Articles
Final Call: Underwater Photographer of the Year
The 2018 Underwater Photographer of the Year (UPY) contest is making its final call for entries. For images, it offers 8 international categories, along with 3 for images taken in UK waters. There is also a category for books. The deadline for entries is midnight GMT on 2 January 2018.
Don Silcock: The Manta Rays of Milne Bay
Don Silcock continues his illustrated guide to diving and photographing the underwater sites of Milne Bay, Papua New Guinea. This article discusses the amazing manta ray cleaning stations of Gonu Bara Bara Island, which offer exceptional encounters with reef mantas (Mobula alfredi) and features his stunning images.
National Geographic Best Animal Photos of 2017
National Geographic has released their list of 39 Best Animal Photos of 2017 from published stories of the past year. The list includes several stunning underwater images from National Geographic underwater photographers Brian Skerry, David Doubilet, Jennifer Hayes, Laurent Ballesta, and Thomas Peschak, in locations such as Baja, Mexico and Tubbataha.
Paper investigates hammerhead shark mating
A paper published in the Environmental Biology of Fishes journal investigates the mating behavior of the endangered scalloped hammerhead shark (Sphyrna lewini). Based on observations from the Isla de Coco National Park, Costa Rica, the study utilized video of sharks copulating. (
Inon ships UCL-90 Close Up lens
Inon has announced the UCL-90 close up lenses. Available in M67 and LD bayonet versions, the lens offers +11 magnification with a minimum working distance of 69mm (2.7in.) with an 100mm SLR lens. Optically, it has HR glass in 3 elements in 2 groups with achromatic internal lenses and an anti reflective coating.
A new study explores the deep sea food chain
In a study published this month, scientists from MBARI (Monterey Bay Aquarium Research Institute) investigated the larger picture of the deep sea food chain. The study is a result of nearly thirty years of cameras being deployed for observations off the central California coast, sometimes at a depth of up to two-and a half miles deep. The ROVs revealed 242 unique feeding relationships comprised of 84 different predators and 82 different prey. Most notably, scientists have realized what an important food role jellies play in the larger food chain.
UN seeks to protect high seas
On 24 December, 140 member states of the United Nations voted to launch a 2 year process aiming to creating an international treaty to protect the high seas. This would extend protections to the oceans beyond national maritime boundaries. International waters account for over half the planet’s surface. The process will convene a two year intergovernmental conference to establish full treaty negotiations.
Underwater photographer winners of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year share their process
Underwater photographer category winners of the 2017 NHM Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest share their processes to their winning shots. Three underwater photographers, Tony Wu, Michel Roggo, and Laurent Ballesta, each talk about working in three very different environments to achieve their winning shots. The images include sperm whales in Sri Lanka, water hyacinths in the Pantanal, and an iceberg in Antarctica.
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