Wetpixel/Under The Jungle Cenote Workshop 2021
Articles
Norbert Wu’s Favorite Images: School of Scalloped Hammerhead Sharks
Norbert Wu presents the next in his series highlighting his favorite images from his career. He takes us to the Cocos Islands in the late 1980s and the large schools of scalloped hammerheads (Sphyrna lewini) that surround the islands. In his article, Norbert bemoans the “new” tradition of shark fin soup an the damage that it is causing to shark populations worldwide.
Video: The Shark Hunters by Madison Stewart
Shark conservationist and campaigner Madison Stewart has recently completed a short film documenting her interviews with shark hunters Mark the Shark of Florida and Vic Hislop of Australia. She notes that although they represent the very public face of an anachronistic activity, they are a part of an industry that continues to harvest sharks in unsustainable numbers and to deny these animal’s right to exist, even when their importance to the ecosystem is well understood.
The UK’s tallest mountain is underwater
Scientists have just returned from a deep sea exploration of four underwater mountains off the west coast of Scotland. The survey is known as The Deep Links project and is a collaboration between Plymouth University, the University of Oxford, the Joint Nature Conservation Committee and the British Geological Survey. What they found was an underwater realm teaming with life and many species that have yet to be scientifically described.
Greenland sharks live for over 270 years
Science reports on a new paper cataloging the longevity of Greenland sharks (Somniosus microcephalus). Danish scientists have used the presence of carbon 14 caused by the atom bomb testing on the 1960s to generate a growth curve and radiocarbon dating of eye lens nuclei from 28 female Greenland sharks to reveal that they have a life span of at least 272 years. It is conjectured that some individuals may be 400 years old.
Nauticam ships housing for Canon G7X Mark II
Nauticam are shipping their housing for the Canon PowerShot G7X Mark II compact camera. The NA-G7XMKII features the N50 port system of interchangeable ports, a two-stage shutter release and ships with stiffening handle brackets and shutter release extension for use with Nauticam’s optional Flexitrays.
Freeze Frame: Electricity
In this month’s Freeze Frame, award winning underwater filmmaker Evan Sherman discusses how simple tools can safeguard vulnerable camera or equipment electronics. He notes that without power, all our sophisticated imaging equipment is rendered pretty much useless.
Study published on why humpbacks protect other mammals from Orca predation
In a recent study published in Marine Mammal Science, scientists analyzed the somewhat puzzling behavior of humpback whales to protect other species from killer whales. The study focused on 115 specific instances where humpbacks interfered in orcas attacking other animals. Without any obvious benefit to the humpbacks resulting from protecting other animals, the scientists said they could not rule out altruistic intentions on the part of the humpback whales.
Sea& Sea announces housing for Sony a6300
Sea&Sea has announced their MDX housing for the Sony A6300 mirrorless cameras. The camera’s LCD can be tilted up to 180° and used with an optional monitor hood if required. The housing also offers two accessory ports, an external port lock and is compatible with both NX and ML ports (the former requires an adaptor ring).