March 8 2024: Mark Strickland
Tips for Approaching Shy Marine Life

Whether you’re interested in capturing marine life with a camera or simply observing, there is no substitute for being physically close. From tiny gobies to massive whales, many animals are inherently shy, making close interaction difficult. When approached properly, however, most sea creatures are surprisingly tolerant of divers. In this presentation, Mark will discuss techniques that can turn fleeting glimpses into relaxed, intimate encounters. You’ll learn how to approach shy animals, gain their trust, and get close without scaring them away, making every dive a more enjoyable and rewarding experience.


Mark Strickland’s life-long interest in the sea has included over 10,000 dives and careers as lifeguard, boat captain and scuba instructor. His passion for underwater photography has led him to many top dive locales including Thailand, where he spent 17 years as Cruise Director on a series of live-aboards. An avid marine naturalist, Mark has discovered several nudibranch species. He is co-author and principle photographer for Lonely Planet’s award-winning book, “Diving and Snorkeling Thailand”, and his work appears in many publications around the world; editorial credits include Alert Diver, BBC Wildlife, Blancpain’s Edition Fifty Fathoms, Conde Nast Traveler, Geo, National Geographic World, Nature's Best, Natural History, Outside and most major dive magazines. His images have also been displayed at the Smithsonian Institution, United Nations Visitor Center, and galleries including the G2 in Venice, CA. Mark leads several dive trips each year to his favorite destinations as part of his job at Bluewater Photo in Culver City, California. For a sampling of Mark’s work, visit www.markstrickland.com

March Minicomp: Jellyfish

March’s theme is Jellyfish. Please upload by Friday noon to avoid the last minute rush and help to keep the minicomp wrangler's blood pressure down!  Please name your files like this "02YourName.jpg. Upload them here.

Join Zoom Meeting

Meeting starts Friday at 7pm (Pacific Time!). But I strongly urge you to arrive by around 6:45 to make sure there are no zoom difficulties.


NCUPS Background

The Northern California Underwater Photographic Society (NCUPS) is a 501c3 nonprofit organization that promotes interest in underwater photography. The club has been active since 1957, sponsoring educational events on both underwater photography and video while promoting awareness of the underwater environment and pertinent ecological issues. NCUPS serves the greater San Francisco Bay area, including Silicon Valley. FEIN 94-3278015

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