Anilao Trip Report December 2023

Anilao Trip Report December 2023

Bluewater Travel's Macro Photography Workshop - December 2023

Words by Mark Hatter and Images by Trip Guests

Under the guidance of trip leaders Mark Hatter and Mike Smith, Bluewater Dive Travel's 2023 annual Macro Photography Workshop unfolded in Anilao, Philippines from December 3rd to 11th. This year’s workshop commenced with several pre-workshop Zoom sessions, catering to guests keen on refining their basic underwater photography skills through the Introduction to Underwater Photography class offered by Bluewater University.

Intererested in Macro Photography? Check out our list of the Top 6 Best Destinations.

Throughout the Anilao workshop, instruction remained a cornerstone, featuring six comprehensive presentations covering macro photography, snoot shooting, creative techniques, wide-angle photography, blackwater shooting, and a live Lightroom demonstration. Daily image reviews were conducted to gauge guest progress following the formal instructions. Interestingly, these sessions often resulted in overwhelmingly positive comments from both instructors and guests, underscoring the exceptional quality of the images produced.

Mark and Mike also provided personalized, one-on-one guidance to guests, addressing a range of topics from camera settings to underwater shooting techniques and image post-processing. A recurring theme in these informal sessions emphasized the substantial benefits of honing post-processing skills, particularly in utilizing Lightroom’s powerful, localized processing tools.

Blessed with excellent weather, abundant macro critters, and the expertise of Mike Bartick's Crystal Blue dive guides, participants captured a myriad of striking images during day dives, night dives, and blackwater dives, impressing and often astonishing the trip leaders with their artistic merit and quality. You can witness the brilliance of these images in the gallery below, showcasing the work of workshop participants.

For those yet to experience a Bluewater Macro Photography Workshop at Crystal Blue Dive Resort in Anilao, it represents a missed opportunity to explore and photograph one of the most diverse tropical underwater ecosystems globally.

According to Mike Bartick, recent scientific assessments affirm that a nearby reef explored by Crystal Blue boasts more coral species than any other place on the planet. This rich marine diversity offers the chance to capture uncommon, if not rare, marine species within the Indo-Pacific region. During this expedition, our guests collectively encountered and photographed a veritable “who’s who” of the macro world: from flamboyant cuttlefish and Colman’s Shrimp to Zebra Shrimp adorning fire urchins (with some of us proudly sporting the fire urchin spine wounds!), Rhinopias weedy scorpionfish, pygmy seahorses, ghost pipefish, wonderpus, mimic octopus, blue ring octopus, argonauts (from blackwater diving), and countless vibrant nudibranchs.

While many tropical regions face stress due to climate change, the reefs and muck diving sites in and around Anilao remain in fantastic condition, courtesy of regular upwelling currents that sustain biodiversity by producing plankton. Our group found ourselves donning five-millimeter wetsuits with hoods to combat the chill during our packed schedule of four dives a day.

Considering the significant calorie burn from extensive diving, Crystal Blue’s diverse and delectable daily dining menus ensured we remained adequately fueled for our rigorous routine. Despite the bustling schedule between dives and meals, the classroom buzzed with guests engrossed in processing their daily images for personal satisfaction and group review.

As the workshop drew to a close, we held a “photo shootout,” tasking guests with submitting a single image from the two morning dives for the trip photo contest. Despite limited time to capture a winning image, judges Mike Smith, Mike Bartick, and Mark Hatter found themselves pleasantly overwhelmed by the abundance of remarkable entries. Eventually, five images were selected for awards: first, second, and third place, along with two honorable mentions.

For any avid Bluewater Dive Travel enthusiast yet to book an Anilao Macro Workshop, seize the opportunity now. It’s an unforgettable experience that will leave you with a gallery of images to cherish and proudly showcase.

The Philippines is home to some of the best scuba diving in the world. Explore the Philippines' top dive regions.

Want to learn more about diving in Anilao? Read our Spring 2023 Trip Report.