Articles
Nikon D80 vs. D200 Comparison
In August, Wetpixel told you that Nikon had announced its new D80 dSLR, the “little brother” to the year-old D200. Shortly thereafter, in the forums, Wetpixel member Jack Connick pointed us to DP Review‘s excellent, exhaustive overview of the new D80.
If you’re interested, Ken Rockwell has posted a review that’s just as excellent and almost as exhaustive. However, Rockwell also provides a pretty thoughtful overview contrasting the D80 and the D200.
If you’re struggling with which camera to get, his D80 vs. D200 head-to-head comparison might help set you straight.
Visions In The Sea 10th Anniversary
The 10th Anniversary edition of the Visions In The Sea underwater photography conference takes place in London over the weekend of 4th & 5th November. An international cast of underwater photography’s elite are working alongside some of the UK’s best image makers to present two days of stunning portfolios and techniques talks. Speakers are flying in from Australia, the United States, Mauritius, Greece, Italy and Ireland especially for this event, the only one of it’s kind in the UK. Speakers include Amos Nachoum, Michael Aw, Martin Edge and Wetpixel’s own Alex Mustard. More than a dozen major presentations are scheduled.
Divester/Wetpixel T-shirt Design Finalists
As you recall, Wetpixel and Divester recently announced a joint t-shirt design contest with the theme “Exploring the Oceans.” We received several very creative submissions but narrowed the field to the Top 5.
To see the finalists - and to vote for your favorite - head over to Divester. Voting closes October 11. Shortly after announcing the winner, we’ll explain how you can order one of the winning t-shirts.
How to choose a focus light
A focus light is a broad beam of light designed to help a photographer create a sharp image by adding contrast to a subject. However, a focus light can also help a photographer keep an eye on a small or camouflaged subject; it may serve as a primary source of illumination during a night dive; it might also serve as a prop during an underwater photo shoot.
On Backscatter, Brad Brown has written the mother of all focus light overviews, carefully covering what to look for if you’re in the market for a new focus light. Then, Brown puts 6 focus lights through the grinder, comparing their beam qualities, sizes, weights, battery lives, and painstakingly identifying their pros and cons.
If you thought your light was “good enough,” you’ll whistle a different tune after reading his report.
X-Ray Magazine #13 is available for download
X-Ray Magazine is a fabulous dive magazine with an international focus. Profiling dive sites, gear, and dive news from around the globe, X-Ray is not only super-comprehensive, it’s free! The newest issue, Issue #13, is now available for download as a PDF. Within its 102 pages are:
- Two fantastic, photo-filled travel essays—from Bernardo Sampras and Jason Heller—covering the Galapagos
- An excellent, colorful guide to diving Vancouver Island
- More information about drysuits than you ever thought could be in one place
- Fall’s hottest dive fashion (did you know those two words could go together?)
- News about people, sharks, turtles, bioprospecting and much, much more
Reef, Wreck & Critter by Jeff and Dawn Mullins
Jeff and Dawn Mullins have published an excellent visual guide covering many of the dive sites around Tulamben, Bali. This visual guide, Reef, Wreck & Critter, is more than just a photo album, though. It also offers an intriguing narrative overview of the area’s marine life and reef system.
Want to get familiar with the magical diving Tulamben has to offer? Pick up a copy of this book.
Eric Cheng speaks to Wildlife Photographers of Silicon Valley
On September 18th, Wetpixel owner Eric Cheng had the opportunity to speak to the Wildlife Photographers of Silicon Valley (WPSV) at their monthly dinner meeting. Eric discussed the role of software in photography and how to leverage it in one’s work, supplementing his talk with photographs of sharks, whales, and dolphins taken on some of his many trips.
Overheard comments after Eric Cheng’s presentation at the meeting included the following:
What an amazing opportunity…to be able to shoot big stuff and have a guide to show you where it is and when it’s coming…as in the Bahamas and Tonga images.
...
Eric is easy to just walk up and speak to about any subject…and it’s great to have a “go-to” person when you don’t have the answers yourself. He seems to grasp from where I’m coming, so I don’t have to spend a half-hour giving background on my capabilities.
The talk was well received by the nearly fifty people in attendance. If you’re in the area, be sure to check out the WPSV website for information about membership and to see a list of upcoming speakers.
Cayman Islands Digital Madness 2006 Shootout Winners
Scuba Diving Magazine has published a gallery of the winners of the recent Cayman Islands Digital Madness 2006 Shootout, which was hosted by photo pros Stephen Frink, Cathy Church, and Wetpixel’s own Dr. Alex Mustard.
Check out the results, and be sure to congratulate the participating Wetpixel members in the ongoing discussion...