Crystal river Manatee Tour is flash photography allowed?

[ibmerlin]

We will be in Crystal river in a couple weeks and I was thinking about taking my dive camera rig along on a Manatee tour. In the state manatee video it states that strobes are allowed but only allowing one shot every 5 seconds. I have seen other comments that there are new laws forbidding flash. Does anyone know of the current status of using strobes?

 

[Steve_C]

All your legal interactions with manatees will be on the surface and quite possibly in pretty green water. Affects your light needs.

 

[ibmerlin]

All your legal interactions with manatees will be on the surface and quite possibly in pretty green water. Affects your light needs.

I was thinking of using the strobes mostly as a fill light to knock out the shadows under the Manatees.

 

[Skeptic14]

I don't recall any instructions on flash, that being said as mentioned you will be on the surface during interactions so shooting ambient might be your best bet.

My Crystal River Album, https://www.flickr.com/photos/skeptic14/albums/72157663972942414, pretty sure all my shots (best shots at least) were no flash and they came out not too bad.

I didn't have my wide angle lens at the time... if you have one, it might be useful. They will come very close and they are pretty big, will help frame them.

 

[Steve_C]

+1 wideangle

Imagine you are photographing a hippo from 1-2 ft. But a friendly hippo. Dove with them in both Hamosssah (or something like that) and also Crystal river. Limited viz at both sights with very green water but you see them clearly close up.

 

[ibmerlin]

I don't recall any instructions on flash, that being said as mentioned you will be on the surface during interactions so shooting ambient might be your best bet.

My Crystal River Album, https://www.flickr.com/photos/skeptic14/albums/72157663972942414, pretty sure all my shots (best shots at least) were no flash and they came out not too bad.

I didn't have my wide angle lens at the time... if you have one, it might be useful. They will come very close and they are pretty big, will help frame them.

Yes I have a wide angle lens that I will be bringing along. Hoping to get some split shots with it too. Great pics!

 

[ibmerlin]

+1 wideangle

Imagine you are photographing a hippo from 1-2 ft. But a friendly hippo. Dove with them in both Hamosssah (or something like that) and also Crystal river. Limited viz at both sights with very green water but you see them clearly close up.

We are going to both spots too. Some of the pics I have seen from Bird underwater this last week make it seem that the water near the spring is pretty clear.

 

[Dan]

If you go to the Three Sister Springs part of Crystal River, instead of King's Bay, the water will be clear, not greenish.

You see that I used my wide angle & strobe. This was back in Feb 2013, though.

Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River, Florida

 

[ibmerlin]

View attachment 389704 View attachment 389702 View attachment 389700

If you go to the Three Sister Springs part of Crystal River, instead of King's Bay, the water will be clear, not greenish.

You see that I used my wide angle & strobe. This was back in Feb 2013, though.

Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River, Florida

Great pics.

 

[ibmerlin]

Did the strobe bother the manatee much?