Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

Wetpixel Ultimate Indonesia Expeditions, Mar/Apr 2009

Last-minute, discounted spots are still available for second trip of the Wetpixel Ultimate Indonesia expedition. Join Eric Cheng and Indonesia dive-guide extraordinaire Graham Abbott on a charter especially set up for photographers. We will have a flexible itinerary that will bring us from Ambon, through the Banda Sea, to the famous sea snake island of Guning Api (featured in BBC’s Planet Earth series), and the amazing critter life around Alor, Pantar, Flores and finally Maumere. Contact Dan Baldocchi at .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address) for details.

EXPEDITION #1: Sorong, Halmahera, Ambon | March 7-22, 2009 (15 days)

Fully booked.

EXPEDITION #2: Ambon, Banda Sea, Maumere | March 25-April 9, 2009 (15 days)
UPDATE:

5 spots available

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

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

SDUPS announces 40th Film Festival in San Diego, Apr 25, 2009

The San Diego Underwater Photographic Society (SDUPS) is proud to announce that its 40th Film Festival will be held in San Diego, CA at Qualcomm Hall on April 25, 2009.

In celebration of this, SDUPS’s 40th Film Festival, SDUPS has expanded the film festival’s program to include: a) a Matinee Show featuring films from SDUPS members, b) a reception honoring many of San Diego’s underwater pioneers, c) a headliner film from Steve Drogin shot utilizing his DeepSee submarine, and d) a worldwide film contest that includes a $500 first place prize.

Tuesday, February 10th, 2009

NCUPS, Backscatter host free underwater photo and video seminar

The Northern California Underwater Photographic Society (NCUPS), Backscatter’s Berkley White, and Wallin’s Dive Center are hosting a two-day underwater digital photo and video workshop on February 13-14, 2009. The event is free and open to the public, and will cater to the full range of novice through advanced divers and underwater photographers.

The Friday night classroom seminar will involve a presentation of underwater imagery and a discussion of techniques, while the Saturday morning event will be a hands-on pool session with tips for each individual’s specific shooting needs. Backscatter will also have demo gear to try out for those interested in the various equipment choices - continue reading for more details…

Monday, February 9th, 2009

Come join Wetpixel at Beneath the Sea!

Wetpixel needs help manning its booth at Beneath the Sea this year! This is your opportunity to get involved in the largest consumer scuba and dive show in the USA. We need two volunteers to man the booth and showcase Wetpixel Quarterly, the magazine that features the best in underwater photography. In addition to our eternal gratitude, we’ll throw in a free 1-year subscription to Wetpixel Quarterly!

If you’re interested, please .(JavaScript must be enabled to view this email address).

Friday, February 6th, 2009

Watershot, Inc. releases underwater housing for Canon EOS 450D/XSi

Watershot, Inc. has announced that the Watershot Digital housing brand has finally been released, beginning with the WDS-450D housing kit for the 12.2 megapixel Canon EOS 450D/XSi digital SLR.

Machined from a solid block of aluminum, the housing features a standard flat port for the 18-55mm lens, hand strap, two optical strobe bulkheads (wired bulkheads coming soon), and leak sensor. Also in development are housings for the new Canon 50D and 5D Mark II. Check out the housing kit for more information, or continue reading for photos of the Watershot 450 XSi housing…

Friday, February 6th, 2009

Sneak preview of Gates underwater video housing for RED camera

Lee Peterson has posted some images of the new Gates underwater video housing for the RED camera:

This is the first look at the new Gates video housing for the RED camera. John has done an amazing job with this housing and all the special attention to detail has really paid off. This is truly the best of the best in underwater video housings. The new underwater optical lens for this housing will produce the finest quality imagery possible. the external monitor can be placed on top or on the back of the housing to suit the particular needs of the video photographer.

Last October, John Ellerbrock of Gates Housings took Wetpixel on a tour of the new RED housing, but the housing was still in the early prototype stage.

Wednesday, February 4th, 2009

From the forums: More corner sharpness tests

Corner sharpness, with rectilinear wide angle lenses behind dome ports, is a commonly debated topic on the Wetpixel forums. There are many variables: different domes, different port extensions, different lenses, different formats (full frame, versus cropped sensor) and different dioptres or no dioptres at all.

Of course it is possible to determine the theoretically correct dome port and dioptre setup for a lens, but many photographers find that deviating away from the theoretically perfect setup gives them the flexibility and results they are after in the field. Underwater tests are invaluable in determining performance, and for seeing the differences between different setups.

A recent thread about Nikon’s impressive 14-24mm lens has blossomed into a discussion where several photographers, Karin Brussaard, Stephen Frink and Alex Mustard, have been kind enough to share some of their tests of both Nikon and Canon lenses. See their results and join the discussion.

Wednesday, February 4th, 2009

Google launches Ocean in Google Earth 5.0

Google yesterday released the latest version of its Google Earth software, for the first time introducing a new layer called “Ocean,” an oceanography component that allows you to “plunge all the way to the floor of the sea, view exclusive content from partners like BBC and National Geographic, and explore 3D shipwrecks like the Titanic.”

Wetpixel member Bruce Yates (bmyates) had the opportunity to attend the official launch of Google Earth 5.0 at the California Academy of Sciences in San Francisco, and has written a report of the event, with photographs of notable attendees Sylvia Earle, Al Gore, and Jimmy Buffett. Continue reading for the report, or learn more about Google Earth’s Ocean...

Tuesday, February 3rd, 2009

Are you the Face of Australia?

The Underwater Channel (UWC), a new web TV Channel for divers, is dedicated to the mysteries and marvels of the underwater world. UWC is looking to light up diving in Australia for its international audience on The Underwater Channel, and is (in association with PADI), seeking an experienced diver to present a monthly dive report, primarily from the Australian east coast. You will join an international team of Faces of The Underwater Channel around the world to become the Face of Australia.

If you’re interested, send in a video application to UWC! Submission deadline is 28 Feb, 2009.

Friday, January 30th, 2009

Dome Port Diaries - Chapter 8: Season Finale - Into the Blue

Having migrated the gear from plane to rental car, and from car to dive resort, it was time to unpack and plan the next day. The evening of arrival, (what was left of it anyway), I reassembled the rig.

To fit in its Pelican case, I had removed the handles, each wrapped in the socks they give you in Business or First class; a small token along with a slightly wider seat and a “kit” containing toothpaste, a toothbrush, lotion, lip balm, and tissues.

While re-attaching the handles, I had my first panic moment; what the hell did I do with the hex wrench for the handles? Could I have forgotten something so obvious and important? ...

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