Adventure of an amateur

Alex Goldblum · Issue 48, May/Jun 2009 · pp. 48–51

Products mentioned: Canon Eos 20D, Subal Housing, Canon EFS 10-22mm lens

The goal was simple; freeze the action of one of the most dynamic, high velocity hunts in the ocean. Sailfish have been clocked in excess of 65 miles per hour and are to be found hunting Brazilian sardines along the continental shelf circa fifty miles north East of Isla Mujeres in the Gulf of Mexico. My guide was the renowned Amos Nachoum, owner and director of Big Animals, an organisation solely focused on bringing its clients close to the largest and most impressive inhabitants of the animal kingdom. I had accompanied Amos to the Arctic circle to photograph Orcas in 2005 and although I have since felt a huge affinity to underwater photography, due to other commitments I have only spent a total of four weeks developing the required skills. So when I spoke to Amos about this trip I was (rightly!) concerned whether my skills were honed enough to be able to capture this amazing scene. I ar…