Seal Bay photoshoot

Seal Bay is located on the coast of Kangaroo Island overlooking the body of water known in Australia as the Southern Ocean and by international authorities as the Great Australian Bight. It is located about 50 kilometers (31 miles) south of the Kingscote. Seal Bay Conservation Park is dedicated to the study and protection of the Australian Sea Lion. Seal Bay is the only place where you can take a guided tour on the beach and walk near the Australian Sea Lion. 

The Australian Sea Lion is an endangered species with a population that is still decreasing.  In the 19th century, both fur seals and Australian sea lions were hunted for their hides. During the 20th century, seals were sometimes culled on the assumption that they were competing with fishermen. It wasn’t until 2018 that seal hunting became illegal.  Sea Bay became a natural safe zone for Sea Lions due to the topography of the coastline. Ships could not land at Sea Bay and this kept the Sea Lions safe.  Unfortunately, the population of Australian Sea Lions has dropped to the point of near extinction.  

Male Australian Sea-lions are between 200-250 cm long (80 in- 98in), weigh 250-300kg (551 lbs – 660 lbs), and are dark blackish brown with a mane of long coarse hairs.

(Super Color Infrared at 590nm)

Females are 130-180cm (51 in – 71 in) long, weigh 70-100kg (154 lbs – 220 lbs), and are silvery grey in color on their backs and creamy yellow fading to brown on their bellies.

(Super Color Infrared at 590nm)

Pups are 62-68 cm long at birth, weigh 6.4-7.9 kg (14 lbs – 18 lbs), and are chocolate brown with a pale fawn crown until they molt at two months to a juvenile coat similar to an adult female.

(Super Color Infrared at 590nm)

For my shoot at Seal Bay, I used a Full-spectrum converted Canon R5.  I brought several different lenses but found I needed the RF 100-400mm the most.  To protect the Sea Lions you must maintain a distance of about 10 yards.  As for filters, I carried 4 of the Lifepixel magnetic filters, Bandpass, 720nm (Standard IR), 590nm (Super Color), & 470nm (Hyper Color).  In the end, I found I liked the Super Color images the best as they made the Sea Lions stand out more than natural color images did.

When you first arrive on the beach, it looks like the day after that college party you can only remember parts of.  There are passed-out Sea Lions everywhere.

(Natural color image)

(Super Color Infrared at 590nm)

The is a reason for that.  When the Female Sea Lion goes out to sea to hunt, they stay out for 3 days, hunting and does not sleep.  When they return they nurse their young and sleep, usually for 3 days.  Then the process starts over again.  Because they know Sea Bay is a safe zone, they can just flop down where ever they please and crash out.

One of the first things I noticed is how similar Sea Lions are to dogs.  Perhaps that’s because I am a dog person, but they reminded me of sleeping puppies. 

(Super Color Infrared at 590nm)

(Super Color Infrared at 590nm)

(Super Color Infrared at 590nm)

 

This image made me think of my dog when she’s crashed out at home.

 

For the most part, shooting was easy as the Sea Lions were sleeping and do not see people as being a concern as we stayed away.  

When you get to the beach there is a scenario you will see play out repeatedly.  The juvenile will wake from sleep and start searching for its mother.  

(Super Color Infrared at 590nm) 

 

 If the mother is still out hunting, the juvenile may decide to swim, nap with other juveniles or even play fight.

(Standard IR at 720nm)

(Super Color Infrared at 590nm)

After observing for a while I noticed a repeated cycle that looked like kissing.  It turns out we aren’t the only ones that think Sea Lions look alike.  Apparently, they do as well.  They have a system for identification, their breath.

As the mother approaches the juvenile, or the other way around, they lean forward and breathe on each other.

Here’s an example.

The mother and juvenile touch noses and exchange breaths. The next image says it all.

The juvenile is happy it found Mom!

While I was on Kangaroo Island I had the opportunity to visit Seal Bay four times. My favorite image from the shoots is a Super Color image of a young juvenile sleeping.  In order to get it the way I wanted, I had to get the angle just right.  In the end, I  just laid on the sand and got it. 

Here it is.

That sweet, innocent face just melted my heart.

I ended up with quite a few images, and as of this writing, I have not gone thru all of them.  If you’d like to see the rest, just click here