Friday, August 12th, 2011

5DtoRGB transcoding engine updated

Rarevision has released an update to their 5DtoRGB transcoding engine. The app transcodes files in the AVC/H.264 file format to either uncompressed DPX or Apple ProRes. Version 1.5 offers: Technicolor CineStyle LUT support, full support for Canon EOS series/Panasonic SLR support, higher quality output than Canon’s E1 plugin, higher quality output than QuickTime Player or FCP, output at different frame rates, command line / shell scripting support, DPX, ProRes and DNxHD output (DPX & ProRes Mac only, DNxHD Windows only), complete control over gamma correction / flagging, raw YCbCr output option for unprocessed luma channel extraction and timecode support.

Version 1.5 also offers OpenGL and 64 bit support. It is free to download for Mac or Windows.

Thursday, August 11th, 2011

The Near and Far

Wetpixel moderator Mike Veitch presents the next installment of his series of photographic articles. Entitled “The Near and Far”, Mike outlines techniques and composition ideas for close focus wide-angle photography. He covers subject selection, lighting, composition and technical issues with the technique.

These articles were originally published in Mike’s column in Scuba Diver Australasia, and have been rewritten and updates for Wetpixel.

Wednesday, August 10th, 2011

Call for entries: Burrard-Lucas Wlldlife photo competition

Will and Matt Burrard-Lucas of Barrard-Lucas Photography have announced that their third competition of the 2011 photo contest series is now open for entries. The theme is “wildlife”. They are looking for original and striking photographs of wild animals; capturing the creature’s character or an interesting aspect of their behavior in the shot.

Full details of the competition rules and prizes are available on the Barrard-Lucas Blog. The deadline for entries is 15 October.

Wednesday, August 10th, 2011

Summer issue of Alert Diver on its way

The summer issue of DAN’s Alert Diver has now been now printed and is in the mail to US DAN members. There is an online version to preview the issue; in order to access it visit Alert Diver and click on magazine icon. In this issue, Stephen Frink has written an article entitled “Close Encounters of the Oceanic Kind” about diving with oceanic white tip sharks ant there are articles on the Philippines, Tulum, Catalina, Bermuda as well as a portfolio of Ernie Brook’s black and white images. Additionally, the magazine features articles on blue-water photo techniques, ghost pipefish, and of course diver medicine and safety articles.

Wednesday, August 10th, 2011

Equator Diving launches competition

Equator Diving has launched a competition with the prize being a place on their forthcoming Oriental Siren “Timor Discovery” trip in 2012. All you need to do to enter is to visit the competition’s entry page and enter your details between now and 8 April 2012 for a chance to win.

Tuesday, August 9th, 2011

Call for entries: 2011 Ocean Art Photo Competition

The 2011 Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition is calling for entries. The competition has 12 categories, including a novice SLR category and 3 compact camera categories, giving underwater photographers of all levels a chance to win a great prize. Unique categories include super macro, cold/temperate water, nudibranchs and divers/fashion. More traditional categories include wide-angle, macro, marine life portraits, and marine life behavior.

The competition is open for entries now, with a deadline of 20 November. Full rules and entry details are available on Underwater Photography Guide.

Tuesday, August 9th, 2011

California AB376 shark fin bill needs support

On 15 August, 2011 the California Senate Appropriations Committee will vote on Assembly Bill 376. If it becomes law it will ban the possession, sale, and trade of shark fins in the State of California and will hence eliminate the demand for fins in the entire state. Since most fins harvested in the Americas pass through California, this law would make the logistics of the finning trade more expensive and less desirable on a global scale.

You can show your support by signing the petition supporting AB376. Or, if you are a California resident, please call your senator and tell them, “I support AB376.” You can find your senator and their contact number here. Sea Save Foundation has also set up a one-stop landing page with lots of information about other things you can do to help.

Tuesday, August 9th, 2011

Blenny Week on YouTube

BlennyWatcher has posted a humorous alternative to the adrenalin-fueled action of shark week:

“After years of looking for the big stuff we were getting a little bored. Then we discovered blennies. Blennies are everywhere and we travel the globe to find them. No seas are too rough, no dive site too remote and no blenny too fearsome. Features short clips of blennies from Bonaire, Florida, Baja California, the Philippines and Indonesia.”

“If sharks can have their own week, well blennies can too! So let down your cirri and join us by celebrating Blenny Week:”

Tuesday, August 9th, 2011

Sealux releases housings for Sony 3D cameras

Sealux has announced the release of two new housings for the Sony HDR-TD10 consumer and the HXR-NX3D1 professional camcorders. Both housings are manufactured of aluminum and allow the use of the cameras’ LCD screens as monitors. The housing lenses are made of optical glass and “provides the full picture quality of the Sony 3D lenses”. An attached lens hood avoids reflections on the lens, protecting against sunlight reflecting off of it.

Prices and availability are still to be announced.

Saturday, August 6th, 2011

Call for entries: BSoUP/DIVER print competition

The British Society of Underwater Photographers (BSoUP) has called for entries to its annual BSoUP/DIVER Print Competition, to be held during DIVE 2011 at Birmingham’s National Exhibition Center, UK over 22 and 23 October. The competition’s show display of a shortlisted 80 underwater photographic prints will be judged by those who view them and would like to vote for winners of the four trophies and ten individual awards on offer. Organized by BSoUP and hosted by DIVER magazine, the competition accepts underwater photographs taken in Britain or overseas during the three years preceding 22 October.

Full details and competition rules are available on the BSoUP website. The deadline for entries is 1 October.

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