Wetpixel/Under The Jungle Cenote Workshop 2021
Articles
A tribute to Ron Taylor (1934-2012)
It is with great regret that I have to let the Wetpixel community know that underwater pioneer, Ron Taylor, passed away early on Sunday morning. Originally a spearfisherman, Ron built his first SCUBA set up from military surplus aeroplane parts in 1955, and subsequently renounced his speargun in favor of underwater cameras. His first film “Playing with Sharks” was released in 1962, and thereafter, he sought to show audiences the wonder and majesty of the underwater world, and especially, sharks. He became a passionate advocate of the oceans and their inhabitants, and his legacy is his role in the creation of a worldwide awareness and appreciation of the marine environment.
Our thoughts go out to his wife, Valerie, and family. Please follow the links to a eulogy for Ron by Douglas David Seifert, World Editor, DIVE Magazine.
Wetpixel at Photokina 2012
Photokina is the world’s leading imaging fair. It is held every two years in Cologne, Germany and will pay host to almost 1,000 imaging companies from 18 to 23 September this year. Rumors are already flying around about the new products that will be on show and Wetpixel Editor Adam Hanlon will be attending to ensure that the Wetpixel community is kept abreast of all the latest innovations.
Full show coverage will be posted here on the Wetpixel front page, so if you want to know what is new and exciting, please check back often.
Blackmagic Designs to offer micro four thirds mount
Blackmagic Designs has announced that it is to offer its Cinema Camera in a version that accepts manually operated micro four thirds (MFT) lenses. The Blackmagic Cinema Camera MFT accepts MFT lenses or even adapters to other lens mounts such as PL. The camera’s design is otherwise identical, with a machined aluminum chassis, high-resolution 2.5K sensor, 13 stops of dynamic range and 12-bit RAW uncompressed and compressed ProRes and DNxHD file formats.
The Blackmagic Designs Cinema Camera MFT is expected to ship in December at $2,995.
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Amazing giant Pacific octopus images
Wetpixel’s 2012 God’s Pocket Expedition has just concluded, and trip leader Jason Bradley reports that:
“Some of the walls and reefs at God’s Pocket are as lush and colorful as I’ve seen anywhere in the world, and anyone remotely interested in cold water diving should put this place on their bucket list. But, one of my personal motivations for visiting this part of the world is a dive site called Dillon Rock. This is a well-known site due to the predictability of large and, for lack of a better word, friendly, giant pacific octopus. This year, I had the privilege to encounter the largest octopus I’ve ever seen in the wild. I’m guessing it was 30 pounds or more, but I’m no expert. I can tell you her (or his) head was the size of two basketballs.”
Wetpixel has already booked God’s Pocket for 2014.
Changes in Wetpixel support system announced
We have just implemented a new system to handle support enquiries on Wetpixel. Please simply contact us via our support form and we will respond to you as soon as we are able. Alternatively, please post any issues you may be having onto the Wetpixel forum. As far as we are aware, there are no outstanding enquiries on the old system, but if you have not yet received a reply, or are awaiting a response from us, please accept our apologies and don’t hesitate to get in contact.
If you need information about advertising opportunities on Wetpixel, please contact Wetpixel’s Editor Adam Hanlon directly.
Dive the World goes bi monthly
Dive the World magazine has announced that it plans to expand from its existing quarterly publishing rate, to a bi monthly one. In effect there will be 6 issues per year from 2013. The publishers say this is due to the volume of interest from photographers in having their images published in the magazine. In addition, they will also now be offering an electronic version for iPad or computer, and a German language edition (in both forms).
Call for entries: Shark Angels Calendar Contest
Shark Angels are calling for entries of images of sharks for their 2013 Shark Photo Calendar Contest. Images taken by amateur photographers can be submitted and these will then be put to a public vote. The most voted images will be used in the 2013 Shark Angels calendar. All proceeds from the sales of the calendars will be used in the organization’s Fin Free and Youth Shark Education programs. Full entry details and contest rules are on the Shark Angles website.
Last spaces available on Ultimate Indonesia 2012
The last few spaces are now available for the 2012 Wetpixel Ultimate Indonesia expedition. There are 3 spaces on the trip from Kaimana to Sorong, Indonesia (Bird’s Head Peninsula to Raja Ampat), and also 3 spaces on the leg from Sorong to Sorong, Indonesia (Raja Ampat). The former runs from 8 December to 19 December, and the latter from 21 December to 2 January 2012.
Both expeditions are on MSY Damai II, and take in some of the world’s healthiest and most unspoiled reefs, festooned with marine life of all descriptions. These trips are traditionally heavily over-subscribed so these last few spaces offer a tremendous opportunity. If you would like more details, or to make a booking, please don’t hesitate to contact Dan Baldocchi very soon.