Articles
GoAskErin on white balance
Backscatter Photo and Video have been publishing Lightroom guru Erin Quigley’s tutorials on their site. One of the recent posts features a tutorial dealing with correcting the white balance in an otherwise lovely image of a manta overhead. In the tutorial, Erin also shows a few other tools:
National Geographic interviews Kenji Yamaguchi
National Geographic has posted an interview with Kenji Yamaguchi in their PROOF feature. Many photographers will not be familiar with his name, but he has played a crucial role in many of the iconic wildlife images of our time. Originally sent 32 years ago by Nikon to National Geographic to train the original technician, Yamaguchi has been repairing, modifying and creating the equipment used by National Geographic shooters in the field. (Image from Shutterstock).
Aquatica offers TTL control of Ikelite strobes
Ikelite and Aquatica have announced that the former’s internal TTL strobe circuitry will be available on certain Aquatica housings going forward. This will allow TTL control of Ikelite’s DS series strobes with Aquatica housing, with the latter’s housing for the Canon EOS 7D Mark II being the first to offer this option. Ikelite’s DS series strobes have warm color temperatures that many photographers find pleasing for wide-angle photography.
Test: Optical performance of Nikonos 15mm, flat and dome ports
Inventor, manufacturer and filmmaker Pawel Achtel shares his tests of the performance of cinema lenses behind flat and dome ports as well as the use of the Nikonos 15mm wide-angle lens. They were tested using a RED Epic camera in 5K mode, shooting Spatial Frequency Response charts underwater with the camera held in a rigid frame to ensure repeatable results.
Typhoon Hagupit slams into the Philippines
As I write, super Typhoon Hagupit is finding landfall on the eastern coast of the Philippines. It is expected that the accompanying 120mph winds and storm surge are likely to wreak destruction to areas that are still recovering from the devastation wrought by Typhoon Haiyan a year ago. The authorities seem much better prepared this time, and it is hoped that the terrible loss of life that occurred last year will be avoided. Nevertheless, it is inevitable that there will be significant disruption and damage to properties. The Wetpixel community fervently hopes that if you are in the path of the storm, you and your loved ones are in a place of safety and that the the damage to your property and businesses is as limited as possible. You are in our thoughts and prayers.
A failure to evolve may cause the Charles Darwin research station to go extinct
In an unusual twist of fate, the famed Charles Darwin Research Station of the Galapagos Islands may close by the end of the year due to failure to adapt with the times. The legacy of the research station may rest in the hands of donors as the lab is asking for nearly one million dollars in donations prior to the end of the year. Scientists claim the closure of the gift shop left them in this dire predicament.
Seals use acoustic tags to hunt more efficiently
Howard Hall commented here on Wetpixel about the proliferation of tags that are festooning some marine animals and the potential negative effects that these may have on the animals that the studiers seek to understand. A paper published recently in the Proceedings of the Royal Society B entitled Grey Seals use anthropogenic signals from acoustic tags to locate fish shows how grey seals (Halichoerus grypus) have learnt to use the signals emitted by fish tags as an aid to hunting more efficiently.
Keldan ships their Video 8X light
Keldan is now shipping their Video 8X light. Featuring a 10,000 lumen output and a new dome and lens unit, the light will burn for 42 minutes at full power. It has a 90° beam angle (in water) and a CRI of 82 at 5,000°K.