BORNEO JUNGLE ..... Silhouette of aircraft
vortex on 31.12.06 @ 02:14 PM AEST [Silhouette of aircraft">link]
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Sunday, December 31st vortex on 31.12.06 @ 02:14 PM AEST [Silhouette of aircraft">link] TSAI TIEN CHIN .......piano in heaven?
 One of the five Taiwanese girls who invited me to sleep on the lounge room floor of their apartment in Taipei. Her Chinese name means piano in heaven. I chose to make use of my small tent (indoors) as well. It always seem strange to people when I do this in Australia and no less in Taipei. The logic being it's a mosquito net. I've met paralyzed people back in Australia, put in wheelchairs for life, by simple mozzie bites. Footnote: An email from Robert Sands (today) details the potential of high pressure oxygen therapy on malaria via hyperbaric chambers. I'd asked: Q. I've got a hunch intestinal parasites are a big problem not understood by many GP doctors in the profession. I wonder how pressure (as per a recompression chamber treatment) effects parasites? A. "My explanation of high density oxygen is simplistic. There is a cascade of physiological responses rather than a chain of them. For example, I mentioned free radicals. More accurately known as Reactive Oxygen Species (ROS.) When you have parasites, your body uses one particular large white blood cell (a leukocyte) which is called a neutrophile. It just circulates in the blood until it is recruited out of the plasma into the body space where a parasite has invaded. It then conjures up a poison from ROS (usually a sort of hydrogen peroxide, H2O2, from the available O2) and the cell ingests the invader and then poisons it in a process known as phagocytosis. Thus, high density oxygen (treatment) would work well with malaria. Also with worms and other things". vortex on 31.12.06 @ 01:51 PM AEST [piano in heaven?">link] FAT AIR
 Toll ways built to withstand frequent earthquakes and..... in big emergencies - to land an aircraft upon! This was the view from the back door of the private apartment on my first morning in town. The FAT aircraft was approaching a domestic airport some distance away. vortex on 31.12.06 @ 01:41 PM AEST [link] TAIPEI, (TAIWAN) - COMPARISONS WITH AUSTRALIA
 Taipei is on similar latitude to Bundaberg, Queensland – meaning tropical. It’s even warmer in the south at the second largest city Kaohsiung only 250 miles away which is the length of the entire island of Taiwan. It rains a lot – which is good, yet water restrictions occur in summer just as in Australia. Locals avoid suntans and use umbrella’s often as shades – a sensible idea we need to copy more frequently in Australia. At an alley or lane (just off the main ChungShiao East Road) the lack of parking and feeling from shops and homes was comparable to Double Bay, (Sydney) in the summer. The day pictured was to be the warmest of the year at 37.9 celsius, which would be "not too bad" in some parts of Australia during the summer. Closer to the main road (below) the bustle is more like Oxford Street, Paddington (Sydney) during our busiest day – this is daily in busy Taipei. Cars don’t bother much with pedestrian crossings. Everyone plays chicken. Just crossing the street is the biggest single hazard presenting a guaranteed three or more near-misses daily. Beware. vortex on 31.12.06 @ 10:32 AM AEST [link] TAIPEI - MAIN HAZARD
 Crossing the street is OK where there are traffic lights, otherwise it's a game of chicken. vortex on 31.12.06 @ 10:22 AM AEST [link] TAIPEI NIGHTLINE
 vortex on 31.12.06 @ 09:07 AM AEST [link] TAIPEI NIGHT SCENE
 vortex on 31.12.06 @ 09:04 AM AEST [link] TAIPEI POP
 Wu Bai is the biggest rock star in the Mandarin Music Territory. Taiwan, China , Hong Kong, Singapore and Malaysia. He also has fans in Japan, USA, Canada and Australia. Throughout the years, he held numerous sold out concerts with his band China Blue. There is an English radio station ICRT (International Community Radio Taipei) which plays mostly American rock pop. Listen live with ADSL: www.icrt.com.tw Otherwise not much English used anywhere, but everyone is keen to learn. Good opportunities for young English language teachers. vortex on 31.12.06 @ 08:56 AM AEST [link] Thursday, December 28th TAIPEI AFTER DARK
 vortex on 28.12.06 @ 09:21 AM AEST [link] MILK BAR ..... A Seven Eleven
 vortex on 28.12.06 @ 09:08 AM AEST [A Seven Eleven">link] TAIWAN ....... Many earthquakes this week
 vortex on 28.12.06 @ 09:01 AM AEST [Many earthquakes this week">link] Sunday, December 24th MONSTER ATTACKS DIVE HQ ..... Terry Morrison in hiding
 Terry Morrison, the Gold Coast’s best-known NAUI dive instructor often held diver meetings at this original timber residence, which doubled as a classroom for diving lectures, piano recitals, and classical music appreciations (with a splash of red wine). The great mechanical jaws of progress descended upon the Queenslander-style home and today she is destined to be just another block of concrete flats. Terry lived in New South Wales. The other side of his street was Queensland. He has retired from teaching scuba but will always enjoy talking about it to his many mates and admirers. vortex on 24.12.06 @ 03:50 PM AEST [Terry Morrison in hiding">link] Friday, December 22nd TOXIC ALGAL BLOOM ...... Red weed strikes again
 The mid north coast (of New South Wales, Australia) is being effected by a large algal bloom of red weed. The weed is being held against the shoreline by the high Christmas tides and will probably pose a threat to the health of shellfish and fish and people who eat them. Oysters, abalone and pippies are at risk. General practicioners should be told of the potential hazard of people being sick from eating shellfish. Former professional abalone diver, Vic Ley, has been monitoring the presence of the red weed invasion for the past weeks. “It won’t go away, this is the most persistent invasion we have had for years. It effects the marine life, all fish leave the area. I guess the weed chokes their gills” he said. I noticed pippies that appeared sick on the effected beach Usually active and quickly escape by digging into wet sand in the surf zone, these were sluggish and barely able to move. The thick red weed apparently to blame. Byron Bay and Seal Rocks often have similar problems with different colored algal blooms which locals call cornflakes due to the larger size of the weed. vortex on 22.12.06 @ 12:43 PM AEST [Red weed strikes again">link] Thursday, December 21st FATHOM MAGAZINE (1973) Volume One, Number Three
 JH on 21.12.06 @ 08:22 AM AEST [Volume One, Number Three">link] FATHOM No. 3 Two giant groper speared
 JH on 21.12.06 @ 08:17 AM AEST [Two giant groper speared">link] FATHOM No.3 ...... Ron Isbell interview
 JH on 21.12.06 @ 08:11 AM AEST [Ron Isbell interview">link] FATHOM No.3 ..... Ron Isbell - continued
 JH on 21.12.06 @ 08:05 AM AEST [Ron Isbell - continued">link] Wednesday, December 20th FATHOM MAGAZINE ..... Skindiving in Australia
 There was a ridiculous situation in 1971. Dive shop owners pretended to customers that sharks would not bite divers. Diver publications were discouraged from publishing shark pictures by their advertisers, especially in USA. Fathom helped change all that with this, the second issue the most popular of all. Tabloid newspapers serialised these shark pictures and informative text over several editions. ABC TV's GTK (a 6pm youth show) did an interview showing actual fathom pages. The promotion boosted future sales, a USA distributor got involved with subscriptions and predicted amazing sales. It would not happen. Magazine distribution in USA was controlled by powerful forces unlike anything we knew of at home. JH on 20.12.06 @ 08:55 AM AEST [Skindiving in Australia">link] Fathom 2 ...... Miss Sea Hornet 1971
 The fathom home-office was a rented house on a cliff, with a northerly aspect overlooking Curl Curl beach. Every window had an ocean view. The windows had salt on them during heavy seas. It was a fantastic experience for several years with the ocean at the doorstep. We had a good lifestyle - it wouldn't last forever, there were other things to do. Travel and adventure. Often the front awn would be 18 inches high by the time we returned from Coralita trips. The landlord lived next door and was never impressed but I paid the rent for months in advance so he was happy. Sandra Greentree (pictured) shared the house with her future husband, John C Fairfax. We were all good friends with a common love of the underwater world. Sandra modeled free of charge for Sea Hornet in all ten issues. This picture was taken on the jetty at Bundeena, Royal National Park, Sydney, one of our favorite weekend boating destinations. JH on 20.12.06 @ 08:42 AM AEST [Miss Sea Hornet 1971">link] Fathom 2 ..... Contents page, sharks issue
 Picture: Bob Grounds a Point Lookout sunset on North Stradbroke Island,Queensland. The second issue of Fathom has already been covered in this blog. Use search function to locate pictures and text on the various species of shark listed as in contents. We prefered the name white pointer shark rather than Great White shark, because the shark is not white in colour but more a dirty grey. Great dirty grey shark didn't seem right either. Our shark danger rating, in points out of ten, has remained valid. White Pointer, blue pointer and tiger top the list, followed by whalers - which are now commonly called bull sharks. JH on 20.12.06 @ 08:26 AM AEST [Contents page, sharks issue">link] Fathom 2 ..... face mask advertisement
 Probably a superior design to the majority of modern face masks which have become a disgrace. Vic Ley is pictured with his giant maori wrasse from an early reef trip as detailed here last month. JH on 20.12.06 @ 08:15 AM AEST [face mask advertisement">link] Fathom 2 ..... South Pacific Divers - 1st photo comp
 Looking at the dates involved, I'd guess the magazine went on sale after the event was held. Such were the disadvantages of printing in Hong Kong and later in Singapore. JH on 20.12.06 @ 08:04 AM AEST [South Pacific Divers - 1st photo comp">link] Fathom 2 ...... Peter Kemp interview, continued
 JH on 20.12.06 @ 07:51 AM AEST [Peter Kemp interview, continued">link] Fathom 2 ...... B-17 aircraft wreckage underwater
 At the time of publication we did not reveal that this war wreck was at Kapingamarangi Atoll. This is the true Polynesian island where beautiful pictures were obtained for the first issue. It would appear this bomb has exploded underwater and therefore may not have been responsible for destroying the B-17 aircraft. Such is war. JH on 20.12.06 @ 07:47 AM AEST [B-17 aircraft wreckage underwater">link] Fathom 2 ...... Lobster recipe
 Jose Botella (today of Wooli, New South Wales) provided this recipe. When Philippe and Jan Cousteau were in Australia (as interviewed in Fathom issue No.6) they were entertained with Jose's fine Spanish cooking. For Jose, this led to a lunch invitation with Philippe and his father, Jacques-Yves Cousteau while visiting France the following year. The price of eastern rock lobster (formerly called crayfish) is at least AUS$50 a kilo, and climbing. JH on 20.12.06 @ 07:41 AM AEST [Lobster recipe">link] Fathom 2 ...... Ron Isbel and his charter boat SEA HUNT
 Launched in 1968 Sea Hunt catered for snorkel divers within the Capricorn and Bunker Group offshore from Gladstone. It was several years before Sea Hunt installed an air compressor for scuba tanks. Similtaneously (in 1971) Captain Wally Muller of Coralita was organising the first of many Coral Sea expeditions. On board, an air compressor and free air - very popular in this era of expensive air fills. It set a trend and free unlimited air fills became a standard that remains today. JH on 20.12.06 @ 07:29 AM AEST [Ron Isbel and his charter boat SEA HUNT">link] Fathom 2 ...... Heron Island macro's
 Ron T. machined an extension tube for a Nikonos camera based on what was being developed in USA but not yet available in Asutralia. Ron and Valerie were working as 2nd unit (underwater) at Heron Island for Barrier Reef a fictional TV series being produced by Lee Robinson a largely unsucessful follow-up to his Skippy - the bush kangaroo. During the six months the Taylor's lived on this coral island resort off Gladstone, many world class still picture opportunities occured. The pick went into a National Georgraphic Magazine feature. At fathom we were shown these macro's -which at the time, was absolutely stunning material, a quality beyond anything previously published in any diving magazine. Such was the impact of extension tube macro photography using a Nikonos camera, at that time 36 years ago. JH on 20.12.06 @ 07:12 AM AEST [Heron Island macro's">link] Tuesday, December 19th Fathom (1971) ...... Cover; the first issue.
 The large fan coral was brought up from 180 feet and given to the chief men of the island as an example as none existed in the shallows. The island free divers were reaching 60 feet without fins and spearing tiny tropical fish for food, using very long 10 foot spearguns. Fathom volume one, number one had a low print run being a test publication. JH on 19.12.06 @ 09:45 AM AEST [Cover; the first issue.">link] Fathom magazine (1971) ...... Sea Hornet advertisement
 Sea Hornet (T D Preece and Company) were original advertisers who appeared in all ten issues and pledged double pages if the magazine re-started production in the 1980's. The speared fish concept was replaced by a bikini model, Sandra Greentree which proved more popular than the dead fish. We wonder why? JH on 19.12.06 @ 09:35 AM AEST [Sea Hornet advertisement">link] Fathom magazine (1971) ...... page 3 advertisement
 Although I shared the same family name, I was not related to the owner of Sydney's major dive shop of the time. It was double-confusing - his younger brother was also John Harding (double my size and who wore glasses) this did not stop others in the business getting us confused. Both have since passed away. Kevin Deacon (now of Dive 2000) is the young man in blue wet suit with speargun and yellow fins; the hang-glider is Bill Moyes who did amazing stunts all over the world. Top picture shows Rodney Fox who later became a shark conservationist campaigner. JH on 19.12.06 @ 09:31 AM AEST [link] Fathom magazine (1971) ...... "Aquarius" advertisement
 JH looking a bit serious - as an amateur makes the photo with his camera Fisheye lens view Bob Grounds with a Queensland groper Richard Ibara above a Zero WW2 aircraft at Nukuoro Atoll Jenny Perry and Merle Hawkins with the hammerhead that gave birth underwater Trevor Collins with a marlin he speared Sandra Greentree (and husband to be) John C Fairfax with one of the baby whaler sharks born on the beach at Point Lookout. All scenes fdeatured in the film. The advertised 1970 film show dates went ahead, yet the magazine did not go on sale until January 1971. Being printed in Hong Kong meant a magazine cover publication month or date was not a wise idea. In this era pre container-shippping, delays were common as were strikes by the workers. The quality and price obtained in Hong Kong was far superior to anything happening in Australia or even USA at the time. Our publisher, Gareth Powell lived in Hong Kong for several years and during the fathom era made 50 international flights out of Sydney in one 12 month period, all aboard 707's. He narrowly missed being on a Cathy 707 flight that was lost over South Vietnam, when he gave-up his free seat to a Catholic priest. JH on 19.12.06 @ 09:22 AM AEST ["Aquarius" advertisement">link] Fathom magazine (1971) ...... Kapingamarangi, page 13
 JH on 19.12.06 @ 09:03 AM AEST [Kapingamarangi, page 13">link] Fathom magazine (1971) ..... page 14
 A recent series of emails seems to have found the little Polynesian girl, Balabala now living in California. The series of emails to a church website in Micronesia brought almost one hundred replies from people who remembered our visit aboard the US Navy seaplane in August 1969 while we were investigating possible Crown of Thorns starfish, (Acanthaster planci). Team members: Dr Barry R. Wilson, Dr Richard M. Ibara, Ken DaVico, John Harding. Does anyone know the whereabouts of one of the air crew J. "Mac" Halliday? He kindly arranged for a flying lesson as we returned to Guam. Apologies whoever became air sick as a consequence! Richard Ibara said "It was a terrible flight, rising and falling and over correcting east-west". JH on 19.12.06 @ 09:01 AM AEST [link] Fathom magazine (1971) Eastern Caroline Islands, Micronesia
 JH on 19.12.06 @ 08:48 AM AEST [Eastern Caroline Islands, Micronesia">link] Fathom magazine (1971) .... Kathy Troutt interview
 JH on 19.12.06 @ 08:44 AM AEST [Kathy Troutt interview">link] Fathom magazine (1971) ........Blown up picture
 Footnote. Eric Buchanan was released after spending six days in hospital. Two months after his accident he still has bad double vision, perforations in both ear drums (which are still discharging), and bad bruising on the right side of his chest and inner right arm. He remembers how lucky he was to escape with his life. Eric keeps his demolished face mask as a grim reminder of the worst underwater blast he's felt. JH on 19.12.06 @ 08:39 AM AEST [Blown up picture">link] Fathom magazine (1971) ...... Thermic lance UW accident
 We wrongly called the device a thermal lance should have been a thermic lance. Eric Buchanan was still seeking his work-place insurance cover payout 27 years after this accident and had contacted me (unsucessfully) for pictures illustrating his injuries. Underwater pictures of the propeller involved are elsewhere on this blog. JH on 19.12.06 @ 08:28 AM AEST [Thermic lance UW accident">link] Fathom magazine (1971) ...... First issue, page 40
 JH on 19.12.06 @ 08:21 AM AEST [link] Fathom magazine (1971) .......First issue, page 46
 Valerie T. in black suit with yellow tape, blue Cressi fins, blue Tarzan mask. At Flinders Reef (CapeMoreton, Qld). Young whaler shark courtesy of Rodney Fox. During filming Surf Scene(1965) JH on 19.12.06 @ 08:17 AM AEST [link] Fathom magazine (1971) ...... First issue - page 47
 JH on 19.12.06 @ 08:12 AM AEST [link] Fathom magazine (1971) ..... First issue, back cover
 JH on 19.12.06 @ 08:08 AM AEST [First issue, back cover">link] Sunday, December 17th THE ART of NATURE ...... Vs. art by humans
 JH on 17.12.06 @ 05:02 PM AEST [Vs. art by humans">link] ZHEN LI ...... Valerie T. original watercolor
 JH on 17.12.06 @ 04:59 PM AEST [Valerie T. original watercolor">link] MARINE ART ...... AUS$32,000 approx.
 JH on 17.12.06 @ 04:56 PM AEST [AUS$32,000 approx.">link] Saturday, December 9th MANTA RAY .... North Stradbroke Island
 JH on 09.12.06 @ 12:29 PM AEST [North Stradbroke Island">link] Wednesday, December 6th MAORI WRASSE ........ with suckerfish below
 There’s an amazing natural history film opportunity to be made with these huge fish. Two examples: the remora (suckerfish) that accompany them (and other large marine creatures) do so to feed upon….. not the feeding scraps as is commonly assumed. No they eat the waste, the partially digested food expelled in their companions feces. Yuk. I’d like to devote an entire dive or more to filming just the eyes of a maori wrasse. The eyes appear to have the unique ability to see forwards (with one eye) whilst simultaneously watching in reverse, with the other eye. Once an elusive fish that was difficult the approach, that is no longer the case since becoming a protected species on the GBR. JH on 06.12.06 @ 04:05 PM AEST [with suckerfish below">link] Tuesday, December 5th UNDERWATER TRAVEL .... promotional photography
 The trend has been to use female models in stunning underwater surroundings. Clown fish with the host anemone are popular for models to be seen admiring. The anemone has been touched (lower picture) and has retreated for it's own safety. Susanne Kierzle of Switzerland was a guest aboard Coralita for these pictures back in 1991. It was the last trip I made aboard this famed divers charter boat before she blew-up and sank. Nobody was aboard when the accident occured in Cairns harbour. JH on 05.12.06 @ 02:50 PM AEST [promotional photography">link] UNDERWATER MODELS ....... Marine Photo-Art 1996
 Birthday suit photography does not seem to go out of date. We people unfortunately do. Some of the benefits of this type of modeling seem to be: The lack of gravity is good for the female shape, thick hair looks even thicker, there is also softening or cosmetic effect in the pictures. Next time (if I'm ever so lucky to be asked to take such pictures again) I'll use a very fast shutter speed for the shots, and no strobe. A 20mm or 28mm lens is wide enough on a 35mm camera. The last minute idea of bright plastic jewelery - the necklace and bangles was fruitful. (Did anyone notice)? Flipper/fins are acceptable. Female faces are nice without a face mask - but difficult for the girl's eyes. Hard to make a genuine smile when everything is a blur, or perhaps that makes it easier? A winter location could be the thermal springs at Mataranka in the Northern Territory where the very clear water is also luke warm. There are entire books devoted to the female figure underwater as an art form. For me it's something different instead of fish and sharks. I prefer action with a snapping shark. Not every day. We hope you enjoy these pictures in the meanwhile. JH on 05.12.06 @ 01:49 PM AEST [Marine Photo-Art 1996">link] MERMAID ...... Tweed River location
 JH on 05.12.06 @ 11:07 AM AEST [Tweed River location">link] Sunday, December 3rd JAN CELIA ....... pictures
 JH on 03.12.06 @ 11:17 AM AEST [pictures">link] Friday, December 1st POSTCARD ....... from the Great Barrier Reef
 It was Cairns 1980 and a friend, John Celia (husband of Jan, pictured above) introduced me to Peter Erbe, soon to be the postcard king of Australia. This was the early era of international tourism to Cairns and the Great Barrier Reef and business was about to take off. My underwater photography had been in hibernation. My diving partner had gone overseas to spend her profits, I was not bothering with stills – the equipment needed updating and was a few years away from the purchase of Nikonos 15mm, 20mm lens and strobe, all minimum standards for 'professionals'. I was shooting underwater movies for video release and living off film showings in theatres but not doing much with still photography. Peter Erbe (today a best-selling author) wanted underwater reef pictures for his new postcards business. He wasn’t connected to any of the diving photographers capable of delivering quality. How to get the ball rolling, fast? I sat at his typewriter desk with a letterhead and typed a note to my famous friends Ron and Valerie in Sydney that went something like: Dear Val, The postcard king here at Cairns seeks quality 35mm duplicates of underwater reef scenes for a series of postcards to be published. These are the best postcards I have ever seen. Could you please send about twenty shots. He will pay for whatever is used. Regards etc Out of the 20 pictures that arrived, an amazing 16 got published, the selection was that stunning. They became postcards and other tourism items and sold well for the next 10 years or more. Peter Erbe later published a few of my pictures including the clown fish (above) a popular seller and possibly still is. Later a Crown of Thorns starfish postcard (1989) was a great publishing coup for me. (The former National party state government and northern tourism lobbies had denied emphatically, as best they could, there was a starfish problem. This is moderately easy when anything is hidden underwater). Now a tourism publicity-type picture showing two scuba girls in colored lycra suits examining a giant crown of thorns starfish was on a postcard for sale in dozens of outlets all along the north Queensland coast. The starfish problem was no longer a debate to be argued, denied and delayed. Funds for starfish control (by divers) eventually began in a valid effort to save parts of the inshore hard coral reef remaining. At Mission Beach, charter boat owner, Perry Harvey ignored prosecution threats and illegally removed thousands of crown of thorns starfish from the corals at Beaver Cay, his preferred day trip destination. Perry and crew helped save this small, stunning location, the bureaucrats argued as elsewhere and nearby beautiful corals degenerated into grey, slime covered rubble. Many marine scientists still believe dead reef returns to normal, as before reef – I’d think seriously again about that. The returning reef is nowhere near the original beauty, I wish this were the case. You can tell when a reef has been knocked about by starfish – it looks different, never as good as the pristine places apparently missed. The era of these great expanses of beautiful coral reefs is passing without ever having been fully enjoyed and appreciated. Most tourists wouldn't know what constituted marine beauty. They accept whatever they are told - but not always. It’s a bit like, for example two hundred years ago in 1807 someone saying, “there is a beautiful forest around the southern harbour in Sydney which will vanish and be replaced by a city.” We know this has occurred only because of the art that remains in galleries and collections today. Will it be similar with the GBR? A good idea, underwater panoramic photographs (to avoid wide angle distortion) of coral reef for the future? Photograph under the surf zone, and deeper, on the weather side of reefs where tourist boats avoid. The best hard corals are there, especially on the very outside edge of the GBR. JH on 01.12.06 @ 08:35 AM AEST [from the Great Barrier Reef">link] |
