Wetpixel/Under The Jungle Cenote Workshop 2021
Articles
Using the Olympus OM-D E-M5 underwater
The Olympus OM-D E-M5 has become an important EVIL camera for underwater use. This can be illustrated by a fantastic thread about the camera in the Wetpixel forum that has attracted 23,464 views and 241 entries, all freely sharing information about it. In this article, Wetpixel Associate Editor Alex Mustard, together with Wetpixel member Coroander presents a synopsis of the current information in the thread, especially in how in relates to settings choices. Their goal is to assist fellow OM-D shooters to get the best from their cameras underwater.
New flourescence video by Jeff Honda
Wetpixel member Jeff Honda has been hard at work experimenting with the new Sola Nightsea lights. During the recent Backscatter trip to Lembeh, Indonesia, he shot this hauntingly beautiful fluorescence video. To capture fluorescence, two components are required: Firstly, a blue light source to excite fluorescence from the subjects and secondly, a filter to remove all non-fluorescent light. Honda spent an entire week “on the night shift” capturing this footage, utilizing a tripod exclusively as the amount of reflected light is much less than that of white light.
Sony NEX-FS100 firmware v2.0 removes gain control in lanc
Wetpixel member Simon Spear writes about his experience with the NEX-FS100 firmware update V2.0, which adds many features but removes gain control from lanc access. Since firmware cannot be backgraded, this functionally makes the gain controls on his Amphibico Genesis housing useless. According to Simon, neither Sony or Amphibico gave any notice about this feature removal before he purchased the housing and upgraded the firmware on the camera. Simon’s correspondence with Sony has come up with a possible fix to retrograde the firmware with some parts replacement for yet unknown total costs. Stay tuned for updates when Simon attempts to get back gain control through this fix.
EU votes for shark finning ban
In what may be the best news this Thanksgiving, the European Parliament has voted, with an overwhelming majority, to force all EU registered vessels to land shark carcasses whole, rather than just the fin. The EU, one of the largest exporters of shark fins to Asia, banned finning in 2003, but this legislation still allowed companies with freezer vessels to apply for “special fishing permits”. These allowed them to continue to land fins separately from the bodies and the issuing of these permits became standard practice. Today, the Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) voted 566 for to 47 against to close this legal loophole, effectively ending the legal trade of shark fin by EU vessels.
Thanksgiving 2012 is a great day for sharks! Now there really is a great result to celebrate. Happy Thanksgiving to the Wetpixel community.
Dust issue with Nikon D600
The new Nikon D600 SLR seems to be suffering from an issue with dust on the sensor. Kyle Clements has posted a timelapse video onto YouTube showing significant dust accumulation on a brand new camera’s sensor. The key issue is not the dust per se, but the fact that the dust is coming from inside the camera. During the timelapse, the lens is not removed from the camera. When approached on the issue, Nikon USA gave the following statement:
“Measures to reduce effects of dust or foreign matter are optimized for each model. Therefore, the dust reduction system’s internal mechanism varies with each model,” the Nikon statement reads. “If the effects of dust or foreign matter on photographs become bothersome, customers are encouraged to consult their local Nikon service center.”
DEMA 2012
During DEMA 2012, Wetpixel moderator Dave Burroughs was able to join the Wetpixel team and give his input into our show coverage. He has subsequently written a full report giving his personal perspective of the show. He describes his brief:
“Considering this, and looking at myself as an average Wetpixel participant I thought I would share a few impressions of what may not be necessarily the latest and most technically advanced new products. In particular I was interested in what a few of the manufacturers feel are the best compact cameras to take underwater.”
UK photographers get new copyright protection
Amateur Photographer has posted a report about a new guide from the UK’s Courts & Tribunal Service that states that: “The general principle that the unsuccessful party will pay the legal costs of the successful party does not apply on the small claims track”. This opens the potential for photographers to sue for breach of copyright within the small claims courts for settlements of up to £5,000 (to be extended to £10,000) without worries about ruinous legal fees. Interestingly, it seems that the US government may also be looking into something similar as it has scheduled hearings through November.
New protection for sharks postponed
Science Insider reports on an attempt by conservationists to get the International Commission for the Conservation of Atlantic Tunas (ICCAT), to add sharks to its management list. The organization has just concluded its annual meeting in Agadir, Morocco and has not added sharks, but has agreed to potentially open its treaty to new species in future. This could include sharks. ICCAT currently manages 30 species, including swordfish, marlin, and other tunalike species and does not currently set catch limits for sharks. It is hoped that they may do so in future.