Hannes Klostermann Underwater Photography

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  • On day 2 of the Wetpixel Whale Shark Trip we did not find many sharks so we decided to go for a snorkel around a nearby coral reef just off Isla Contoy - quite a good backup plan if you ask me! :)
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  • It's amazing how fast the sea can claim a shipwreck. The former USS Kittiwake, a submarine rescue vessel, was sunk a mere 8 years ago and is already home to  countless plants and animals, like these sponges in the pilot house.
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  • This is my 1st place winning image in the Wide Angle Unrestricted category of the Digital Shootout 2019.  The groupers in the Cayman Islands are famous for being extra friendly. They regularly approach divers and pose for photographers which makes for good opportunities to get the creative juices flowing!
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  • I encountered this Brain Coral snorkeling at a reef near Isla Contoy in Mexico when we didn't find many Whale Sharks in the area.
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  • Taken on the Wetpixel Whale Shark Trip 2017.
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  • Everyone on the boat gets very excited when someone shouts this word. It's Spanish for 'bottle' and describes a feeding behaviour where Whale Sharks stop swimming, which causes their tail to sink. They then 'stand' in the water and feed by moving their massive mouths and gills. It is still not clear why they do this. However, there seems to be a link to the concentration of food in the water.  One common theory states that they stop when they find a very dense patch of food. An opposing theory is that they might be saving energy by not swimming when there is little food present. Maybe one day we will know for sure :) Taken on the Wetpixel Whale Shark Trip 2017.
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  • See the little fish? Whale Sharks are often followed by smaller fish for protection and sometimes food.
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  • Taken on the Wetpixel Whale Shark Trip 2017.
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  • 30 degrees delicate cycle, no fabric conditioner :)
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  • During the summer, there are a lot of Whale Sharks in the waters just north of Isla Mujeres in Mexico. However, this does not go unnoticed so there is an armada of boats heading out each day to give people a chance to snorkel with these beautiful giants. Sadly, not all operators use the appropriate amount of care when navigating these waters which can lead to sharks being injured. This guy here for example has a large portion of both his tail and dorsal fins missing. The good news is that despite the very obvious injuries the shark has grown to a large size so thankfully, he still seems to be able to feed efficiently. Nevertheless people should make the safety of these magnificent animals their number one priority.  Like, share or comment if you agree :)
    hk_isla_mujeres_2017_029.jpg
  • While I was on Little Cayman for the Digital Shootout, I spent almost an entire dive with this good-looking creature! Sometimes you don't have to venture far (or deep) to find good subjects. He/She was extremely chill, and had absolutely no issues with me being VERY close. At times I moved the camera out of the way and I ended up almost hugging the fish! Encounters like these always make for great dives! In fact, this image won me 2nd place in the wide angle traditional category of this year's competition.
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  • A Whale Shark (Rhincodon typus) swimming away after a close pass.
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  • Collision Avoidance - Even though they have a huge blind spot right in front of them, Whale Sharks are amazingly aware of their surroundings and always make sure they don't just run you over.
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  • Taken on the Wetpixel Whale Shark Trip 2017.
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  • To answer yesterday's little quiz, that aerial shot was of USS Kittiwake, a former submarine rescue vessel for the US Navy. After being decommissioned in 1994 it was sunk as an attraction for scuba divers off Seven Mile Beach, Grand Cayman in 2011. It's pretty amazing to see just how much it has changed in only 8 years. Check out earlier pictures on the web and you'll find that it used to be white! What's even more impressive is that it was sunk upright, but strong surges from tropical storm Nate pushed the wreck closer to the reef and tipped it over on its port side.
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  • This Whale Shark is clearly a saint!
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  • Taken on the Wetpixel Whale Shark Trip 2017.
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  • Some of the sharks of Isla Mujeres are very friendly! This guy for example became my BFFLTMOS (Best Friend For Like Ten Minutes Or So :) ) swimming very slowly in tight circles around me. Without any movement on my part he came in very close several times. This was probably the best moment of this trip! Share your favourite underwater moments in the comments :)
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  • Whale Shark coming in for his dental check up
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  • Isla Mujeres, Mexico
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  • A Whale Shark 'Botella' Feeding near our boat in Mexico. With a bit of caution, they can be easily approached during this vertical feeding frenzy allowing for ample photo opportunities! Taken on the Wetpixel Whale Shark Trip 2017.
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  • Because there are so many Whale Sharks at Isla Mujeres, it can actually be quite hard to keep out of their way. Therefore it's important to be situationally aware at all times which is most easily done by turning around 360 degrees every now and then. Doing this also helps to not miss one of them swimming past metres behind you...
    hk_isla_mujeres_2017_024.jpg
  • Watching these gentle giants swim past you is a truly amazing thing. I wonder what the snorkeler in this picture thought that very moment?!
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  • Even the 'little' ones are pretty big! It's still funny to see a perfectly shaped Whale Shark, just a few sizes smaller than usual.
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  • This Whale Shark is 'standing' vertically in the water to feed on dense patches of plankton. When they stop swimming their tail sinks thus putting them in this unique position.
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  • Using a slow shutter on this image conveys a sense of motion. THese guys are fast! Taken on the Wetpixel Whale Shark Trip 2017.
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  • Another very close encounter with one of the whale sharks at Isla Mujeres. I'm off to the Galapagos tomorrow, so fingers crossed for a couple more of these guys!
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  • A snorkeler trying to get the perfect picture of this Whale Shark. These guys are much faster than you might think! Even with a gentle movement of their tail they can easily outswim a human. Think you can keep up? ;)
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  • Another macro gem from Grand Cayman! This is a fairy basslet (also called royal gramma - Gramma loreto), and probably one of the prettiest fish I've seen anywhere. Thankfully, finding them is fair(l)y easy, as they are rather common on the reefs around the island.
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  • 1st place winner in the macro category of Underwater Photographer of the Year 2020.
    Goby Goodness
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  • Ever since I started taking macro images I became fascinated with blennies. They can be extremely photogenic and are usually very patient with photographers, which is always a big plus! I met this little guy diving with my friends over at Bluedream in Cozumel, Mexico.
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  • These gentle giants need to be protected more and people need to be aware of how everyone can help protect them. I saw this one at Isla Mujeres in Mexico. Every day I would find (and pick up) some pieces of plastic floating around at the surface, which is exactly where whale sharks feed most of the time. If we all just make a little effort to not use plastic straws and bags, it would already help a great deal!
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  • Getting these shots right has been far more difficult than I had thought. Because of their sheer size you have to dive down quite a bit to capture the entire fish, even when using a wide angle lens. To then get the sun in the right position is an even bigger challenge! Share your best silhouettes in the comments :)
    hk_isla_mujeres_2017_052.jpg
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