UnderwaterUnderwater PhotographyPhotography

a web magazine Issue 38 Sept/Oct 2007

Amphibico EVO HD The perfect system... AdventuresAdventures withwith aa WrattenWratten 2222 IkeliteIkelite CanonCanon HV-20HV-20 BSoUP Splash In AbstractAbstract attractionsattractions Aquatica Nikon D40 housing Layang Layang Shootout FilterFilter PhotographyPhotography Sea & Sea DX-1G compact Photo Fest BookBook reviewreview Choosing a compact camera Fish photography in Belize PartingParting ShotsShots 1,1, 22 && 33 Ocean Geographic is a high quality photographic journal that features the finest arts and images of the sea. Each edition of Ocean Geographic is a visual adventure of discoveries, exploration and dives into provoking issues that guarantee to inform, inspire and invigorate. The board of editors and senior contributors are comprised of Michael AW, , Dr Gerry ALLEN, Doug PERRINE, Dr Carden WALLACE, Emory KRISTOF, , Dr Alex MUSTARD, Jennifer HAYES, Christopher LEE, WYLAND and Amos NACHOUM.

‘Ocean Geographic’ - its wonderful! Fabulous imagery, reproduction and features - pure class! I’m still enjoying it! Gemma Webster, Competition Officer Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year, The Natural History Museum, UK

Join now as Charter memver and you will be part of our quest for discoveries and a partner in the conservation of our ocean planet. You will be eminently recognised for sharing our vision with your name inserted in all future editions of Ocean Geographic and in the web domain of Ocean Geographic Society.

Membership Benefits: Four issues - Ocean Geographic Journal Free pass to the World Festival of Underwater Pictures - Antibes Free Master pass to ‘Celebrate the Sea Festival’ Ocean Geographic Limited edition print - (Dec 2008) Membership to OneOcean Alliance Frequent Diver program - 1000 bonus points Australia and Singapore A/S$50 per year Charter Member International: USD88 (airmail) or Classic One year subscription for Ocean Geographic - USD 68 (airmail) www.OceanGeographic.org : www.OGSociety.org UnderwaterUnderwater PhotographyPhotography Contents A web magazine Sept/Oct 2007

5 News & Travel 29 Compact choice 36 Belize fish 47 Abstract 15 New Products

by Michael Wicks by Mark Webster 32 Perfect system by Gearoid Lane 22 BSoUP Splash In 52 Shooting filters 42 Wratten 22 trials

by Alex Mustard

by Don Silcock by Paul R. Carre 60 Book review 24 Puerto Galera by Peter Rowlands Cover shot by 2001 - 2007 © PR Productions 62 Parting Shots Publisher/Editor Peter Rowlands 27 Layang Layang Ralph Mortimore www.pr-productions.co.uk [email protected] www.uwpmag.com 38/ Click on the link below to go to the Tech-Talk Newsletter www.urprofilters.com winning freediver responsible for the you through how to make money News, Travel & Events captivating images that illustrate the from diving photo journalism. book “One Breath”. Greece gives us Constantinos Petrinos, the superbly talented behavioural photographer who October 20/21st 2007 photographed London and authored the definitive guide to A stellar cast of international especially from the eco system of and national leading underwater the USA. Amos Lembeh, “Realm Special guest is Tom Peschak. photographers will be appearing at doesn’t do macro. of the Pygmy The South African based marine the “Visions in the Sea” underwater By order of size he Seahorse”. biologist is the author of three books photography festival in London starts with leopard And joining including “South Arfica’s Great White this October. The festival features seals, then works us from the USA Shark”, “Currents of Contrast” and a balance of spectacular showpiece through polar bears, is Wetpixel mover his new spectacular, launching at portfolios to inspire delegates with walruses, white and shaker, James Visions, “Wild Seas. Secret Shores”. instructional presentations to help sharks, belugas, Wiseman. Tom will present two one man shows. them achieve great results themselves. orcas, humpbacks Brits bringing He’ll talk through the shooting of Presenters include, from and blue whales their talents to “Wild Seas, Secret Shores” and then Australia, Michael - all underwater of Visions include run a special presentation on how Aw, founder of course. Charlie Hood, from to successfully photograph sharks Ocean Geographic Tony White is Dive Magazine, underwater. Magazine, author/ from South Africa discussing how As always, there’s a chance photographer and has an image to shoot wrecks to have your own images critiqued of more than bank from around the globe. From in often appalling during one to one sessions with the 25 books and leafy sea dragons to copper sharks on conditions, speakers, a photo competition and the two guides for the Sardine Run (one bit him), Tony Andrew Sutton of Nice Studios rowdy Visions Dinner. digital underwater has captured it all explaining how to get better colours, photographers. superbly on film. Chris Williams from quest Underseas www.oceanoptics.co.uk Michael will make presentations Arriving showing how divers can use their including one on how to finance and from France is cameras to help document and protect publish your own first book. Frederic Buyle, the marine environment, and Brendan Amos Nachoum is flying in the multi award O’Brien from Diver Magazine talking www.uwpmag.com 38/ Fishy web site

Registered users can vote for photographs and this scoring is used so Smaller dive groups that users are shown North Sea Film the best photograph at Tasik Ria of each species first, Festival though all photographs Netherlands The service at Eco Divers, are reachable. The Nov 30 - Dec 2, 2007 Tasik Ria Resort, has recently been majority of pictures in upgraded by reducing the size of its the database so far are The Submarine Foundation is dive groups to just 4 or fewer guests from the , proud to announce the first Dutch to one guide. And that means a lot so it would be great festival dedicated specifically to more personal attention and added to find some more underwater video, the North Sea safety from Eco’s friendly, fully contributors that have Film Festival. Scheduled to be held trained . I was wondering whether you photos from the Pacific at the Hague in the Netherlands from “This new level of service really think your readers would be interested and Indian Oceans. November 30 to December 2, 2007, strengthen Eco Divers’ exclusive in my website. It’s a database of It’s still early days yet, but the festival is currently accepting service, with our boats already being underwater photography (the rules last month the site averaged 70 underwater-themed entries produced the most luxurious in Manado,” says are that it’s basically any underwater unique visitors every day, so there is after 2005 in two categories of 60 Owner, Jim Yanny. life in it’s natural habitat), with easy obviously a lot of demand for people minutes and 20 minutes maximum Special trips by road can also be search facilities and an ID quiz. to see such photographs. One of our lengths. arranged to the Lembeh Strait where I started it back in June 2006, contributors has also informed me Entry is free, and the deadline guests can now enjoy three dives on with just a couple of hundred photos that he was discovered through my for submission is October 15. This is its famous ‘muck’ sites. Here, rare of my father’s and my own and have site and contracted to take several a great opportunity to showcase your critters include mimic octopus, pygmy been surprised by the speed of growth photographs for a new book. work internationally - be sure to read seahorses, Rhinopious scorpionfish as more and more people sign up and the rules and registration details to plus a whole lot more. contribute their own photographs. The www.fishdb.co.uk submit your films. site now has 1540 pictures of over 500 www.eco-divers.com different species. It’s a hobby of mine, www.northseafilmfestival.com so the site is completely free and since you can browse by contributor, people can use it as a place to put their own photographs to show their friends online. www.uwpmag.com 38/ alterations of settings and a couple of simple rules underwater can transform anyone’s photographs. At EMUP we aim to promote underwater photography for all abilities and aim to give talks of East Midlands Underwater interest not only to those interested Photographers in underwater photography but non- Tony White photographers, topside widelife Upcoming International Photo & Tuesday October 16th photographers and even non-divers. This is a great opportunity for us Video Competitions in the East Midlands, where nearby Tuesday October 16th sees the diving and photographic opportunities first meeting of the East Midlands Sept 1 are in short supply to get together DigiDiver International Photo Contest (USA) Underwater Photographers (EMUP). to share ideas and experience. The This is a new group which will Sept 10 catchment area within 1 hour of Just Dive 2007 Photo Contest (USA) meet monthly at in Stoney Cove is a considerable diving Leicestershire. Sept 15 population, all of whom would have Antibes “World Festival of Underwater Pictures” (France) Each month we will have to travel to London for BSoUP, an experienced, acclaimed and Sept 15 Manchester for the NUPG and Bristol distinguished invited talker. Our SanDisk Red Sea 2007 Eilat (Israel) for the BUPG. We will also put on first will be Tony White, who will video evenings, so it is not exclusively Sept 21 explain his transition from topside 2007 LAUPS International Competition (USA) for stills photography. photographer to world-renown The evening will begin at Oct 12 underwater photographer. In addition Sea 2007 Competition (USA) 7:30pm downstairs in Nemo Bar, members will be invited to submit Stoney Cove’s very own pub. There Oct 15 photographs into a lighthearted North Sea Film Festival (The Netherlands) will be a small charge each month monthly competition, which is then based on numbers attending and Oct 31 judged on the evening by our invited PADI & Outdoor Photographer Aquatic Inspirations sponsorship obtained, further details speaker. Digital Photo Contest (USA) of this charge will be provided nearer With the advent of digital the time. For more information on photography, the number of divers EMUP and details of future meetings with cameras has greatly increased please visit in the last few years. We aim to offer www.emup.org.uk advice and share knowledge to get the most out of this expensive kit; many people do not know that a few simple www.uwpmag.com 38/ 11th Open Fotosub Isla de El Hierro 22nd - 28th October 2007

Open Fotosub Isla de El Hierro is organised by the island Government, CABILDO INSULAR DE EL HIERRO and sponsored by several private or public entities with the aim of presenting the underwater of El Photography Recruitment Website Hierro and its natural environment. The competition will take place over three days. Competition documentation. Each competition dive Photography Jobs Finder found it a laborious task when timetable, including collection and won’t last no more than 60 minutes. launches to provide the photography searching for work. Jobs are often delivery of memory cards will be industry with its first dedicated scattered over many websites and fixed by the organization and given www.openfotosub.com recruitment website for job seekers there is not one dedicated location for to each participant with all the and employers. the photography industry to visit. With In a recent survey of 78 people Photography Jobs Finder I am trying LAUPS Photo Competition working within the photography to solve these problems and make all field 59 stated they had experienced our lives easier!” problems when searching online for Photography Jobs Finder already The 45th annual LAUPS to world- wide temperate water, work and found it a time consuming advertises a number of jobs, ranging International Underwater Photo including the Great Lakes and process. from freelance photography to picture Competition is now open for entries. northern Europe. Responding to this survey the editors. As well as this it provides job The deadline is Friday, September We’re looking forward to seeing Photography Jobs Finder website seekers with the ability to build their 21st. some great images from all you die- (http://www.photographyjobsfinder. CV online for potential employers to Highlights of new rules in 2007 hard cold water divers. com) has been launched. Providing an search from and view. are: Prints must be mounted. In online recruitment service dedicated Photographers can now sign No slides. This year we are previous years we have been soft on to employers and jobs seekers from up free to a weekly jobs bulletin taking only prints and digital files for this rule, but unmounted prints are the photography industry, its purpose delivered straight to their inboxes. still entries. Digital entries should be difficult to display and unfair to those is to streamline the task of job at least 1400x1050 pixels. who put in the time to follow the searching. www.photographyjobsfinder.com We’ve added a “behavior” rules. Alex Hamer, creator of category. Rules and entry forms are Photography Jobs Finder, says, Our old category “West Coast available at our website. “Being a photographer I have always Cold Water” has been expanded www.laups.org

www.uwpmag.com 38/ DIVEQUEST The Ultimate in Diving

NCUPS 50th anniversary photo competition

The Northern California carry any 35mm slide photography Underwater Photographic Society categories. Slides may be scanned (NCUPS.org) proudly presents the and submitted in digital still categories 43rd Annual SEA International with the same specifications as images Underwater Photographic taken with a digital still camera. Competition, and the Bob Commer Also new for 2007 is the Marine Bahamas Palau, Yap, Truk Award of Excellence in Underwater Conservation Category. The entries Turks & Caicos Bikini Photography. The “mail-in” in this category should illustrate a Tobago, Dominica Australia’s Coral Sea underwater digital still and print marine conservation issue. Entries Bonaire, Venezuela New Guinea, Solomons photography, and underwater should include a maximum 75-word Little Cayman, , Belize French Polynesia videography competition is open description about where the image Honduras, South Africa & Fiji, Hawaii, to amateur photographers and was taken, the story behind the image, Mozambique Sea of Cortez videographers from around the world. and why it was important to the Thailand, , Mabul Revillagigedo Islands New for 2007! The Bob photographer to take the image and Layang Layang Cocos & Malpelo Islands Commer Award of Photographic tell the story. Derawan & Sangalaki The Galapagos Excellence will be awarded to the The entry deadline is October , Komodo, Wakatobi, Wrecks of Palau SEA International Competition Best 12, 2007. Winning entries will be Manado, Kungkungan Bay of Show! This award is in addition announced on the NCUPS.org in to a prize selection from the prize November 2007. Download Rules, list. All media, digital still, print and Regulations, and the Entry Form from Plus Underwater Photography Group Trips and Courses with leading video, are eligible. The winner of the the NCUPS website. photographers: Martin Edge, Linda Dunk, Malcolm Hey, Bob Commer Award receives $500.00 Charles Hood, Gavin Anderson and Alex Mustard. and a handcrafted glass trophy of an www.ncups.org underwater photographer. The Ultimate in SEA2007 will no longer DIVEQUEST Underwater Photography Adventures

ATOL Protected 2937 Telephone: 01254-826322 Morrissey Pat by Photo www.uwpmag.com e-mail [email protected] website: www.divequest.co.uk38/ Raja Ampat Declares Seven Marine Protected Areas and Launches New Entry Tag

Following the declaration of a network of seven marine protected areas earlier this year, the Raja Ampat Government in , , is pleased to announce the launch of an annual tag system for visitors. The plastic tag is valid for 13 months from the 1st of each calendar year and will cost Rp500,000 (US$55) for international visitors and Rp250,000(US$22) for Indonesian citizens. 70% of onto diving headlines over the last Ampat has variously been described the proceeds from the sale will be few years with the announcement as “nature’s richest reefs”, “reefs on managed by a multi-stakeholder of over 60 new species of fish and steroids”, and a “species factory”. team for conservation, enforcement invertebrates discovered there In fact, the area has the highest and community programs. 30% of during surveys by Indonesian and recorded marine for the proceeds will go to the Tourism international scientists. The area an area this size anywhere in the Department for tourism development. comprises about 610 islands spread world. Nearly 1200 species of fish The local government engaged the over 50,000sq km with spectacular and 540 species of coral have been to work together with the Raja Ampat assistance of three major International scenery and intact primary rainforest. recorded here – approximately 70% Authorities to develop management NGOs, Conservation International, Preserved by isolation and low of the world’s total number of coral plans appropriate for each MPA. The Nature Conservancy and WWF population the underwater species. Experienced divers will be The Coral Alliance (CORAL) to help define the most valuable areas scenery is equally enchanting and overwhelmed with the number of fish assisted with the development and for protection. The 7 MPAs protect a diverse. Clear water mangroves front species which can be seen. Renowned socialization of the tag system total of 45% of Raja Ampat’s amazing up to pristine coral reefs which pulse ichthyologist , Dr. Gerry Allen and continues to assist with its shallow reefs and coastal habitats. with huge schools of multi-colored recorded an exceptional 284 species implementation. Raja Ampat and the surrounding reef fish and a diversity of marine on a single dive here. Bird’s Head Seascape splashed life unrivalled on the planet – Raja The international NGOs continue www.diverajaampat.org www.uwpmag.com 38/10 UWP 146x210_ocean 2 14/5/07 12:49 pm Page 1

OCEANODYSSEY 2007 Digital photo Shoot-out 2008 Photo Workshop with Mauricio Handler (in association with Asian Diver Magazine) Nov 1-8, 2008 Sipadan Water Village, Borneo 26 Nov - 5 Dec North , Indonesia

Once again I will be holding one-on-one image reviews and my intense week long underwater photography advice to help guide you photography workshop on beautiful and your work in the right direction. Sipadan Water Village on the Island of The course is open to photographers Mabul, Borneo, Indonesia. of all levels owning a Digital SLR This workshop will focus on system and strobes. Space is limited. wide angle and macro, natural and mixed lighting techniques, image www.handlerphoto.com Tasik Ria Resort & Spa Kungkungan Bay Resort composition, equipment maintenance, Manado Lembeh Strait digital workflow, and telling a story through images. I will be offering Check out www.eco-divers.com/ocean-odyssey to find out how you can be a part of this exciting event! [email protected] www.uwpmag.com eco-divers.com 38/11 Underwater photographers The competition’s prizes are from all over the world has begun to sponsored by several international send their photos to the “Images of organizations, and this year’s prizes the world” category, (Deadline for has reached the total amount of receiving entries: September 15, 2007 80,000$. Among the sponsors there ) Participants for the Eilat’s Shoot-Out are tourism organization, such who will registered before October as: Paupa New Guinea tourism 15 will receive a free 4 Gigabyte organizations, Palau, Cocos Islands Compact Flash or an SD flash card in and the Red Sea, International Eilat. companies and associations like SanDisk Red Sea 2007 World SanDisk, Padi, Oceanic Products, of Images Underwater is open to Seacam, Subal, Quicksoft, and both amateur and professional Olimpus, who’ll contribute their photographers, shooting with film or products as a part of the prizes, given digital cameras. this year’s competition. The competition will be opened The Competition’s main events on November 12-17, 2007, the 3rd will take place at Isrotel Ambassador year in a row. This year several new hotel, located at Eilat’s Coral Beach, categories has been added, such as: close to the Underwater Nature Humor, Ecology & Nature care, Reserve & Observatory. Wrecks, Video Clip and a special The competition’s website is category for beginners. available in 9 different languages, This year a new category of with full details, rules and registering Video Clip has been added, that will forms. be recorded and edited during the www.sandiskredsea.com Eilat competition. The keynote guest of the contest will be Christian Patron - the Titanic Cinematographer.

www.uwpmag.com 38/12 Divesafari Santorini We can dive wrecks or one of the Digital Underwater Photography & Writer Workshop underwater volcanos around Santorini. Atlantis Resort, Puerto Galera, Philippines We tailor from four hour to 8 to 14 March 2008 multiple day yacht charter adventures within a 100 mile radius of Santorini island, in the Aegean Sea. We will take you to locations of unique natural beauty and entertain both divers and non-divers to the highest standard of comfort and luxury. We offer the opportunity to do Michael Aw Mattieu Meur Brendan O’Brien a number of sports and activities or indeed to just relax and do very little. Reef, wall and , Conceived by the authors of Conservation issues; Exposure Explore underwater caverns and best selling ‘Essential Guide to Techniques; Beyond Basic caves, and freedive, Digital Photography’, the New Techniques; Macro / Wide Angle Underwater photography, Underwater Digital Underwater Photography & Techniques; Elements of Successful cinematography and finding crystal Writer Workshop has been developed Composition; How to Shoot for clear waters to enjoy swimming for divers who want to take their Competitions; How to Shoot with Sunbathe in the privacy of our underwater photographic skills to the Models; How to get Published; luxury motoryacht next level. With a modular course Advanced Lighting Techniques; Post We can arrange additional structure, participants will be able Processing; Photoshop & Printing services such as watersking, inflatable to achieve certification and acquire Techniques. A new concept in exploring the towing or use of underwater scooters. skills that are far beyond just taking The digital photography natural beauty of the seas is available We can also arrange for a great variety a technically correct photograph. workshop modules also include in the Greek island of Santorini. of activities off the boat including The emphasis is to help aspiring the essentials of post editing using A divesafari is a full one or horseriding, sailing, jetskiing, photographers to compose and paint’ Photoshop and other tested software two day charter to remote and hiking, cayaking, waterskiing and a picture with a camera, using both to create multi-media presentations. unique locations. A divesafari can paragliding. natural and artificial lighting. Catering The program schedule allows for be combined with a barbeque on a When you book with our staff for both Novice and Advanced maximum shooting time. The lesson remote beach and a sleep-over at or agents we will provide you with a shooters (Prosumer and DSLR), there modules, plus the formal and informal small hotels or campsites of remote number of suggestions. We will then are two course syllabuses to choose critique sessions will ensure that islands. endeavour to tailor the best package to from: the Absolute Essentials and participants develop the essential Choosing a location will depend suit your needs. Advanced Essentials. techniques to take publishable images. on your interests and preference. We Some of the principal modules can explore new wall or reef dives. www.divesafari.eu are: Photographic Etiquette & www.michaelaw.com www.uwpmag.com 38/13 The Ultimate Machine

Housings for: Canon EOS 5D EOS 20D SLR-DC Housings EOS 30D The Ikelite SLR-DC housing takes full advantage of the digital EOS 40D (available soon) EOS 300D SLR camera’s innovative features. The housing is injection EOS 350D, Rebel XT molded of clear, lightweight polycarbonate for strength, EOS 400D, Rebel XTi visual access to the camera, LCD screens and camera Fuji S-5 Pro controls. The housing provides controls for most camera Nikon functions. Ikelite SLR-DC Housings include conversion D40, D40x circuitry that provide TTL compatibility with the latest Ikelite D50 D70, 70s DS Substrobes. Most housings also include a Flash D80 D200 Compensation Module which provides over and under- D300 (available soon) exposure compensation in the TTL mode and easily allows Olympus you to switch to Manual Exposure Mode which provides E-330 E-410 eight power settings. All exposure compensation is done on underwater systems E-500 50 W 33rd Street E-510 (available soon) the back of the housing. There is no need to access Indianapolis, IN 46208 complicated camera menus. Sony 317.923.4523 DSLR-A100 www.ikelite.com Ikelite Housing for Canon HV-20 Hi-Def Video a unique toggle clamp for traveling New Products or attaching of the optional Pro Video-Lite 3 battery pack. The handle Amphibico EVO HD assembly detaches from the housing by removal of just two nuts for Elite video housing packing. The housing accommodates optional Canon BP-2LH and BP-2L14 batteries.

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Epoque UR-Pro colour correction filter for Moulded of clear polycarbonate to 80 feet (24 meters). An optional to provide seamless construction and filter #6441.81 is also available to DCL-20 Now supporting the new Sony corrosion proof performance. This achieve more natural tones in green HDR-SR7 & SR8 AVCHD Hard “Clearly Superior” design provides water settings. Drive Camcoders, the Dive Buddy full view of the camcorder, control Super Eye magnifier for the EVO Elite has an incorporated functions, and assurance the system optical viewfinder is included, 3.5”color LCD rear monitor which is is safe up to 200 feet (60 meters). providing enhanced viewing while angled at 10° for enhanced viewing. The housing with camera installed is wearing a . The compact design and easy very slightly negative in salt-water for The camera’s large viewing electronic grip controls simply makes stability. screen can be seen easily using the capturing High Definition video The system’s compact size and External Mirror on the side of the enjoyable. Amphibico have now make it a breeze to travel housing. Just open the camera’s LCD Japanese manufacturer Epoque have extended our Dive Buddy EVO with. A complete housing and camera monitor, rotate 180º and fold back have announced their UR-Pro colour HD Elite to cover most all the Sony combination weighs less than 9 against the side of the camera. Actual correction filter for DCL-20 wide HD line of consumer camcorders, pounds (4 kg). The housing with base image will be reversed when viewed angle lens. supported camcorders are the HDR- and handle assembly measures only through the mirror. It can be fitted and removed HC1, HDR-HC5, HDR-HC7, HDR- 11” (27cm) wide; 8” (20cm) high; and The housing port is threaded to underwater and is available as either SR1, HDR-SR7, HDRSR8, HDR- 8” (20cm) deep. allow the use of Ikelite W-20, Inon CY for blue water or GR for green UX1 & HVR-A1U. Included UR/Pro Color Filter Type II, and Epoque 67mm threaded water. provides color correction in tropical Wide-Angle Conversion Lenses. www.amphibico.com blue water with available sunlight up The base removes instantly with www.epoque-japan.com www.uwpmag.com 38/15 TITLE: An Essential Guide To Digital Underwater Photograpy Trim Size: 303 x 210MM D:RS07-082(A) BK229006 POS RRED 175#(AT_Mac5) Advanced guide to

This guide takes you far beyond AN the essentials of digital underwater ADVANCED GUIDE Digital Underwaterphotography. For the serious shooter who wish to appreciate and embrace the art of underwater imagery, photographic techniques of successful pictures are Photographyreviewed in detail. The modules are structured to give comprehensive descriptions about the composition and

techniques for ambient light photography, TO DIGITAL UNDERWATER macro and super macro, wide-angle imagery with and without a model to shooting with  lters and with HID lights. Advanced Composition & Based on methodsExtend yourself usedwith tutorials for the Shooting Methods digital darkroom – photo editing, colour Deeper into Photo Editing by professional underwaterand exposure correction this guide Techniques also includes information on digital Deeper into Work ow asset management systems adopted by & Asset Management photographers, theprofessional Advanced photographers. Aguide generous Learning with the Masters number of images are used to illustrate the Doug Perrine, David Doubilet, PHOTOGRAPHY varied aspect of underwater imaging. To Alex Mustard, for Digital Underwaterdate, this is the Photography most de nitive advanced is guide available for digital underwater packed with practicalphotography. techniques and Building on his Essential Guide to Digital useful information.Underwater Photography, Michael delves into advanced photoshop techniques, digital work ow set-up and more. A special section features Whether youimages are and secrets a novice from some of the or best a Michael AW underwater photographers in the world. A must have guide for any aspiring digital photographer. serious shooter, this guide will Christopher take Lee, Editor Emeritus, Ocean Geographic with

your digital imaging proficiencyAn to Mathieu Meur the next level. ExpandingADVANCED GUIDE TO beyond Michael AW the basic and essential aspects of with Mathieu Meur digital underwater photography, the content is organised into five modules ADV COVER_NEW.ok.indd 1 8/2/07 21:41:02 encapsulating advanced digital – photo editing, colour and exposure imaging knowledge, photographic correction. Find out about digital skills, asset management, and asset management systems adopted workflow to post production. by professional photographers. A For the photographer who wishes generous number of images are to appreciate and embrace the art of used to illustrate the varied form of underwater imagery, techniques for underwater imaging. A special section successful pictures are revealed in features images and secrets from detail. The structured modules give some of the world’s top underwater comprehensive descriptions about photographers – David Doubilet, the composition and methods for Doug Perrine, Alex Mustard & ambient light photography, macro Stephen Frink. This is the most and super macro, wide-angle imagery definitive advanced guide available with and without a model to shooting for digital underwater photography; a with filters, over and under images to must have essential for any aspiring shooting with HID lights. digital photographer. Advance yourself with www.oceanearthpictures. tutorials for the digital darkroom oneocean.com www.uwpmag.com 38/16 Aquatica Nikon D40 housing New Fantasea housings

housings and its line of well established housings. The AQUATICA’s robust aluminum construction also means no warping or twisting, which can affect the controls when diving the deeper part of the limit. In addition, our acclaimed Aqua View Finder, along with many other Fantasea Line announces two accessories, is fully compatible with housings specifically designed for the these newer housings. Nikon Coolpix S200 and S500 digital cameras. with access to all essential www.aquatica.ca camera functions. They are depth rated to 60 meters/200 feet

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www.heinrichsweikamp.com i n f o @ h e i n

AQUATICA is proud to with the user in mind. It features r i c

introduce its new housing for the all of the controls favored by h Use your existing analog strobe s

Nikon D40x camera. This exciting professionals in a compact (H 6” x w

e with your new !

product is part of a new line of W 6.9” x D 5” or 154mm X 176mm i k

AQUATICA underwater camera X 127mm) and easy-to-use design. a m

housings that are designed and built Built around AQUATICA’s well p . for newer, smaller and less expensive established bayonet port system, c o digital SLR cameras, making high these new AQUATICA housings m quality underwater photography more will accommodate all current ports, affordable for the recreational diver. extensions and gears. As well The HeinrichsWeikamp Digital Adapter. Made of anodized aluminum and Aquatica is reintroducing its 6” dome machined to exacting specifications, port and has created a newer and more the new D40X housing was crafted compact macro port for both this new www.uwpmag.com 38/17 SEALUX Universal Keldan Solaris housing UNM190 Video light

The Keldan Solaris Video light is a self-contained video light suitable for HiDefinition video and other The SEALUX Universal housing cameras that need a wide and even with integrated high-resolving 16:9 light with enough intensity to support color monitor can house more than HiDef cameras. 100 camcorders for use up to 90 m The rear of the light contains the depth. Elegant in design, our 17 years LED battery status indicator. Burn of experience in building underwater time on 1100 lumen power is 60 min. housings is reflected in this new and 80 min on 800 lumen setting. This product. is the only light of its kind to allow The result is a universal housing variable power output to HID. with highest flexibility, easy handling, There are no external cables solid and reliable. With minimal to worry about. Battery pack is dimensions and lightest weight we removable to exchange or when fulfil the topical requirements. All charging. Sony camcorders can be used which are equipped with a LANC-socket www.marinecamera.com for remote control. They must not be larger than 190mm, wider than 132mm and higher than 116mm.

www.sealux.de www.uwpmag.com 38/18 Sea & Sea DX-1G digital camera and housing

The camera is 10.01 million an SDHC / SD memory card. It is effective pixels, which offers superior equipped with a 26-MB built-in resolution and the ability to vividly memory. record every detail of your precious The housing is equipped with moments. (The maximum recordable two fiber-optic cable sockets and number of pixels is 3648x2736) a built-in flashlight diffuser. All There is a Macro mode that shooting functions on the 1G camera enables you to bring the lens as close are operable. as 1cm / 0.4 inches to the subject. The polycarbonate housing is The focal length of the 3x optical (WxHxD): 158x109x109mm Weight: zoom lens is 5.1 to 15.3mm, or 24 Approx. 510g (Underwater weight: to 72mm on a conventional 35-mm Approx. -110g. It has a depth rating of film camera. The lens has a maximum 55m / 180ft. aperture (f-stop value) from f2.5 to f4.4. www.seaandsea.com The camera is equipped with a 2.5-inch, 230,000-pixel LCD monitor and can shoot raw images. The recording medium is MMC, www.uwpmag.com 38/19 Sea & Sea YS-250PRO strobe

The YS-250PRO is designed for light in the center of the strobe demanding professionals, packed with shows precisely where the strobe is revolutionary new features to meet pointed, and a ready lamp and a TTL the challenges of digital photography. confirmation lamp on each side of A large circular arc tube emits a the strobe indicate when the strobe powerful flash at guide number 32 is charged and when it has been (its value on land, ISO 100/m) when controlled by the camera’s TTL. An power is set to FULL. It provides audible signal sounds when the lamps incremental manual flash power light so you can concentrate on your adjustment in 12 steps for graduations subject in the viewfinder. of light. The YS-250PRO includes The YS-250PRO recycles in 1.8 other sophisticated features such as seconds. Its high-capacity Ni-MH three fiber-optic cable sockets (2 of battery, designed exclusively for the them with slave sensor), pre-flash strobe, stores enough power when cancellation that handles up to two fully charged for 200 full flashes. A pre-flashes from a camera. high-luminosity white LED target www.seaandsea.com www.uwpmag.com 38/20 ReefPhoto Subal dome port cover ReefPhoto from Florida have . c o m produced an improved version of the Dthe onlIine dGirectorIy forD digitaEl underEwater-Pimaging equipment Subal dome port cover. The soft neoprene cover is held in place using the zoom and front dial control knobs.

www.reefphoto.com

10Bar filters Fantasea FL-12

Fantasea Line announces the release of a new housing specifically designed for the Nikon Coolpix L12 digital camera. The FL-12 Your online resource to more than housing, depth rated to 60 meters/200 feet, is fully functional providing 2.700 underwater imaging products - photo & video photographers with access to all 5.200 enthusiastic underwater photographers camera functions. 600 news, articles, reviews and travel reports The Fantasea FL-12 housing has 5.000 images in our weekly photo contest The odd oval shape of the G7 a double O-ring seal on all controls, ...growing every month! camera housing makes fitting a filter anti-glare hood over LCD screen, almost impossible but 10Bar have and built-in diffuser. The FL-12 also used their CNC machine to produce a features a 46mm port ring thread for red filter especially for the WP-DC1 easy attachment of accessory lenses join the contest housing. and filters. and win a funky t-shirt!!! www.10bar.com www.fantasea.com www.uwpmag.com http://www.digideep.com 38/21 From the print competition, Trevor Rees (above and below left) and Martha BSoUP Splash In 2007 Tressler (below right)

Wiltshire-based underwater Centre, hoping that the recent photographer Arthur Kingdon’s image bad weather would not affect the (top left) won the British Splash- underwater visibility too much. They In Championship, an underwater were greeted with glorious sunshine, photography competition held in although the conditions underwater Plymouth waters on Saturday 7 July. were challenging. Over a hundred Organised by the British Society images were ultimately submitted of Underwater Photographers, this by the photographers. They were annual event has been running for projected at the National Marine over 30 years and is now organised in Aquarium for the audience to select took the close-up and fish categories photographer winning a association with the National Marine their favourite shots in each of the while Arthur Kingdon won the trip to the Red Sea, courtesy of Tony Aquarium. four categories. wide-angle category. Kingdon was Backhurst Scuba. Jim Tyrwhitt- 39 competitors from all around Alan James “who is now retiring also chosen by a panel of judges as Drake was voted the best Beginner Britain gathered at the Mount Batten from BSoUP Splash-In competitions” the overall best British underwater and Martin Davies captured the www.uwpmag.com 38/22 Although I have found that even in dull conditions most digital cameras I use underwater have very good auto-focus there have been odd times when a small focusing light would aid the camera in being able to focus-lock much faster. I notice this most when diving around caves, shaded ledges and wrecks where the very low ambient light makes the camera’s auto focus system hunting for focus-lock. Now I have seen some ‘monster’ lights being used by underwater photographers, some are as big (or bigger) as the camera housing itself! I own an Underwater Kinetics HID Light Cannon 100, which is fantastic light. So not being one to waste money on un-necessary u/w camera equipment (at least when the Alan James shot of a flat worm won the Close Up category wife is watching anyway). I figured Humorous/Creative category. Peter Rowlands, the editor of online that the Light Cannon should make After the awards ceremony, Underwater Photography Magazine. a great focusing light - particularly award-winning photographer James Said Martha Tressler, chair of since I already owned one! commented: “ Having attended BSoUP: The pictures produced by My conclusion was pretty easy so many enjoyable and successful this competition impress me every to report..... Sadly it is far too bright BSoUP Splash In competitions, I feel year. Striking images were created by and too big (and clumsy) for use that it is time to move over and to competitors ranging from experienced as a focusing light (which it was offer my assistance to the organisers photographers with high-end SLR never designed to be). The biggest of this excellent event”. cameras to beginners with small problem is its brightness! Even with This year”s panel of judges digital compacts. The venue provided the diffuser fitted this light showed consisted of Kelvin Boot, Director of by the National Marine Aquarium hot spots in the final image, and I am the National Marine Aquarium, BBC was a fantastic setting for the evening sure I saw one particular nudibranch newsman and celebrated underwater event” squinting when I got a bit too close; film-maker John McIntyre, and also every fish in sight veteran UK underwater photographer www.bsoup.org disappeared as soon as www.top-teks.co.uk www.uwpmag.com 38/23 Dive Photo Fest Puerto Galera

The Dive Photo Fest/Asia Divers Puerto Galera underwater photography workshop from June 3-10, 2007 was a great success! Puerto Galera was the perfect destination to hold our workshop due to the abundance of dive sites within a 10 minute boat ride, a variety of macro and wide angle photo opportunities, and absolutely flat calm water and sunny weather for the entire week. balance and Magic Filters, and creating multimedia With folks from North America, Europe, presentations. Each day consisted of two dives in the Middle East, and Asia in attendance, we had the morning followed by a lecture and a third dive a varied group of personalities with one thing in the afternoon with the evenings before dinner Sean Kearney (above) and Sue Kearney (bellow) in common: a love of macro photography. This reserved for critiquing and individual attention. is one area where the Philippines really excels. What sets the Dive Photo Fest workshops Located in the “golden triangle” of marine life; the apart is the individual instruction given by the marine biodiversity of this area is the highest on instructors underwater. Mike and Simon didn’t the planet. In this regard, Puerto Galera certainly take their cameras along on the dives, instead they didn’t disappoint. Highlights of the week included: buddied up on a one-to-one basis with a different pygmy and thorny seahorse, ornate ghost pipefish, student on every dive in order to help with camera nudibranches galore, banded sea kraits, schooling settings, strobe positioning, holding a modeling juvenile catfish, cuttlefish, mandarin fish, clouds of light, or to help find photogenic critters. According anthias, frogfish, mantis shrimp, Anemonefish…the to participant Mel Betley, “In pointing out subjects, list goes on and on. Add to this some fantastic and helping with angles, the instructors were in a wreck dives and sloping reefs covered in soft much better position to help suggest underwater corals and Puerto Galera is a perfect underwater what would work having obviously been through photography destination. a lot of trial and error themselves with the same Aside from the diving, the photo workshop subjects in the past.” went off without a hitch. Simon Buxton and Mike One of the highlights of the week was the Veitch conducted the teaching for this event with chance for everyone to try out filter photography topics ranging from the use of Adobe Bridge and thanks to workshop sponsor Magic Filter. Once Photoshop, the basics of light, composition, white everyone understood the theory of manual white www.uwpmag.com 38/24 Above and below by Simon Buxton Sean Kearney Sue Kearney

For something different, in the middle of the remarked on the strong colours and composition of week we spent a spectacular day at Verde Island, the photos. Stunning photos of nudibranches and located about an hour’s boat ride away from the clown fish were popular as were fantastic images of resort. The dive sites in Verde are spectacular jawfish, frogfish, the wrecks, filter photos, and some vertical walls alive with sea fans, soft coral, funny “candid” photos of everyone throughout the crinoids, and enough schooling anthias to block week. The big end of week affair also marked the out the sun! The pinks and yellows of these opportunity to hand out prizes from our generous fish, coupled with the bright colours of the coral, sponsors: Aquatica, Magic Filters, PADI, Cressi made for some of the finest wide angle photo Sub, Scuba Diver Australasia, uwphotoshop, Ikelite, opportunities of the week. and Think Tank Photo. Foregoing a competition, as balance, trial filters were handed out, as well as During our surface interval, we were able to it creates too competitive of an atmosphere, prizes white balance cards courtesy of PADI. We headed pull up alongside a beach where the local children were drawn from a hat instead. With much fanfair out to two shallow and colourful dive sites with came to play on the outriggers of our boat. Always and bad jokes from Mike and Simon, everyone went plenty of soft coral and sea fans to try out the filters the opportunists, our group took advantage of the home with more than one prize. in the best possible conditions. After a bit of trial fun to fill a few cards worth of images of the kids Overall it was a festive week with great diving, and error, everyone sorted out their method of making faces into our dome ports. fantastic photography, good friends, good food, and composing this type of photo and had a great time At the end of the week, a big slideshow finale some learning thrown in there as well! Thanks to looking for panoramic scenes to shoot. Needless was organized in order to showcase everyone’s all who attended and we look forward to returning to say, everyone was impressed with the ability to best images, and what a show it was! The quality in 2008. make the reds and purples of the soft corals “pop” of images improvement from the beginning of the without the use of strobes. week was very evident and everyone in attendance www.divephotofest.com www.uwpmag.com 38/25 Layang Layang Photo Shootout 2007

26 excited participants from is a small atoll situated 300km to the all over the globe descended on the north of Kota Kinabalu surrounded island of Layang Layang in Sabah, by nothing but rich blue water. It is Malaysia from July 17-23rd for a 6 encircled by sheer dropoffs that start day extravaganza of camaraderie, at 5 metres and plunge 2000 metres photography, and spectacular straight into the abyss. With such diving. Judges and presenters for the dramatic surroundings there was a week included Stephen Wong from feeling that anything could show up Hong Kong, Dr Kurt Svrcula from at anytime, and often it did! Many of Malaysia, Settimio Cipriani from the participants had close encounters Italy, and Mike Veitch from Yap. with grey reef and white tip sharks, Participants enjoyed 3 to 4 dives per mobulas, massive dogtooth tuna, day on Layang’s spectacular walls and beautiful scalloped hammerhead and enjoyed a never ending variety sharks! The reefs are covered in a of food when not in the water. The variety of gorgonians, soft corals, and weather could not have been better whip corals along the dropoffs, with as there was nothing but bright blue an incredible variety of extremely sky and flat seas throughout the event. healthy hard coral in the shallows. With so many participants taking For anyone interested in macro part, the evenings were lively affairs photography, the jetty offered great with everyone gathering around the photo opportunities in just 5 metres restaurant and bar areas for nightly or less of water during the day or presentations from the judges. night. For those willing to ignore the The diving in Layang Layang is schooling jacks and massive sea fans, varied and exciting. The island itself a macro lens also came in handy on

(Top right) 1st place Macro Mr. Bradley Cox (Australia) (Right) 2nd place Macro Ms. Takeko Taniguchi (Japan) (Far right) 2nd place WA Ms. Leander Wiseman (Australia)

www.uwpmag.com 38/26 The final night ceremony and award presentation got off to a great start with a fantastic (Left) 1st place WA Mr. Bradley Cox (Australia) video presentation of the event from Scubazoo’s (Above) 3rd place Macro Mr. Matthew Lawrence Sam Fernandez who joined all the participants (Australia) throughout the week to put together a DVD of the diving and topside activities. With everyone dive once or twice a year and enjoy documenting salivating over the prize table, it was time for a what they see with a few snaps of their camera. slideshow of the week’s images and the award However, in encouraging fashion, the final results ceremony. With so many great sponsors there were featured a nice variety of winners from both types certainly no shortage of prizes for the top 6 entries of camera systems and of all experience levels. in each category, the first prize alone was worth With a total of 12 prizes up for grabs, 6 each US $6000!! Thanks to sponsors Nautica, Nikon, for wide angle and macro, it was a common site to Layang Layang, Asian Diver, Coral Redang Resort, see participants up late at night skimming through Macana Maldives Liveaboard, Baani Explorer, their photos in order to pick their top 3 images Oceanic, GP Batteries, Ralf Tech, NAUI, Borneo the wall dives, offering opportunities to photograph for each category. On the 22nd, the 4 judges Divers, and SMART resort. leaf fish, nudibranches, angelfish, frogfish, ghost gathered together in the morning to go through all pipefish, and a variety of anemone fish species. of the images and somehow choose the winners. www.layanglayang.com The range of cameras in use from participants With an outstanding variety of top notch photos ranged from simple compact cameras with no submitted it took many hours to come up with external add-on lenses or strobes to massive DSLR the cream of the crop. The 3 judging categories housings with all the bells and whistles. The level included composition, technical perfection, and of photography experience was also varied with the “Wow” factor. The judging was close on many several experienced photographers who had been of the images as the talent level of participating shooting underwater for many years, to folks who photographers was very high. www.uwpmag.com 38/27 Nexus. The Best Value Aluminium Housing For Your D200

* Professional level specification

*Alloy for durability

* Lightweight for travelling

* Includes genuine viewfinder magnifier

* Two strobe outlets

* Specialist split level and super macro ports available

Introductory price £2200 inc 45 degree viewfinder Often fished but rarely dived, Connemara Lough diving in loughs are bog diving territory at its best. Sliding into brackish water riddled by a Connemara7 Bush House Arcade, Bush Houseseasonal downpour mightwww.oceanoptics.co.uk not be everybody’s Ocean Optics Strand, London, WC2B 4PAidea of a week-end [email protected] the Wild West...but for the by JeromeTel 020 Hingrat 7240 8193 Fax 020 7240frustrated 7938 winter diver that I am, there is sometimes nothing like the peaty waters of Connemara. Can you Choose a Digital Still Camera Intelligently? by Michael Wicks

Little did I know when a with it would not pose too much of diver friend of mine threw me a a hassle. 2. The camera should be a “disposable” underwater camera that minimum of 6 mp so that I may be I would be hooked faster than I was able enlarge an image here or there hooked on diving? for home, friends, or sale. And 3 it It was a 35mm crank, point, and should be able to be set with different shoot camera. But when I got the film white balance and ISO modes. My processed it had scratches down the budget was about $450 for the camera center of each negative. Even with with housing. Any concerns about the scratches, however, I could see I additional lenses for macro or wide wanted to continue my quest for good angle was not great as I figured most underwater images. I also knew that of the point and shoot digital still if I wanted anything decent I would cameras today have pretty wide focal have to upgrade to a device of slightly lengths. higher quality. What I wasn’t prepared for was Thus began my search for a new the number of choices out there. Just camera. Now keep in mind, since to give you an idea of what I saw, I am not a world renowned diver/ Canon produces 24 digital still models photographer nor am I a PADI Course and Olympus makes 21 and that director, companies won’t just send number includes 10 new models from me cameras and housings to play with Olympus and 10 new models from to see if I like them. Pity. Therefore Canon in the past 3 months. Sea and all my research had to be theoretical Sea has 6 models, some of which are and on the web. recently discontinued and Bonita has I wanted a device that I would 1 sticking to the KISS methodology of one dive shop told me that there is it easier to handle. The price was be able to use both topside and down Keeping It Simple Stupid. virtually no shutter lag, the mega pixel within my range but the pixel ratio below. My criterions for choosing Since Bonita has just the one range was only 5mp. The camera had was a little lower than specified. were not too intense. 1. The camera model I started there. Although the some nice features and uses a “skin” Sea and Sea has some really nice should be small so that traveling LCD is large measuring in at 2.5” and for it’s waterproofing thus making models and they all come with their www.uwpmag.com 38/29 respective housings already. Only one model still pixels were only 5.1. There are other companies, that will work and surprisingly both the cameras in production met my resolution specification and such as Ikelite, that make housings for the Canon’s and the housings combined fall well within my price range; the Dx860 with an effective range of but the housings were in the $300-400 range which price range. But what about my other criteria? 6.2 mega pixels. The optical zoom was typical for would bring this way outside my base Last year Olympus came out with the 740 mu and this type of camera with a maximum of 3x. Another price criteria. I definitely got the feeling that in 750 mu models. The resolution is a whopping 7.1 nice feature of these cameras is the availability of the Canon world, underwater housings were more mega pixel and the 740 has a 5x optical zoom. The the external wet lenses (macro and wide angle). The geared to matching what you already had rather 750 mu has a higher optical zoom and some other price point was about $499. than having a solution for purchasing a package. features but the camera does run about $100 more. Canon definitely has a vast array of digital Since Olympus manufactures their own There was one other really interesting feature I still’s to choose from which can be a curse as much housings for their digital still cameras they’ve found on these 2 cameras that I didn’t see on any as a blessing. I quickly became fatigued whilst done something that I have yet to see other camera others. Included in the 27 shooting modes, yes trying to cross reference a camera I liked with manufactures do. On their website they have put 27, were 3 underwater modes. Other features searching on-line for a housing that would fit (I’ve a section just for underwater housings. Once you included image stabilization, a 2.5” LCD screen, since found out that there are resources that help navigate to their housing site you can click on and all weather protection. This doesn’t mean that in this but hindsight is of course 20/20 and the the housing and be shown which cameras it will it’s waterproofed by no means, but you can stand resource was at a small dive shop in Hollywood). fit. Compared with the Canon experience this out in a mist or drizzle and not worry about the One of the issues I was running into was that many was like having a VIP pass at the security lines in camera getting ruined. There were 2 downsides of the housings were for cameras that had been JFK Airport. In fact, during this writing Olympus that I found whilst looking at these 2 devices. The discontinued. Of course with the rate that new has even put a quick link on the main consumer first, Olympus decided to remove the viewfinder. cameras are rolling off the line it’s no wonder. The products page directing you to all new housings. But since most people don’t use this with digital canon A95 does have a housing available and the Quite nifty. point and shoot cameras anymore I didn’t see this price is within the range I had, but again the mega They have quite a few cameras with housings as a show stopper. The 2nd is that the housing uses

www.uwpmag.com 38/30 easy to start adding on features that you want, but soon you will be up in the high 500 or 600 dollar range just for the camera. As with all goals, the object should be to keep it simple and inexpensive without sacrificing your needs. By the time this is published I’m sure there will be even more options available. After all, since I bought my camera from Olympus, they’ve released 4 new cameras in might be a really excellent fit. The the same model range (the mu). And best price I found new was $220, one is cheaper than mine. Newer and which isn’t so bad since the MSRP cheaper, who would have figured? retail is $299. Since I tend to take In the end stick to your budget, your Michael Wicks chances on a refurbished camera I camera’s out there, you just have to [email protected] searched ebay as well as other on dig a little to find what will work for line venues. I was able to find one you.. a 52mm screw thread for additional for $169 with a 3 year warranty. The lenses. In fact Olympus states this housing cost me another $200 but as a feature but when I asked the I like everything else in life I have Olympus representative at a dive since seen it lower. The whole set up show he merely stated that, yeah, we is small enough that it will fit in my have no plans on making any lenses cargo shorts pockets. Just the other that will fit it, but you can try the guys day I was able to stash it with the at Fantasea. And so close to being housing in my cargo pockets whilst completely diver centric. But again Kayaking of the coast of Florida. this was not one of my criterions for I firmly believe that any of the the new camera so I didn’t get hung cameras I researched would have up on this feature. worked fine for me had it not been So which camera was right for for resolution or price. It is not my me and met my criteria? As you might intention to say that this camera was have guessed I settled on the 740mu. the best out there. If being able to use With all my specifications for a new wet macro and wide angle lenses with camera and with all the features that your setup then this definitely won’t this camera had it appeared that this work for you, at least not yet. It’s very www.uwpmag.com 38/31 The Perfect System... well for now anyway… By Don Silcock

In September 2005 I came back Taking two camera rigs, strobes from a trip to Raja Ampat in Indonesia and all the associated stuff on a diving convinced that I had reached the trip is an expensive business these boundaries of what my current days and I had decided that for my camera, the Nikon D100, could do next upgrade I would go with a single and was seriously thinking of an housing and two bodies. Two D2X upgrade. At that point in time the D2X bodies and the Subal housing to match was available if you could afford it…. my existing ports is a LOT of money and the D200 appeared to be finally and at the end of the day I just could not too far away. not justify spending that much on My next trip was to Bali that what is still a hobby for me. Xmas and a good (and VERY trusting So I decided to sell my D100’s friend) offered to loan me his D2X & housings before the D200 released and Subal housing! After coyly and use my back-up F100 & housing hesitating for at least two nanoseconds whilst I waited for Nikon & Subal to take a long hard look at all my gear about the functions & features of the I gratefully accepted the offer on the get their acts together. I was pretty and find the optimum set-up that D200 so I am just going to mention standard proviso that if I flooded it, I lucky with the camera as Sea Optics, would give me everything I needed on the two key things that have made a owned it…. the Australian agent for Subal are also a dive trip, but minimized what I took huge difference to the quality of my I have to say that I was amazed a Nikon dealer and not only did they with me. images. at the difference between the two get me one of first D200 bodies to The objective of this article is First the sensor in the D200, cameras and very pleased with my come into the country, but also one of to explain how I came up with what which is CCD technology compared results in Bali. So I began seriously the highly sort after 18-200 VR zooms I now consider to be the “perfect rig” to the CMOS sensor in the D2X, and contemplating upgrading to the D2X in January 2006. – well for me anyway….and for now! apparently made by Sony with Nikon until I sat back and did the math. Back However, it was May 2006 The Camera: Overall, both for engineering input. None of which then I had two D100’s and two Subal before I actually got my hands on my land and underwater, I cannot really really matters that much to me, but housings, one rig bought brand new new Subal housing complete with the fault the D200 – it is an exceptional the results are clearly far superior to and the other bought second-hand GS viewfinder and June by the time I camera that took prosumer DSLR’s the D100 in terms of quality of the from another friend who had decided got it underwater in PNG. into the second generation of image and improved dynamic range. to upgrade to the D2X & Seacam Whilst I was going through this technology. The smaller pixels in the D200 sensor housing. upgrade I decided that it was time to Much has been written elsewhere @ 6.05 microns, compared to the 7.80 www.uwpmag.com 38/32 defense I would like to state that I have sold or am selling the ones I don’t need…. But here is what I am currently taking on my trips and why: Nikon 10.5: I really think this is the mother of all wide-angle lenses and once mastered produces sensational results - it’s sharp, fast, focuses close and is just a great lens. If I know for sure the site is suited for fish-eye type photography then it’s a no contest and this is what I use. Tokina 10-17: This lens certainly has stirred up a great deal of interest and I had to get mine in Japan as it was hard to find. So far I have only done one trip with it, but I was very pleased with the results and will use the lens if I need some microns in the D100, produce tremendous detail in thrown at them. flexibility on a wide-angle site. the finished image and although the dynamic range They are not cheap, but you get what you pay Nikon 12-24: Like a lot of people I struggled of both cameras are roughly the same overall at for - I just wish they had a port lock on that fish-eye with this lens initially – nice & sharp above water about 8 stops, the results from the D200 sensor are dome….. but soft underwater using the Subal recommended significantly better. Lenses: The really great thing about lenses for +2 dioptre, 50mm extension ring and fish-eye dome. Secondly, the four channel histogram in Nikon cameras is that they are all black - why is this Then I read a post by on Wetpixel by Alex Mustard the D200 is a tremendous improvement over the important you may ask? recommending a 30mm extension with a +4 dioptre luminance version in the D100 which just showed Well it’s important because when my wife and have been very pleased with the results. the overall distribution of perceived brightness looks in the “camera cupboard” under the desk I find this lens to be a good all round lens, but in the image, but no information on the color where I am writing this, or in my camera bag have to admit that I am using it less & less if there channels. So what would have appeared to be a when we are on holiday somewhere, she just sees is any chance to use the 10.5mm or 10-17mm. Ultra properly exposed image underwater could actually a lot of black things…. This means she has no real wide angle underwater photography is addictive be very misleading and quite disappointing when interest in what they are or what they do and, more and produces such tremendous results that make the downloaded and viewed later! importantly, how much I have spent getting to the images from the 12-24 seem lacking somehow…. I have come to realize that interpreting the four point where I now feel I have the right set of lenses Sigma 17-70: This was the most difficult channel histogram – the white or luminance channel for my trips! choice and where I spent the most money. Basically plus the individual red, green & blue color channels The lenses purchased on that journey are: I was looking for lens that would give me the really is the key to realizing the full potential of the Nikon 10.5mm, Tokina 10-17mm, Nikon 12-24mm, maximum flexibility when I was diving on a site I D200’s sensor. Sigma 15mm, Nikon 17-55mm, Sigma 17-70mm, had not dived before. The Housing: I have owned four different Nikon 18-70mm, Nikon 20mm, Nikon 24mm, I started off with the Nikon 18-70 after I read Subal housings since 1994 and found them to Sigma 28-70, Nikon 60mm Macro, Nikon 105mm a positive review on Thom Hogan’s site and figured very well designed overall & superbly made, very Macro, Sigma 150mm and Nikon 70-180 Macro. it was exactly what I was looking for, but I was reliable, rugged and stand up to everything that gets I shouldn’t really be telling you this and in my very disappointed with the results after forking out www.uwpmag.com 38/33 to adjust the power quickly to adjust the lighting without disrupting your “workflow” underwater. Taking photographs underwater is never easy as there are so many variables but the application of artificial light, combined with the four channel histogram feedback telling you how effective that application is, makes the difference between a good image and a great image! Also, I am not very good at Photoshop and prefer to get my images as good as I can in the camera and then use Rawshooter Premium to just tweak them, so my priority underwater is to get a good four channel histogram and the right strobes are the key to this in my opinion. a premium to buy it (kit lenses are not cheap when one other person currently using it and he was on I upgraded to Ikelite SS200’s a couple of years sold separately…) and the extension ring. the same PNG trip and bought it as soon as he got ago and then when the DS version was released Then I went for the Sigma 28-70mm 2.8 home! I contacted the late (& really great) Ike Brigham zoom after discussing it with Alex Mustard. This No longer made by Nikon, I bought my lens and persuaded him to upgrade them to the DS is a nice lens, very fast & sharp but I really wanted new on Ebay from a dealer in Hong Kong and found specification – which meant shipping them back to something wider. the Subal port with another dealer in Singapore the USA but it was worth it because I bought a pair Then I bit the bullet and bought the Nikon courtesy of the Subal flea market site. of manual EV controllers at the same time. 17-55mm and initially I was blown away by the I find the lens to offer fantastic macro The EV controllers will only work with DS quality of the lens, particularly when used on land flexibility and it’s my standard macro lens. It has specification Ikelite strobes and I really think they – it really is a premium lens and worth the money. to be said that it’s not the fastest lens in the world, are the best thing since sliced bread – yes I know However when used underwater, often in conditions but what it loses in auto focus speed it makes up in the SS200’s have variable power switches but where the visibility is not that good, its inability to sharpness and tremendous flexibility. they are on the side of the strobe and by the time focus less than 14” and zoom range become quite Nikon 18-200: I don’t use this lens underwater, you have adjusted them that “Kodak moment” has frustrating. but when I am on a trip it’s always mounted on my usually gone…. So I eventually bought the Sigma 17-70 and spare D200 body and available for interesting land The EV controllers mounted on three way although I have only used it on one trip, I used it a shots. I find the lens to be a great general purpose Ultralite clamps just above the housing provide lot and was very pleased with the results. It’s sharp, lens that is both sharp and quick. great control when you need it and the overall fast, focuses close and offers tremendous flexibility Strobes: I subscribe to the bigger is better combination of plenty of power, fast recycle time on the same dive plus its great value for money. school of thought when it comes to artificial light and quick & easy adjustment is hard to beat. The Nikon 70-180: I first saw this lens being underwater - powerful strobes are a must in my only downside is the physical size & weight of the used by Roger Steene, the godfather of Aussie opinion, both for wide-angle and macro. SS200’s…. underwater photographers, on a trip to PNG about The key is having the power available to light The Bags: For a long time I was very proud four years ago. He swore by it, but I know only the entire subject when you need it and being able of my two yellow Pelican hard cases because they www.uwpmag.com 38/34 carry-on baggage and one bag, although I have never seen the one bag rule enforced, last Xmas on my way to Bali, via Melbourne, security was enforcing the weight limit as passengers went into the departure area. I was forced to check in one bag and opted for the small suitcase as I figured it was well packed with everything in bubble wrap and I was not going to check in all those lenses…. It arrived safely with no damage to any of the contents. Generally though, the key appears to be keep the backpack on your shoulder when checking in, completely ignore the pain and then nonchalantly point to the roll-on suitcase when asked “do you have any carry-on baggage sir?” Conclusion: In the “good old days” of film you could buy a new system and confidently expect to have it at least five years. Today the cycle is three years at the very most, unless you decide your current system still does everything you need and you will skip a generation of technology. My opinion is that the advances in each new generation of technology justify the cost and whilst I can afford to pay the cost I will continue to upgrade. were tough and looked kind of macho. But with their gear with them, but here is what works for me. Once that decision is made, it’s a question of the airlines trying to gouge every cent out of their I use two carry-on bags, both of which are managing the life cycle of your system. Selling passengers these days I reached the conclusion within the standard airline size limits of 22” in your current system before the next generation of that they had become a liability - not only are they length, 14” wide and 9” high. The first is a small technology is available is the best way to maximize heavy at nearly 7kg without anything in them, so “roll-on” suitcase that is just big enough to take the the price you will get and with my D100’s I got half you are paying excess baggage for the bag itself, but Subal housing & 70-180 port, plus the two Ikelite price by doing that. I got half the cost of the brand they stand out like a sore thumb almost demanding strobes and various bits & pieces like strobe cables. new system back after 2.5 years of ownership and to be stolen. I assemble one D200 body and the 70-180 lens the same price as I paid for the second-hand system So I looked around for the right combination inside the housing & port to save space. after 1 year of ownership. of carry-on luggage that would allow me to take all The second bag is a Lowepro Photo Trekker my gear on board and just check in my dive gear & Classic backpack which takes the other body, all the clothes etc. It seems every underwater photographer lenses, my laptop and passport & wallet. Don Silcock has a different opinion about the best way to take Most airlines have a weight limit of 7kg for www.indopacificimages.com www.uwpmag.com 38/35 Sun Dancer 11 Fish portraits from Belize caters well for by Gearóid Lane photographers, with spacious camera tables on the dive As an avid reader of UwP, camera! Having worked for many deck, a good big I’m always amazed by the high years with my trusted V, I’d dedicated rinse tank standard of photography achieved been waiting for the right moment to and lots of power by the regular contributors, and go digital – looking for the camera points for charging. left embarrassed by my own totally with a low enough price tag and high amateur efforts. Busy with a day-job enough quality for the infrequent and a non-diving family, I usually perfectionist. For me, the launch of get one chance a year to dust off the the Nikon D200 signalled that the camera, with fingers and toes crossed moment had come. I’ve housed it for good visibility and photogenic inside a Sea & Sea DXD200 and re- Sun Dancer II’s impressive aluminium hull from below beasties. So it was that, a few weeks used my Sea & Sea strobes. On a few , The Cathedral, Belize, 10.5mm F/2.8G Fisheye Lens, 1/100s, ago, I hit the road for the annual test dives in Dorset, I found the kit F/8, ISO100 pilgrimage with a group of friends. really comfortable to work with – but This year’s destination was how would it bear up on the real deal, Belize, for a week’s liveaboard on five dives a day in the big blue? board Peter Hughes’ luxurious Sun Arriving at the Sun Dancer Dancer II. Belize (formerly British II after an overnight in Houston Honduras until it was given its (where in true Texan style they serve independence in 1964) is located on fajitas by the pound!) we were truly the Yucatan Peninsula with Mexico ready for action. She’s a 138-foot to the north and Guatemala to the aluminium vessel, built for pleasure west and south, not forgetting the all- (with ten really comfortable cabins) important to the East. rather than speed (cruising at 12 With the land area of Wales and the knots). Catering for a largely US and population of Nottingham, it’s not Canadian clientele, the ten-strong a number one must visit destination crew are very attentive, and the for the land-based traveller. Offshore food was certainly the best I’ve had it’s a different story with the world’s on a liveaboard. It caters well for second largest barrier reef at about photographers, with spacious camera 185 miles long. tables on the dive deck, a good big The expedition to Belize had an dedicated rinse tank, lots of power added source of excitement – a new points for charging, and a large screen www.uwpmag.com 38/36 Steve is clearly impressed by the stalactites Sarah hitches a ride on the deco bar. Turneffe Horse-eye jacks under the Sun Dancer II Lighthouse Reef, Blue Hole, Belize, 10.5mm F/2.8G Islands, Amber Point, Belize, 10.5mm F/2.8G Fisheye Lighthouse Reef, Uno Coco, Belize, 10.5mm F/2.8G Fisheye Lens, 1/100s, F/4.5, ISO100 Lens, 1/60s, F/8, ISO100 Fisheye Lens, 1/100s, F/10, ISO100

TV for viewing your efforts. than 100m deep and largely devoid of life inside, Inspired by David Doubilet’s lovely book And the diving? We had specifically timed the this site is more impressive from an aerial photo. A “Fish Face”, I decided to take the opportunity to trip to give the best chance of whale shark sightings, former sunken cave whose roof collapsed to form shoot as many fish face portraits as possible. I had but no such luck. It seems from exchanges at the the circular hole, it is definitely worth a dive to see planned this in advance and done some thinking airport that all the whale sharks were holed up at the impressive stalactites at about 40 metres, but about lenses and techniques to get the best results. Silk Cayes Marine Reserve to the south. But, whale once you’ve seen them you’re itching to get back to Advance planning of your photography is definitely sharks aside, this trip delivered a truly amazing the many drop-offs and swim-throughs for the real a good idea for the once-a-year amateur, not least diversity of marine life. Above all, there was a action! because if you get it wrong you’ve got a long time startling variety of fish, with many species such as Sun Dancer II has a diving schedule that is to regret it before the next opportunity arises! But the very photogenic saucereye porgy that I’d never ideally suited to the underwater SLR photographer. I must admit as a previous digital-sceptic that the encountered before. It moors at its first site before the first dive (or instant feedback during and after the dive is an even Sun Dancer II concentrates on the two overnight) and stays there for the first two dives of better aid to getting the right results. big offshore coral , Turneffe Islands and the day, then moves off over lunch to a different site Getting a good face portrait can be frustrating: Lighthouse Reef, which boast the best diving in for the next two dives and the night dive. Speaking the damn fish won’t sit still; the strobes can give Belize. The former is the biggest at about 30 miles from experience, this helps minimise regrets for the a nasty glare off the fish scales; the background long. The latter is the best, and the farthest from the photographer who descends on the first dive with a can clutter up the shot – to name but a few mainland. Yes, it’s got the famous Blue Hole right at 10.5mm fisheye lens only to find an amazing macro of the amateur portrait photographer’s woes. its centre. I’ve seen it described as “one of the best subject! Never mind, there’s always another dive From the lessons I’ve learned, here are my ten dive sites on earth” but it’s decidedly not that. More on the same site to come. commandments of fish face portraits, intended for www.uwpmag.com 38/37 A juvenile spotted trunkfish is separated This Nassau grouper becomes from its habitat. Lighthouse Reef, Uno inquisitive about the camera. Turneffe Coco, Belize, 60mm F/2.8D Macro Islands, Sayonara, Belize, 60mm Patience finally pays off as a roughhead blenny poses for the camera Lens, 1/100s, F/6.3, ISO100 F/2.8D Macro Lens, 1/60s, F/5.6, Lighthouse Reef, Aquarium, Belize, 60mm F/2.8D Macro Lens, 1/80s, F/20, my fellow amateur rather than the ones. I spent 75 minutes lying on one from slightly different angles and with cleaned. Others, like parrotfish, sleep seasoned professional who knows all piece of sand beside a small patch different settings. Sometimes the eye at night and give a great opportunity of this stuff already: of reef, trying to get a good shot of a throws out a lovely colour, which for a face portrait (but be careful not roughhead blenny, and was pleased as transforms the photograph. to disturb it too much). 1. Don’t chase the fish. It can punch with the result. 4. Study the behaviour of the 5. Use a fast shutter speed swim faster than you. Play around 3. Never mind the tail fish to optimise the photo opportunity. for a moving fish. Remember, a with the fish or look disinterested, and – pay attention to the eyes. Just It’s amazing how much easier it gets photograph of a jittery fish is an action it just might pose for you. photographing the detail of the face if you can guess what the fish will shot. Note of course that this will 2. Be patient. If you see a subject can make a great shot – don’t be do next. Some fish display repeated blacken out the background and make that will make a good shot, hang afraid to chop off the tail. Or shoot patterns of movement. Others a day dive look like a night dive. This around for as long as your buddy head-on so that the tail is hidden frequent a particular cleaning station can be attractive for a portrait, but see allows you. Don’t forget, one really or soft focussed. Most of all, pay and become calm (and often open the sixth commandment if you want good photo is better than ten mediocre attention to the eye. Take a few shots their mouths) when they’re being your blue background.

www.uwpmag.com 38/38 This yellowhead jawfish eventually poses for the A head-on shot captures the comic look of the pygmy The Caribbean spiny lobster makes a dramatic close- camera. Lighthouse Reef, The Cathedral, Belize, filefish. Lighthouse Reef, Uno Coco, Belize, 60mm up shot. Lighthouse Reef, Long Caye Wall, Belize, 60mm F/2.8D Macro Lens, 1/100s, F/10, ISO100 F/2.8D Macro Lens, 1/100s, F/6.3, ISO100 60mm F/2.8D Macro Lens, 1/80s, F/13, ISO100

6. Don’t be afraid to open the get it against a different background, aperture ring right up. You usually maybe the open water. Or open don’t need depth of field, and sharp up the aperture ring (see the sixth primary focus is no longer a problem commandment above). (now that my Nikonos is back on the 8. Think about strobe shelf). The blurring out of foreground configuration. For a close-up fish and background can reduce any portrait, you don’t need twin strobes, distraction from the main subject, and and the less cumbersome rig makes the extra light can restore the natural you more nimble and may look a bit light of the background to compensate less daunting to the fish. for a fast shutter speed. 7. Try to separate the fish from its background. Many fish are camouflaged to look like their habitat. Some creatures become much more Shooting one against its habitat as photogenic at night such as this background makes for a busy photo, flamingo tongue. Lighthouse Reef, which distracts the eye from the main Quebrada, Belize, 60mm F/2.8D Macro subject. Stick around long enough to Lens, 1/100s, F/13, ISO100 www.uwpmag.com 38/39 access every feature I find useful. I’d to take us to every bar in Belize City. give it my highest recommendation. So was this trip a complete success? The true test of whether or not you Well almost – there are a lot of bars in We’ve got you covered! enjoy the diving is how many times Belize City! you’re willing to don the damp suit for the repetitive dives on each day Gearóid Lane of the trip. My 26 dives and 29 hours www.gearoid.co.uk underwater in five and a half days are testament both to the quality of the diving and to the care of the excellent crew of Sun Dancer II. And what about that day’s de-gassing at the end of the trip? Sun Dancer II offers several interesting shore trips both to the jungle and to ancient Mayan ruins. But Steve, Nick and I had different plans. A taxi driver was secured for the day, with the express instruction

A hawksbill turtle will always stick around for a photoshoot if you don’t chase it. Lighthouse Reef, Long Caye Wall, Belize, 10.5mm F/2.8G Fisheye Lens, 1/80s, F/9, ISO100

9. Turn the strobe right down for ways to do this. Use a wider angle close up portraits. The flash of the lens and shoot wide angle close up strobe can give a nasty glare off the (remember the Nikon 10.5mm fisheye scales of some fish, and a big blast can focus on a subject almost touching of flash will probably scare it off (or the dome port!) Or get low and shoot blind it) before the second shot. Don’t upwards (this is always a great general forget, Photoshop is always awaiting rule of underwater photography.) your return! So how did the D200 in its Sea 10. For a different shot, try to get & Sea housing bear up? Absolutely sunlight into the background of the fantastic – by the end of the week I frame. A glint of sunlight can make felt like I was really in tune with the all the difference. There are a two camera and housing and could easily www.uwpmag.com 38/40 We’ve got you covered! Have you learnt something invaluable by reading this issue of UwP? Have you saved a lot of time benefitting for the experience of UwP contributors or do you simply just enjoy UwP and want to help it continue? If so, please donate to the UwP contributors

You may not know this but more their percentage. none of the UwP contributors get When deciding how much you paid. They provide their articles want to donate please bear in mind and photo talent in support of the that PayPal’s charge for amounts cause of UwP which aims to keep smaller than £3 or $6 can be as the magazine free for anyone to high as 24%!! Whilst I accept that download. PayPal is absolutely brilliant and Donations are all handled in safe, I don’t want this to become a total security through PayPal and ‘Donate a lot to PayPal”!! you can also pay securely by credit You can make a donation in Magic filters are now available in 3 options. card using the PayPal links. either US $ dollars, UK £ sterling Your donations will be or € Euros by following this link Original Magic for use in blue water with DSLR and distributed to the contributors of compact cameras with Manual White Balance, each issue on a pro rata basis i.e. www.uwpmag.com/donate. Auto-Magic for compact cameras in automatic the more pages they contribute, the html point and shoot mode. GreenWater Magic for use in green water with DSLR and compact cameras with Manual White Balance. Prices start at just £19. Donate here www.magic-filters.com www.uwpmag.com 38/41 Adventures with a Wratten 22 By Paul R Carre

I blame that Mustard bloke. He attached to the back of my lens. Alex got me started in this foolish filter will never know… lark with his Magic Filter, which isn’t Given its parentage, at that stage really strictly proper ‘Magic’ in the I figured I had to be backing a sure Harry Potter sense but under the right fire winner with this fine filter. We conditions comes frighteningly close. later learnt that the filter material Anyhow that comes later, all in question was indeed ‘found’ in this started when I attended one of a photographic shop clearance bin Alex’s Red Sea Workshop trips. On “somewhere in Soho” priced at “er, day two, while chatting with Alex, the about a Pound or so”. It was also subject of filters (predictably) came interesting to hear that this filter might up. It was at this point that I made be available ‘over the counter’ (if you my critical error, I confessed to loving can find the right counter that is, more The Wratten 22 (left) is completely removing the blue channel leaving only the Black and White pictures. later). attenuated Red and Green. When this is converted to black and white in Photoshop Discussion followed; it seemed Anyhow, a couple of hours later the result is very punchy. that Alex had been ‘experimenting’ I was standing on the rear deck of the with, (surprise, surprise), several boat armed with a set of (seemingly) Had I been at all sharper The dive itself probably turned filters specifically targeted at simple instructions:– mentally I would have questioned out to be one of the most rewarding underwater B&W. Was I hooked? that last one, “a bit dark” – I checked underwater experiences that I I didn’t stand a chance, indeed I Try and shoot with a downward twice to see if I had left the lens cap can recall. After an hour or so I pleaded mercilessly with Alex to be camera angle, to give a nice dark on (again). Think “Black Cat” “Coal reluctantly returned to the boat with a given a sample of a hot candidate and background. Cellar” and “Midnight” and you get huge smile and cornered Alex. As far an opportunity to try it out. Exhaled bubbles come out a the idea. Subsequent examination as I remember, the conversation went Reluctantly, I was duly issued really cool white. of the pictures would show that the along the lines of “I don’t care if the a piece of filter to fit the rear of my It might be a good idea to crank filter knocks out the blue channel [word removed] pictures are awful, Nikon 10.5mm lens, on condition I the ISO up somewhat. completely, potentially making it a taking them was an absolute blast”. didn’t break it (?). As it turned out I Oh, and the viewfinder may be a less than ideal candidate for ambient The image in the viewfinder was did eventually manage to arrange for bit, well, dark. light shots in the water one would dark in the extreme. To obtain any its theft as it was ‘accidentally’ left think? kind of usual exposure the ISO had to www.uwpmag.com 38/42 Shot without a filter and converted to black and white in Photoshop Shot with a Magic filter and converted to black and white in Photoshop

be boosted to 300 or 400, even with the thing at all. my jaw dropped; some of these were ‘extra’ noise while experiencing a rare the shutter speed at 1/30 I still needed Review of the shots on the LCD actually not too bad, how did that ‘post production arty’ moment. the lens to be near fully open. So, tended to also be a bit of a hit and happen? All of this got me to thinking when does the fun part start kicking in miss affair as they all have quite an After the dive a number of things “how/why is this working?” To again? extreme orange/green cast, so you did occur to me, the auto-focus on be honest, I am not fully sure I Well, with the viewfinder being only get to assess your failure or the D200 always locked, seeming to understand. I had always believed so dark I found that I was forced to success later, must be just like the focus with ease (which was more than that with digital everything should be think much more critically about the (dark) pre digital days then! the poor idiot on the other side of the achievable via software manipulation composition rather than employing Back on the boat we adjourned viewfinder could manage). The ISO given that the CCD could initially the ‘blast away regardless’ technique to the darkened ‘Bat Cave’ area and boost, which I am often very cautious capture the full dynamic range of the I often favour. In fact I really was sparked up Photoshop CS. With a about with the noise prone Nikon, image. The Wratten 22 is completely forced to think about it, as I couldn’t spot of ‘audience participation’ we was not a problem at all – in fact, in removing the blue channel leaving actually see much of value through poked and prodded some buttons - couple of shots I later added some only the attenuated Red and Green - www.uwpmag.com 38/43 this has to be key. B&W Conversion As an exercise I examined three similar shots with the same camera and setup. The test shot is the So far the most successful conversion method well-known stern shot of the Giannis D, Abu Nuhas, has been to use the Channel Mixer in Photoshop CS Egypt. though using the Luminance channel directly also One was taken with no filter of any kind, one seems pretty good. The typical RGB histograms for with a Magic filter and one with the Wratten 22 a picture look like this – – All three were then post processed to the best of my abilities using Photoshop CS to produce a final B&W image. Even if I try to emulate the effects of the As you can see the Blue channel is pretty much Wratten 22 by deleting the blue channel in the other devoid of data, what is remaining in there seems to images I cannot replicate its behaviour. be more noise than data. As a starting point in the Later in the week I again tried the filter Channel Mixer I have used 70% Green, 30% Red Later in the week I again tried the filter with the with the shoals of snapper that congregate at Ras and 0% Blue, then fiddle about with the Red and shoals of snapper that congregate at Ras Muhammad Muhammad at that time of the year. The results Green for effect. The new B&W Adjustment layer at that time of the year. were maybe not quite as good. Seems fish tend to in CS3 is not a lot of use (though it is fast becoming move about a bit, unlike wrecks. With the longish a firm favourite of mine when converting from a shutter speed the slight movement of the fish made ‘conventional’ RGB colour image). All images need obtaining a sharp image much more tricky. to start out ideally in RAW, trust me you will want the exposure latitude!

www.uwpmag.com 38/44 So what is next? port, as the smaller 6” Ikelite dome that I was using when these pictures Well, now that it seems I am were taken may not be doing me any hooked there appears to be any favours. I have also had problems number of adventures to be had. The with this port’s lack of shade leading first was obtaining a piece of Wratten to ugly reflections from the rim of the 22 filter of my own – I did track some port, (as seen in some of the above down in the USA though the price was images!). a little higher than the sum that Alex Following examination of the initially paid. images I would attempt to boost the For those in Europe, Lee Filters ISO even more on my noisy Nikon, [www.leefilters.com] make a Wratten those with a Canon 5D or similar 21 that promises to be a ‘less strong’ have a head start here with its superior version of the Wratten 22. Ultimately noise performance. this may prove to be a more versatile So this is very much ‘work filter for in water use. in progress’ and I have no doubt The technical department at that the story has a way to go yet. Lee also suggested that their ‘778 Ultimately, I have to thank Alex for Millennium Gold’ filter might also his help and for starting me off on this be similar enough to the Wratten 22. photographic adventure. Bio All of these options will be worth Harrow while Mees moved to New investigation. A good friend, and Wratten filters York to found Eastman Kodak’s Paul Carre has been diving for fellow workshop participant, Timo is research laboratories. more than 20 years in the cold also trying some of these in his much Frederick Wratten (1840-1926) Today Kodak still make Wratten and tidal waters of Guernsey greener Finnish home waters. In 1906 Wratten in association filters which are sold under licence in the Channel Islands (UK). With the wide open aperture with Kenneth Mees developed through the Tiffen Corporation. Daytime he can be found come the resultant soft edges on the coloured filters using dyed gelatin masquerading as an Electronics final image, while this can be sorted – these filters later became known as Paul R Carre Design Engineer. Pictures have with a judicious crop or two it is Wratten filters. Each filter was given www.GuernseyBiscuit.com only consumed his interest for far from ideal. The fix ? Well we a number to identify it. Some of these the past four years or so. All obviously need to close the aperture filter numbers will still be familiar to pictures here were taken with a somewhat, which will mean longer photographers today such as “Skylight Nikon D200 / Ikelite housing and exposures, tripods come to mind, (oh 1A”. all are ambient light. no, I did try it once before and am In 1912 George Eastman sure the fish laughed at me). purchased the company and merged it Following advice from Alex I with Kodak Ltd in Harrow England. have also moved up to a larger dome Wratten and his son worked in www.uwpmag.com 38/45 www.uwpmag.com 38/46 Abstract Attractions by Mark Webster

When we begin underwater photography the initial challenge is to simply record as many of the species we see in what is often a stunning underwater world. This alone can keep you busy for a long time, particularly when you start to explore the variety of species in the macro world. During this pursuit you may also begin to realize that there are thousands of unique and striking details in both small and large subjects which, when isolated and composed in the viewfinder, can produce some unique and often abstract images. Abstract painters are frequently inspired by nature, but of course they don’t often see the amazing diversity that is available to underwater photographers. So the purpose of this short article is to encourage you to think beyond the standard illustrative image and explore the potential attractions of the abstract image. Abstracts and patterns are, for me at least, predominantly in the higher magnifications of the macro range and I will often see an opportunity whilst I am working a subject with a more Lion fish fin - Nikon D200, Subal ND20, 100ASA, Sea cucumber pattern – Nikon D100, L&M Titan ‘standard’ image in mind. For example, if you are Nikkor 105mm micro, Inon Quad flash, f16 @ 125th housing, 200ASA, Nikkor 105mm micro, Inon Quad shooting shrimps or clown fish in an anemone flash, f16 @ 60th the detail in the anemone itself is normally quite striking and shape of the arms allows strong Anemones compositions. Static or sessile subjects are naturally There are numerous anemone species in and the tentacles which normally have contrasting the easiest to work with and allow you time to vary both temperate and tropical waters which lend colours. Isolating the tentacles on their own is you composition and lighting to produce the most themselves well to abstract photography. Often the also effective and you can compose using strong pleasing images. skirt alone will be strikingly patterned or textured diagonals. Tentacles are often on the move in the or you can explore the border between the skirt or current, so it pays to be patient and time www.uwpmag.com 38/47 your shot and then take plenty to secure the best arrangement and focus. Tentacles, particularly those with ‘bulbous’ ends can glow and reflect light dependant on your lighting angle, so don’t forget to vary the lighting to see how they react or perhaps to cast strong shadows and create deep contrasts.

Fish fins and scales Although many fish try our patience when we try to capture an image, there are species that will remain still when you get close. These tend to be the camouflaged hunters who are mostly convinced that you cannot possibly see them no matter how close you get. Scorpion fish, crocodile fish, frog fish etc. all fall into this category and the fins, scales and patterns make great images and compositions. There are other slow moving species such as lion fish, rays and some moray eels that can be a little more challenging but also provide excellent opportunities. You can also dive at night to find species that are normally skittish during the day which will be static sleeping in the reef after dark. However, many fish species adopt a much drabber colour or pattern at night, so it is best to dive soon after dusk just as they are beginning to settle in for a snooze and beginning the change. Parrot fish eye – Nikon F90X, Subal housing, Fuji Hard coral detail - Nikon D200, Subal ND20, Eyes and patterns Velvia 50ASA, Nikkor 105mm micro, Inon Quad 100ASA, Nikkor 105mm micro, Inon Quad flash, f16 The eye of a fish or cephalopod can make flash, f16 @ 125th @ 125th a powerful element of a composition and often the pattern that radiates from the eye is equally striking. Some fish species will tolerate a close In temperate waters during winter, when water naturally inquisitive and will permit a very close approach for this, but we are mostly again limited fall, fish often become sluggish and approach if you are patient. Otherwise it is back to the sessile camouflaged species. Occasionally are easier to approach when resting – wrasse in into the water at night when species like parrot fish you will encounter a co-operative giant puffer fish the UK are a good example of this. Cuttle fish provide many opportunities for example, particularly at cleaning stations and a and octopus are always good subjects as they are slow patient approach can produce an opportunity. www.uwpmag.com 38/48 Spiny starfish detail – Nikon D100, L&M Titan Mushroom coral detail - Nikon D200, Subal ND20, Strawberry anemone detail – Nikon D100, L&M housing, 200ASA, Nikkor 105mm micro, Inon Quad 100ASA, Nikkor 105mm micro, Inon Quad flash, f16 Titan housing, 200ASA, Nikkor 105mm micro, Inon flash, f16 @ 60th @ 125th Quad flash, f16 @ 60th

Corals and polyps keep rotating the camera to find the most pleasing against open water. This can give you a choice of Corals are an obvious choice, particularly composition. One of my favourite subjects are the backgrounds ranging from jet black through deep when their polyps are extended. The structure of sea fans or gorgonians which have a intricate and blue to pale blue by just adjusting the shutter speed the stony element of reef building corals also lend often colourful branching structure with delicate and angle of view towards the surface. themselves to bold compositions – remember to contrasting polyps which you can compose www.uwpmag.com 38/49 Sea cucumber pattern - Nikon D200, Subal ND20, 100ASA, Nikkor 105mm micro, Colonial cup coral polyps - Nikon D200, Subal ND20, 100ASA, Nikkor 105mm Inon Quad flash, f16 @ 125th micro, Inon Quad flash, f16 @ 125th

Invertebrates We often approach a nudibranch these species to look for critters or you a little more working distance The invertebrate world is also intent on recording the whole of the to show you the patterns – be sure which is an advantage when trying full of opportunity and includes star colourful beast, but some of the larger to turn them over again and leave to isolate detail, particularly if you fish, crinoids, urchins, sea cucumbers, species provide abstract opportunities them in the same location and habitat. are working with a fish for example. nudibranchs, sea pens etc. Some of as well. Try using the flower like gills Urchin spines or perhaps the spines You may find that you also need these subjects have powerful natural or cerata as a centre point in your of a crown of thorns starfish are also additional magnification and for this patterns or their physical structure composition or the brightly coloured worth exploring in extreme close up you can choose from wet lenses, make very graphic compositions when stripes and patterns on the body of the and composing with strong diagonals. close up diopters or a teleconverter. viewed in extreme close up. Feather species. Working at high magnification often stars (crinoids) and plume worms in Starfish and urchins also boast Lenses results in the lens hunting – either use particular have an amazing fragile intricate patterns and textures in bold Shooting with an DSLR the best manual focusing or lock the lens by structure with numerous diagonals colours and additionally may carry choice will be one of the longer macro switching your CSM switch to manual and swirls which mixed with their symbiotic shells or shrimps that can lenses, e.g. 105mm or 200mm micro (Nikon) once you have the desired bright contrasting colours can make add to the composition. In some Nikkor, 150mm or 180mm macro magnification, then rock focus. stunning images. locations dive guides will turn over from Sigma etc. These lenses give If you are using a compact

www.uwpmag.com 38/50 camera then zoom ratio and the opportunity to compose as you magnification will vary between please by either following the basic manufacturer but there are a variety rules or by breaking them with your of macro wet lenses available for own interpretation. Many subjects compact camera housings as well. respond well to the classic diagonal Of course, the great advantage with positioning in both the portrait and digital is that you can crop into the landscape format but try and explore detail as well during post processing. all the potential variations as often the most unlikely arrangement will work Lighting best. Experiment as much as possible I shoot most of my macro with as we are no longer restrained by 36 an Inon Quad flash (ring flash) and frames! personally like the lighting effect that Abstract macro photography it produces, particularly in subjects can be practiced equally well in both like anemones which seem to glow tropical and temperate waters and it a little under flat lighting. You can often helps to dive with this particular achieve the same effect by aligning purpose in mind. As always, the best two small strobes alongside your images are produced when you are port pointing directly at the subject. totally focused on a technique or Many abstract subjects are fairly ‘flat’ style of photography but it is easy to and so this approach works well, be come distracted by other events but if you are using your flash guns around you. When you are next set positioned in a more standard pattern up for macro close you mind to whale then watch out for harsh shadows as sharks and mantas and explore the you are normally quite close to the seemingly endless and sometimes subject. Some subjects respond well puzzling variety that the reefs have to to deep shadows from side lighting, offer. so don’t forget to experiment with flash position as you explore the best Mark Webster composition. www.photec.co.uk Composition Good composition is a very personal assessment and there should be no hard and fast rules in abstract photography. The patterns and shapes in the macro world give you www.uwpmag.com 38/51 The Techniques of Filter Photography By Alex Mustard with Peter Rowlands

There is no doubting that digital myself, most prevalent amongst cameras have revolutionised underwater these is the chance to leave our photography. Instant review, low strobes behind, attach a filter and running costs and the ability to shoot take full colour images with just the more than 36 frames on a dive have available light. been welcomed by photographers OK, so as filter manufacturers, with open arms and wallets. A few perhaps we are a little biased. photographers are still shooting film, But our aim in this article is to be but anybody who has been near a dive objective as possible. We’d like to boat in the last few years will know assure you that this article is purely that chemical cameras are harder to about technique. We have avoided find than a pygmy seahorse, in a large any comparisons between filters sea-fan, in the Caribbean. As Mathieu and have tried to include illustrative Meur reported in the last issue of UwP, images from as many different types even one of the strongest bastions of filter as possible. of tradition, the CMAS Underwater Filters are not a new Photography World Championship, is development in underwater still now wholly digital. photography. Seek out any 1960s Enough of the politicking. For or 70s text and there are many the underwater photographer surely pages dedicated to filter facts. the most exciting aspect of the digital But reading between the lines its revolution is the new types of images obvious that filters were popular that are made possible by digital only because flash photography technology. And certainly for Peter and was, at best, temperamental and at

Digital cameras and filters have allowed us to take new types of images. For example wide and scenics with colour in both the foreground and background (AM). Nikon D2X + 12-24mm lens. Subal housing. Magic Filter. Manual WB. 1/80 @ F5.6.

www.uwpmag.com 38/52 worst, dangerous. Once electronic strobes were reliable the popularity of filters quickly waned, and most books from the 1980s and 90s hardly mention them at all (although my co-author would like me to stress that the popular 1984 title “The Underwater Photographers Handbook” by P. Rowlands covers them in detail…). All that changed with digital cameras, whose flexible white balance transformed an impractical technique into a reliable and simple one. Digital underwater photography books now devote entire chapters to filters. But despite their long lineage, the techniques for using filters with digital cameras are continually being refined. The aim of this article is to provide the latest update on the technique. Filter photography restores colour and contrast over The first rule of filter photography is that a range which strobes could not achieve. (PR). Nikon they are not for every dive nor for every subject. D70 + 16mm. Subal housing. Magic Filter. Manual They are not going to produce great images of WB. macro subjects on night dives, for instance! Filters generally work best for wide angle photography, in water shallower than 15 m (50 ft) and in bright blue tropical water filters out red and orange light conditions. Filters are primarily a technique for coloured light much faster than blue light. Green tropical waters, but thanks to the fantastic high temperate waters are different: red and orange light ISO performance of modern digital cameras still goes first, but blue light is absorbed much faster they also have a role in darker green waters too. and green light penetrates deepest. Take a photo, Perhaps the greatest benefit of this technique is without strobes, at a depth of 10 m (30 ft) and it will for photographing, in full colour, large subjects or be almost entirely monochrome. scenes, that we could never hope to illuminate with We use filters to counteract the filtering effect Filters photography is primarily a wide angle strobes. of seawater, bringing the light spectrum back into technique. We favour full frame fisheyes (15/16mm) balance. Ideally we should want a filter that will on cropped sensor cameras for most reef Why filters? exactly redress the balance and produce an even photography, changing to the 10.5mm fisheye on spectrum of light. However, small changes in our wrecks or in low viz (PR). Nikon D70 + 16mm. Subal All divers know that as sunlight penetrates depth mean big changes to our filter requirements. housing. Magic Filter. Manual WB. the ocean it is attenuated by absorption and And it is impractical to constantly change filters scattering. Bright, white sunlight is made up of a during a dive. The most useful underwater filters full spectrum of colours, and different colours of are those that can operate over a wide depth range, light are absorbed by water at different rates. Clear working in conjunction with the white balance of www.uwpmag.com 38/53 the camera. Perhaps the most common question regarding filters is Do I really need one? Can’t Photoshop or white balance do it all by itself? At shallow depths (to 5 m/15 ft) white balance alone can produce pleasing images. As we go deeper, stronger adjustments are required and these create colour noise (particularly in the warmer hues) and most noticeably suck the colour out of background water leaving it grey or purple, a clear sign of an over-processed image. A filter creates a more balanced spectrum of light before it is captured by the camera. This means less processing, less colour noise, better image quality and a more pleasing At shallow depths WB alone can resort background water colours. Often the colours, but usually at the expense most obvious difference when you of the loosing the colour background At deeper depths WB alone, without filter, will remove the colour cast from the compare white balanced unfiltered water colour. This image taken with subject, but will introduce a lot of colour noise and suck up background water and filtered shots of the same subject a filter brings out the colour of the colour, as you can see in these before and after WB images. A filter would help to is not in the foreground but in the subjects and keeps the water blue (PR). keep the water colour (AM). Nikon D2X + 10.5mm lens. Subal housing. No Filter. background water colour. The filtered Olympus C40. PT Housing. Inon 165 1/30 @ F4. photo will hold a nice rich blue, while WL. Auto Magic Filter. Auto WB. 1/40 the unfiltered shot will be washed out. @ F4.8.

Lens choice shooting, schooling fish etc, slightly in, when used on cropped sensor 28-70mm, to give an original look to less wide lenses are better. Their cameras. Unfortunately those with full portraits of marine life. The best lenses for filter slightly narrow angle of view makes frame cameras don’t have this option. photography are wide angles. it easier to control background water Rectilinear wide angle zooms are also White Balancing Accessory wide angle lenses make colour and avoid whitening of the good, but the wider apertures often a big difference for compact users. surface when shooting verticals. Our required for filter photography may For the best results with filter For DSLR users a 180 degree fisheye preference is for lenses such as the results in a loss of corner sharpness. It photography we must set our white is the best choice for wreck shots Nikon 16mm, Sigma 15mm, Canon is also worth experimenting with mid- balance manually during our dive. and in low viz, but for general reef 15mm or Tokina 10-17mm zoomed range lenses, such as 17-55mm and To some this may sound like a lot of www.uwpmag.com 38/54 as a white balance target. However, There are no right or wrong settings. diving with Peter I soon noticed that Go with what looks right to you. The he never uses a card and always sets easiest way to set white balance is the white balance using the subject with a white balance or grey point or the reef with excellent results. dropper tool, that is available in most Convinced, I now never bother with RAW conversion programs. It is the hassle of a card. worth clicking in several places within To set the white balance off the frame with the dropper until the a natural subject it is important to most pleasing result is achieved. The recompose the frame so that the best WB values are usually obtained subject fills it and so that it is fully by clicking the dropper on a neutral illuminated by sunlight – not in coloured area of the foreground. If we shadow. For example, if I am shooting set the white balance from a point too a wreck I will swim slightly closer so deep into the image the white balance the metal fills the entire frame and set of the foreground tends to be over the white balance, before swimming compensated and too red. Ambient back a touch and recomposing for the light images are also often improved actual shot. Neutrally coloured rocks, by slightly increasing image contrast coral, sand, rubble and wreckage all during RAW conversion. It is easy to set white balance of the reef. To take this shot I filled the frame with work well as white balance targets. one of the table corals, set the white balance and then recomposed to produce Open water will NOT produce a Shooting Techniques the final image (AM). Nikon D2X + 10-17mm lens. Subal housing. Magic Filter. suitable white balance and we should Manual WB. 1/60 @ F7.1. also avoid strongly coloured subjects, Ambient light photography such as a bright red soft coral. requires a different approach to fuss, but on most cameras it is hardly loss. But the advantage of doing it As I mentioned above, if we shooting with strobes. The most any more taxing than simply taking underwater is that way we see our shoot RAW files then it is possible to important factor is to shoot with the an extra photograph and becomes finished images as we shoot them adjust white balance after shooting natural light to produce even lighting practically automatic after a couple and we quickly learn what subjects without degrading image quality and on the subject. We must position of filter dives. Before diving with a and camera angles produce the best it is not uncommon to want to tweak ourselves so that the light comes filter it is important to get familiar results and can really work the best the setting you recorded underwater. from behind us onto the subject. If with the method for calibrating white opportunities. Modern RAW converters (Adobe’s we shoot into the light we won’t see balance on your camera. This differs Generally we need to recalibrate Camera Raw CS3 & Lightroom) do much colour on the subject at all. between models, so you should check the WB when we change depth allow us to make similar adjustments A slightly downward camera angle your camera manual. Of course, by by more than a couple of metres, to JPG files but these changes can be very effective to ensure even shooting in RAW, if your camera particularly in the upper 10m. When significantly degrade image quality. lighting and helps produce a pleasing has this option, you can adjust the I started filter photography I would Setting white balance in RAW blue water colour. The wider the angle white balance after shooting with no always use a white slate or grey card conversion software can still be tricky. of coverage of our lens the more a www.uwpmag.com 38/55 It is possible to fine tune the WB of filter photos using a white balance dropper in most RAW converters. Usually the best places to set the WB are on neutrally coloured areas in the foreground (sand) or high in the frame (ray), (AM). Nikon Filters can be used for standard lens marine life photography, although they work D100 + 16mm lens. Subal housing. CC40 Red Filter. Manual WB. 1/60th @ F9.5 best on slow moving subjects, which will not cause movement blur (AM). Olympus 720SW, PT Housing. Standard lens. Auto Magic Filter. Auto WB. 1/40th @ F3.5. downward camera angle helps (this 200 or 400. If you have a camera is particularly true with 180˚ fisheye with good high ISO performance then lenses). you can increase this further still. shoot subjects from further away than in available light images. Strobes Generally I shoot most filter Shutter priority is very useful as it with strobes, it is still important to provide a lot of contrast between the shots on automatic exposure, either is the best way to eliminate camera get close to help get a “white balance main subject and the background, shutter speed priority or aperture shake blur from our images, while separation” of the subject from the but we do not have this with filters. priority. I often use about 0.3-1.0 of we concentrate on shooting. In strobe background. If there is too much It is very easy to loose the impact a stop underexposure, although this photography I often use very long water between the camera and subject of our subject in the background in varies with the content of the frame. exposures to balance light and still get it will not be possible to set a white low contrast available light images. All filters work by the subtraction of sharp images, but in filter photography balance that will bring the colour out We can help to isolate our subject by light and therefore work best in bright we have to be more careful and I do on the subject and keep the blue in the framing it against open water. conditions. Even so we can benefit not use exposures slower than 1/40th. water behind. Similarly it is important The other important from increasing the sensitivity to ISO Although filters allow us to to choose strong, simple compositions consideration for getting the most www.uwpmag.com 38/56 Even at 20 metres in UK waters filters The most important factor when shooting filters is to pay attention to the direction Filters in Green Water can restore very subtle colour. (PR) of light and shoot with it. This ensures even illumination of the subject and strong by Peter Rowlands Nikon D70, Subal housing, 10.5mm colours (AM). Nikon D100 + 12-24mm lens. Subal housing. UR Pro CY Filter. lens 1/30th F2.8 ISO 800 Manual WB. 1/40th @ F4.8. In theoretical terms, filter out of filters is in subject selection. camera and we can exploit this. Filter photography in green, temperate with strobes. Filters are great for large subjects like photography allows us to position waters is no different. Keep the light In order to get a technically coral gardens, shipwrecks, schooling a subject much more dynamically behind you and choose the appropriate correct (sharpness and exposure) fish and large marine life. When I am in the frame, running from the subject. The big difference is that image you have to juggle with shooting with filters I always try and foreground back into the image, while light levels are usually much lower the three controls at your disposal look for images that I could not light still photographing it in full colour. and when you add a filter you lose – shutter speed, aperture and ISO with flash. Filters allows us to add A school of fish swimming towards around 1 extra stop of light. The speed. It is more than likely that you colour to our images in a completely us are a good example: now we can result is, quite frankly, hard work with will be using full aperture to get a different way to shooting with photograph the whole school in full many frames binned on a technicality. useable shutter speed so ISO speed strobes. Colour is no longer limited colour. Not just the ones close to the However when you get it right, filter with today’s electronics is the first by where we aim our strobes. In filter camera! photography in green water will adjustment you should make. In photography colours penetrate much produce very exciting and different theory this should make your images deeper into our images, away from the results to anything that is possible more ‘grainy’ or ‘noisy’ but modern www.uwpmag.com 38/57 With manual white balance and filter photography you can still capture colour and detail even in UK waters without the bulk and expense of strobes. Above and below shots are still images taken from video footage shot by PR on a Sony A1 camera in an Amphibico housing with GreenWater Magic filter

ISO800 is needed at 19 metres to achieve usable combinations of shutter speed and aperture. (PR) Nikon D70, Subal housing, 10.5mm lens 1/15th F2.8 ISO 800

cameras have been developed to with the D80 and I now quite happily provide the holy grail – high ISO with shoot at 1600 ISO which means I can fine performance. This does vary from either use a higher shutter speed or a manufacturer to manufacturer and I smaller aperture. very nearly jumped ship to Canon for If light levels are really low you their high ISO performance last year should look for something to rest but fortunately Nikon bounced back your housing on when shutter speeds

www.uwpmag.com 38/58 slower than 1/30th are needed. Taking If you are really keen to this to the extreme you might even experiment with this approach, I consider taking a tripod down with suggest using a strong blue filter, such Have you learnt something invaluable by you. as a 38A and be prepared for a lot of reading this issue of UwP? Green water photography has trial and error and an narrow working always been a challenge and whilst depth range. Such a filter would be Have you saved a lot of time benefitting filters do not make the challenge any useful on a torch, if you plan to have a for the experience of UwP contributors easier, the results are very much worth diver carrying one in your image. the effort. or do you simply just enjoy UwP and want Now back to Alex. Conclusion to help it continue? If so, please donate to the UwP contributors Can I Use Strobes? Filters are not a technique for every dive. We need bright and One of the most common sunny conditions and appealing questions that comes up with subject matter in comparatively You may not know this but more their percentage. filter photography is “Can I use shallow water. But when conditions none of the UwP contributors get When deciding how much you strobes?”. It seems that some are favourable they allow us to paid. They provide their articles want to donate please bear in mind underwater photographers feel naked cast off the excess baggage of flash and photo talent in support of the that PayPal’s charge for amounts without their electronic lighting. photography. The real promise of this cause of UwP which aims to keep smaller than £3 or $6 can be as Theoretically, it is possible to filter technique is the very different lighting the magazine free for anyone to high as 24%!! Whilst I accept that the strobe light so that it balances that can be achieved in our shots, download. PayPal is absolutely brilliant and with the in situ illumination, but in allowing us to capture shots that we Donations are all handled in safe, I don’t want this to become a practise this is impractical because just could not produce before digital total security through PayPal and ‘Donate a lot to PayPal”!! the required filtration for the strobe cameras. you can also pay securely by credit You can make a donation in will change with depth. It is a card using the PayPal links. either US $ dollars, UK £ sterling common misconception that strobe Alex Mustard Your donations will be or € Euros by following this link filters simply need to be opposite distributed to the contributors of www.amustard.com (complimentary filters) to the lens each issue on a pro rata basis i.e. www.uwpmag.com/donate. filter. This will not work because it the more pages they contribute, the html does not take into consideration the effect of white balance. The correct complimentary strobe filter actually has to be the opposite of the combined effect of the lens filter and the WB adjustment made by the camera. And Donate here of course this varies considerably with depth. www.uwpmag.com 38/59 Book Review

An Advanced Guide to Digital Underwater Photography by Michael Aw with Mathieu Meur with contributions by Doug Perrine, David Doubilet, Alex Mustard and Stephen Frink

This 132 page A5 size book is a find them again easily. Having found follow on from the hugely successful it the book explains how to work on An Essential Guide to Digital images in post production. Underwater Photography. As its title Spread throughout the book are implies it is aimed at those who want very useful “How to” hints covering to go beyond the basics and get the a wide range of subjects from most out their highly capable digital recovering pictures to batch renaming camera. and adjusting raw images to black and As with their previous book white conversion. Messrs Aw and Meur have the gift I pointed out in my review of of imparting potentially complex the first book, it was like a Tardis and information into a series of precise this follow up is no exception. It will and easy to digest modules. help newcomers gain confidence and Digital cameras may have give even experienced photographers brought a new capability but the the knowledge and inspiration to take image is still king and this book their photography to a new level. provides detailed thinking behind An Advanced Guide to Digital some stunning images not only by the Underwater Photography is published authors but by the four internationally by OceanNEnvironment and priced at acclaimed contributors. The result is $26 plus postage both informative and inspiring. For me a very useful section was www.OceanNEnvironment.com “Asset management and Workflow” www.michaelaw.com which covers organising images once you have shot them so that you can

www.uwpmag.com 38/60 Guidelines for contributors

The response to UwP has been nothing short of fantastic. We are looking for interesting, well illustrated articles about underwater photography. We are looking for work from existing names but would also like to discover some of the new talent out there and that could be you! UwP is the perfect pubication for you to increase your profile in the underwater photography community. The type of articles we’re looking for fall into five main categories:

Uw photo techniques - Balanced light, composition, etc Locations - Photo friendly dive sites, countries or Subjects - Anything from whale sharks to nudibranchs in full detail Equipment reviews - Detailed appraisals of the latest equipment Personalities - Interviews/features about leading underwater photographers If you have an idea for an article, contact me first before putting pen to paper. E mail [email protected]

How to submit articles

To keep UwP simple and financially viable, we can only accept submissions by e mail and they need to be done in the following way: 1. The text should be saved as a TEXT file and attached to the e mail 2. Images must be attached to the e mail and they need to be 144dpi Size - Maximum length 15cm i.e. horizontal pictures would be 15 cm wide and verticals would be 15cm. File type - Save your image as a JPG file and set the compression to “Medium” quality. This should result in images no larger than about 120k which can be transmitted quickly. If we want larger sizes we will contact you. 3. Captions - Each and every image MUST have full photographic details including camera, housing, lens, lighting, film, aperture, shutter speed and exposure mode. These must also be copied and pasted into the body of the e mail.

www.uwpmag.com 38/61 Parting Shot 1

We had just finished our dive at my position and focus as “Barranco Seco II” (Los Gigantes, the thrashing fish migrated Tenerife, Canary Islands) and started over the rock in their our safety stop on a rocky arch at a struggle. The lizardfish depth of about 6 metres. There were took rests from thrashing several lizardfish (Synodus saurus, and just let the wrasse average size 40cm) perched on the struggle and wear itself rocks around us. They are ambush out trying to get away. predators that remain motionless In these moments of and rely on their camouflage to go relative calm, I was able undetected. The perfect macro subject, to refocus and grab a shot so I picked one and started taking or two, eventually getting some shots of it’s head and teeth. the whole sequence of Andy Molloy (Los Gigantes Dive the wrasse’s demise. Centre) our dive guide, signalled to us The conical teeth of the that he was going up with his buddy lizardfish point backwards and left us to finish our stop. Suddenly and are barbed, so the he got very excited and pointed to wrasse can’t just swim another area of the arch. So we went forward to get away, yet over to investigate. unfortunately in this When we got there I was is what it tries to do. surprised to see a lizardfish had At one point, during some no escape for the poor wrasse, as it closing its mouth trying to pump caught the tail of an Ornate Wrasse thrashing about by the lizardfish, the was slowly swallowed. Seemingly water over it’s gills. What a way to go, (Thalassoma pavo, average size 15 wrasse actually got free for about half the lizardfish was swallowing a fish swallowed alive. cm) on some of it’s teeth in the lower a second, but the lizardfish was able to almost half it’s size. (Lizardfish jaw. Over the next 6 minutes I was quickly pounce on the wrasse again. are voracious predator that will Brian Mayes glued to this fascinating yet macabre I think it was too tired or shocked consume anything that fits into their [email protected] spectacle, during which time the to make a proper getaway. Then the considerable mouths. Cannibalism is lizardfish thrashed it’s head about lizardfish opened it’s mouth as wide not uncommon.) from side to side in an attempt to get as possible and by thrashing it’s head Right up until it disappeared the tail of the wrasse inside its mouth. from side to side, it managed to get completely inside the lizardfish, I started taking photos the tail of the Wrasse into the corner you could see by the poor wrasse immediately, but had to keep adjusting of it’s mouth. After that there was desperate for , opening and www.uwpmag.com 38/62 Parting Shot 2

My liveaboard had just arrived at return again to the delight Abu Nuhas and I was looking forward of all. Eventually she to diving on one of my favourite disappeared back into the wrecks, the Giannis D. I was the blue and the group ascended only photographer on the liveaboard, to the ships gantry for their but the rest of the guests were a very safety stop. Although I still accommodating group; allowing me had plenty of air left I joined extra personal space on the dive deck the group & their for my camera, a table in the saloon as I was happy to return to for my laptop, etc. In addition, the the boat and view my results. dive leader was relaxed about me A few minutes later the being usually the last out at the end of group had all ascended to the the dives and not having to stick too surface and were awaiting the closely to the group. arrival of the Zodiac when Just prior to this trip I had I caught sight of Barry (the acquired a Magic Filter & was keen DL) frantically waving to me. turned me around like a top, making from the group. She then charged to experiment with it in conjunction The dolphin had returned and was me dizzy and effectively stopping me back towards me, turning 90 degrees with my new 10.5mm fisheye lens. circling immediately below us. photographing her. After a time, she and heading past the stern of the The visibility on the Giannis D that What happened next will remain broke away and did the same to Barry, wreck. This time I was ready for the morning was 30 metres plus and I in my memory forever. Barry & I so I was able to get some shots of shot………………………… spent the first half of my dive at the looked at each other and, as one, them both together. Then she swam Back on board the group were stern using the same composition descended back down. Now, I have back past me, using her tail fin to kick very excited by ‘their’ encounter and but varying my camera settings and seen dolphins before when diving, up a huge cloud of sand, almost as were unaware that Barry & I had spent adjusting the White Balance to get but mainly at a distance and usually if to say ‘You can’t photo me now!’ so much time with Eli. Needless to the most pleasing image. The rest of disappearing off. Not this time, for – and then turned vertically upwards; say, I was the centre of attention that the group had moved up to the bow Eli (so named due to some scars on accelerating up to the surface. evening when I downloaded the day’s section and were slowly returning her flank that seemed to spell the With the Zodiac approaching, images onto my laptop…….. back to the stern when a solitary letters ELI) made it clear that we the surface group were completely dolphin appeared from out of the blue. two ‘intruders’ were there for her unaware of what was going on The dolphin was obviously in a Ralph Mortimore enjoyment! Initially, she approached beneath them – only to be more than playful mood and swam repeatedly www.ralphyimages.com me, circling round and round and a little startled by Eli completely around & through the group of divers, staying so close that she overfilled my breaking the surface, turning in the air breaking off to charge away and fisheye lens. Barry filmed her as she and re-entering the water just metres www.uwpmag.com 38/63 Parting Shot 3

… this is what happens if you deprive a serious underwater photographer of travel opportunities (due to digital post production workload and general poverty). In his desperation he (or she) WILL find water. The neighbors duck pond in this case. It could have also gone as a test shoot to see how low you can go in visibility before the results resemble a Jackson Pollock or how high you can go in choli bacteria exposure and live (… outside the dunny for three days). As it was the ducks were incredibly cheerful and the water had only a very subtle manure flavor. It would have been jolly entertaining, the birds pecking away at the dome if I wouldn’t have been busy fighting off several dozen gigantic fresh water eels that where trying to chomp at any exposed bit of flesh. It does ruin your . Something you cannot do without in the life after Nikon F4 ationfiders and youthful, sharp eyesight. And then it happened, as I was lying Camera & settings: Nikon D2x in Subal. 10.5mm fisheye. 250th/f22. 2x Sea&Sea YS350 on full power diffused. on the bottom of a dirty puddle, holding my breath for minutes, being pecked at by horny beaks from the top and nibbled at by slithering, slimy creatures all you fellow photographers are having as much from below. It happened, that state of bliss you enter fun as me and as curious as me as to “WHAT ON Do you have a nice shot with a short story behind it? when you know IT is working, you are working on EARTH NEXT”? If so e mail me and yours could be something worth your while. And all that without the guilt of clocking up carbon dept. Then again Tobias Bernhard the next “Parting shot”. maybe it was just an asphyxic brain releasing nice [email protected] chemicals into the system. Whatever it was I hope [email protected]

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