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Articles
Brian Skerry reveals ocean’s glory and horror at TED
Photographer Brian Skerry has made a powerful case for protection of the world’s marine environments during his recent presentation at TED. His imagery and words show the ocean’s beauty but also how very fragile and vulnerable it is. The TED series of talks, devoted to “ideas worth spreading” are hosted by a small non-profit organization. Speakers have included Al Gore, Jane Goodall and Brian Greene. TED also runs local events and at the TEDx at Berkeley, Eric Cheng presented a talk about bioluminescent flashlight fish in Papua New Guinea, sperm whales and Architeuthis dux giant squid in Ogasawara, Japan and Dominica.
David Doubilet and Jennifer Hayes on the Elysium Antarctic expedition
David Doubilet and Jennifer S. Hayes were interviewed by the Watertown Daily Times about their recent Elysium expedition to Antarctica. The aim of the 57-member trip was to follow and document the route taken by Ernest Shackeleton’s 1914 Endurance expedition. Elysium members included filmmakers, scientists, historians, artists, photographers and even musicians. The results of their efforts will be a documentary film and book, due for release on the 100th anniversary of Shackleton’s trip in 2013.
Weeki Wachee mermaids on film
Since 1947, women and men have donned costumes and fins and been part of a display of mermaids at Weeki Wachee Springs in Spring Hill, Florida. Created by an ex-navy diver, Newton Berry, and originally using an air hose to breathe from, the mermaids still perform shows in the aquarium-like setting. The spring and its “inhabitants” have also been used in Hollywood films, and were the scene for a music video “Low C” by the British group Supergrass in 2005.
Recently, some historic film has come to light of the displays. This is fascinating not only for the performer’s prowess, but also for the footage’s quality given the basic equipment that must have been available.
In a place far, far away deep underwater
Mike Elliot’s latest underwater video “Escape” uses a Star Wars theme to illustrate the battle between a school of catfish sheltering in a coral encrusted car and a group of predatory hingebeaks and cardinal fish.
Shot in the Philippines, he skilfully combines soundtrack, shooting angles and tight shots to build a sense of foreboding! To quote Mike:
“I found these catfish at 90 feet and thought of this video.”
The Diving, Resort & Travel Expo, Hong Kong, July 16-18, 2010
The Diving, Resort & Travel Expo (“DRT Show”) will be held in the Hong Kong Exhibition Centre next month during July 16-18, 2010. Over the three-day expo, more than 30,000 expected attendees will learn more about the latest diving equipment, water sports equipment, dive resorts, tourism boards and diving organizations brought to them by a lineup of over 141 top-level exhibitors from across 21 countries and cities including Europe, America, South Pacific and Asia.
Wetpixel is looking for a local correspondent to cover the DRT Show in Hong Kong. Your job will be to represent Wetpixel, taking photos and writing commentary about underwater photography, videography and conservation news at the show. If you’re interested, please contact Eric.
Our Oceans in Reverie and Neglect
Fabien Cousteau, writing in the Huffington Post, has shown his appreciation of the ocean world.
“This month has been both a special time for our planet’s ocean and one of great distress. June 7th kicked off a week full of events, celebrating Capital Hill Ocean Week, World Ocean Day (June 8th) and my grandfather’s 100th birthday commemoration dive, end-capping the week on June 11th. Throughout the week, the beauty, majesty and fragility of our water world were center pieces of discussions and of reverie.”
However, in the same article he also emphasizes his distress at the unfolding events in the Gulf of Mexico.
“Churning in the water column, resembling a giant ink cloud from a gigantic octopus, a dark shroud has enveloped our aquatic arena since April 20th, 2010 and its vision has become all too familiar, thanks to hundreds of Web sites and blogs showing the live feed. The Gulf oil spill, a catastrophe of epic proportions, has commanded the world’s attention for 62+ days straight now.”
The Digital Shootout live coverage underway
The Digital Shootout coverage is now underway. The Digital Shootout is an opportunity for shooters to improve their underwater photo and video skills, and is sponsored by Backscatter, Aquatica, Light & Motion, Canon, Sea & Sea, Wakatobi Dive Resort and Wetpixel, among many others. Fantastic prizes will be awarded to the winners of the Digital Shootout.
This year’s Digital Shootout is taking place this week on Little Cayman island. Tune into to the coverage to get an inside track the shooters’ perspectives on the week of diving, as well as see images taken by the participants. Next year, the Digital Shootout will return to Bonaire, and you can contact Under Exposures for more information about joining the trip.
Danger on the rise for Guadalupe shark divers
Dive operators and their customers are pushing the envelope at Mexico’s Guadalupe Island, the world’s premiere destination for diving with great white sharks. Some operators have called it an “arms race” to make the encounters with the large predators more and more extreme.
Operators are pointing fingers at each other as to which methods of encounters with the great whites are illegal, but most agree upon one thing: if there is an accident, the Mexican government will likely shut the whole business down, potentially paving the way for poachers to slaughter the sharks. Read the whole story over at the Grind TV blog.