Tag

During August this year the Epson World Shootout was taking place. I just found out that I won third prize in the wide angle category. There were some great entries for this event and I feel privileged to be awarded along side some amazing photographers. you can checkout some of the photos at the World Shoot out website. The shot below was taken in swallows cave in Vava’u Tonga and no matter how many times I come back to Tonga this is always a favourite spot for taking photos. Special thanks to my model Rebecca Hayter for patiently holding her breath so I could capture the light and colour.

As many of you know I am a keen advocate for the preservation of whales and spend half my life in the water photographing these amazing creatures. It was privilege to meet the Captain and Founder of Sea Shepherd last night as the conservation group try and raise enough money to fuel their campaign to Antarctica to stop the Japanese whaling in the Southern Ocean in Australian and New Zealand Antarctic territory. Hope this is the year they end whaling.

Scott Portelli was named Runner up in the underwater category at the ANZANG Nature Photography competition 2011 http://anzang.samuseum.sa.gov.au/index.php?blog%2Fshow%2FUnderwater-2011.html

Scott Portelli received a Merit of Excellence award in the Colour Print Photographic category at the 10th Celebrate the Sea Underwater Festival 2011

I have been coming back to Tonga every year for the past 10 years and have been lucky enough to see some amazing behaviour and have some remarkable encounters. This book commemorates my ten years visiting Tonga, I hope I can continue to do this for another 10 years. Please email me if you would like a limited edition signed copy of the book.

During the month of April some of largest Balleen whales can be seen migrating past the Azores and often feeding in the area.

This image taken under a special permit granted by the Regiao Autonoma Dos Acores, Secretaria Regional Do Ambiente E Do Mar, Dreccao Regional do Ambiente.

Annouced at the 2010 BUIF awards in London, this Humpback whale photograph was Highly commended in the wide angle category, Iwas also luck enough to have my video of the Azores Highly commended. I feel so lucky to be celebrating 10 years with these amazing Humpbacks in Tonga.

Scott was named runner up in the Our Impact category of the 2010 ANZANG Nature Photography competition for a shot of a Blue Marlin taken in Tonga in 2009. The Marlin had been tagged and released and was gasping and showing multiple wounds to its eye and body. This was a sad sight to see but a good reminder of how we have an impact on the ocean.

We have had some nice encounters with the whales in the past few weeks and have seen some interesting behaviour, including some pretty cool breaching and we even had fun with our whale and people portrait session, as well as lots of singing Humpbacks. there is nothing like floating metres above a singing whale as the sound reverberates through your body. They definitely have a strong set of pipes. Not to mention that we have also discovered a new form of adventure which I like to call swimming with jelly fish in the harbour. trust me we were amused for hours. stay tuned, more to come from Tonga.

Just announced at the BUIF (British Underwater Image Festival) held at Dive Fest in Cornwall on Sunday 2nd May, I have been lucky enough to be presented the Highly Commended award in the Sea & Sea Open category. The photo is off a new born calf and its mother that was seen during the 2009 whale season. Look forward to having some amazing opportunities in the 2010 season.