Some questions answered:
Topside images are taken with a Nikon D2X with a Nikon 70-200mm VR lens on. They shot themselves are at anywhere between 1/1000 and 1/5000 shutter speed at about f5.6. ISO 100 or 200.
To get this sort of shot, being on the Sardine Run in South Africa helps - there are upwards of 20-30,000 dolphins probably in the area. So find a pod and see if they are being playful - basically motor through and see if they chase, wake ride, jump, or just generally follow you... Once they are excited, it is a matter of getting the boat in the right position and anticipating jumps and getting a quick focus.
This is of course not easy and a million things can go wrong so there are literally hundreds and hundreds of deleted images for one moderately good shot. I have to go back again as there is a number of shots I didn't get (and I am not entirely happy with the ones above either). Moving boat, fast moving, wild and unpredictable animals, quick focus requirements, water splashing everywhere, handheld camera - pretty challenging shots.
For the B&W images - I use a number of different methods. The one that tends to work best and is the first method (Photoshop instructions below) I try is:
1. Change to LAB color space
2. Choose the a channel only
3. Convert to GreyScale (discard color information)
4. Duplicate the background layer
5. Change new layer to Multiply
6. Change Opacity of layer until I like it
7. Flatten image
8. Increase contrast
I also use Craigs Actions plug ins B&W convertor, especially if I want to stay in the RGB color space and add color back into the image at a later date.
Enjoy,
M