Wetpixel/Under The Jungle Cenote Workshop 2021
Articles
New research into cephalopod camouflage
Current Biology has published a research paper by researchers at Duke University showing how two species of squid can quickly switch between transparency and pigmentation to essentially become invisible. The two species studied, octopus Japetella heathi and the squid Onychoteuthis banksii, are both deep water dwellers, and it is theorized that the animals can switch between a transparent resting state and a pigmented camouflage state when light is introduced. Since many deep-sea predators have light emitting organs that they use for hunting, this pigment change would give these species an advantage in avoiding detection.
DIVE Magazine launches free online edition
DIVE magazine is now free to subscribe to via any of its electronic platforms which include versions for PC/Mac, iPad, iPhone, Android phone and Kindle FIRE. The print version remains a paid-for option. The latest edition is available now and for the next few months, digital readers will be able to access it and DIVE’s digital archives for free. From March 2012, there will be a yearly fee (£10/$16) for access to the archive, but access to the current issue will remain free.
For more information, please either visit DIVE Online’s website, or search for Dive Magazine in your respective App store.
Wetpixel Ultimate Whale Shark expedition 2012
Wetpixel is excited to announce that we are heading back to Isla Mujeres in Mexico this summer for the world’s largest gathering of the world’s largest fish. Alex Mustard is leading two charters for Wetpixel. Spaces are already limited.
There is no lack of superlatives being used to describe this trip. Perhaps better are Eric’s own matter of fact words after the first day of Wetpixel first expedition here:
“our first day… was absolutely epic. Within an hour of leaving port, we found a group of over 300 whale sharks.”
Join us in 2012. Update 11/19/2011: Both weeks are now full. Please contact Dan Baldocchi if you are interested in a reserve place.
Florida approves shark protection
The Miami Herald reports that Florida wildlife managers have approved a shark protection measure that will make it illegal for anglers fishing state waters to keep tiger sharks or great, scalloped and smooth hammerheads. The new measure is intended to address the decline in shark numbers due to over fishing. The new rule, effective from 1 January 2012, prohibits the possession, sale and exchange of tiger sharks and hammerhead sharks harvested from state waters, which extend 3 miles from shore on the East coast and 9 miles on the West. Another 22 species of sharks already share similar protections.
Canon updates firmware for EOS 5D Mark II
Canon has released a firmware update for its EOS 5D Mark II SLR. Version 2.1.1. has corrected a bug that meant only a single image was captured in continuous shooting mode or AE bracketing continuous mode. It has also corrected some menu issues for Dutch speaking users.
It is available as a free download for 5D Mark II owners from the Canon website.
Review: Divergent Media ClipWrap
Many of the video capable SLRs output video with an AVCHD file-based format. Older NLE programs like Apples’s Final Cut Pro 7 could not handle these files natively, and the footage needs to be transcoded. In this review, Steve Douglas presents one product that is designed to do this job: Divergent Media’s ClipWrap. Put simply, ClipWrap converts the MTS files produced in AVCHD to Quicktime.
Steve comments:
“In this day of expensive applications and 3rd party plug-ins that are often used infrequently, it is nice to find an application that not only is very inexpensive but, with the advent of more camcorders creating files not conducive to Macs, an app that really can save the day for both you and your client.”
Final call for entries: Ocean Art 2011
The 2011 Ocean Art Photo Competition is making its final call for entries. It is offering over $82,000 in prizes in 12 categories including: Wide-angle, macro, marine life behavior, portrait, cold/ temperate, nudibranchs, super macro, underwater model/ fashion, novice dSLR, compact camera wide-angle, compact camera marine life behavior and compact camera macro.
Full entry details and rules can be seen at the contest’s website, and the final deadline for entries is 20 November.
Domes without the Drone
At every DEMA show, speakers are invited to deliver talks about aspects of underwater imaging at a stage within the Imaging Resource Center. Wetpixel Associate Editor, Alex Mustard delivered a talk entitled “Domes without the Drone” at the most recent show and we were on hand to film it. The talk is less about dome port theory, and more on the practical pros and cons of various types of domes available, together with situations in which one type may be preferable over another.