Going into battle

[Marc Kurth]

[110240]

Poor navigation makes for awesome image!

[CaptainTom]

Originally Posted by 110240

Poor navigation makes for awesome image!

Not poor navigation.

This appears to be a photo of a U.S. Coast Guard rescue vessel. They go into the worst weather and wave situations imaginable. This is likely a "practice" session in Washington state where the River meets the ocean and creates the craziest surf and wave conditions. The lens compression seems to make the distance between the boat and the rocks very close, but in all likelihood it is farther than it looks.

[Howard Barlow]

I had no idea the waves got that bad in Bastrop. Love the image.

[dbphotos]

Great capture!

And that's why they call him Captain Tom!

[Bennie]

Superb!

[Marc Kurth]

Thanks to everyone for the supportive comments!

Originally Posted by CaptainTom

Not poor navigation.
This appears to be a photo of a U.S. Coast Guard rescue vessel. They go into the worst weather and wave situations imaginable. This is likely a "practice" session in Washington state where the River meets the ocean and creates the craziest surf and wave conditions. The lens compression seems to make the distance between the boat and the rocks very close, but in all likelihood it is farther than it looks.

Tom,
Yup – it’s a USCG 47' Motor Life Boat running about 50 yards beyond the rocks. While I do have images from the National Motor Life School at the mouth of the Columbia River at Cape Disappointment, this one (and the images below) were captured in Morro Bay, CA.

I worked closely with the guys to get a new series for publication every year for the last five – until I moved to Texas this year. I am in awe of their ability to “read” the sets as they stand up on the bar.








Marc

[TXhummer2]

Really breathtaking!!

[w9ctm]

Great shots!
By the way, is that anywhere near the spot that separates the men from the boys?
Cause I don't think 'I' would be interested in doing that. Although knowing my luck, it's probably actually a lot of fun, while being scary and dangerous and all that...

[Thorpeland]

I got sea sick just starring at those amazing shots. Wow. Great stuff!

[Roy]

Those are some great photos Marc. Were you on land or on another vessel when you took these?

[Marc Kurth]

Originally Posted by Roy

Those are some great photos Marc. Were you on land or on another vessel when you took these?

Thank you, Roy. I shot a lot from both. The guys would run me up to the beach to get shore based shots, then pick me back up for boat-to-boat images. The 47's always train in pairs, and most often with smaller 26' RBS and land based spotters in support. It can get real interesting transferring from one boat to another.......
I have hundreds and hundreds of these images and the biggest problem is dealing with the constant salt water immersion.



This one was shot from a boat running parallel to the one in the picture. I got pretty good at slamming the camera into a Pelican case, dropping the closed case into a big 3 mil plastic bag, then twisting the bag tight – in about 3.5 seconds.

Marc

[dcnctx]

Wonderful photos; extraordinary!

[toverman]

Excellent work and worthy of being printed B I G.

Saltwater immersion=opportunity to upgrade your equipment. Welcome to the forum, and I hope you share a lot of your photos.

[JaertX]

I agree with Chuck... I'm staying on the "boy" side of that line.

Awesome shots... thanks for sharing!