One of the many unexpected benefits of drone photography is to create a sense of 3D depth by catching shadows in new ways. If you have some of this very clear water, then you can often see shadows that you can’t normally see from the shore. I also like how you can get up a little higher and get the kayak in the middle of a minimalist background, rather than having it be mixed up with the horizon.

Kayaking with a Shadow

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2018-01-10 12:57:58
• CameraFC220
• Camera MakeDJI
• Exposure Time1/4000
• Aperture2.2
• ISO100
• Focal Length4.7 mm
• FlashNo flash function
• Exposure ProgramProgram AE
• Exposure Bias-0.656

I often go into nerd mode when I’m hanging out with people who don’t know a lot (or care a lot) about the names of different sorts of light. These are the sorts of things that photographers know, I suppose. Anyway, this is called “crepuscular” light, and when I point this out to people, they are either interested because it’s a cool word, or they really really don’t care and tell me to stop being such a geek.

Crepuscular Light

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2017-01-13 06:56:35
• CameraILCE-7RM2
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1/250
• Aperture7.1
• ISO100
• Focal Length184.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramAperture-priority AE
• Exposure Bias+1.3

Besides lurking around and hanging out with famous chefs, most of my time at the Cayman Cookout was taking photos of all the amazing things happening all the time. The water here was nice and warm and people would hang out in there all day long, floating around, sipping cocktails, and so on. I captured this cool couple out on one of the floating structures just off the beach.

Relaxing in the Ocean at the Grand Cayman Cookout

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2018-01-13 11:42:21
• CameraILCE-7RM3
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1/2000
• Aperture4
• ISO100
• Focal Length91.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramManual
• Exposure Bias

On one of the days of the Cayman Cookout event, there are about 12 different “booths” set up where they make their absolute best meal from their country. It’s incredible and you get absolutely filled up with every possible food… then you have to go take a nap for a while because it’s almost impossible to move!

Touring the World at the Cayman Cookout

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2020-07-08 14:07:08
• Camera
• Camera Make
• Exposure Time
• Aperture
• ISO
• Focal Length
• Flash
• Exposure Program
• Exposure Bias

Man I still can’t figure out why Bourdain committed suicide. I have a theory on it, but it’s just a working theory. Maybe I’ll talk about it on an upcoming show I do with Gino Barassa. We both got to hang out with him on the Cayman Islands. I got a lot of very nice emails from friends after his passing. That was very nice… but it wasn’t like I was best friends with Anthony or anything. We just kinda hung out, like he does with a lot of people. Also, I wasn’t too surprised his net worth after passing was less than $2 million. I think many people reach a point where they are not materialistic (I’m certainly that way), so he saw no need to hoard a lot of cash and assets.

As far as the suicide, I know the press is saying that he was infatuated with his girlfriend and something went awry there that caused the suicide. But I don’t subscribe to that theory because that happens all the time to millions of people around the world, and they rarely result in suicide, especially for intellectuals. So, I’ll share my theory as soon as it matures a little.

Anyway, here’s my last photo of Tony.

Sorry to see this guy go

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2020-07-08 18:07:30
• Camera
• Camera Make
• Exposure Time
• Aperture
• ISO
• Focal Length
• Flash
• Exposure Program
• Exposure Bias

Every year at the Cayman Cookout, these two guys battle it out in the kitchen and on the petanque court. It’s always a fun time to watch these guys go at it. They take it seriously. This is a French game of course, and all the French there will do anything to keep Bourdain from winning. I actually need to look up the rules. I think it’s a little like bolle ball, but maybe the only difference is you hold a baguette.

Anthony Bourdain and Eric Ripert playing petanque

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2018-01-15 11:06:01
• CameraILCE-7RM3
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1/200
• Aperture4
• ISO320
• Focal Length105.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramManual
• Exposure Bias

Here on Grand Cayman the weather was unbelievable! Some days the sun got a little bit hot, but the water was only a few sweet steps away. I never ended up kayaking, but it was always on my list. Now, looking at this photo, I can’t remember exactly why I never went out for the kayak ride! I was probably to busy stuffing my face and drinking.

Kayaks Waiting for Action

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2018-01-11 05:14:25
• CameraILCE-7RM3
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1/800
• Aperture7.1
• ISO160
• Focal Length24.0 mm
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramManual
• Exposure Bias

While at the Grand Cayman Cookout, during the Beach Bash, things got crazy as soon as this guy showed up at the beach. Wow, this was really hard to photograph, so I am glad I put on the 50mm F/0.95 to capture this… This is the same lens I showed off two days ago with the photo of Tane the Tiger!

Rocket Man at Night

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2018-01-13 14:07:56
• CameraILCE-7RM3
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1/50
• Aperture
• ISO3200
• Focal Length
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramManual
• Exposure Bias

What a great day out here in the shallows inside the lagoon of Grand Cayman Island. This is another photo I took with the Mavic! This thing is rock solid in the daytime and with a bit of wind. I will tell you that landing on the catamaran was Very Difficult. I’ve landed on lots of boats, and each time it takes 200% of my concentration!

The Phantom series of quads are much easier to catch because they have more pronounced legs. So, it’s easier for a friend (or yourself with one hand) to reach up and grab it. With the Mavic, you only have about half a finger’s worth of room before you hit the blades.

Swimming with the Stingrays!

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2018-01-13 10:06:28
• CameraFC220
• Camera MakeDJI
• Exposure Time1/2300
• Aperture2.2
• ISO100
• Focal Length4.7 mm
• FlashNo flash function
• Exposure ProgramProgram AE
• Exposure Bias

I was walking out of taking photos of one of the cooking classes on the beach and I saw these two gentlemen chilling out. There was this gauzy sheet behind them that made them look super-epic. So I just had to stop for a quick photo.

Security at the Cayman Cookout

Photo Information

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• Date Taken2018-01-13 09:15:18
• CameraILCE-7RM3
• Camera MakeSony
• Exposure Time1/5000
• Aperture
• ISO100
• Focal Length
• FlashOff, Did not fire
• Exposure ProgramManual
• Exposure Bias