DiveFilm HD, the popular Podcast produced by Mary Lynn Price, in association with Wetpixel, has just released a new episode. It is called “In The Company Of Sperm Whales,” and features interviews with Eric Cheng and local tour operators, together with photographs and video from Eric’s encounters with the whales in Dominica.
The new issue of Underwater Journal is now available for immediate download. This issue issue features articles on Florida’s turtles, buoyancy control in advanced diving, St. Eustatius’s wreck “Charlie Brown,” Humbolt squids, and a timely article about the Deepwater Horizon gulf oil spill.
Head on over to the Underwater Journal website to grab your free copy.
Although previously reported in our forums as an entry in Panasonic’s Micro Four Thirds future roadmap, the company today has formally announced its extremely compact 8mm fisheye lens. Weighing in at only 165 grams, Panasonic has proclaimed the lens to be the ” world’s smallest and lightest interchangeable digital fisheye lens.” With a minimum focus distance of only 10cm, this lens has instantly given new relevance to using the emerging Micro Four Thirds standard for underwater applications, and will undoubtedly be of great interest to housing manufacturers. It will also be compatible with the forthcoming Panasonic Micro Four Thirds camcorder.
Sony’s NEX camera system is poised to offer a fisheye adapter right from launch, and it will be interesting to see a comparison of optical quality once both lenses are out in the wild. Panasonic’s 8mm fisheye will become available in July. DPreview found the fisheye an odd choice for Panasonic to launch right now since there are other holes in the Micro Four Thirds lineup that need to be filled, but for underwater photographers, the timing couldn’t be better. Read their whole preview here.
The quest is on to find the UK’s top underwater photographer. The title will be decided at the annual British Splash-In Championship being staged at Plymouth on Saturday, July 3, 2010 by the British Society of Underwater Photographers. The winner of the title chosen by an independent panel of judges will be jetting off to the Maldives with a companion to enjoy a fabulous one-week liveaboard trip donated Maldives Scuba Tours.
The on the day competition, taking place in Plymouth 3rd July, is open to all, including those from outside the UK and non-BSoUP members.
Join professional photographers Jason Bradley, Kevin McDonnell and guest speaker Norbert Wu for an on-the-boat seminar and and four days of diving in California’s Southern Channel Islands this coming August 20-23, 2010. The trip will be on a limited load trip on Truth Aquatics’ vessel, Vision, and space is limited! Jason’s work is featured in Wetpixel Quarterly #8, which will be shipping in early June.
Contact Jason directly for details on signing up: contact@bradleyphotographic.com or 818-415-2767. See BradleyPhotographic.com for more information (or, you can click through to see some of Jason’s work).
Now over a month into the oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico following the explosion and subsequent gusher from BP’s Deepwater Horizon rig, the world got a whole new perspective on the disaster yesterday as ABC’s Good Morning America and Philippe Cousteau Jr. dived below the surface of the spill.
Donning hazmat equipment for diving in toxic environments, corespondent Sam Champion and Cousteau, grandson of the great explorer Jacques Cousteau, provided a powerful underwater look at what has now been proclaimed to be the worst oil spill in U.S. history. You can watch the segment here. Additional links after the jump.
Athena has announced a new ring flash unit which uses Sea & Sea flash heads as the power source. The ring flash can be connected to a modified Sea & Sea YS-01 or YS 110a via a five pin Nikonos type sync cord. The YS-110a flash head has two Nikonos ports so that more than one strobe can be used.
This new design has the ability to disconnect the ring flash from the sending unit for ease of packing. It also has the potential for use of TTL with both wired and fiber optic cords and a longer lasting power supply for the sending unit. There will be adapters available to suit different manufacturers ports.
The results of the ASFERICO International Nature Photography Competition have been announced. The overall winner was Andreas Mäcker of Germany with a picture of a Sperm whale taken in the Azores. Many Wetpixel members are featured in the underwater category
The competition formed part of an event held at Undine, Italy over 16-18 April 2010.
Martin Edge and Alex Mustard are to present a full day seminar “On Underwater Photography” at the Imperial College, London, UK on November 6th 2010. Both photographers are well known, not only for their images, but also for their willingness to share the techniques that they have used to create them.
Having two accomplished photographers providing feedback on their images, as well as on images from the audience, is a unique opportunity. Please read on for more details
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Light & Motion has announced the release of the SOLA 600 compact imaging light. It is designed for use with all imaging systems, from compact cameras to video housings and produces 679 lumens of light for a maximum of 75 minutes burn time. It is designed to have an even beam pattern and can also deliver 225 lumens of red light for night close-up work.
Please click through for more information