Wetpixel

Articles

Wetpixel Ocean Safari (Sardine Run) 2010 report now online Photo

Wetpixel Ocean Safari (Sardine Run) 2010 report now online

Drew Wong has posted part one of his report on the Wetpixel Ocean Safari (aka Sardine Run) 2010. The run is still posing more question than answers for the scientific community, and it’s increasing popularity is creating problems. Drew expresses his concerns about the proliferation of new operators with limited experience, and notes that there have been at least 3 injuries on divers caused by sharks during the run over the years.

Drew also lays claim to the dubious honor of being the first diver to have been mistaken as a sardine by a diving gannet!

Continue Reading

Book Review: Shooting in the Wild - An Insider’s Account of Making Movies in the Animal Kingdom Photo

Book Review: Shooting in the Wild - An Insider’s Account of Making Movies in the Animal Kingdom

Chris Palmer’s book: “Shooting in the Wild” is about the ethics of the wildlife filmmaking business and the drawing of proper boundaries, and as such has a real impact on still nature photography as well. As nature films and TV shows proliferate and become profitable, there is little external regulation of what is ethically allowable. The advent of a culture that seeks instant gratification and demands sensationalism and risk taking as a part of entertainment, has encouraged unscrupulous film editors to bend (and increasingly break) the rules that might suggest that the animals and environment’s well-being is paramount. Chris Palmer’s mission with this book is to attempt to challenge this. Palmer is a veteran film producer and educator, with twenty-five years of experience and over 300 hours of original programming in a rapidly changing industry.

Continue Reading

Panasonic releases LUMIX LX5 compact camera Photo

Panasonic releases LUMIX LX5 compact camera

Panasonic has announced the release of the LX5 compact camera, which will replace the popular LX3. The new camera has an upgraded sensor, featuring a 1/1.63” 10mp unit for improved dynamic range. The lens is now a 24-90mm f2.0-3.3 and the cameras control system is changed to a clickable control wheel, like that on the GF1. The new camera is also able to shoot HD video in an AVCHD lite format.

Continue Reading

Three Sisters Spring Manatees protected Photo

Three Sisters Spring Manatees protected

An agreement has been reached protecting 57.8 acres of critical habitat for the endangered West Indian (Florida) manatee. This took over two years, and involved many different individuals as well as private and government bodies. More than 150 manatees assemble within the warm springs of the area, known as Three Sisters Springs, for calving and feeding during the winter months and during critical cold weather periods.

The protected area will be owned by the city of Crystal River and the Southwest Florida Water Management District. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service will manage the site as part of the Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge.

David Houghton, the National Wildlife Refuge Association’s Vice President of Conservation Programs said:

“Today, the future of the West Indian manatee is more secure and the economic future of Crystal River brighter because a diverse group of individuals and organizations rallied around a common vision.”

Continue Reading

Panasonic releases 3D interchangeable lens for LUMIX G series Photo

Panasonic releases 3D interchangeable lens for LUMIX G series

Panasonic has announced the imminent release of a 3D interchangeable lens for the LUMIX G series micro four thirds system. Previously, 3D shooting has only been possible by either using a panorama system or a combination of two lenses and two CCDs. The new lens features two optical systems installed within the diameter of the lens mount, creating stereo images from the left and right lenses, which can be processed by a 3D image processing system. This claims to allow easier handling and produces 3D images without distortion or time lag between left and right images, even for moving objects.

Panasonic plans to have the lens available for sale before the end of 2010.

Continue Reading

Wetpixel Cenotes and Whale Sharks 2010 trip journal Photo

Wetpixel Cenotes and Whale Sharks 2010 trip journal

Eric Cheng is currently in Playa del Carmen, Mexico with the Wetpixel Cenotes and Whale Sharks trip. He has started the customary thread in the forum, where he (and others) will be reporting back and posting pictures and video from the field. Eric has a new housed 3D camcorder set up with him, so be sure to grab your 3D spectacles!

Eric and the team are exploring the Cenotes of the Riviera Maya, before moving on to Isla Mujeres on Friday for some whale shark aggregation action.

Continue Reading

Mini Review - Leak Insure Photo

Mini Review - Leak Insure

Wetpixel’s Alex Mustard reviews Leak Insure, a product designed to help protect our cameras at times of peril and shares his experience of the dreaded f-word: FLOOD!

Leak Insure sachets look similar to standard silica gel packets, but combine both the properties of a desiccant with that of a sponge, soaking up minor leaks (up to 400 times their weight in water), buying us more time to save delicate electronics.

Continue Reading

Issue 5 of Underxmag available for download Photo

Issue 5 of Underxmag available for download

Issue number five of the Portuguese language diving magazine Underxmag is now available for download. This issue of the Brazilian magazine has articles about diving with sharks in the Bahamas, a portfolio of photographer Marcelo Krauser, and some amazing images of the Amazon Dolphin (Inia geoffrensis).

Continue Reading