We went out at Rutaki Passage on the southern edge of Rarotonga. The passage is one of three that drains the lagoon on the southern edge of the island. Though it is called a passage, underwater it is more akin to a canyon. It has steep walls and drops a good 20-metres or so. For spear fishing it is a great spot as the fish tend to congregate along the walls. And because the passage opens to the ocean, larger fish often cruise into the passage looking for some fishy snacks.

One of those larger fish just happened to turn up while we were out there – a beautiful Giant Trevally or GT, as they are commonly known. Having spoken to people that dive at the mouth of the passage, this guy is a bit of a regular in the passage. Either way, it was really amazing to turn around and suddenly be faced with this monster fish. This GT is about 5-feet long.

At first I was really excited to see the GT and to have the chance to take some photos. About 5-minutes into the encounter though, the GT swam right up to me, clearly checking me out. It was at about this time, I realised that this was actually a really big fish. For a brief moment I even asked myself “do GT’s bite humans?”.

A Giant Trevally (Caranx ignoblis), Cook Islands. © www.thomaspickard.com

The GT turned up as Bobo had speared a number of fish and they were on a rope, attached to a plastic bottle. This keeps the fish fresh and allows Bobo to keep hunting. Needless to say, the GT was after a free lunch. So much so, that not long after he first turned up, we ended up swimming back to shore and the GT followed us all the way into the shallows, eventually attacking the dead fish Bobo had on his rope. The only casualty was a dead Black Snapper, which had its tail bitten clean off.

In terms of photography, these two photos were taken with a wide angle lens and neither image was cropped. That right there should give you an indication of how close the GT was to me. In the photo below, I could easily reach out and touch the big guy as he followed Bobo and his dead fish back to shore.

A Giant Trevally or GT (Caranx ignoblis), Cook Islands. © www.thomaspickard.com

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Photographing kids is a totally different experience to photographing adults. Kids, especially younger kids, definitely have their own idea of what they want to do and when. As a result, I have just one rule when photographing kids on a shoot: keep it fun and interactive.

Get that bit right and the rest will follow.

A couple of favourites from yesterday’s shoot.

Young Tongan boy at the beach, Rarotonga, Cook Islands. © www.thomaspickard.com

Young Tongan boy at the beach, Rarotonga, Cook Islands. © www.thomaspickard.com

Young Tongan boy at the beach, Rarotonga, Cook Islands. © www.thomaspickard.com

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Young Tongan boy at the beach, Rarotonga, Cook Islands. © www.thomaspickard.com

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Socials is a great surf break with beautifully back lit waves in the afternoon. Getting out to it can be a bit dicey as you have to negotiate the barrier reef, which is home to plenty of sea urchins (see the last photo) and is also what the waves break onto (see the second last photo).

There is nothing quite like standing on the barrier reef with thousands of dollars of camera gear in your hand, trying to time the last waddle across the reef (I’ve got flippers on) before taking the plunge into the deeper ocean. Getting back in is just as dicey, as you have to come in on the back of a breaking wave to get up onto the barrier reef proper. Had some minor bumps and scratches from the reef, but nothing too serious (touch wood).

Psyched for more water based shooting in the coming weeks.

Underwater view of a bodyboarder sitting on a bodyboard waiting for waves, Socials surf break, Blackrock, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, on the 12 July 2011.

Bodyboarder pulling into a barrelling wave, Socials surf break, Blackrock, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, on the 12 July 2011.

Underwater view of a bodyboarder surfacing after duck diving through a wave, Socials surf break, Blackrock, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, on the 12 July 2011

Underwater view of a breaking wave, Socials surf break, Blackrock, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, on the 12 July 2011.

Breaking wave, Socials surf break, Blackrock, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, on the 12 July 2011.

Underwater view of a bodyboarder deep in a barrelling wave, Socials surf break, Blackrock, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, on the 12 July 2011.

Bodyboarder waiting for waves, Socials surf break, Blackrock, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, on the 12 July 2011. (Silhouette).

Bodyboarder pulling into a barrelling wave, Socials surf break, Blackrock, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, on the 12 July 2011.

Underwater view of a bodyboarder surfacing after duck diving through a wave, Socials surf break, Blackrock, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, on the 12 July 2011.

A bodyboarder puts his arms in the air as a plane lifts off from Rarotonga International Airport, Socials surf break, Blackrock, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, on the 12 July 2011.

Ocean foam and setting sun, Socials surf break, Blackrock, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, on the 12 July 2011.

Breaking wave, Socials surf break, Blackrock, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, on the 14 July 2011.

Rainbow above a breaking wave, Socials surf break, Blackrock, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, on the 14 July 2011.

Breaking wave and shallow reef, Socials surf break, Blackrock, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, on the 14 July 2011.

Sea urchins and reef, Socials surf break, Blackrock, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, on the 14 July 2011.

Related Posts:

Just Add Water

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There is a 10% discount for any purchases made between now and the 22nd of June 2011. Use this coupon code during check out: TEAITOTEN

I photographed the Te Aito 2011 open ocean paddling event on Saturday in Rarotonga. Split into two races, I photographed the women’s 14-kilometre race in the morning and then the men’s 28-kilometre race in the afternoon. The morning race featured beautiful light, while the afternoon race had a larger swell, which resulted in some more dynamic photos.

All up, it was a great experience being on the media boat and having a first row seat to the action. Big thanks to the organisers for putting together such a great event.

Congratulations to all competitor’s for a great effort!

Start of the women's 14 km Te Aito 2011 open ocean paddling event, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, on the 11 June 2011.

Te Aito 2011 open ocean paddling event, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, on the 11 June 2011.

Eventual winner of the women's race, Mereani Marakai from Tahiti, taking a moment to cool off during the Te Aito 2011 open ocean paddling event, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, on the 11 June 2011.

The essence of paddling: a boat, blade and ocean. A lone competitor during the Te Aito 2011 open ocean paddling event, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, on the 11 June 2011.

Danielle Cochrane crossing the finish line, Te Aito 2011 open ocean paddling event, Rarotonga, Cook Islands, on the 11 June 2011.

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That man turned out to be Sonny.

At 57 years old, Sonny is the oldest ocean paddler in Rarotonga. Having missed the start of the Vaka single paddling race, Sonny decided to swim out to the Boiler, climb it and jump off it. Something he does each time he swims to the Boiler.

If that isn’t living, then I don’t know what is.

Sonny jumping off the Boiler, Rarotonga, Cook Islands. © www.thomaspickard.com

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Late summer afternoon fun.

Boy with water hose, Rarotonga, Cook Islands. © www.thomaspickard.com

Boy with water hose, Rarotonga, Cook Islands. © www.thomaspickard.com

Boy with water hose, Rarotonga, Cook Islands. © www.thomaspickard.com

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A Maldivian family enjoying the ocean Artificial Beach, Male', Male' (Kaafu) Atoll, Maldives, on the 19 January 2010. Artificial Beach was built by the Maldives' Government in direct response to the need for a beach on the capital island, Male'. © www.thomaspickard.com

It was World Water Day on the 22nd of March. This years theme is ‘Water for Cities – Responding to the Urban Challenge’. If there is one thing we can all do, it is this: conserve how much water we use.

And if you think you are doing a good job of conserving water – like I did – maybe you should check out this list of water saving tips. You may be surprised at how many ways there are to conserve water around the house. I know I was.

Water: Use it Wisely

Related Posts:

When the Water Ends.

World Water Day 2010.

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For the first time since I’ve been living in Rarotonga, I finally saw the lagoon as good as it gets.

When the lagoon is like this, it’s easy to see what the attraction is.

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Cooling off in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Summer in the city – cooling off KL style, near Petronas Twin Towers in Malaysia.

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To put World Water Day in perspective, think about this – only 1 in 8 people have access to clean drinking water. Or put another way, it is about a billion people without clean drinking water.

I don’t know about you, but that figure is hard to comprehend. A billion people without clean drinking water!

If you aren’t sure what you can do, then head over to Charity:Water and donate $20 US. All of your donation will go to towards building a new water well for a community of people that need it. I just did, why don’t you?

Donate $20 Us to Charity:Water and give one person clean, safe drinking water for 20-years.

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