I often get asked how many shots I take during a single dive. Instead of fumbling around with words, I decided to thumbnail and present every image I captured during a dive last week at a site called Horshu II near Rabaul, Papua New Guinea. On this particular dive, I snapped off 84 frames while using a Tokina 17mm lens on my Seacam-housed Canon 1Ds Mk II.
The latest DiveFilm Podcast Video, Episode 32 - “Humpback Whales of Tonga” by Wetpixel member and DiveFilm.com producer Mary Lynn Price is now live! The video features footage by Price, Chuck Nicklin, Roger Norman, and Steve Perez, and provides reflections on the current attitudes towards the Tonga whales.
In case you missed it, be sure to also check out DiveFilm Podcast Video Episode 31 - “Hawaiian Showers” by Bryce Groark, which captures a variety of cleaning behavior among Hawaiian reef animals and was an official selection at the 2006 San Diego UnderSea Film Exhibition.
You can get to the podcast on iTunes directly by clicking here (if you have iTunes version 4.9 of higher on your computer), or by browsing to the Video Podcasts. DiveFilm Podcast Video is produced in association with Wetpixel.com.
Wetpixel member Raimundo Fernández (Rai) has started a discussion detailing the results from his Canon 400D and the new Tokina 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 DX zoom fisheye lens, which will soon be released in the US.
Raimundo includes both land-based and underwater examples, and the images are encouraging. This lens will be of most benefit to cropped-sensor Canon users, who until this point, had no suitable option to approach a 180° field of view.
Provide feedback for Raimundo’s efforts or discuss the advantages and disadvantages of zoom versus prime fisheye lenses in the forums...
Recently, Karin Brussaard drafted an overview of the Olympus E-300 used in conjunction with UK-Germany’s UK-D-E300.
Explaining that the housing is compact and therefore “pleasant to work with” (not to mention travel with), Brussard walks readers through the operating buttons, the viewfinder, the lens system, and more. Although Brussaard reckons the small viewfinder and the high price may keep some users away, she concludes that the operating buttons and the compact nature of the housing will appeal to many others.
Want to stick with the manufacturer? Olympus makes its own housing, the PT-E01.
Wetpixel sponsor Backscatter was able to obtain a sneak peek of the upcoming Light & Motion Titan D200.
The housing features adjustable grips, magnetic command dials, an optional magnified viewfinder, sealed and user-replaceable electronics, and the return of the much-loved ROC strobe control allowing independent adjustment of strobe power.
Light & Motion is scheduled to unveil the housing this week at DEMA, but if you can’t wait that long, check out the image-intensive preview...
With DEMA just next week, many manufacturers are preparing new video housings to be announced at the show. Wetpixel gives you a sneak preview of what is coming in housings and accessories before DEMA.
We will be covering DEMA “live” with updates straight from the convention center in Orlando. This year’s DEMA promises to be a great one for HD shooters, with a plethora of new housings to fit new cameras and some very useful accessories as well.
A new report by American and Canadian researchers published in the journal Science predicts the loss of all fish and seafood species by 2048. The data collected strengthens the link between protection being granted to ocean areas and the recovery of fish species:
Experiments performed in small, relatively contained ecosystems show that reductions in diversity tend to bring reductions in the size and robustness of local fish stocks. This implies that loss of biodiversity is driving the declines in fish stocks seen in the large-scale studies.
Data from areas where fishing has been banned or heavily restricted show that protection brings back biodiversity within the zone, and restores populations of fish just outside.
It is never too late to try to change the current policies on (over)fishing. Respond to the news and propose solutions in the forums...
Underwater Photography Magazine Issue 33 is available to download for free. This issue contains amazing images of swimming elephants taken by famous wildlife photographer Steve Bloom, who is also interviewed on his first experiences of underwater photography. The issue also contains review, technique, location, equipment and marine life articles by Peter Rowlands, Mark Webster, Michael Aw, Tim Rock and me (Alex Mustard). The magazine also features the latest news and new products in the world of underwater photography.
Jason Heller of DivePhotoGuide.com had the opportunity to travel to Antibes, France for the 2006 Festival Mondial de l’Image Sous-Marine (World Festival of Underwater Pictures).
Between promoting the upcoming joint DivePhotoGuide.com and Wetpixel Our World Underwater Competitions and viewing the excellent photo and video submissions, Jason managed to provide coverage of each day of the festival, including the gala awards ceremony for the winning entries.
Continue to Jason’s report for an in-depth look at the event, and be sure to discuss the results and congratulate some of the winners in the ongoing Antibes discussion in the forums…
The Ocean Realm Society will lead an email campaign opposing the business practice of the online trader Alibaba.com allowing the posting of shark parts wanted for purchase.
Alibaba.com, a China based company, lists 335 companies selling 169 shark related products online globally. This adds to the already very stressed shark population as demand rises.
Please help by lending your support to the cause. You can find out more here.