalisation at depth that permitted her to do her 50mt Constant weight Record with the monofin and 40 mts just swimming down .C.N.F.

In this event Estrella took 4 Mexican National records and each one by a huge margin , shattering the former records.
50mts Constant weight Swimming down and back with the monofin
40mts Constant weight no Fins Swimming down and back breast stroke

and in the pool
100 mts Dynamic no fins
128 mts dynamic with the monofin
Estrella has enormous potential and next year can aspire to achieving a very high International ranking.
This is well worth keeping a eye on !

Esteban came to me 3 months ago he had only a suit and mask and therefore was limited in the pool to Dynamic no fins and in the sea to FIM ( pulling down the line and back ) .He did a swimming test with me and his swimming at this point was not good enough to attempt freediving ,so I suggested he learn to swim with Linton ,he practiced 2 months with Linton and I kept tabs on his progress , it tunred out to be a very successfull combination and I accepted him for freedive training , his progress was also astonishing and after only 1 months training he broke the Mexican National record formerly held by Manuel Gonzalez
also a student of the Freedivers from La Paz , With an excellent swim of 78mts . He went on to do a 30 mt free immersion dive and a personal best in the sea .
Linton who only trained with me intermittantly for 3 weeks beat Esteban’s record the following day with a great swim of 84 mts no fins thus taking the Mexican National record .He shows great promise if he can overcome equalisation difficulties ,which will permit him torealise his truepotential in depth .
Gonzalo did a course with me 2 years ago and has a superb style with Bi -Fins and an excellent breath hold , however his main interest is in spear fishing ,where he is establishing an international reputation today .
Mario is totally involved with his thesis and post graduate work and his training for this event was nearly non existant , although he had trained with us in the past , he has a 6 and three quarter min breath hold and also has an excellent potential in depth . He did a very creditable 50mts no fins dynamic and declared 40 mts free immersion in the sea which he was unable to complete due to the flu that seems to be going around La Paz.
Edna who is one of the countries top Master”s and long distance swimmers joined us just for fun and to experience breath hold diving and did a 39 mt no fins swim without any training .
The Judges were Ben Weis of the USA and Maria Teresa Solomonsof the freedivers , herself a 70mt
Diver in constant weight ( depth ) and one of the 4 topwomen in the world . She took two gold medals in the depth events in the intrnational competition in Greecee this summer and representedthe UK in the international team competition in Okinawa in july.

Images were provided by Luke Inman and in the pool by Gonzala Mata . Costa Baja sponsored the competition providing the boat and crew for 3 days , they also bought Estrella’s suit and flew in Ben Weis and sponsored his accomodation and food.
Thanks must also be offered to the Staff of the Gum and Prof Hirales who helped and supported us with unfaiing good humour throughout the training.
Much more can be expected from these atheletes in 2011 and may well be that the entire national team
will come from La Paz for the international team competition in 2012.
The Freedivers continue their commitment to develope and sponsor exceptional atheletes in Mexico and support the National organisation.

At San Ignacio, Baja California’s arid Central Desert terrain gives way to a large grove of lush green date palms. A large spring-fed pond and small river on the outskirts of town feeds into the central plaza and village next to the eighteenth-century Jesuit mission. San Ignacio serves as the gateway to San Ignacio Lagoon, the winter time sanctuary of the Pacific Gray Whale.

It was with the Gray Whales and eco-tourism in mind we traveled. National Geographic asked me to shoot and produce a segment for an upcoming documentary for PBS and Wild Chronicles.

The drive up north from La Paz, takes approximately 6 hours. The drive was uneventful, apart from one military road block that refused to believe my assistant (Lulu) and I were Mexican. I guess the blond hair and being born in Belfast and London respectively was some cause for disbelief, pero somos Mexicanos, la neta guey!

For many years Baja California was the site of a very successful Whaling industry and many of the people in the area existed on the trade of Whale products. Thankfully this all changed when Gray Whales were granted protection from commercial hunting by the International Whaling Commission (IWC) in 1949.

Since that time and increasingly over the last 20 years the local descendants of the Whalers have come to support a thriving and extremely well managed eco-tourism business, providing tours for tourists wanting to go Whale watching.

The survival of the Gray Whale and its positive journey from the brink of extinction. Is a story the Mexican people and government should be proud of. Along the lagoon of San Ignacio. There are several tourist camps. Operated under strict rules, as San Ignacio and the lagoon sit within the National Park and protected area of Vizciano. This effectively encourages a leave only foot prints attitude and tourists stay in temporary camps, utilizing solar and wind power.

We had the pleasure of staying with the excellent and extremely professional Campo Cortez . Tourists get to venture out into the lagoon with a boat captain and a marine biologist studying these beautiful creatures. The boats leave 3 to 4 times day, weather permitting.

The interactions we experienced during our 3 day stay, were phenomenal. Even the locals mentioned that, the Whales must know Nat Geo are here. The Whales certainly cooperated. After we completed our interviews and whale interactions we headed back to La Paz with one thought in our minds “We must come back here next year, working or not!”

The Poseidon Discovery is the world’s first rebreather for recreational divers. It’s a fully-closed, fully-automated unit that will make you see diving in a different light.

The system comprises a breathing loop (mouthpiece, hoses, counter  lungs and backpack) with associated electronics module, and two independent gas cylinders. One contains 100% compressed oxygen which is added to the breathing loop as the diver consumes it. The second cylinder typically contains compressed air “diluent” to compensate for compression in the breathing loop as the diver goes deeper. It’s also a back-up system, containing enough oxygen for the diver to breathe directly in an emergency.

The dive is fully managed by onboard computers, with two continuously recalibrating sensors constantly monitoring oxygen levels, and dive information recorded in the removable battery module. The hand-held control unit displays depth, cylinder pressure, and oxygen concentration. The system is also equipped with a number of active warning systems.

To begin the dive, the diver must ensure that the battery is charged, the bottles are filled with gas and the pre-packaged scrubber is attached. The computer then performs a thorough pre-dive test to ensure that all parts of the system are functioning properly before the dive is allowed to proceed.

Light, safe and simple to use, the Discovery is designed not only for seasoned divers, but for those who are new to the experience. With so much less to do, you’re free to concentrate on the dive itself. And with no bubbles to frighten the sea life, it’s a dive you’ll enjoy more than ever. It’s also a dive you can enjoy for longer, with the potential to stay under water for up to three hours at a maximum depth of 40 m.

At just 18 kilos (39.6 lbs) fully gassed up and ready to dive, the Discovery MkVI weighs less than many dive tanks weigh on their own. And minus tanks and canister, it weighs just 8 kilos (17.6 lbs), making it easy to travel with.

I have been diving rebreather since 1997. My first rebreather was a semi-closed Dolphin unit and back then I could not have recommended the experience enough as an introduction to rebreathers. The unit was simple and fun to use, the only thing I disliked was the tedious filling of scrubber cartridges.

Since then I have progress to teaching and diving a range of Closed Circuit units and owner and user of a Steam Machines Prism. I have completed over several hundred hours diving the Prism and the unit is simple, easy to breathe and consistently performed excellent in varied conditions. The best feature of the prism is the reliable analogue PO2 gauge allowing you to dive the unit manually, even without batteries. I successfully used the unit to tag hammerhead sharks in the Sea or Cortez and the Pacific Ocean. The unit also performed excellently during various broadcast productions and proved to be humpbolt Squid proof.

However, regardless of the unit, I never found anything exciting or fun about filling and emptying absorbent cartridges. Now, don´t for one moment think that I ever underestimated the importance and safety requirements of preparing a rebreather scrubber. It has to be taken as seriously as packing a parachute…..but that does not stop it being boring and time consuming.

I was so impressed with the new Poseidon Mark 6 Discovery CCR unit, mainly for the disposable scrubber cartridges that is uses. To find out more about learning to use one drop me an email

The ferry leaves in the evening, which allows you to eat and then sleep for the crossing. Waking up in time to see the approach to Mazatlan. From Mazatlan we drove on the toll roads to Guadalajara and met up with Juan Pedro from Azul Sin Limites to ensure we had all the spares we needed for the Rebreather course in Playa Del Carmen.

We did our best to avoid Mexico City, but due to the toll road being closed, we had to drift in to mexico city for what we hoped would be a few hours and turned out to be almost an entire day with a little…..as Obi Wan Kenobi would say “an Imperial Entanglements”….Once the police had been dealt with we continued on to Cordoba as our next stop. From Cordoba we made it to Merida for the night and arrived in Playa the following day in time for lunch.

If your planning to drive across Mexico, ensure you always try and use the toll roads, your journey may be a little expensive, but your save DAYS in travel time!

Azul Marino consistently offers the best food in La Paz. Situated in the pueblo marinero in Costa Baja. The restaurant in owned an run by sisters Cristina and Margarita. Margarita runs front of house and Cristina is the chef. Everything about the place is welcoming and friendly.  The food is second to none and they have a very impressive cellar.

I thank Margarita and Cristina for the work and all the wonderful food they provided me with during my week shooting there.