Underwater Photography and Videography, News, Forums, Trips, Photo Contests :: Wetpixel.com

UK-based underwater photographer and British Society of Underwater Photographers member Linda Pitkin was invited to present a lecture on composition as a part of the Underwater Pixel Zone at the BOOT Show 2012. Her talk covers some of the key areas: Rule of thirds, color, perspective, background, framing, movement and patterns, and the talk is illustrated throughout by Linda's images.

Wetpixel was able to record the talk as a part of the coverage of the show.

Beneath the Sea (BTS) has announced that they have extended the deadline for applications for the BTS/Howard and Michelle Hall "Artist-in-Residence" Grant. The grant is to be awarded to an Artist-in-Residence currently developing an underwater video project and which the $1,000 additional funding on offer would aid in the completion of a final product. The completed video to be shown at appropriate venues throughout the Beneath the Sea weekend.

The new deadline is 15 February 2012.

The Diving and Resort Travel Expo has announced its venues and dates for 2012/13. The Singapore show will be held at the Suntec Singapore Convention and Exhibition center from 1 to 3 June, 2012. The Hong Kong Show will be at the Hong Kong Convention and Exhibition Center, between 15 and 17 December. Lastly, the Shanghai show will be held from 22 to 24 March 2013 at the Shanghai East Asia Exhibition Centre.

Full details of each show are available from the organizer's website.

Tokina Japan has announced a new version of its 11-16mm wide-angle lens. The AT-X 11-16 f/2.8 PRO DX II has an aspherical element, a new coating for improved performance and a SD-M (Silent Drive-Module) autofocus motor (AF-S equivalent) so it is usable with Nikon SLR cameras that don't have an integrated AF motor (D3100, D5100). The lens contains nine aperture blades, and is constructed of 13 elements in 11 groups with a filter size of 77mm. Minimum focus distance is 0.3m (11.8") so it will need a diopter for use with a dome port. The Nikon version is expected to start shipping in March with the Canon version to follow in July. The Japanese price is listed at 90,000 yen.

Three spaces have become available for the Wetpixel Sharks and Dolphins Trip 2012. The trip is on board Jim Abernethy's boat, the "Shearwater" and will be visiting Bahamian reefs in order to view and photograph tiger sharks, reef sharks, lemon sharks, and Atlantic spotted dolphins and runs from 21-27 June. This trip is an annual favorite, and there are numerous trip reports about it on the forums. It is usually heavily oversubscribed, but we have three spaces now available due to cancellations.

If you are interested, please contact trip leader, Jason Bradley as soon as possible.

The Liquid Capture: Masters of Underwater Photography exhibition is calling for entries to be submitted for their 2012 contest. The exhibition will be held at the Oceanside Museum of Art, Oceanside, California and will feature the top 25 entries, along with 25 pictures selected by the jurors. Contest categories include: Ocean Environment Underwater, Macro, Diver, Ocean Environment Above Water, Marine Mammals and Submersion, which is a creative look at diving. Judges include Andrew Sallmon, Stuart Westmorland, Yoshi Hirata and Eric Hanauer.

Full details, rules and procedures for entry are on the contest's website and the deadline for entries is 4 March, 2012.

New World Publications has announced the release of their definitive Tropical Pacific Fish identification book as an eBook, suitable for download onto Android devices, iPad, iPod Touch, iPhone and Windows PC computers. The eBook version of the guide allows for searching, annotating and highlighting specific species. It catalogs 2,000 species with over 2,500 photographs.

This new version requires the download of the free Blio app, and the eBook is available now at $29.95 from the Blio store.

Wetpixel wishes all those who celebrate the Lunar New Year a very happy new year of the Dragon (Eel!).

恭喜發財,萬事如意,主里蒙恩! 祝大家龍年進歩!
Cung hỉ phát tài, Sức khoẻ dồi dào,Vạn sự như ý
새해 복 많이 받으세요

The 2012 Our World Underwater competition's deadline for entries of videos and stills is 23 January. If you plan to enter, and haven't actually done so yet, please do so now! The contest offers over $60,000 worth of prizes with a €1,000 cash prize for the "Best in Show" and the winners will be announced live on stage at the Our World Underwater dive expo in Chicago.

To enter or to get further details, please head over to the UnderwaterCompetition.com site.

Wetpixel Editor Adam Hanlon presents coverage of the 2012 BOOT show. Held annually in Dusseldorf, Germany, it is the largest consumer watersports show in the world. Some of the exhibits are actually 30 meter (100 feet) yachts, complete with masts and rigging. Whilst the underwater imaging part of the show is comparatively small, it nevertheless offers European manufacturers the opportunity to showcase their products to a home audience.

Adam is attending the first three days of the show, and will be posting reports and updates throughout that time, so please check back often. UPDATED 01-22-2012.