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.

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.

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…

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. :)

My good friend, Andy Biggs, has launched Gura Gear, a new line of photo gear bags designed to allow the outdoor / wildlife photographer to carry a lot of equipment—comfortably—without the bulk of a heavy bag. The Kiboko, the first bag in the line, weighs in at only 4 lbs.

Because it uses two narrow, zippered compartments, the Kiboko isn’t suited for carrying an entire underwater housing rig, but it is a great bag for carrying a ton of camera bodies, lenses, and accessories.

Popular underwater photography & video portal DivePhotoGuide has been presented with the best website award at the 35th Annual World Festival of Underwater Images, one of the most prestigious underwater photo & film festival in the world, held annually in Antibes, France.

Founder and Publisher Jason Heller said: “We are honored to receive this recognition from such a prestigious competition and I want to take this opportunity to thank all of our readers from around the world as well as our exceptional team...”

The Wetpixel team leaves tomorrow for DEMA 2008 Las Vegas! As we have done every year since 2000, we will be on the floor live, posting photos and commentary of everything related to underwater photography and videography at the show. If you have any requests, please leave a comment here on the website and we will try to accommodate your request. We’ll also be representing Wetpixel and Wetpixel Quarterly magazine at our booth in the Imaging Resource Center (booth #3049, shared with Magic Filters and UwP Magazine), so please come visit!

Use this entry as an index to all of our DEMA coverage this year; check back periodically for updates! We should be done with all of our coverage by Friday, October 31.