Wetpixel sponsor Gates Housings is involved in an upcoming expedition with Stan Waterman:

The Master and the Ancients – a High Definition Expedition:
Accomplished writer, producer and award winning filmmaker Stan Waterman will host a select group of travelers aboard the celebrated liveaboard NAI’A in a rare visit with humpback whales in July 2005. At 83 years young, Stan Waterman – ever the consummate gentleman, foremost storyteller, and eager explorer – points his destination desire toward the South Pacific to commune face to face with the legendary gentle giants that inhabit the blue Tongan waters...

The entire extravaganza will be captured in high definition video courtesy of Gates Underwater Products, well known manufacturer of durable and reliable underwater housings. Guests will have the opportunity to get ‘behind the housing’ and capture their own hi-def video of the Humpbacks as well as receive a DVD of the entire expedition.

The expedition takes place July 23rd – August 1st 2005.

Wetpixel's Dr. Alex Mustard will be hosting this year's Grand Cayman Digital Jam from January 22-29, 2005.

Description: Calling all digital underwater photographers. Do you want to enjoy a week of photographic diving on Grand Cayman's reefs and wrecks? Have the chance to socialize with other photographers and pick up tips from on site photo-pros? Do you want the chance to win over $20,000 in prizes? This is what you have been waiting for! And you only have to wait until the last week of January...

Mauricio Handler had a chance to shoot the new prototype housing for the Kodak 14 MP DCS Pro 14n, 14nx, and ProSLRn on three trips recently. [Ed: Kodak makes 3 versions of this camera, the 14n with an “older” sensor, the 14n with the new sensor, called the “nx,” and the ProSLRn with the new sensor and new power management electronics.] He has provided us with some sample photos from his 14n and we have mixed them up with some photos of the prototype housing, taken at DEMA 2004.

Wetpixel member and contributor David Haas has submitted a review of the Ikelite 300D housing based o­n his experience shooting macro and wide angle in the Galapagos Islands.  According to Dave:
The week of October 11-18, 2004 found me aboard the vessel Deep Blue in the Galapagos Islands . Ikelite had sent me a SLR-DC housing for the Canon Digital Rebel with their new eTTL circuit board to test. As of this writing the PC board has a new revision enabling it to work with Ikelite's DS125 and DS50 strobes plus most brand TTL strobes.

The week of October 11-18, 2004 found me aboard the vessel Deep Blue in the Galapagos Islands . Ikelite had sent me a SLR-DC housing for the Canon Digital Rebel with their new eTTL circuit board to test. As of this writing the PC board has a new revision enabling it to work with Ikelite's DS125 and DS50 strobes plus most brand TTL strobes.

Each year, the non-profit National Marine Sanctuary Foundation puts out a series of products featuring photographs from our underwater national treasures. For 2005 they feature a Telephone/Address Book, a Monthly Pocket Planner, three types of Calendars, and a Desk Blotter. What makes these products special for us is that some of the featured photos belong to Wetpixel members from all around the world.

The photo shown at left - taken by Wetpixel Administrator James Wiseman - is featured as the cover of the 2005 Telephone/Address Book. If you are looking for a gift for a fellow "marine enthusiast" then these products might be a good choice and will also benefit our Marine Sanctuaries.

As previewed at this year's DEMA, Inon America announces the new D-2000 strobe and accessories. Sales begin November 8.

The D-2000 includes advanced new features including S-TTL, External Auto, 13-step Manual & Nikonos TTL; and higher performance, GN 20m and 100 degree beam, in the same compact lightweight body design as the other Inon strobes.

Dr. Alex Mustard reports, from Antibes: "Antibes is unique. I cannot think of another event that concentrates so many interesting and important people from the world of underwater film and photography in one place. But what really makes Le Festival special is, unlike just about every other event, in Antibes everybody has the time to for banter. In fact, so much socialising time is built into the program that when you bump into or are introduced to someone interesting you can go and grab a beer, a glass of Pastis or even sit down for a long chat over a meal..."

Excerpt: "Antibes is unique. I cannot think of another event that concentrates so many interesting and important people from the world of underwater film and photography in one place. But what really makes Le Festival special is, unlike just about every other event, in Antibes everybody has the time to for banter. In fact, so much socialising time is built into the program that when you bump into or are introduced to someone interesting you can go and grab a beer, a glass of Pastis or even sit down for a long chat over a meal..."