International underwater photography grand prix, World ShootOut , will take place worldwide in August 2011

World ShootOut Registration, Participation and Submission throughout the whole month of August, 2011!

Due to an increasing demand for flexibility in World ShootOut dates, we are happy to announce that competition registration, participation and image submission can be carried out throughout the whole month of August, 2011.

Yes, you can register to the competition, capture competition images and submit them to the competition website throughout the whole month of August!

Since it's the first year that the WorldShoot Out takes place, the producer announced a special introductory bonus -

A free set of images in  each category a participant registers to!

Final deadline for competition registration and images submission  is  August 31st, 2011.  It is  recommended, however, to register  ahead in order to avoid any last-minute problems. 

The World ShootOut will take place in August, 2011, in any natural water resource found around the world, including seas, oceans, lakes, rivers, under the ice and more. 

• 7 creative categories
•         21 lucky winners
•         Incredible cash, holiday and equipment prizes
•         Complete  freedom to choose your own diving destination  

      
More about new rules & regulations, competition time table and further information can be found on the competition website .

Good luck!


World ShootOut Team

www.worldshootout.org

Contribute to the Ocean in Focus Conservation Photography Contest

Your Chance to Submit Photos
Will Be Gone in a Flash

Contribute to the Ocean in Focus Conservation Photography Contest
       

                       

 
SeaWeb's Marine Photobank and Project AWARE Foundation 
encourage you to submit your compelling ocean photos to the
Ocean in Focus Conservation Photography Contest.
 
::
 
Submit your photos that engage viewers
in pressing marine issues and solutions
that address the rapid decline of our ocean's health.
 
::

Submissions must be received by August 27th, 2009.
 
::

Grand prize package includes:

    · Seven nights ocean-view accommodations at MATAVA, a premier eco-adventure resort in Fiji. Package includes five days, two-tank diving for two and six days unlimited shore diving for two as well as round-trip airport transfers.
    · A DVD copy of A Sea Change.
    · 16 tons of Carbon Offsets through NativeEnergy for your home and car for one year, plus carbon offsets for one round-trip air flight.

 
::
 

Photo Contest Home page >>

Forward e-mail

    Contest Sponsored by:

                                                        

           

  

     Prize Donors Include:

                                                                    

                         

                                      

     

 

              

Project Aware  |   Marine Photobank  |  SeaWeb  |   PADI

Photos: Left: Laysan Albatross, Midway Atoll, HI. Jennifer O'Leary. 
Right: Laysan Albatross Chick, Kure Atoll, HI. Claire Fackler, NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries

Shark Photography

Shark Photography can be a challenging subject but for many underwater photographers the reward of capturing the moment with one of the world's most formidable ocean creatures is worth the struggle and frustration.

To get good photographs of sharks you don't have to have the world's best camera or go to the most exotic locations to get spectacular images. A few short lessons from an experienced shark photographer can be a big help but before you read all of the 'how to photograph sharks' pages, please take a look at the 'ethics' page at the top of the list.

The Ethics of Photographing Sharks

Shark Photography - Composition

Shark Photography - Strobe use

Shark Photography - Exposure challenges

Shark Photography - Shooting Sharks at Night

Shark Photography - Photographing rays on sand

Shark Photography - Getting Close

Shark Photography - Surface work and using Pole Cams

Project Deep Shark

Shark Photography

International Photo Competition

Matava is proud to be a sponsor of the International Photo Competition.

Underwater images is operated as an independent underwater photo and video competition. Underwater Images is an Ohio (USA) not-for-profit corporation. Proceeds from the competition are donated to Marine Conservation and Education causes.

Inner space is a relatively new frontier for mankind that will open new horizons in science and medicine, as well as art and recreation. The purpose of the Underwater Images Photo/Video Competition is to raise the awareness of the ecological importance of preserving marine habitats that represent Nature's oldest and most stable living ecosystems. This will create more conscientious diving practices and generate new interests in the realm of marine environmental science and education.

The Underwater Images Photo/Video Competition is a non-profit corporation with proceeds donated to benefit marine conservation and marine education programs. For more information see our contributions page.

If you have a charitable marine conservation or education organization, that would like to apply for a grant, please send information to director2008@uwimages.org. Organizations must be an approved 501c3 charitable organization.

Underwater Images is operated by three Directors and a number of volunteers. The Directors for 2007-2008 are Roger Roth, Mark Beatty, and Carol Kender.

Roger Roth is the Competition Chairman and Founder. Roger is an avid underwater videographer, a member of the Gavia Scuba Club, and on the board of the OCSSDI. Roger also does underwater video production and has hosted underwater video seminars. Roger has won numerous photo competitions internationally before starting Underwater Images.

Mark Beatty is a Director and the Competition Webmaster. Mark is an amateur underwater still photographer and videographer and also moderates several email discussion groups on Underwater Photography and Underwater Video. Mark has been an officer in the Ohio Council of Skin & Scuba Divers as well as two dive clubs in Southwest Ohio.

Carol Kender is a Director and in charge of promotion and advertizing for the competition. Carol formerly owned a dive shop, and served on the board of Scubafest, and is still greatly involved in the diving industry.
Additional help is provided by many members of the Gavia Scuba Club members and the OCSSDI members and dive show staff.

Independent Judges are selected each year for judging. Our judges this year will be Stan Waterman, Bob Talbott, Georgienne Bradley and Jay Ireland.

Our Competition Sponsors also provide extensive assistance with prizes, promotion, and financial support.

2009 Competition

• Call For Entries Press Release
• Sponsors
• Prize & Sponsor List
• Competition Rules
• Printable PDF entry form (print and mail or scan and email)
• Step-by-step Instructions to Enter

Notice - Underwater Images will not be presenting awards or presentations at Scubafest for 2009, but instead will be making all announcements and awards on this website.

Feedback and Discussion
If you would like to give or receive feedback on underwater photography, Please consider joining one of the web forums or email discussion groups in the COMMUNITY AREA.

International Photo Competition

Dive Buddy Photo Album

Making the Jump: Going Digital Photo

Backscatter

Making the Jump: Going Digital Photo

By Brad Brown

Since the day I reviewed the first slides produced using my Nikonos V seven years ago I have asked myself 'Why are so many of my images rubbish?' I can't blame the camera. The Nikonos V is capable of producing magnificent images. I've concluded rather that the problem lies with my inability to use the camera to its fullest potential.

The learning curve is steep. I made my greatest jump up this curve during a week of diving in on the island of Sipadan. The resort photo pro processed E6 several times a day. I was able to apply what I learned reviewing my slides within hours of exposure. Consequently my rubbish heap shrank as my relative quantity of keepers grew. When the digital SLR became an option I saw the potential right away. The prospects of
1) instant image review
2) never running out of film
3) autofocus
made the switch from the Nikonos alluring.

I made the decision to buy a Canon 20D and a Subal C20 housing. Since my purchase I have been able to build upon my Nikonos experience while benefiting from those advantages a digital SLR affords. The principles are the same. Only the medium and the methods are different.

My rubbish heap is now a virtual trashcan on my Mac's desktop."

Read the whole article: Making the Jump: Going Digital Photo

Why I love my Focus Light!

Underwater Photography - Why I love my Focus Light!

By Brad Brown

"I first fell in love with my focus light on a clear star(fish) filled night in Indonesia. Earlier that day, with the assistance of my light, I’d managed to photograph orange pygmy seahorses, ornamental ghost pipefish and a myriad other macro critters I'd anticipated seeing on this first trip to Lembeh Strait. It wasn’t until that night though that I came to the realization that my focus light and I were going to become inseparable. Several minutes into the dive I spotted my subject: a flamboyant cuttlefish. I subdued my excitement and focused (literally) on the task.

After getting down low, made a few camera adjustments and fired away. The brilliant flash of the strobe, normally especially apparent at night, was absent. All thoughts of the perfect cuttlefish shot were thrown out as I began to consider the possibilities. Did I flood my housing? The moisture sensor was not blinking. On a hunch I decided to raise the ISO setting on my digital SLR from 100 to 400 and shoot again. A very dim review image appeared on the LCD. It became apparent that the camera was functioning fine. The strobes were simply not firing. That night my focus light was doing double duty as my primary dive light. I subsequently found that if I adjusted my ISO to 800 and moved very close the subject I could capture marginally passable images by focus light illumination alone.

Imagine the frustration I would have had to endure had I not been able to photograph the second Flamboyant Cuttlefish I encountered later that evening. Post-dive I discovered I had not properly seated the strobe connector to the camera hot shoe. The strobes had not been receiving the signal to fire."

Backscatter Underwater Photography - Why I love my Focus Light!:

Fiji Special Photo-Site by Don

"I am glad to have a chance to have experienced a memorable trip to Matava. Also, you guys there have done a fabulous job contributing lots to the education of our fragile environment and needs to conserving them for the future generations, cultural as well as Improving the social status of the locals. Hope the “Fiji Special” will contribute towards your goal."

Vinaka

Don, Hin Lim

Hin Lim Photography

274, Victoria Street
Richmond 3121 Victoria,
Australia
Tel: +61 (0) 3 9421 1548 (available on Thursday and Friday)

HP: 0401 012 374

BSAC calls for photos

The British Sub-Aqua Club is looking for a new photograph for the BSAC membership card and would like to invite members to contribute.

If you have an eye-catching, diving-related image that can be used in landscape and you are a member of BSAC, e-mail your photo to sandrac@bsac.com.

Reef Photo & Video Now Offers Impressive D200 Seatool Housing

Reef Photo & Video Now Offers Impressive D200 Seatool Housing



Reef Photo & Video is excited to offer the world's SMALLEST & LIGHTEST housing for the Nikon D200 Digital SLR Camera

In keeping with their tradition of ultra compact underwater photographic housings, Seatool is proud to offer yet another revolutionary housing that brings a new level of underwater SLR performance to divers worldwide with the D200 Ultra Compact SLR housing.

Ultra compact, lightweight body
The Seatool D200 underwater housing for the Nikon D200 is machined from pure, solid blocks of aluminum to produce a light weight yet rugged package that will offer many years of service, yet keep weight to a minimum. Small and light enough to hand carry on aircraft, it's the perfect tool for the traveling diver faced with strict airline weight restrictions.

Because the housing body conforms so closely to the camera, the housing attains nearly neutral buoyancy (slightly negative) for effortless underwater handling handling. It also means that all camera controls are placed within easy reach, even for divers with small hands.

Premium Port Optics
The Seatool D200 features a selection of multicoated glass port optics to insure that you get the very best images possible from your camera.

Industry's Finest Latching System: Cam-Lock
One of the housing's most innovative features are its cam-lock latches. These latches employ a locking cam lever to securely lock the housing back with little effort. Locking latches, prevent accidental opening.

Versatile Strobe Compatibility
Both optical and Nikonos style sync ports allow virtually any strobe on the market to be attached. Automatic & Accurate Optical TTL is possible with the sophisticated Inon D-2000 and Z-240 series strobes. Any strobe that can be attached via Nikonos style sync connectors can also be used.

Easy Camera Installation
A quick release camera tray offers effortless installation and removal of the camera with simple control alignment.

The end result of this meticulous attention to detail is the smallest, lightest underwater housing available for the Nikon D200.

Seatool - The Housing for the Next Generation
The Seatool D200 represents the state of the art in high performance underwater housings, and does so in the smallest D200 housing ever offered. Contact one of our friendly Seatool dealers today to reserve yours!

To find out more, click here: http://www.seatoolusa.com/d200/

About Reef Photo & Video
Fort Lauderdale, FL, based Reef Photo & Video is the USA importer for Seatool Underwater Photo & Video Equipment. Reef Photo & Video has a full service retail store offering the finest underwater imaging brands under one roof, the industry's most comprehensive e-commerce site, and unequaled commitment to customer service. Staffed by divers, Reef Photo & Video prides itself on having the most knowledgeable sales staff in the industry.

To learn more about Reef Photo & Video: www.reefphoto.com

Lots of Power Wherever You Go

The Underwater Photographer

Lots of Power Wherever You Go

A digital diver is typically loaded down with electronic toys that will inevitably need recharging. We don't always have the luxury of a sophisticated charging station like on some of the nicer live-aboards, and finding a place to plug in all your rechargeables can sometimes be an issue, especially when traveling internationally.

We've discovered this wonderful 220 power strip/surge protector that will work in every country you visit. Its not a converter, so don't plug in a device that needs 110, but for those 220 devices that have the standard US plug, this is a great little device to carry with you when traveling overseas. You can also plug in any other plug type since the plugs are universal.

The BB-13 Surge Multi-Outlet Surge Protector has the highest clamping voltage rating that is given at 300 volts. It comes with a European "schuko" plug but with the optional grounding adapter, WA-GF, any plug adapter can be added to enable this extraordinary surge protector to be used anywhere in the world. To date, I've used this power strip in Indonesia, Fiji and Hong Kong and it has worked flawlessly.

You can pick up an international power strip and all the optional grounded converters online from the Travel Oasis store.

The Underwater Photographer

Digital SLR Cameras Underwater

Digital SLR Cameras Underwater

By Berkley White, Backscatter

Film vs. Digital Overview

For background information on the advantages and disadvantages of shooting digital over film, please see our previous article . While digital might not be the solution for 100% of underwater shooters, my personal experience with underwater digital stills leads me to the following conclusion.

Digital is the best solution for all new shooters that are remotely comfortable with computers. The value of instant feedback is priceless. Experienced shooters that have a working knowledge and a high success ratio with film techniques will need to evaluate their options more closely. For myself, the new digital SLRís offer me the user interface and exposure control that I have been looking for and are only inhibited with their inability to capture extreme highlight detail at the same quality as film. Based on my experiences detailed below, digital, specifically the Nikon D100 is about to become my choice for 90% of my underwater work."

Read the whole article here: Digital SLR Cameras Underwater

Your Own Personal Rinse Tank

Your Own Personal Rinse Tank
by Bonnie Pelnar

Although many dive operators are keen to the needs of underwater photographers, the reality of having such luxuries as a fresh water rinse tank on some dive boats is still just a bit too much to ask. Other boats might have more photographers than room to accommodate the expensive toys they bring with them, and the risk of rinse tank floods due to too many cameras getting jerked around in one trash can is just too high.

A great solution is to bring your own! Although it sounds like a hassle, it is common to see divers, especially on day trips, bring their own portable rolling or collapsible cooler for their personal use as a rinse tank.

Read the whole article a: The Underwater Photographer

Keep Your Towel as Dry as Your Humor

The Underwater Photographer

Keep Your Towel as Dry as Your Humor

You've hauled your camera housing out of the ocean and into the dunk tank to carefully desalinate it, now you've got it on a bench and you pop the back off. Oops! Where did that water on the camera come from?

It's important to wipe off water from a housing and -- for that matter -- your face and hair before you open a housing so loose water doesn't drip into the delicate electronics inside the housing. And although some dive operations offer towels to do so, many don't, so it's worth bringing your own towel for drying off your housing.

Towels are heavy and bulky, though, and when you're trying to squeeze every last ounce out of an airline's stingy baggage allowance, most people would rather pack more dive or photo gear than towels. That's why traveling dive photographers and videographers should consider a backpacker towel.

These towels are made of viscose rayon, which is extremely lightweight and low bulk. They're also very absorbent, and they dry very quickly so you won't have to to dry off a housing with a dripping towel. If a backpacker towel gets really wet, you can simply wring out the towel and it's ready to dry again. Backpacker towels also typically come with a snap loop on one corner, so if you're using it on the windy deck of a dive boat, you can snap it to your housing or a convenient pole so it doesn't blow away.

One source where you can buy backpacker towels is at Amazon, where they're sold under the name "PackTowl."

They come in a variety of sizes from hand towels to bath towels. I take two on a trip so one will always be dry, and I use them when packing to wrap up delicate equipment. I'm glad to have them on hand because I like my housings -- like humor and martinis -- dry.

Mike Boom

The Underwater Photographer

The New York Underwater Photographic Society Presents

A SPECIAL EVENING OF UNDERWATER IMAGERY IN THE HEART OF NYC

July 9, 2007 (New York, NY): The New York Underwater Photographic Society, is the youngest and fastest growing in the world. Based in the heart of New York City, one of the art and photography capitals of the world, the Society launched in April of this year, and already has over 120 members.

The NYUPS will host a special event on Thursday July 12, 2007 at 6:30PM, at The Rock Theatre in the Times Square Arts Center, 300 West 43rd St at 8th Avenue, in Manhattan, for members and anyone wishing to learn more about underwater photography.

Michael McNamara, Technical Editor of Popular Photography and Imaging Magazines will be presenting New Gear Preview & How to Produce Amazing Underwater Prints, and underwater photographer Mark Snyder, will present Improving Your Underwater Lighting.

The presentations will be followed by a small cocktail reception and Networking hour, sponsored by H2OPhotoPros.com, Ultimate Dive Travel, and DivePhotoGuide.com..

More details are available at the Society’s website www.NYUPS.org.

An RSVP is necessary to reserve your space at this special event. Admission is free. The theatre seating is limited and it is important that you confirm your attendance as early as possible.

About the New York Underwater Photographic Society
NYUPS aims to bring together underwater photography & video enthusiasts and professionals from the NY, NJ and CT area. The society will be open to novices, amateurs and pros. Even those from outside the region will have a way to participate online. NYUPS provides a forum to meet new friends who share similar underwater interests. Exciting featured speakers include internationally renowned photographers, filmmakers, marine biologists, explorers, and adventurers from around the world. Members can also participate in workshops, photo & video contests and exhibitions.

Handy Hints for Photographers

Adobe Photoshop for Underwater Photographers A new handbook for underwater photographers explains how to edit, fine-tune, retouch and enhance underwater images with Adobe Photoshop.

Read more here...

Adobe Photoshop for Underwater Photographers

underwater.com.au Forum

Cool forum from down-under.

"Matava specialises in water sports such as diving and fishing by it's wonderful location with abundant reefs and large marine life. Swam with Manta Rays, Sharks, Turtles, Barracuda (2 types) and so much more..." MarieB

Go see more of this forum...