Oceangrant Images

more manatees on getty images

Fri, 16 Apr 2010 00:16:01 -0400

Manatees are in the news a lot these days, and will be in the news even more as the year progresses and we see how large the toll taken on our manatee was in early 2010. The unprecedented cold Florida winter temperatures took many of our beloved manatee’s lives.

Getty Images just licensed a few more of my manatee photographs, all in their exclusive “Rights-Managed” category. The photographs should do well as the year progresses and quality manatee photographs are more and more in demand. I think they all resonate “hope”, which is a good thing!

Here are some more that were just added
(See my whole collection on Getty Images - Carol Grant - Here)

Little Boy Blue Manatee

Miss Whiskers - A Young Manatee - Looks For Something To Do

Early One Morning - Two Manatee Socialize

upside-down manatees

Thu, 8 Apr 2010 01:22:04 -0400

Manatees are endearing, there is no doubt about that. But, when they swim or relax in an “upside-down” orientation, I think I enjoy them even more! Here are a few of my upside-down Favs!

Manatee usually swim right-side up, so when I saw this female manatee rolling around, swimming upside-down and seeming to admire her reflection on the water's surface, thoughts came to me of a playful female siren. Is this what early explorers of Florida mistook for a mermaid? She's certainly an enchanting mermaid in my eyes! I was pleased to be able to capture this lighthearted sirenian behavior, especially in a tough year when we lost so many manatee due to the extreme cold temperatures.

Here she is again. Get the idea of early explorers mistaking her for a lovely mermaid? ;-)

Here is a male manatee relaxin’ by a spring. It is usually the males that will sometimes sleep on their backs like this; lettin’ it all hang out...

My manatee photos now on getty images

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 19:35:28 -0500

Manatees are truly endearing creatures, but this cold winter in particular, has kept them in the news constantly. In fact, I suspect their story will be more and more poignant as the year progresses and it is really seen the toll that the record-breaking cold weather has taken on our endangered manatee populations.

The above photograph became really popular on my Flickr Gallery, as of today with over 27,000 views, 2,077 Favorites and 629 comments, so I knew it would be in demand. Here is just one of the 629 comments about this photograph (I was deeply touched)

“There is more hunger for love and appreciation in this world than for bread. Let me be another person to appreciate this photo. I simply love this.
yshaincebu.wordpress.com”

This was the main reason I took the chance to accept Getty Images invitation and license this photograph and some of my other manatee images on Getty Images - see them here. Florida manatees will be in the news, around the world, for some time and besides a few photographs from organizations like National Geographic, Getty really didn’t have many excellent manatee images. And since they asked for my best mother and calf manatee photographs especially, I noticed they had almost nothing good in that category.

Getty asked for nine of my images to start with, but I could only license eight to them as they wanted to license the Grand Prize Winner of the Nature Conservancy Contest, but it is going to be printed in a million++ copies of the 2011 Nature Conservancy Calendar and that will, most-likely, conflict with Getty’s licensing. No problem though, because now I’m free to offer prints of that award-winning image and those requests will come after millions of people see that unique image (in fact, the orders have already started and I’m working on getting the print set up for printing at Pictopia.com as we speak. Pictopia’s unrivaled printing quality is used by National Geographic to fulfill print orders among many other noteworthy publications.)

It might be some time till the images on Getty will have the correct keywords to show up in searches for “manatee” etc., but I think they will do quite well [update-Getty is very prompt and my images come up in a “manatee” keyword search now; compare them with images in the same licensing category]. I hope to offer them some more manatee images at some time as I feel, again with manatees so much in the news, that those photographs will be very much in demand. Plus, I have the only good photographs of a newborn baby manatee (hours-old, confirmed by researchers) and other unique aspects to my best manatee images.

Want a manatee image on your website or to help your educational cause? Not to worry, I will still try to help as best I can. I have to be careful now though, as I’ve found out my manatee photographs are pretty valuable! Still, this past week I licensed four manatee images to Project Dragonfly for an educational kiosk, I believe at the Columbus Zoo’s Manatee Exhibit and I also licensed an image to a Professor of Engineering that is publishing a book with a chapter on a light phenomena called “Snell’s window” (here is a web definition of it). I had an image of a manatee swimming into “Snell’s window” and this professor just had to have that image! I guess it isn’t something his colleagues have, a manatee swimming into “Snell’s window” and my fellow underwater photographers will certainly be most impressed (and maybe quite jealous ;-)...) when I tell them one of my photographs is in an engineering publication!

I’ll provide information on both these exciting projects and more, as I get feedback. Then there are the images on Getty and setting up my contest-winning photograph for print sales. Plus, the great thing is I have lots and lots more manatee photographs in the wings! ;-)

Busy, Busy, Best, Carol

manatee calves is curiosity their middle name?

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 18:31:46 -0500

Curious, I think that is a word that can be applied to virtually any little manatee! Manatees in general like to investigate most everything in their environment, but manatee calves are particularly curious and it is one of their most endearing features! Mom usually quells most “over-curiousness” but, even she knows that her baby needs to know about the things in its environment. Also, sometimes I think manatee moms are just too “beat” to argue with their offspring - possibly that situation will sound familiar to some human parents? ;-)

Here is the little boy coming in for a closer look. Mom is resting, while floating and catching a breath; the bream that are gathering around her don’t seem to bother her rest too much. Sunfish (bream) pick at bits off the manatee and while it is unclear if there is any benefit to the manatee (I think not) the little bream aren’t too irritating in this case.

I photographed this charismatic duo on Monday, March 8th, before our strong spout of bad weather arrived. Best, Carol

Grand Prize Winner Nature Conservancy Photo Contest

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:36:34 -0500

Looks like I’ve been a bit remiss on my blog here; about a month ago this photograph won the Grand Prize in the Nature Conservancy Photo Contest, link here.

To make up for it I’ll give you all a “sneak peak” on what my copy will say, below my photograph (in fact, Dr. Bob Bonde really liked what I wrote; I ran it by him first)

Also, you know they print over a million of these calendars. So, if three people look at each calendar - uh, that’s sure a lot of manatee conservation!!!

It will say:

Photographer: Carol Grant
Photo Location: Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River, Florida.

“My plan was to wait for the right moment and be very still at a spot in the springs where the lovely light rays sometimes penetrate the clear, blue water. On this cold winter day, the manatee also knew where the perfect spot would be for a warm bask in the sunlight. I was thrilled to capture this moment and convey how important these natural warm spring wintering sites are for the manatee’s survival. Preserving amazing underwater life for our children to enjoy is a top priority for me, and my biggest passion is helping the Florida manatee. I applaud The Nature Conservancy for playing a key role in effective efforts to save this endearing, but endangered, marine mammal.”

OK, so I’ve traded everyone a peak - for me being so swamped I forgot to post.... Best, Carol

Baby Manatee Itch Itch scratch scratch

Thu, 11 Mar 2010 22:28:53 -0500

Baby manatee are just downright adorable, there is no doubting that! Although born with smooth skin (see this photo of the newborn, hours-old infant I named Angel, below) it can change.

After their smooth skin infant phase, sometimes they develop various patches or even continuous “bumpiness” that can be very *itchy* for the little ones. Some of the skin conditions are possibly brought on by a kind of virus, but some develop based on what type of water the young manatee spends its first weeks in and may even be made a little worse in fresh water.

Regardless, certain little manatees have very very itchy skin and will go to great lengths to learn how to maneuver their little flippers to scratch themselves. That’s what the little manatee at the top of the page is doing: scratch scratch, rub rub.... Of course, as his proud mom looks on, she seems delighted with his new-found skill!

Here is another manatee calf, who is a little older, rubbing his tummy. I ask you, could anything possibly be cuter? ;-)

Yes, in case you have noticed, these images are from last year and a couple of years before. I do have many brand new manatee photographs currently, be assured, but I’ve been so swamped (I think that is an appropriate word...) that I haven’t been able to sort them yet. In addition my manatee photographs have been more in demand for licensing in various projects: from a manatee conservation kiosk in the Columbus Zoo to an Engineering textbook on a light phenomena known as “Snell’s Window”. So, things are exciting to say the least and there will be many more manatee images to come - too many to count!! Best, Carol

Florida cold affects us all including mother manatee

Wed, 3 Mar 2010 23:16:01 -0500

With the current unseasonably cold temperatures continuing into March now, I think about the pregnant manatee I’ve seen recently and wonder how they are doing and how their calves are faring? Two years ago, on February 29, 2008, during a milder bout of unseasonable cold, I witnessed this newborn male manatee. I named him “Angel” after someone I met at Crystal River and it was such a rare and extraordinary event that I will never forget! I even made a slideshow about it, you can access it in My Oceangrant Gallery Here

For my Florida Master Naturalist Class
I’m doing two presentations about “Little Manatees” as our class in on the Little Manatee River in Ruskin, Florida. My Keynote Presentation is called “Angel the Newborn Manatee” and I will be covering the fascinating behaviors noted, environmental factors that contributed to his being born in an area crowded with other manatees and challenges faced when mother manatee are forced to give birth in very cold conditions.

So, remember our soon-to-be mother and baby manatees in your thoughts, and by all means think warm thoughts! The unusual Florida cold affects us all!
Carol

Little boy blue manatee

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 19:33:25 -0500

Despite all the cold weather during Florida’s record breaking cold-snap in the first part of January 2010, it is warming now and there is a lot of hope!

This little boy manatee has quickly turned out to be one of most popular images on my Flickr Photostream, despite it just being posted a couple of days ago. I know why though, as he is just so engaging and *cute*! Plus, we think he was orphaned some time ago and probably has been adopted, see how plump and rotund he is, while basking in the warm waters his favorite spring at the Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River, Florida?

This photograph gives me tons of hope! Save this incredible spring complex for our and the manatees’ future.

Best, Carol

Finalist in the 2009 Nature conservancy photo contest

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 19:07:38 -0500

One of my favorite manatee photographs is among the fifteen finalists for “Best Nature Photograph” in the 2009 Nature Conservancy Photo Contest.

Of course I’m very pleased, but primarily, I wanted to get this photograph into the 2011 Nature Conservancy Calendar. It has a huge distribution and it will help the cause to save one of the last remaining natural spring wintering sites for the Florida manatee - Three Sisters Spring, Crystal River.

This photograph was taken in one of the Three Sisters Springs when a number of unusual factors came together including: manatee, incredible light, clear spring water and even a little sunfish who seemed to want to be part of this composition too! ;-)

The Nature Conservancy is accepting votes to help decide the winner also. You can vote here:
Nature Conservancy Best Nature Photo Voting

Best, Carol

Manatee huddled for warmth during record Florida cold snap

Sun, 17 Jan 2010 17:48:27 -0500

During the fist half of 2010, Florida experienced a record-breaking cold-spell with some areas experiencing twelve days or more of subfreezing temperatures.

These manatees are huddled together and sometimes on top of each other for warmth, near the Three Sisters Springs, Crystal River, Florida. This photograph was taken during the afternoon of January 5th when the daytime temperature was in the low 40s F, with wind chill into the low 30s, even with abundant sunshine! Days in a row of these low temperatures is highly unusual for Florida and becomes a danger to our wildlife, fish and crops, including our Florida manatee.

It was very difficult to convey the amount of manatees that were gathering to stay warm as they are large creatures, averaging 8 to 10 feet or more in length. I do feel this particular photograph shows their numbers, as you gaze into it there are just more and more manatee, they seem to never end.... I took this photograph while quietly perched on a boulder with my underwater housing in the water. The manatees didn’t even notice my presence as most all their energy was spent trying to rest in the warmest water they could find. Yes, the spring heads are 72 degrees but the surrounding water can cool dramatically; manatee get cold-stress with water temperatures below 68 degrees. I also wonder if the extremely low air temperature affects manatee when they breathe, like it does us? Possibly, it is not only the colder water that effects manatee adversely but also breathing in unusually cold air temperatures over a prolonged period of time?

Although, don’t worry about the manatee too much as they are hardy souls! Plus, manatee are very well looked after at Crystal River. When the water level rose this afternoon, soon after this photo was taken, they were able to find more warm water and spread out for the night.

A couple of days after this unprecedented gathering of manatee here, there was a news release issued warning against unnecessary action near the Three Sisters Spring area, since so many manatee had gathered and needed to rest, stay warm and conserve energy. Here is an article regarding that:
Manatees Find Warm Waters During Cold Snap
UPI.com

Now on January 17th, all my windows at my house are open at 7 p.m. at night! It is a warm 64 degrees, and hopefully this major cold event will become a distant memory to all affected by it in Florida; including our beloved manatee.
Best, Carol

My Most Popular Flickr Photograph

Tue, 29 Dec 2009 06:33:03 -0500

I’ve only had photographs posted on Flickr since July of 2009 and I confess I still haven’t figured much about the *right* and *wrong* ways to post to Flickr. And even though this manatee photograph hasn’t made the interesting Flickr “Explore” page either, somehow it took off precisely on December 15th or 16th; barely two weeks ago. Plus, I didn’t even have this photograph in many of the Flickr community “pools” either then?

Fascinating, that is how it strikes me, that one photograph can *take-off* and seemingly speak to many people from different backgrounds. Underwater photographs are often compartmented in limited communities that fully understand that specific photographic discipline. But, this photograph seems to be one that has crossed the boundaries; it seems to speak broadly. I’m also looking forward to seeing how this particular photograph prints on different media.

Although, before I get too pleased I do know that friends of mine have received over 50,000 views for one, underwater, Flickr photograph! I still have a long way to go. ;-)

If you find Flickr *stats* interesting here are a couple of links below, about this photo - Oh, and by-the-way this IS one of my all-time Fav manatee moments captured in this photograph! Mom and her son I named “Torpedo”, due to his dexterity at swimming amongst many manatee, were the perfect synchronized pair. The biggest problem I had taking this photograph was swimming backwards as they approached, to keep them in the frame. ;-) Manatee can be exceedingly curious! Best, Carol

OK, links for the Flickr *stat geeks*:
Flickr Page for this photo: Manatee_Next_Generation_1

Stats for Manatee_Next_Generation_1

V is for a VERY Happy New Year!

Fri, 25 Dec 2009 08:00:29 -0500

Whatever this breaching male humpback whale is saying, I think we can agree he is definitely making a statement about his existence! (And, I think his *Right* to exist and survive!)

Is the “V” for Vava’u, Tonga, where I encountered him?

Or is the “V” for a VERY Happy New Year?

Or is this magnificent male humpback whale just being absolutely what he is, an incredibly powerful master of his ocean domain?

But, in this case since I took this photograph, I’ll just say:

“V” is for a VERY Happy New Year for ALL!
(including this whale from the Southern Ocean! Stop the senseless whaling now!)

Best, Carol