Featured Photographer - Thomas Peschak /  by Felix Leander

My dad always said you need to get close to your subjects...Thomas Peschak with Tiger Shark in South Africa.  Photo by Wolfgang Leander 2007

My old man wrote this about Thomas Peschak years back: "In his field, wildlife and shark conservation photography, Thomas is, in my and many others' opinion, one of the best - world-wide."

Thomas with large Tiger Shark in South Africa.  Photo by Wolfgang Leander 2007

While I have not had the pleasure in meeting Thomas (we have corresponded) - my father was able to spend a lot of time with him in the water in Aliwal Shoal, South Africa, freediving and photographing tiger sharks.  Then already an accomplished photographer, Thomas has risen above most capturing stunning wildlife images and is a contributing photographer to National Geographic.

The now famous Great White shark and kayak photo by Thomas Peschak

But what makes Thomas so special, beyond his photography, is his involvement in conservation.  "Thomas believes that the combined force of photojournalists and conservation NGOs is very powerful. In the past he has worked as the official photographer of WWF-SA and the Chief Photographer for the Save our Seas Foundation. He continues working with NGOs on a regular basis, collaborating often with Pacific Wild, the Manta Trust and WWF."  He now is the director of conservation at Save our Seas Foundation

Be sure to follow his Instagram feed - https://instagram.com/thomaspeschak/  and visit his website at: http://www.thomaspeschak.com/ and http://saveourseas.com/

Manuel Menendez Hunting for Dinner /  by Felix Leander

If I were stuck on a deserted island there is only one person I would want to be with in terms of survival and having "food on the table".  When I was approached by a friend who was tasked by AJ+ (part of the Al Jazeera) to do a segment on "Hunting for Dinner" - I knew Manuel Menendez would be the person to feature.

Manuel is a Miami native who has been diving the South Florida waters for over 30 years.  He knows where to find fish and how to catch them (pole spear, spear gun, hands, whatever it takes) while freediving.  You go out with Manuel and you are pretty much guaranteed to have a delicious dinner and a better understanding of the SOFL wildlife.  

We have been friends for over 5 years now and it is always a pleasure to explore the ocean with him - solid guy who will be there when you need it.

Below is the video that was featured on AJ+

Cormorant Freedivers /  by Felix Leander

Cormorant are Miami's best freedivers.  We always see them in the bay swimming on the surface and diving.  Usually it is next to impossible to get close to them - they are weary and shy. However, the other day we saw one that had just caught a fish and was having problems handling it.  I was able to get close enough for some footage.

Cormorant freediving for his dinner in Miami, FL

Hawaii Skin Diver Magazine /  by Felix Leander

Growing up I would anxiously wait for our subscription to Skin Diver and National Geographic (particularly for those issues that featured underwater photography).  Of course National Geographic had a much higher standard than Skin Diver and over time - looking at divers with SCUBA gear on above a coral getting blasted with a flash was just boring.

For a short while there was Ocean Realm Magazine with absolutely stunning images - unfortunately this publication no longer exists.  There were a few others that focus on Freediving and sharks but they definitely are definitely not top tier.

Freediving with sharks featured in HSD...

Enter Hawaii Skin Diver (HSD) - by far in a class of it’s own.  Not only does the publication focus on spearfishing and freediving - the quality of the photos, design / layout of the magazine / articles are world class and award winning.

HSD became what it is today thanks to Sterling Kaya and Clifford Cheng.  In 1999, Sterling bought the magazine and brought on Clif as a partner.  Clif has an exceptional eye for design (he studied graphic design at the University of Hawaii).  The team is extremely small and the magazine relies on help of photographers and writers that contribute articles from all over the world.  And while the name of the magazine has “Hawaii” in it…it covers spearfishing / freediving from all over the world.

Manuel Menendez on cover of HSD

The magazine is published on a quarterly basis - if you do not have a subscription yet, I encourage you to subscribe.​