Behind the Lens: Shot of the Day

This is where I take you beyond the image… sharing the story behind the shot, the challenges of capturing it, and the techniques I used to make it happen. From camera settings to in-the-field experiences, this is a deep dive into the world of wildlife photography.

Leopard – Queen Elizabeth National Park, Uganda

We were just finishing breakfast when the call came in, a leopard had been spotted. I was excited, but cautious.

The sighting was a good 30-minute drive from where we were, and in the world of wild cats, that might as well be forever. Still, I had never seen a wild leopard before.

One of my dream animals to encounter.

The drive felt endless, but when we finally arrived, there it was, sleeping in one of those cactus-like euphorbia trees that dot the park, already surrounded by ten safari trucks.

We didn’t get the best position, having arrived late, but as if on cue, the leopard woke up. It leapt down from the tree and began strolling along the dirt road, right between the vehicles.

We repositioned, and just like that, the cat passed right by our truck, then veered off into the tall grasses of the savannah. All I could see were its ears and tail weaving through the brush.

That’s when I noticed a giant termite mound up ahead, and I silently wished… please climb it.

And thankfully, she did.

She perched atop the mound, scanning the horizon, maybe for prey, maybe for threats.

Her back was to me, but she turned her head slightly to the left, just enough for that perfect profile.

I held my breath and fired off frames, whispering to myself, please be in focus... please be in focus.

Mobula Rays in Flight – Baja, Mexico

Capturing a photo of a jumping mobula ray is one of the toughest shots to get. They breach without warning, and trying to predict where they'll launch is nearly impossible.

When they’re active, you’ve got to sit still, eye glued to the viewfinder, scanning the horizon, ready for that split-second moment.

But once in a while, something rare happens, they all start jumping together. Hundreds of rays launching out of the water like popcorn.

On those magical days, your odds of nailing a good shot go way up.

This image came from one of those days.

Mobulas were popcorning all around us, and I managed to capture a moment where five of them were in the air, all within the same frame. It remains one of my most prized jumping mobula images.

I shot it at 1/4000 sec, f/5, though I meant to shoot at f/9. Somehow I rolled it down by accident, but thankfully it still worked.

Sometimes the moment is so good, it forgives the settings.

Dwarf Caiman - Formoso River, Brazil.

While out searching for anacondas to swim with, we stumbled across this dwarf caiman, hiding underwater, tucked into the shadows along the river’s edge. For me, this species is a dream.

I’ve always had a deep love for these ancient reptiles, and this one, in particular, was a thrill to find.

Smaller than their larger cousins, dwarf caimans are still incredibly striking animals.

This one was trying to hide beneath a tree, keeping still in the dim light. Luckily, I had my video lights with me, and I used them to softly illuminate the scene just enough to snap a few images. The lights brought out the rich texture and color of the caiman’s armored skin, details that would have otherwise been lost in the shadows.

It stayed frozen long enough for all of us to quietly take a few shots. Then, just as silently, it swam off and disappeared.

We didn’t follow.

(Posted July 19, 2025)

Thresher Shark – Malapascua Island, Philippines

This image was captured off the coast of Malapascua Island, one of the only places in the world where you can reliably see pelagic thresher sharks. It’s a trip I’ve been itching to repeat... and I will, very soon.

Shooting these sharks is always a challenge. The light is limited, and the depth can push your limits as a diver and a photographer. But on this dive, we got super lucky, the sharks came up to around 60 feet, which allowed us to take full advantage of the available light. That kind of opportunity didn’t happen often back then. I’ve heard rumors that they come up even shallower now, but during our visit, 60 feet was as good as it got.

Thankfully, in that moment, everything lined up, and magic happened.

(Posted July 17, 2025)

Greater Rhea – Pantanal, Brazil

We were on a driving safari through a private ranch in the Pantanal, scanning the grasslands for giant anteaters, when we spotted something unusual in the distance. Sitting motionless in the tall grass was a greater rhea, frozen in place on her nest. She was doing everything she could to blend in.

We stopped just long enough to snap a few quiet images before leaving her undisturbed.

My camera settings were all wrong for the shot, I had just been photographing monkeys bouncing through the trees and still had a fast shutter speed dialed in. But sometimes you take the moment as it is, imperfections and all.

What makes this image unforgettable is what happened next.

That night, a jaguar found her. By morning, she was gone. When we passed the site again, the rhea’s nest remained, eggs scattered, and a pair of black vultures picking at what was left.

It was a sobering reminder of how fragile life is out here. One moment you’re witnessing a quiet act of survival... the next, it’s gone.

(Posted July 16, 2025)

Striped Marlin – Baja, Mexico

Every winter, sardines return to the food-rich waters off Baja, and right behind them come the predators. Striped marlin, sea lions, and whales are reliable visitors to this arena, turning the open blue into a high-speed hunt.

Photographing these striped marlin in motion is a dream. Portraits are nice, but it’s the behavior shots, the chase, the swipe, the strike, that I live for.

Freezing that kind of speed underwater is no small task.

Looking back, I wish I had bumped my shutter to at least 1/500. I was shooting at 1/320, which is cutting it close. But somehow, it worked. I managed to freeze the moment.

One shot. One second. Pure Baja magic.

(Posted July 15, 2025)

White Shark – Guadalupe Island

To bring the white sharks close for divers, operators at Guadalupe Island used tuna heads or tails attached to ropes, known as hang baits. The idea was to lure the sharks in toward the cages for a better look, without actually feeding them.

As the sharks approached, wranglers would yank the bait away at the last second.

But the sharks learn quickly. Some of them learned to swim beneath the boat, to hide their presence, watching for the exact moment the bait hit the water, then explode upward in a burst of speed, trying to snatch it before it was pulled away.

Sometimes they hit so fast and hard, they launch completely out of the water. This image captures one of those moments, of a white shark crashing back into the ocean after a full-body breach, water exploding all around it. It’s pure power in motion.

In hindsight, I should of been shooting at a shutter speed of 1/500 for moments like this where the shark might explode up with power. I feel fortunate that I was able to capture this shot of the shark and that it was in focus.

(Posted July 14, 2025)

Orca Encounter – New Zealand, 2014

I photographed this orca off the coast of New Zealand while filming a Shark Week episode I was hosting back in 2014. There are moments you wish you could live all over again, this trip, and especially this dive, is one of them.

When I jumped in the water, I wasn’t the shooter I am today. My camera settings were way off, and I was lucky to walk away with the few images I did. But that didn’t take away from the magic of the experience. It remains one of my favorite dives of all time.

We had a rare backstage pass, filming under a special permit that allowed us to swim with orcas in a region where that kind of encounter is otherwise strictly forbidden. And we were joined by none other than Ingrid Visser, the legendary orca advocate who has spent her life fighting to keep orcas wild and out of tanks.

This image, converted to black and white, with added grain to the image shares one of the orcas swimming straight toward me, curious, and confident.

During this period of my life… this encounter was the highlight of my diving career. It was a day of dreams.

(Posted July 13, 2025)

Tiger Sharks: One of the Ocean’s most Iconic Predators.

Few animals command the water like the tiger shark. Bold, curious, and unmistakably powerful, they move with a quiet confidence that captivates everyone around them. For over two decades, these sharks have been at the heart of my work. I’ve spent thousands of hours in the water with them—studying their behavior, earning their trust, and learning how to photograph them in a way that captures their true nature.

The Dance of Light: Capturing God Rays in the Deep

In this Behind the Lens story, I share how natural light alone transformed a quiet moment in the ocean into something unforgettable.
With no strobes and no stage lighting—just god rays pouring through the water, wrapping the animals in soft, golden beams—this piece reveals the beauty of letting nature light the scene.

Waiting on a Tiger – A Wild Moment in India

We visited Jim Corbett National Park hoping to photograph wild tigers—and after days of near misses, one moment finally came together. Eli shares the story, the settings, and the lessons learned during his first-ever tiger encounter in the wild.

Mobula Rays and God Rays | A Father-Daughter Photo Moment

After a tough start to the season, Eli Martinez captures a rare moment of his daughter hovering over a school of mobula rays in perfect light. A story of patience, timing, and the shot that came together.

The Day an Orca Came to Say Hello

In this Behind the Lens story, I share the most intimate encounter I’ve ever had with an orca, and how natural light, timing, and a quiet connection created one of the most unforgettable moments of my life.

South Padre Songbirds: Chasing Color Along the Texas Coast.

Each April, South Padre Island becomes a vibrant rest stop for migrating songbirds. In this journal entry, I share a recent outing spent searching for painted and varied buntings—but instead found beauty in unexpected moments. From indigo buntings to summer tanagers (and plenty of mosquitoes), this is a blog about chasing color, missing the shot, and still calling it a win.

God Rays and Giants… Photographing Great Whites at Guadalupe

This was my last white shark expedition to Guadalupe Island before the closure.
A reflection on beauty, challenge, and what it means to photograph something wild while you still can.

American Crocodile… One of our Last Dive Trips to Banco Chinchorro.

A story from our 2020 trip, with perfect conditions and perfect crocs!

Chasing Color… A Mahi Mahi Encounter off Cabo San Lucas

A photo session with a bull mahi mahi off Cabo San Lucas, MX.

Photographing Leopard Sharks off La Jolla Shores, California

A blog I wrote about diving for leopard sharks in California... this is easily the best beach dive in the world!

Photographing a Toco Toucan in Brazil

The first time I encountered a Toco Toucan in Brazil… I was star struck!

Cenote Diving for a Morelet’s Crocodile in Tulum

A blog I wrote up about the challenges of finding and photographing a morelet’s crocodile in Tulum.

The Mako Shark That Changed Everything

A BTS story and images from a film shoot for the Outdoor Channel, where the goal was to find and dive with an undiveable shark, and the photo opportunity that I sadly lost.

Polar Bears in the Snow Photography

I shared this in a blog a while ago, but thought I would share it here with you all.

Giant River Otter Photo Gallery

Here are some images of giant river otters in the Northern Pantanal, Brazil.

Manta Ray Photo Gallery

Here are some images of manta rays that we encountered during the annual whale shark migration off Isla Mujeres, Mexico.

American Alligator Photo Gallery

For the first edition, I’m featuring my recent alligator photography adventure in Florida, where I navigated tricky lighting, murky waters, and the challenges of working with these incredible prehistoric predators. Stay tuned for tips, tricks, and behind-the-scenes insights from my time in the wild!