Wetpixel/Under The Jungle Cenote Workshop 2021
Articles
Call for entries: 2012 Raja Ampat Entry Tag Contest
Wetpixel is proud to announce the 2012 Raja Ampat Entrance Tag Design Contest is now accepting entries. The winning design will be attached to every diver’s BCD that visits Raja Ampat, and will be printed 6,000 times. These tags will inevitably then travel the world over. The contest is looking for photographic or graphic design entries that capture the spirit of Raja Ampat diving, on a 5cm (2”) plastic disk. Prizes include holidays at a number of Raja Ampat resorts and liveaboards.
The competition is open for entries now until 15 August. The shortlist will be selected and then put to the public vote here at Wetpixel, with the eventual winner to be announced on 20 September. Please see the contest’s page for more details and how to enter.
Channel Islands Weekend with Underwater Photo Societies
Join photographers Jason Bradley, Kevin McDonnell, and Chuck Davis for an on-the-boat imaging seminar and three days of diving in California’s Southern Channel Islands this coming October 20-22, 2011. The trip is a gathering of the major California underwater photographic societies, including the Los Angeles, Northern California, Orange County, and Monterey Peninsula charters.
This is a limited load on the Truth Aquatics Conception, leaving plenty of space for everyone’s gear. For more information, view the event flyer, or contact .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) directly to reserve your spot.
Bahamas announces legislation to protect sharks
The Tribune reports that at the Marina Operators of the Bahamas annual general meeting and training session in the Sheraton Nassau Beach Resort on 31 June, Minister of the Environment, Mr Earl Deveaux said:
“The government of the Bahamas has addressed the Attorney General’s Office to formally complete the regulations to ban the export of sharks from the Bahamas.”
The announcement follows ten months of intensive campaigning by Bahamas National Trust and the PEW Environment Group to make the Bahamas a sanctuary for sharks. The proposed legislation has yet to be ratified into law and has several stages to be completed before it is enforced, but the outlook is positive that it will be.
UPDATE: From Pew Environmental group.
“Sharks in The Bahamas can breathe more easily after the nation’s government announced today that all commercial shark fishing in the approximately 630,000 square kilometers (243,244 square miles) of the country’s waters is now prohibited.”
Full details of 2011 Digital Shootout released
Full details of the 2011 Digital Shootout have now been posted on the event’s website. For it’s tenth year, the shootout was held at the Divi Flamingo Dive Resort, in Bonaire, Netherlands Antilles. Jeff Honda took the Jim Watt Award for the best images, with his artistic use of Snell’s window. Other winners include Mike Light, David Gordon, Peter Riekstins, Samantha Riekstins, and Boaz Meiri. Congratulations to all the participants.
UwP magazine issue 61 available
The July/August issue of Underwater Photography (UwP) magazine is now available for download. Included in issue 61 are reviews of the Olympus TG-810 camera, Nauticam Olympus XZ-1 and Tokina 35mm macro lens. Other articles include a review of solo diving by Alex Tattersall, Whalesharks by Mike Veitch, Golden PNG by Julian Cohen, Red Sea Relish by Andy Deitsch and Weedy Wanderings by Mark Webster. There is also news, views and tons of valuable information.
UwP magazine is available as a free download in pdf format.
Nauticam releases 45 degree viewfinder
Nauticam has announced the release of a 45° viewfinder. It provides a full view of the camera’s finder at 1:1 magnification and has a diopter adjustment, accessible via an external knob, to allow for different eyesight.
The viewfinder can be installed and uninstalled in Nauticam housings without tools and can be used with Ikelite, Aquatica, Sea & Sea and Nexus housings via the use of special adaptors. It will be available in the next three to four weeks, and the price will be in the region of $1,000. Wetpixel Associate Editor Alex Mustard has been using an early production unit and will be adding a review soon, so please check back.
Olympus announces E-P3 EVIL camera
Olympus has announced a new version of the PEN EVIL cameras: The E-P3. The new camera is claimed to have the fastest AF speed available:
“One of the primary areas Olympus concentrated on when developing the E-P3 was the AF (autofocusing) system. The result is the world’s highest AF speed, faster than any traditional SLR with mirrors.”
In addition, it features improved AF tracking with 35 focusing points, a new 12.3 megapixel sensor and a new image processing engine. The E-P3’s sensor has a maximum ISO sensitivity of 12800, and the TruePic VI image processor claims both improved image quality and increased speed. Lastly, the new camera can record MPEG4 (H.264) 1960 x 1080/60i HD movies in AVCHD format.
The E-P3 will be available from late July/early August at $899.99 with either a 14-24 or 45mm kit lenses.
Sigma announces pricing and availability for 105mm macro lens
Sigma has announced pricing and availability for its 105mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM Macro lens. The optically stabilized version of the lens, originally announced in February, is available now with a recommended selling price of $1,400. The 105mm F2.8 EX DG OS HSM offers true 1:1 macro reproduction, and uses a floating focus system to maintain high optical performance at all distances.
The minimum focus distance of the lens is 31.2 cm / 12.3 in, making it just suitable for underwater use. It is available in Nikon, Canon and Sigma mounts.