Wetpixel/Under The Jungle Cenote Workshop 2021
Articles
Taiwan to ban shark finning in 2012
Al Jazeera has reported that Taiwan plans to ban the practice of shark finning from the beginning of 2012. The country, which has the fourth largest shark-fishing industry in the world, has passed a new law outlawing the practice of cutting off the fins and throwing the bodies back into the sea in favor of forcing fishermen to land whole shark carcasses. They are the first country in Asia to contemplate such a ban.
The ban has been welcomed by conservationists but they say it does not go far enough.
Cuba to host underwater photography contests
The Cuban News Agency reports that the Canarreos Archipelago area, in southern Cuba, will be host to the Fotosub underwater photography in 2012, and the World Championship in May 2013 according to Cuban tourist authorities. Fotosub will be held at Cayo Largo del Sur according to Jose Miguel Diaz of the Marina Group.
The area has been chosen as it offers good communications and accommodation for the events
Costa Rica names illegal fishing vessels
Underwater Times reports that the Costa Rican authorities have named the fishermen that are primarily responsible for illegal fishing in the Cocos Islands marine protected area. The Minister of the Environment, Rene Castro, has presented the first list of identified vessels that have illegally entering the Cocos Island between January 2010 - September 2011 to Incopesca’s president, Luis Dobles. The list contains 13 repeat offenders, amongst whom the vessel “Albatros” achieves a dubious first place with 23 illegal entries, followed by the vessel “Franju III” with 20 and in third place “Chaday1” with 18. In addition, the Franju S.A. company and its vessels “Franju II” and “Coopepes 20”, is responsible for a total of 24 illegal entries.
The action aims to force the authorities to act to enforce their legislation which, on paper, aims to protect the islands, which are a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
MarineLife Keywords list Cyber Monday week-long sale
To celebrate Cyber Monday, Wetpixel affiliate MarineLife Keywords is 10% off (code 93297G85) from now until Monday 5 December. If you keyword your underwater pictures (or your bird/mammal pictures), Keyword Workflow offers importable keywords lists compatible with Lightroom and Aperture that will make keywording totally painless. Wetpixel Associate Editor Alex Mustard gave the list a test, and concluded that MarineLIfe Keyword List;
“was built for these tasks … I could never give it up. It is often said that time is money. I can’t think of many other products, designed for underwater photographers, which will save you as much time for so little money. A highly recommended purchase.”
Results of the DIVER Beginners Portfolio Competition announced
The results of the annual DIVER Beginners Portfolio Competition have been announced. It is open to anyone who has not won first, second or third in a national or international competition and the voting took place at the monthly British Society of Underwater Photographers (BSoUP) meeting in early November. First place was awarded to Sean Arrowsmith, with Mark Pickford taking second and Andrew McKelvie, third. Congratulations to all the winners.
Full details can be viewed on the BSoUP website.
X-Rite publishes the Camera Raw 6 User Guide
X-Rite has released the English version of Francesco Marzoli’s Camera Raw 6 User’s Guide as a free pdf. The 37-page electronic guidebook covers the development of RAW files and the differences between the various formats such as RAW, JPEG, TIFF, DNG. It also covers the tools in Camera Raw and integrating workflows with Adobe Bridge, in order to enter metadata and to catalog images. Lastly, it give an in-depth review of Camera Raw’s sharpening and color-correction functions.
The free e-book can be downloaded as a pdf.
Canon EF 8-15mm Fisheye featured on Digital Learning Center
The new Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM lens has been featured in an underwater gallery on the Canon Digital Learning Center. Featuring images by and an interview with Wetpixel member Stephen Frink about the whale shark aggregation at Isla Mujeres, Mexico, a shoot in the Georgia Aquarium, and on location in Bonaire, the article outlines the specifics of this lens for underwater use.
Oceans in Focus announces contest winners
The winners of the 2011 Oceans in Focus Contest have been announced. Terry Goss of San Francisco, California, was awarded the Grand-Prize for his image of a blue shark taken off the coast of Rhode Island with a rusted hook protruding from its lower jaw. The shark in this image was caught by a longline fishing vessel, a method of fishing that historically resulted in bycatch of non-target species such as sharks, turtles and seabirds.
Other award winners were Peri Paleracio, George Stoyle and Frank Baensch. Congratulations to them all.