Photography

Wetpixel’s Alex Mustard has posted his detailed field review of the Nikon D700 and Subal ND700 housing in the Red Sea. This fully featured, but compact sized DSLR offers the full frame imaging system and auto-focus of the Nikon’s celebrated D3 in more affordable package.

Alex adds “Keeping the theme of my recent D3 review, this is not a short read, but hopefully addresses many of the key questions of using this camera underwater.” Continue reading...

Stephen Frink has taken the time to post his thoughts on the new Seacam 150 strobe on the Wetpixel forums. The Seacam 150 is small, but powerful with wide coverage, being a similar size and weight to an Ikelite DS160. It has a removeable battery and can be ordered with E-TTL or iTTL protocols.

Stephen says “Very accurate TTL performance, although you do have to wait for full recycle to expect the TTL will work… I haven’t been such a strong proponent of TTL with digital over the years, but once I tried this strobe and had it in the back of my mind that I could pretty well figure on getting an accurate exposure the first time”. Visit the forums for more details and discussion.

For the second year, Bite-Back has inspired 12 of the world’s leading underwater photographers to support them in the unique Oceans 12 calendar that celebrates the oceans and draws attention to urgent marine conservation issues. The photographers who have donated images and an individual commentary on the exploitation of the marine environment are (in month order) Brian Skerry, Doug Perrine, Chris Fallows, Alexander Mustard, Thomas Peschak, David Fleetham, David Doubilet, James Honeyborne, Michael Aw, Tim Laman, Norbert Wu and Jeff Rotman.

David Doubilet, said: “We have a small window of time and a big responsibility to use our imagery to capture these kingdoms in the sea, but the pictures must also work hard to show what is at stake and how to help protect it.” The calendar costs £10 GBP.

The Northern California Underwater Photographic Society has (NCUPS) has announced the winners of the SEA 2008 international underwater photo competition. The Best of Show and winner of the Bob Commer Award of Excellence was taken by Wetpixel member David Barrio.

Among the award winners are plenty of familiar Wetpixel users - be sure to view the winning photographs and videos (when they are uploaded) and discuss the results in the forums. Good luck in next year’s competition!

The BBC today, seem very excited about some new underwater footage that uniquely captures whaleshark behaviour. The footage forms part of a BBC Natural World wildlife programme: Whale Shark.

Dr Meekan, who is based at the Darwin office of the Australian Institute of Marine Science, said: “It does seem rather weird, someone being so excited about seeing whale shark poo. And I’m pretty certain that this is the first time it has been filmed.” Another milestone in the world of underwater imaging.

Underwater Photography Magazine Issue 45 is now available for download. The issue contains travel and product news relating to underwater photography as well as feature articles including Olympus Mju770SW review by Rob Spray, Making A Cheap Polecam by Alex Mustard, Patima Canon G9 review by John Cesere, Sony A350 and BS Kinetics by Karin Brussaard, Wetpixel Quarterly review by Douglas David Seifert, Cornwall’s King of Prussia by Mark Webster, Chalkidiki by Nicholas Samaras and Rabae Latridou, Bimini magic by Tim Rock & Yoko Higashide, East Kalimantan by Alex Tyrrel, Great White shark by Julian Cohen, School’s out by Mark Webster and Coding a vessel by Charles Hood.

UWP Magazine is a free PDF magazine, published every two months.

Sony has announced the development of the finest-yet pixel-pitch 1/2.5" sensor. The 12.2MP CMOS sensor has been developed for mobile phone cameras, but is of a size commonly used in compact and super zoom cameras. The IMX060PQ sensor, which Sony brands 'Exmor' in common with its DSLR CMOS sensors, will also be available incorporated into an F2.8 28mm-equiv lens unit with piezoelectric driven autofocus - relatively advanced for a camera phone module.

Kids are the first to comment upon anything out of the ordinary. A father and son were playing in the pool when I showed up to the edge, hovering protectively over my oddly-shaped black box; to which, the 3-year old instantly took note.

No doubt father and son were equally curious about the small alien spacecraft I was easing into the water, but it was the son that was unhesitant in asking “What’s that thing?” The father seemed a tad embarrassed, but he was also no doubt relieved that his own curiosity would be satisfied without having to ask me what it was…

The Wetpixel Quarterly team is thinking of producing a 1-yr collectors box, which will hold (not surprisingly) 4 issues of our print magazine, Wetpixel Quarterly. We are sold out of issue 3 at the moment, but have enough in our archives to produce about 50 year-one bundles, which we will likely sell enclosed in aluminum, laser-engraved collectors boxes.

We had a sample of the box produced, and it looks beautiful! So the question is, would you buy the standalone box for $59.95 + shipping? If we get enough interest, we’ll do a larger run! Please let us know by voting in our poll.

RED Digital Cinema finally announced the Scarlet and Epic, which are hybrid SLR / video cameras that shoot successive RAW files. Smaller and more modular than the RED ONE, the two new camera lines have options for 3K, 5K, 6K, 9K, and 28K (!) sensors (4.9 - 261 megapixels) and take RED, PL, Canon, Nikon, medium-format, Mamiya, Lunhof, and Alpa mount lenses. The various combinations will shoot variable speeds up to 120 FPS.

There are a multitude of options including lenses, handles, viewfinders, I/O modules, batteries, remotes, recording modules, and 6 different physical sensor sizes (including a super-wide sensor called the “Mysterium Monstro"). There’s even a way to build a 3D RED.  The least expensive “Brain” is currently listed at $2,500, and entry-level model that supports Canon and Nikon lenses starts at $7,000. Check out the website for preliminary details! We’ll see how long it takes for someone to rig up an underwater housing.

Just posted! Our new lens review featuring the Pentax smc P-FA 50mm 1:1.4. This is the latest in our on-going series scrutinising the optical credentials of the camera manufacturers' various "fast fifties", and looks at a lens which has been around since the days of 35mm film. Designed as a fast 'standard' prime, it's now being pressed into service as a short portrait telephoto on the APS-C sensor. So how well has it adapted to this new role?

Photographer Stephen Frink writes a thoughtful article about the Divers Alert Network insurance program (DAN).

the live-aboard dive boat we were on in the Misool region made a strategic error running at night and ran smack-dab into an island. The island won. The bowsprit on the wooden boat was pushed back into the mast, dislodging it and causing the base of the mast to smash through crew quarters...

Becoming insured for dive travel is a good idea, and Wetpixel Expeditions requires DAN membership or equivalent for participation in all of our trips.

A few spots have just opened up for the Wetpixel Ultimate Indonedia expeditions in March and April of 2009.  Join Eric Cheng and Indonesia dive-guide extraordinaire Graham Abbott in two chartered expeditions to Indonesia designed especially for serious photographers. Instead of hopping around from dive site to dive site, we will take our time with a flexible itinerary designed to give us a lot of time at areas that are rockin’ with life.

EXPEDITION #1: Sorong, Halmahera, Ambon | March 7-22, 2009 (15 days)
UPDATE: 0 spots left as of Nov 14, 2008 (waiting list available)

EXPEDITION #2: Ambon, Banda Sea, Maumere | March 25-April 9, 2009 (15 days)
UPDATE: 4 spots left as of Nov 14, 2008

We’ll be aboard the Seven Seas, a fantastic luxury liveaboard vessel.  For more information, visit our Ultimate Indonesia info page.

The Pacific Grove Museum of Natural History dives into deep-sea exploration with the opening of a new exhibit Sea Creatures Rediscovered by Monterey nature and underwater photographer Jason Bradley. Bradley, in partnership with Monterey Bay Research Institute (MBARI) and Moss Landing Marine Labs (MLML), offers a rare look at life forms that teem in the cold and dark world hidden in the crushing depths of the Monterey Bay Canyon.

The grand opening reception will be held November 16, from 3:00 - 5:00 pm. Refreshments will be served and there will be a free drawing for a gift print. The exhibit will run through March 7th, 2009.

Camera and lens maker Sigma has bought Foveon, the sensor technology company that develops the sensors it uses. Foveon's technology uses three photosensitive layers to detect red, green and blue light at each pixel. Sigma says owning the company will allow the development of new types of sensors and improved integration between the sensors and its lenses.

Samsung Techwin, the Korean manufacturer, plans to separate out its camera division into an individual entity (under the same ownership), according to news agency Reuters. Samsung Techwin is part of the Samsung Group's machinery and heavy industry division and makes mobile artillery and gas turbines, as well as digital cameras. Tentatively named Samsung Digital Imaging, the new company will have a separate listing from Feb. 1, 2009, allowing its management to concentrate on the fast-moving consumer market into which its products are sold, without also having to also consider sales of aircraft engines.

Photographers of all levels will help celebrate the beauty, mystery and delicacy of the marine environment as the 4th annual international underwater photography and video competition series hosted by UnderwaterCompetition.com kicks off this week. The competition has become the “Superbowl” of international underwater imagery competitions, with over $75,000 of world-class prizes, major industry involvement, and the opportunity to have your images showcased to the world as some of the best. Esteemed judges include leading professional underwater photographers, cinematographers and magazine editors from around the world…

We are excited to announce the immediate availability of organic cotton Team Wetpixel t-shirts! You saw all the Wetpixel staff wearing ‘em at DEMA, and now, you can get one for yourself. This is only the second shirt Wetpixel has ever done. The design is simple; we wanted something that we ourselves would wear proudly (and we do).

To order, go over to our eBay item listing. We ship worldwide. There are limited quantities available, so act now!

Sri, one of our members, has posted a haunting video about marine life. It’s worth a look, if you want to see both what is beautiful and depressing about the world’s oceans. Sri writes:

This is an edit I did for a book promo called Adrift, the book is amazing as is the footage from scubazoo, who have amassed a huge arsenal of UW conservation footage over the last 10 years. I’m the in house editor for scubazoo, so hopefully some more exciting UW films to share with you guys in the future.

The range of subject matter in the video is extremely diverse, and the editing is well done. It is a good showcase of what is possible with good editing skills and a huge video library. Continue reading to see the video…

Mark Taylor has released a school of fish brush set for Adobe Photoshop. It’s available free for download, and is rights managed under Creative Commons.

Silhouettes are available for different kinds of fish, and you can paint in a school of fish in seconds. Very cool—that is, if you’re into underwater art and not documentary photography. :)