Palau Digital Shootout 2006 Daily Webcast

by Eric Cheng Monday, April 17th, 2006

Welcome to the Digital Shootout Palau 2006 daily webcast, by Eric Cheng
The Digital Shootout 2006 is run by Backscatter and Light & Motion,
with support from Wetpixel.com, Sam's Tours, and the Palau Pacific Resort

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our participants go mud-crazy after too many seminars! (photo: james watt)

April 7, 2006

Today is officially crazy topside photo day. I've been nagging participants virtually non-stop to submit topside photos, and it has finally paid off. The only bummer about having so many photos is that at current upload speeds, it's going to take me a long, long time to get them all online. Hey, Palau! Get fiber to your island already!

Yesterday was an academic break for participants and staff alike; most boats did two dives plus a trip to Jellyfish Lake, followed by either a night dive or leisurely dinner in "downtown" Koror. And speaking of Jellyfish Lake, it was absolutely off the scale when we (on Silvertip) arrived there in the mid-afternoon. The shadows had already started creeping out into the middle of the lake, driving the jellyfish en masse into the center. In fact, the Mastigias sp. were so thick that snorkelers only a couple of feet apart might be completely obscured from each other's sight! Incredible, incredible experience. I didn't want to leave, and by the end of our time there, the few of us who were left had the lake all to ourselves (well, if you don't count the 15 million jellies pulsing around us).

By all reports, Blue Corner has been "going off" as well, with strong current driving jacks and barracuda into swirling vortices and bringing circling sharks into photographic range. Jim Watt has been somehow hitting Blue Corner nearly every day, and he has nailed some really impressive photos of eagle rays.

After tomorrow, all of the staff will have finally been given the opportunity to dive with all of the participants. There is a great deal of boat bonding going on, and in fact, I can't imagine a better way to bond with someone than by hanging off of a reef hook (which actually saves the reef rather than damages it) in a three-knot current at Blue Corner.

Selected Underwater Photos by Participants

photo: Don Ashbrook

photo: Mel Betley

photo: Ellen Blumenfeld

photo: Ken Blumenfeld

photo: Jane Call

photo: Kim Jameson

photo: Richard McGonegal

photo: Randy Schafer

photo: Philip Seys

photo: Harriet Smith

photo: Marty Steinberg

photo: Michelle Steinberg

photo: Yrjo Trog

photo: Dean Ulven

photo: Monte West

Topside Photos

photo: Harriet Smith

photo: Jaxie Gowen

(photo: Eric Cheng)

photo: Jaxie Gowen

(photo: Eric Cheng)

photo: James Watt

photo: Randy Schafer

photo: Marty Steinberg

photo: James Watt

photo: Marty Steinberg

photo: Richard McGonegal

photo: Marty Steinberg

(photo: Eric Cheng)

photo: Richard McGonegal

(photo: Eric Cheng)

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next day: april 8, 2006 >>

totally flabbergasted at what you produced behind our backs... you certainly are a whizzzzkid. fun to look at all those memories. we miss the whole excitement, slavery, indoctrination and wonderful company already. switzerland is nice, but diving's better. and yezzzz i am sweet and juicy, but monsieur cheng, you did not have to proclaim this to the whole world.....
Posted by catnap on 2006-04-19 05:26:47 Something must be wrong w/ that Professional Photographer(TM)'s camera - it's only using 1/2 the megapixels :-)
Posted by James Wiseman on 2006-04-17 13:38:55 Eric, Just wanted to give a shout out to Dan. Let him know that I've got my FCP editing course ready and am wrapping up the HD workflow chapters. I'll be teaching in the Spring. So I am ready to help edit his footage when he is back in Chicago! Venson
Posted by Venson on 2006-04-07 10:59:19 Awesome, and here I am at work. Sign me up for next year!
Posted by loftus on 2006-04-05 11:22:46 Hello Shootout staff, I wish that I was there with you guys.The images that you have posted Eric are great. I have been looking for Berks booties on E-Bay in the vintage bronzed section but have had no luck finding them.Do you know if he is keeping those worn out relics? Keep up the great work! Hope to join you guys on the next Shoot out. Michael
Posted by mcarey on 2006-04-04 22:21:05 Hi Eric, Say Hi to everyone - wish I could be there! Ask Mel how my Nikon 17-35AFS lens is doing :-) I hope she's taking good care of my baby...
Posted by James Wiseman on 2006-04-04 08:41:50