{"id":23389,"date":"2022-11-24T15:58:56","date_gmt":"2022-11-24T20:58:56","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/world.dan.org\/?post_type=dan_alert_diver&p=23389"},"modified":"2023-01-30T13:02:06","modified_gmt":"2023-01-30T18:02:06","slug":"mike-bartick-blackwater-beckons","status":"publish","type":"dan_alert_diver","link":"https:\/\/world.dan.org\/fr\/alert-diver\/article\/mike-bartick-blackwater-beckons\/","title":{"rendered":"Mike Bartick : Blackwater s'annonce"},"content":{"rendered":"

WHEN MIKE BARTICK GOES TO HIS 40-YEAR HIGH SCHOOL REUNION<\/span><\/strong> in a couple of years, he\u2019ll have to explain how a Southern California kid ended up living mainly in the Philippines and becoming one of the world\u2019s most innovative marine life photographers. His trajectory will be one of a kind for the class of \u201985 \u2014 barely relatable, yet endlessly fascinating. <\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"
Me on a Boat <\/strong>Anilao, Philippines<\/em>
My buddy Tobias Friedrich snapped a photo of me while we were having fun and talking about the previous dive. I\u2019m holding my simple macro kit: 105mm lens, strobes, diopter, and float arms.\u00a0\u00a0 TOBIAS FRIEDRICH<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

The story will be about his dad, a Navy sailor in World War II who moved from Detroit, Michigan, to Westminster, California, to be closer to the ocean. Trips in the family car to Huntington Beach as a kid\u00a0instilled in Mike a calling to the sea. These were different, perhaps less dangerous times, but when he was only 8 years old he\u2019d hop on the bus to Huntington, where he would body surf and swim. As he got a little older, his bike was his passport to beach adventure, and he would snorkel around Laguna Beach and boogie board at the iconic surf break known as the Wedge.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

He constantly searched the water for the coral reefs he saw in National Geographic<\/em>, not knowing there was a difference between tropical and temperate habitats. When his family went to Hawai\u2018i for a summer vacation, he had his epiphany. Warm, clear waters were different \u2014 not necessarily better, as he loved his California backyard, but a world unlike what he knew. He tried to tell the tale with his Minolta Weathermatic 110 film camera to predictably miserable results.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Cousteau\u2019s documentaries and Chasse en mer<\/em> were before his time, but books and magazines depicting the underwater world captured his attention. For no apparent reason that his parents could ever deduce, he often walked around the house making the sound of exhaust bubbles. Mike contends that \u201cwhatever it is, it\u2019s always been there.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"
Torpedo Ray<\/strong> Catalina, California<\/em>
A confident electric torpedo ray hovers in the light current above a pinnacle at Farnsworth Banks. These torpedo rays and the purple hydrocorals make this remote dive spot popular. MIKE BARTICK<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Lemon Gobies<\/strong> Anilao, Philippines<\/em>
I enjoy combining different gadgets to create fun images. Like a secret ingredient in any recipe, the unique addition should accentuate but not overpower the main element. MIKE BARTICK<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Female Blanket Octopus<\/strong> Anilao, Philippines<\/em>
Nothing can prepare you for the alien beauty of a blanket octopus. In moments like this, I still hear my mentor\u2019s voice shouting in my head: \u201cChance of a lifetime \u2014 don\u2019t mess it up!\u201d MIKE BARTICK<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Whatever \u201cit\u201d was evolved slowly. For 20 years Mike had a career as a chef. It was so stressful that his friends told him he needed to do something to take the edge off, and one of their suggestions was to go to Catalina and try diving. Once underwater, an aura of peace enveloped him. He started going to Shaw\u2019s Cove in Laguna Beach every day after work. When he found his first nudibranch, he thought he had discovered a new species. While that was not the case, he describes the experience as his \u201cgateway drug.\u201d<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Seeking like-minded enthusiasts, he joined a dive club and wanted to share underwater photos. The $10,000 Nikon RS he coveted was beyond his grasp, but a 3-megapixel Sony digital was attainable, so he got his first digital camera. It didn\u2019t have any strobes, but he didn\u2019t know what they were for anyway. One of his early shots was of a bat ray swimming through the kelp. He showed it to his friends on the boat, one of whom passed it on to California Diving News<\/em>. They ran it, so by 2004 he was a published underwater photographer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In those early years, around 2005, Mike shot a lot of macro images. Captioning them meant improving his writing skills and researching more about his subjects. He started understanding that the best behavioral shots were from people who understood their subjects\u2019 habits and habitats. To be a better photographer, he learned to be a better naturalist.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I know you primarily for your work from the Coral Triangle, particularly in the Philippines. How did your transition there from Southern California happen?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

By 2006 I was already obsessed with photography, and I was making money as a chef, so I could afford to travel to new and exotic dive destinations to practice my craft. I went to Indonesia, and Lembeh was my first love. It was heaven for a critter enthusiast, and the thought consumed me that one day I could live somewhere like that and shoot every day.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"
Yellow Blenny<\/strong> Cozumel, Mexique<\/em>
Blennies are incredibly charismatic and photogenic. I used a dive light with a blue gel filter to give the image a deep, rich texture in the background while snooting the blenny in the foreground. MIKE BARTICK<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n

Did you find a market for the photos you were shooting back then?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I had a good relationship with California Diving News, so I asked them if I could write a travel feature. Their editor told me, \u201cWe love your photography, but if you want to be a writer, you have to practice every day.\u201d The writing was never as easy as photography, but I wrote every day and recognized that being able to package words and photos was important.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

Living nine months of the year in Anilao, Philippines, and being a partner and operations supervisor at Crystal Blue Resort seems a long way from recreational diving in Lembeh.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I raved so much about how good Lembeh was that one of my friends told me to try Anilao for a change of pace. It was 2007, and there weren\u2019t a lot of international divers going there yet, but it was remarkably accessible. The ease of travel was promising. Then I went diving and was blown away. The wide-angle and macro opportunities were off the charts!<\/p>\n\n\n\n

My catering business in California was going well, but the more it grew, the more I was stressed and wanted to be underwater. Diving and photography were cathartic, and I kept coming back to Anilao in my mind. What if I could build a comfortable resort with a dedicated camera room, great food, and world-class guides, like the resorts I\u2019d enjoyed in Lembeh? I wanted to create that kind of operation in the Philippines but needed the right ingredients to come together.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In 2010 it all fell into place. The Philippines Department of Tourism sent me on a junket to dive around the country, during which I met my girlfriend. The emotional and professional ties were growing, then I stumbled upon Crystal Blue, an already-charming leisure resort with a modest dive concession. Anilao was a diamond in the rough, but I saw the potential.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"
Big Fish Eats Little Fish Eats Little Fish<\/strong> Anilao, Philippines<\/em>
A lizardfish snatched a damselfish right in front of me, and as I was shooting, I noticed something red in the frame. I peered over my housing and saw a smaller fish being pushed out of the damsel\u2019s mouth as the lizardfish consumed it. Big fish eats little fish; bigger fish eats big fish!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
Sea Nettles <\/strong>Monterey, California<\/em>
Huge blooms of sea nettles occur off the coast of Monterey, California. Known for its cold, emerald-green water, Monterey can be a challenging yet highly rewarding setting for photography.   
MIKE BARTICK<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"

Leafy Seadragon.<\/strong>\u00a0Adelaide, South Australia (Above left)
<\/em>To my surprise, leafy seadragons are quite large, but I was prepared for this shot. When the moment came, I metered the sun, positioned my camera low, and framed it to utilize my position and the available light. Both luck and opportunity were on my side.
MIKE BARTICK<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\n
\"\"
Mainit Corner <\/strong>Anilao, Philippines<\/em>
This site is incredibly energetic and full of life. It took three strobes to capture as much of the color and beauty as I possibly could in a single frame. Places like this leave me awestruck and wishing for a wider lens.   
MIKE BARTICK<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"
Cottonmouth Jack and Jelly<\/strong> Anilao, Philippines<\/em>
Blackwater diving offers incredible opportunities, such as this encounter with a cottonmouth jack and Thysanostoma jellyfish. Being tuned in to the moment is everything. MIKE BARTICK<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n

Anilao is now known as a world-class dive destination, but I don\u2019t remember that vibe from 2011. Were you involved in promoting it<\/strong>?<\/span><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Yes, but kind of accidentally. I contacted a respected travel agent\u00a0 and told him what we were trying to do. He said Anilao was primarily known for \u201cbad food, bad reefs, and bad air.\u201d Clearly, we had some work to do if that was the perception. After we made some changes, our confidant sent a mystery shopper to the resort to evaluate our operation. The review was so glowing that we knew we were on the right track, and our business grew by word of mouth.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I\u2019m guessing you aren\u2019t still shooting that 3-megapixel Sony. What do you use these days?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

I have the full-frame Nikon D850 and the cropped-sensor D500 and use whichever is best for the subject. I love shooting natural history, and I also began (as many of us do) with fish identification photos. But I wanted to go further toward an artistic execution, so I began to play with the lenses\u2019 extremes and bokeh, variable shutter speeds, snoots, diopters, steel wool, and filtered lights. The underwater world of Anilao is an astonishing playground, and the diving was easy enough that I could experiment and improve.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

\n
\n
\"\"
Mating Blue-Ringed Octopuses<\/strong> Anilao, Philippines<\/em>
These mating blue-ringed octopuses were hanging from a beam in a wreck, so I framed this portrait with my 105mm macro lens while upside down.
MIKE BARTICK<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
Gymnadoris<\/em> and Emperor Shrimp<\/strong> Anilao, Philippines.<\/em>
The beauty of subjects like this Gymnodoris<\/em> sea slug and emperor shrimp speaks for itself. It\u2019s up to me to capture the elements to the best of my ability.
MIKE BARTICK<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n
\n
\"\"
Flying Fish<\/strong> Anilao, Philippines<\/em>
I used motion blur to capture the energy of a flying fish on the hunt. Understanding the technical aspects of lighting is a keystone element in creativity. Once you\u2019ve grasped that, you\u2019ll have a much broader range of what is possible.
MIKE BARTICK<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n

You\u2019ve shown the dive world a new universe of blackwater subjects from Anilao. How did it become the epicenter of blackwater diving?<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Blackwater in Anilao started for me as bluewater in California. I was used to drifting in the open ocean and looking for subjects, so doing it at night seemed the next logical step. It wasn\u2019t until I began seeing blackwater images from my buddy Gutsy Tuason that I got the real itch to do blackwater in Anilao.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

In the beginning we would tie one end of a rope to the boat and the other end around a dive light and jump in. We explored every night, trying to find the best places and tinkering with our lights before we started to get results. Our first paper nautilus caught everyone\u2019s eye, but the blanket octopuses, diamond squids, and settling wunderpuses are what put Anilao on the map.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

I believe in mentoring new shooters. Helping them develop their eyes, skills, and knowledge, including ocean knowledge, and watching them go beyond what they think is possible is one of the best parts of my life. Mentors have helped me in so many ways, so I feel compelled to give back to the many who have never experienced blackwater or know how surreal marine life can be.<\/p>\n\n\n\n

One good blackwater dive, and you\u2019ll be hooked. It\u2019s incredibly addictive, and if you\u2019re like me in the slightest, it will alter your sleep patterns in no time. You\u2019ll be staying up late and drifting under the stars. I love shooting everything from wide angle to macro, but when it comes down to it, blackwater diving is the ultimate in underwater photography. I consider myself just a guy with a camera who is lucky enough to be doing what he loves the most. AD<\/p>\n\n\n\n

EN SAVOIR PLUS<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n

Learn more about Mike Bartick and his blackwater magic in this bonus online photo gallery and video.<\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\"\"<\/figure>\n\n\n\n

<\/canvas><\/p>\n\n\n\n

\n