We are pleased to feature the work of award winning photographer Chuck Davis.

“Regarding these images, this collection were mostly photographed in Mexican waters off the seaward side of the Baja California coast working anywhere from 15 – 40 plus miles offshore during the fall Pacific sardine migration. When the sardines migrate, lots of ocean predators show up way out offshore for dinner, to feast on this huge bounty of sardines, which are believed to be headed to Magdalena Bay, which is a known spawning and sardine nursery area.  The latter is all done while free diving and is a real challenge as it involves a lot of time out on the water (working with local fisherman in their open “panga” skiffs). We often encounter rough seas (mainly in the afternoon when the wind tends to pick up) which can be a challenge because of all the pounding which can be uncomfortable for human passengers and destructive to delicate camera gear, but it’s all part of the challenge.

Please click on images to see a different view.

A large school of Pacific sardines forced into a spherical “baitball” by local peredators such as striped marlin approx. 25 miles seaward of Magdelen Bay, Baja Mexico during the annual Pacific sardine migration. © Chuck Davis

Free diver Kylie Van de Wingarde free dives some 15 miles seaward of Magdelena Bay, Baja, Mexico surrounded by flakes of sardine scales after a baitball had been devoured by dorado fish (mahi mahi) and sea lions © Chuck Davis

We set out early each morning looking for sea bird activity (usually frigate birds and pelicans) which are a telltale sign that there is a sardine “bait ball” beneath.  The sardines are the magnet that drives this annual phenomenon, but as a photographer I am actually also enthralled  with the amazing quality and texture of the underwater light and all of the amazing shapes and forms that emerge literally out of the blue.Sometimes I have experienced Gestalt feelings when free diving in such super deep, and super clear waters — the boundaries (the “ground/field” relationships) of inner space and outer space can get blurred — and regarding that I included a medium format image I took of free diver Kylie Van de Wingarde free diving in deep oceanic water while surrounded by “constellations” of sardine scales which were all that remained after a massive school of dorado fish (aka,”mahi mahi”) and sea lions completely devoured a huge school of Pacific sardines in very short order. They consumed every single sardine, all that was left were millions of shiny, twinkling sardine scales slowly sinking down into the abyss. Those scales looked like underwater stars and the “God rays” of focused sun rays from above reminded me of outer space nebulas.

This image was selected for inclusion in the Monterey Museum of Art “Yugen” show that I did with my friend Ryuijie. I was very happy and honored that a huge print of this image was purchased by the Museum for their permanent collection along with some of my other prints. The MMA really was a nice booster shot for my work and Executive Director, Corey Madden,  and her staff and our curator, Rick Murai, were all wonderful and supportive collaborators.

A pod of California sea lions performs an underwater ballet in the open Pacific Ocean, approximately 15 miles west of Magdelena Bay, Baja California, Mexico © Chuck Davis

A hungry sea lion (with sardine hanging out of his mouth) feeds on a sardine bait ball, approximately 15 miles west of Magdelena Bay, Baja California, Mexico, during the sardine migration. © Chuck Davis

A school of dorado (aka “dolphin fish” or “Mahi Mahi”) and pod of sea lions feed on a sardine bait ball at the ocean surface, approx. 14 miles west of Magdelena Bay in the open Pacific Ocean, Baja Caliifornia, Mexico © Chuck Davis

A sailfish hunts a school of Pacific sardines approximately 15-20 miles west of Magdelena Bay off the west coast of Baja, Mexico duriing the seasonal sardine spawing migration. © Chuck Davis

A pod of California sea lions performs an underwater ballet near the surface of the ocean in the open Pacific, approxmately 15 miles west of Magdelena Bay, Baja California, Mexico, October © Chuck Davis

Two striped marlin hunting a school of Pacific sardines, 15-20 miles seaward of Magdelena Bay, Baja, Mexico, during the seasonal sardine spawning migration. © Chuck Davis

I have made three major trips to the west coast of Baja off Magdelena Bay and am getting ready for a fourth expedition coming up in mid-October.  It took a lot of tenacity to photograph way out off Baja, as some years are more productive photographically than others and it all depends on surface ocean temperatures — last year was the best so far when we free dived with lots of striped marlin, as well as, schools of silky sharks, skipjack, sea lions, and we even had some magical encounters with humpback whales, Brydes’s whales and some huge ocean sunfish or “mola mola’s.”

Mother Humback and Calf © Chuck Davis

I have included an image of a humpback mother and calf that came up from the deep to make contact with me one morning as our day offshore was just beginning and the experience kind of blew  my mind.  As I was breathing up to make a free dive, I glanced down into the abyss and saw what looked like a whale-shaped ghost image rising up below me but as it grew closer I realized it was not a ghost and it was actually a mother humpback and her very large calf (the calf was surely getting close to being weaned).  The two hovered below and stopped swimming and we all just gazed at each other – making contact – and it felt like a wonderful dream -and what was mind-blowing is that I have had a recurring dream of an encounter like this with a great whale and I was always bummed to wake up realizing it was a dream — but I have had it many times and it is based on an experience I had years ago working with right whales in Patagonia off Valdes in Argentina.

But regarding my more recent encounter in Mexican waters, the pair hung with me for about 30 seconds just checking me out and then they slowly drifted back down into the deep and never even surfaced for a breath.  I guess I was finally convinced when I returned home and processed my film in my darkroom and realized, no, this was real!” Chuck Davis

A giant manta ray with a hitchhiking white/light gray remora on its dorsal surfce swims over a volcanic reef at San Benedicto Island, Mexico – this reef is known cleaning station for mana rays — giant manta’s wingspan can reach 20 feet wide and they feed on tiny plantonic creatures and very small fish, © Chuck Davis

A giant manta ray with a hitchhiking white/light gray remora on its dorsal surfce swims over a volcanic reef at San Benedicto Island, Mexico – this reef is known cleaning station for mana rays — giant manta’s wingspan can reach 20 feet wide and they feed on tiny plantonic creatures and very small fish © Chuck Davis

A giant manta ray with a hitchhiking white/light gray remora on its dorsal surfce swims over a volcanic reef at San Benedicto Island, Mexico – this reef is known cleaning station for mana rays — giant manta’s wingspan can reach 20 feet wide and they feed on tiny plantonic creatures and very small fish © Chuck Davis

Thank you Chuck.
To learn more about the work of Chuck Davis please click on his name to visit his page.

Featured Comments

“Incredible! Thank you so much.” Lynda Fay Braun

“These are stunning. Thank you for sharing this work. Kyle Roberts

“Extraordinary, astounding, enthralling work. You are exceptional in every way. Thank you for sharing.”Robynne Limoges

“What a wonderful chance to look into a world I might otherwise never encounter. Thanks to Chuck Davis and Rfotofolio for giving me the opportunity.” Norm Snyder

“I love this work so much! a magical introduction to a world so many of us will never see. Thank you!”