Elephant Seals

I watched these animals and surveyed the photo opportunities for about two hours, and made one exposure. This is it. I composed the distant bluffs, breaking waves, and small creek for a dynamic zig-zag effect. After deciding on composition, it was largely a matter of waiting. At this moment, the water patterns form a ring around the main subject, and selective focusing further guides our attention to the main subject. The effect serves also to subordinate the foreground seals. It is a peaceful image.

This photograph was made on Fuji NPS medium format film (56x70 mm) with the Mamiya RZ Pro II. The RZ is generally considered a studio camera but, in fact, I rather like it for field work. Focus is established with a bellows system and thus the lenses are simpler, with fewer places for dust to get into them. The camera uses removable film backs which permit switching film mid-roll without exposing any film to light. When using the RZ, I typically carry two or three backs, each loaded with a different type of film.