adamhanlon

Seahorses are an iconic species that are often found in places that few people imagine them to be. Wetpixel Live regular contributor @Alex_Mustard talks about his 5 favorite images of these amazing creatures, and provides some thoughts on how to best photograph them.

Many of the most accomplished underwater photographers attribute their success to diving and interacting frequently with fellow photographers. This can provide logistical support, advice, and creative inspiration. Adam and Alex discuss whether diving with other photographers may the single best way of improving your own photography.

Hey Chris...we have a while episode coming up about tool kits! Regular contributor Alex Mustard and Wetpixel Editor Adam Hanlon discuss how they clean and maintain their underwater photography gear between dive trips and assignments.

Underwater photography equipment represents a significant investment, and a frequently asked question in the Wetpixel Forum is how best to ensure that it remains functional in the field. Regular contributor Alex Mustard and Wetpixel Editor Adam Hanlon discuss their essential tips for looking after your underwater imaging gear in the field Wetpixel Live is a series of discussions that aim to answer some of the questions that frequently crop up on the Wetpixel Forum. With over 20 episodes posted, and many more being created daily, they are a resource for all underwater photographers. Please subscribe to the Wetpixel Live channel to be informed when new episodes are posted.

The +3 wet lens is actually a +5 that was made by FIT. I understand that they are no longer making them sadly. In terms of compatibility with M4/3s, it will be as compatible as any other wet lens, but will only be needed if your lens has a working distance that is some distance in front of the port and/or this is a problem. I wood suggest that if you are finding the CMC a bit strong, and can still work the lighting, just back off a little? Adam

There is some barrel distortion with WACP-1, but certainly not enough to worry me shooting models or free divers (of any gender) in a natural setting. I would argue that the ability to use shallow depth of field with significantly reduced distortion is a huge advantage.. For pool type shoots, WACP-2 would undoubtedly be better though.

Another relatively recent development in optical equipment for underwater photographers is the availability of a seeming plethora of “wet” close-up lenses. In this episode of Wetpixel Live, Wetpixel Editor Adam Hanlon and regular contributor Alex Mustard chat through the options and make some recommendations about which macro underwater photographers should consider.

I use dry gloves for just about everything in the UK. They are actually more dextrous than wet suit gloves underwater, as they compress down. When you hands get cold, it becomes impossible to adjust settings. Check out our discussion about gloves in part 2 here:

I wouldn't shoot the 16-35mm with a 230mm dome with the Sea&Sea modifier at much less than f/10 or f/11. I will shoot the WACP 1 at f/5 and the pictures get published! Certainly, in dark gloomy conditions, the WACP will let you get shots that are simply impossible to get with a dome/lens combination. If you always shot at f/13 or above, I guess the differences are much less marked. Some of it depends on which camera you are using it with, and I haven't really been happy generally with the 16-35mm with the D850. The resolution really shows up the optical flaws in the system.Certainly I find that I use the WACP a lot, and the 16-35mm less and less. I love the RS13 conversions, but they are definitely a fisheye lens. I find that the 8-15mm with a 170 mm dome gives acceptable results even at pretty large apertures. I think for some things like GWS from a shark cage, when a very open aperture will give strobes a better reach, the RS is an amazing tool, but it is a different one to the WACP (either version). WACP-1 is around 1.4 kg heavier than a 230mm dome, extension and 16-35mm lens. Although this is significant, in the big scheme of things, this is easily managed for travel. Both are heavy solutions! 1/160@f/5, ISO400 Nikon D850, Nikkor 28-70 f/3.5-4.5, Nauticam WACP, Seacam Seaflash 60 strobes

Nauticam released the Wide Angle Conversion Port (WACP) back in 2017. This port, along with manufacturers modifying Nikonos RS lenses for use with modern cameras, has rekindled an enthusiasm for water contact optics. At DEMA 2019, Nauticam released a second version of the WACP, which has caused some confusion among underwater image makers as to which option to choose. Adam and Alex set out to try and explain the differences between the versions in this episode of Wetpixel Live.

Nikon has released a series of graphics detailing their planned lens release road map for the Z series mirrorless cameras: Of note is the addition of both 60 and 105mm Macro lenses. Still no native fisheye option however...

Over on Wetpixel Live, we present part 2 of Alex Mustard and Adam Hanlon’s discussion about dive gear for underwater photographers. In it, we discuss wetsuits, pockets, drysuits, fins, gloves, and dive computers, with the emphasis boom on what works well for us when capturing images underwater. Please subscribe to the channel to keep abreast of new episodes as they are released.

While we are all photographers, we are also divers. In a 2 part episode of Wetpixel Live, Adam and Alex discuss some ideas about what diving gear works for them, and how they configure their gear in order to try and maximize photographic opportunities. Wetpixel Live is a series of short talks aimed at addressing some of the problems that underwater photographer often experience and to answer questions that recur frequently here on the forums. Please subscribe to the channel to keep abreast of new episodes as they are released.

Wetpixel Live: Strobe Arms and Clamps by Adam Hanlon Friday, July 31st, 2020 edit As underwater photographers, we often get caught up in the exciting gear like cameras, housings, and lenses and end up ignoring the more basic, but equally crucial items. Arguably, one of these is strobe arms and clamps, and in this episode of Wetpixel Live, Alex and Adam discuss their approaches to these more mundane, but very important tools. If you enjoy this episode, please subscribe to the Wetpixel Live YouTube Channel. This will then notify you when additional episodes are posted in the future. Wetpixel Live is crammed full of hard-edged technical information and practical advice aimed at helping people create memorable images.

It is National Marine Week in the UK and to celebrate this, Adam and Alex share their favorite seal images on Wetpixel Live. Diving with and photographing seals is one of the most fun things you can do underwater, and these iconic creatures are such a feature of UK diving. Wetpixel Live is a YouTube channel devoted to short films helping explain the hard-edged information people need to improve their underwater images. To see more of the channel and to be informed about new releases, please head on over to the channel and subscribe.