Monday, March 25th, 2013

Google offers Nik Collection

Google has announced its plans for the distribution of Nik Photoshop, Lightroom and Aperture plugins. The company acquired Nik software in September 2012, and was widely criticized for removing the Snapseed desktop app. Perhaps in response to this, Google has announced today that it will sell the Nik Collection by Google for an international price of $149. There is also a free 15 day trial of the suite available and if a user has purchased one or more Nik plugins in the past five years, he or she will be upgraded to the full suite free of charge.

Monday, March 25th, 2013

Video: CBS swims with Nile crocodiles

On 24 March, CBS aired an episode of their 60 minutes program devoted to swimming with Nile crocodiles (Crocodylus niloticus) in Botswana’s Okavango Delta. Host Anderson Cooper spent some time in the water with the apex predators, with the shoot being organized by crocodile researcher Adam Britton and filmmakers Brad Bestelink and Andy Crawford. The latter pair has been filming the animals underwater for the past 5 years.

Sunday, March 24th, 2013

Video: Shark Dream by Andy Casagrande

Andy Casagrande has posted an underwater video shot on a RED EPIC at 5K resolution. Entitled “Shark Dream”, it features a series of slow motion shots, all featuring sharks. The aim is to portray this as a “shark dream … not a nightmare” and it was “created to inspire people to care about sharks”. The filmmaker suggests that people should go to Shark Angels to find out more about the plight of these animals.

Thursday, March 21st, 2013

Field review: Nikon D600 versus D800

Alex Mustard presents a side-by-side review of the underwater performance of Nikon’s D600 and D800 full frame cameras. The review was carried out during the annual Nudibranch Safari which is held at Gulen Dive Resort, near Bergen, Norway. During the event, Alex was able to swap between the cameras on consecutive dives, which he says, “made the differences and similarities easy to spot.”

Thursday, March 21st, 2013

Canon releases two new SLR cameras

Canon has announced the release of two new SLR cameras. The EOS 700D or Rebel T5i has an 18 megapixel APS-C sensor with a native ISO range of 100-12800. It also features Canon’s Hybrid AF system and DIGIC 5 image processor. It will be available from April at a US retail price of $749.00.

The EOS 100D or Rebel SL1 is designed to have a very small form factor, comparable to that of mirrorless cameras. It would seem to have the same sensor, processor and AF performance as that of the EOS 700D and will also be available in April, priced at $649.00 in the USA.

Tuesday, March 19th, 2013

Review: Lastolite EzyBalance color balance target

Wetpixel’s Adam Hanlon presents a field review of the Lastolite EzyBalance color balance target for scuba divers. This is described as a tool for adjusting color balance and exposure settings in both still and video cameras. The collapsible square is made of a waterproof wipe-clean surface material sewn to a sprung steel rim, and has a white side and an 18% grey balance target side. Join Adam as he uses it underwater.

Sunday, March 17th, 2013

Improve your photography: Wetpixel macro workshop 2013

Wetpixel is hosting the ultimate macro photography workshop in October this year. Trip leader and tutor, Alex Mustard will be heading for Lembeh Resort and the group will take over the whole resort for the workshop. The timing is chosen to coincide with an especially critter rich time of the year in Lembeh, and particularly plentiful encounters with ghostpipefish, hairy frogfish and octopus likely. The trip’s dates are from 12 to 23 October 2013.

There are still a few spaces left on the workshop. If you are interested, please email Dan Baldocchi to ask for details or to reserve a place very soon.

Friday, March 15th, 2013

UnderWater Camera Stuff releases new products

Underwater Camera Stuff has announced a new version of their vacuum housing check system. The Housing Sentry Basic has manual pump that allows users to check the integrity of their housing’s seals prior to diving. In addition, the company has launched a version of the vacuum connector that can be screwed into a hole created by removing an unused control on an Ikelite housing. The Housing Sentry Basic is available now at a US retail price of $290.

Thursday, March 14th, 2013

CITES 2013: The results

As of earlier today, oceanic whitetip (Carcharhinus longimanus), smooth hammerhead (Sphyrna zygaena), great hammerhead (Sphyrna mokarran), scalloped hammerhead (Sphyrna lewini) porbeagle sharks (Lamna nasus) and both species of manta ray (Manta birostris and Manta alfredi) have been added to Appendix II of CITES. Appendix II lists species which are not necessarily threatened with immediate extinction but which may become so unless trade is closely controlled.

Wednesday, March 13th, 2013

CITES 2013: Shark and manta protection hangs in the balance

Georgienne Bradley, of the Sea Save Foundation, has filmed Japanese delegates to CITES holding a secret meeting with several African delegates earlier tonight. It is surmised that these were to attempt to pressurize those delegates into reversing their earlier votes in favor of the addition of shark and manta species to Appendix II of CITES. The Plenary session, scheduled tomorrow will give them the opportunity to do so. (Images by Michael Aw).

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