Hinewai Reserve
We drove down to Akaroa, on the Banks Peninsula near Christchurch, the other weekend. It's a neat little village nestled into a huge volcanic crater, which also happens to be one of the top marine...
Field Notes
Photography notes, travel stories, and observations from the field.
Aerial Ocean Wildlife Photography
This is a niche topic covering photography notes from 15 helicopter flights as a marine biologist guide and photographer with South Pacific Helicopters...
Komodo Diving and Photography Trip – 2025
Komodo is one of my favourite tropical dive destinations, so I was really excited to get back there – I hadn't been since 2023. Must be making some poor life choices.
Underwater Photography Gear for Komodo
This was a trip focused on manta and sea turtle photo ID research, and I was hosting a diving and snorkelling trip, so I expected mostly wide-angle sites—not muck diving that would need a full macro...
Dive Gear for Komodo – 2025
I wanted to record notes on the dive gear I used on this trip so I can create a gear reference for diving in Komodo. I also plan to make a regularly updated gear page on my website (simonjps.
Travel Tech Gear for Dive Trips
I travel a lot for work, so I've gradually refined my travel setup over the years. Here's what's currently working for me.
What's in my (wildlife photography) bag?
Sony New Zealand requested I contribute a gear article for wildlife photography. I'm currently updating that list for 2025 so, if you stumble across this page, check back soon...
My Precious…
Our new (to us, I bought it used) camera arrived in the post today – a Sony A7R IV. Mads has been threatening to get into underwater photography, and last year a used...
Still alive. (Again.)
Been neglecting the updates over here, but I'll get back onto it. I was able to do my first big post-plague trip, back to the Galapagos Islands, over July–Aug.
A Wildlife Photographer's Guide to the Sony 135 f/1.8 GM Lens
I was able to beg & borrow, though unsuccessfully steal, a drool-worthy Sony 135 mm f/1.8 lens for our South Island NZ trip earlier this year.
Some Thoughts on Marine Wildlife Tourism
I was invited to share perspectives on responsible marine wildlife tourism for a Condé Nast Traveler article titled "[How to Responsibly Interact with Marine...
The Birds of Eagleby Wetlands
On the way back to Brisbane from Binna Burra (see that article here), Mads and I stopped off at Eagleby Wetlands based on a passin
Wildlife-Watching at Binna Burra
We were able to get up to Binna Burra in Lamington National Park, southeast Queensland, for a couple of nights at the start of the month.
New Podcast: Whale Sharks, with Me
I was invited to come onto the Scuba Goat Podcast to talk 'at' the host, Matt Waters, about whale sharks last week, providing me with an excellent opportunity to pontificate at length about my...
Ocean Giants – Interview Workflow
Hopefully, you've all seen MMF's wonderful Ocean Giants magazine by now. I've been happy with our first two issues, but I'm planning to change it up a bit for...
Ambling in Arakwal
Arakwal National Park, fringing Tallows Beach on the southern edge of Byron Bay, is a really nice spot to flip-flop about for a spot of golden hour wildlife photography.
Shark Photo-Identification: A How-To Guide (2021 Edition)
This article documents my photo-identification research on wobbegong shark populations at Julian Rocks, Byron Bay, Australia, conducted as a collaborative project between Sundive Research and the Marine Megafauna Foundation.
Revered Reefs: Tubbataha, Philippines
South Atoll, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park (drone photograph taken under permit with LAMAVE)
Double Leopards!
My friend 'Wildlife' Josh Guyan has written up a lovely piece on an epic encounter we had while travelling around Kruger National Park in South Africa together: [Behind the Shot: Double Leopards...
Rugs of Doom: wobbegong sharks eat big stuff
Banded wobbegong eating an ornate wobbegong. Photo © Loren Mariani via iNaturalist.org.
Still alive
Hi!