Underwater Photography and Videography, News, Forums, Trips, Photo Contests :: Wetpixel.com

The topic of license fees pops up occasionally as more shooters win awards and are offered what seems to be low fees for rights to the works. This discussion now features online video content host Underwater Channel’s offer to one member. Join the discussion as professionals and amateurs alike discuss compensation and how to view this growing media outlet and it’s effects on traditional views, juxtaposed against the burgeoning tsunami of content available online as equipment allows more people to publish their works. What is your view on this matter?

Just released: DiveFilm HD Podcast episode 31, which is a cool short film shot by Backscatter’s Jim Decker and Russ Sanoian on the Canon EOS 5D Mark II DSLR.

Mary Lynn Price says, “I am just so impressed by the HD footage possible with this DSLR, I’m fighting hard not to take the leap to this cam! Really love what I’m seeing both uw and topside with this cam...”

This podcast video has been converted in Final Cut Pro to ProResHQ, edited, then compressed using Compressor to AppleTV spec for the HD podcast. The original footage is Canon’s variant of long-GOP H.264 1920x1080 30p at 40 Mbits/sec. The encoded podcast is H.264 1280x720 24p at 5 Mbits/sec. Compressed file size is 93 MB.

The Underwater Images photography competition has just announced its 2009 winners. Congratulations to Wetpixel member Keri Wilk (SlipperyDick) for winning Best of Show, and to all the other winners! Many of the winners are Wetpixel members, and because the competition website doesn’t have a gallery of images, members have started posting their winning images in the Wetpixel forum.

We’ve just had a cancellation and are looking for 1-3 more photographers to join us in the Ogasawara Islands in Japan this coming October, 2009 to photograph sperm whales. We leave Tokyo by ferry on October 8, and return on the 20th. Sperm whales are the largest carnivores on the planet, and can be inquisitive, allowing photographers to approach very closely.

Full details can be found on our sperm whale expedition page!

Our friends over at Underwater Photography magazine have just released UwP49, a 76-page downloadable PDF. UwP49 includes reviews of the Aquatica, Epoque, Sea & Sea, and Fuji housings as well as destination pieces and articles on technique by Alex Mustard, Jeff Hartog, Mark Webster, and others.

Also, UwP’s (paid) online classifieds page is back, so if our classifieds forum isn’t enough for you to sell your kit, check it out!

The Taiwanese American Community Center of San Diego has just moved to a new location and is proud to present an exhibition of underwater imagery by photographer Eric Cheng (http://echeng.com). The exhibit includes 14 vibrant, aluminum prints of marine wildlife including sharks, whales, waves, jellyfish, and corals. The show opens on Tuesday, July 7, 2009, and runs through August 8, 2009.

Meet Eric at an open reception on Saturday, July 11, 2009 between 1PM-5PM.

Location:
Taiwanese American Community Center
7838 Wilkerson Ct., San Diego, CA 92111

Exhibition dates:
July 7 through August 8, 2009

DivePhotoGuide is hosting a digital Nikonos industry design challenge:

“Produce an adapter or modify a camera to work with existing Nikons lenses, particularly the 15mm or Nikonos RS wide angle lenses, or build a digital back for existing Nikonos bodies.”

As a prize for any manufacturer who develops a working prototype, DPG will offer free advertising and help marketing the product, should the prototype become a real product. The deadline for the contest is December 31, 2009.

Digital Photography Review has posted an article comparing 5 waterproof digital cameras: Canon PowerShot D10, Fuji FinPix Z33WP, Olympus Stylus Tough 8000 / 6000, and Pentax Optio W60. The five cameras range in price from $185 to $330, and are waterproof up to 33ft in depth. Tests include outdoor tests, low light / high ISO tests, flash tests, and underwater performance.

The article concludes that “the [PowerShot] D10 produced the sharpest, most detailed images of all the cameras in this group test at low ISO settings, both in and out of the water. This, combined with responsive performance and a straightforward user interface that has been proven on other cameras in the PowerShot series, means that if you were shopping for a waterproof camera mainly to use in the water, then you can stop reading right now and go order the D10.”