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Event Report: INON UK Demo Day

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INON UK held an equipment demonstration day at Ocean View Diving Services in Lancing on Sunday 29th January. The idea was for dealers and customers to get their hands on the very latest INON underwater photography equipment and have a look at what was due for release soon.

One of the highlights of the event was that Takuya Torii from INON Japan had travelled over to the UK to give the very latest news to the group who attended. He has worked at INON for 15 years and there is no one who knows the products better.

The day started with him introducing some of the new products that will be out in the coming weeks. There is some exciting stuff including a new macro lens (UCL-67) for those who love to get very close indeed! The magnification of this lens is impressive, as is the quality. It is the equivalent of a +15 diopter, giving 2.7 magnification when using the Nikon 105mm lens. It will have a 67mm screw thread or bayonet mount and will also soon be compatible with many flip adapters. There will also be an accessory that allows to you add another macro lens to increase magnification further. So if super macro is your thing….

There is a new adapter for the latest Sony 4K action camera that will allow for a wide angle lens to be added to restore the 140 degree field of view whilst underwater. Inon have also developed a way for you to be able to take the live view screen underwater and for the wi-fi to work so that it can be used whilst you are diving. You can even add a macro lens to boost the size of the screen by 20% too, so you will be able to see what you are shooting! This is a great addition to the already available GoPro and Olympus TG4 systems.

There are two new lights being released in a few months too. We loved the new focus light, LF1300-EWF, which is packed with innovative features. It has a dome lens to give a wide spread of light, and comes with a hood to help direct light, as well as a red filter. It is small, compact, easy to use and takes AA batteries. The best bit – it has a sensor that turns the light off when you fire your strobes. This feature can be disabled if using it as a video light, and there are strobe users nearby who may trigger it. It is also the quickest to come back on (0.2 sec) on the market. The new 3100 lumen video light looks good too and follows the same idea as the focus light, with a dome front to give a wide (more than 100 degree) spread of light. It will have the same accessories as the focus light as well as the ability to use AA batteries.

Takuya then also showed the group, who filled the room at Ocean View, some of the existing INON range, including more lenses and equipment for action cameras, the bug eye lens for SLR users, telescopic arms and floats, and there was even a hint at a new INON tripod in development. There was plenty of time to then get your hands on the equipment, ask questions and chat to the INON team.

Ocean View Diving Services have their own pool on site, and so, in the afternoon, those that wanted to try out the equipment could put all the INON gear through its paces. Caroline jumped in for a quick go with the new close up lens, the Sony action camera with video lights and the focus light too. The INON UK team had brought a number of small artificial reefs and plastic marine life for everyone to practise on.

This was a really good event for both the dealers, who could see what was coming out in 2017 and try it out before customers starting asking about them, and also for the underwater photographers who turned up to see what goodies they might want to invest in next. The fact that all the equipment was also available to try in the pool was fantastic. We very much hope to be able to do full reviews of all of this new INON equipment once it becomes available. Watch out for more information here on Scubaverse.

www.inonuk.com

www.oceanviewdiving.co.uk

For more from Nick and Caroline visit www.frogfishphotography.com.

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Diver Discovering Whale Skeletons Beneath Ice Judged World’s Best Underwater Photograph

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UPY

An emotive photograph showing a freediver examining the aftermath of whaling sees
Alex Dawson from Sweden named Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024. Dawson’s
photograph ‘Whale Bones’ triumphed over 6500 underwater pictures entered by underwater
photographers from around the world.

“Whale Bones was photographed in the toughest conditions,” explains chair of judging
panel Alex Mustard, “as a breath-hold diver descends below the Greenland ice sheet to bear
witness to the carcasses. The composition invites us to consider our impact on the great
creatures of this planet. Since the rise of humans, wild animals have declined by 85%. Today,
just 4% of mammals are wildlife, the remaining 96% are humans and our livestock. Our way
needs to change to find a balance with nature.”

UPY

Photo: Rafael
Fernandez Caballero

Whales dominated the winning pictures this year with Spanish photographer Rafael
Fernandez Caballero winning two categories with his revealing photos of these ocean giants:
a close up of a grey whale’s eye and an action shot of a Bryde’s whale engulfing an entire bait
ball, both taken in Magdalena Bay, Baja California, Mexico. Fernandez Caballero took ‘Grey
Whale Connection’ while drifting in a small boat, holding his camera over the side in the water
to photograph the curious whale. ‘The End Of A Baitball’ required Fernandez Caballero to dive
down and be in exactly the right place at the moment the whale lunged. “The photo shows
the high speed attack,” he said, “with the whale engulfing hundreds of kilograms of sardines
in one bite — simply unforgettable to see predation on such a scale.”

UPY

Photo: Rafael
Fernandez Caballero

Lisa Stengel from the United States was named Up & Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024 for her image of a mahi-mahi catching a sardine, in Mexico. Stengel used both a very fast shutter speed and her hearing to catch the moment. “If you listen there’s an enormous amount of sound in the ocean,” she explained. “The action was too fast to see, so I honed in on the sound of the attacks with my camera to capture this special moment.”

“It is such an exciting time in underwater photography because photographers are capturing such amazing new images, by visiting new locations and using the latest cameras,”
commented judge Alex Mustard. “Until this year I’d hardly ever see a photo of a mahi mahi,
now Lisa has photographed one hunting, action that plays out in the blink of an eye.”
The Underwater Photographer of the Year contest is based in the UK, and Jenny Stock,
was named as British Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024 for her image “Star
Attraction”, which finds beauty in species of British wildlife that are often overlooked.
Exploring the west coast of Scotland, Stock explained “in the dark green depths my torch
picked out the vivid colours of a living carpet of thousands of brittle stars, each with a
different pattern. I was happily snapping away, when I spotted this purple sea urchin and I
got really excited.”

Photo: Jenny Stock

In the same contest, Portuguese photographer, Nuno Sá, was named ‘Save Our Seas
Foundation’ Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year 2024, with his photo ‘Saving
Goliath’, taken in Portugal. Sá’s photo shows beachgoers trying to save a stranded sperm
whale. The picture gives us hope that people do care and want to help the oceans, but also
warns us that bigger changes are needed. “The whale had been struck by a ship and its fate
was sealed,” explains Sá. “An estimated 20,000 whales are killed every year, and many more
injured, after being struck by ships-and few people even realise that it happens.”

UPY

Photo: Nuno Sá

More winning images can be found at www.underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com.

About Underwater Photographer of the Year

Underwater Photographer of the Year is an annual competition, based in the UK, that celebrates photography beneath the surface of the ocean, lakes, rivers and even swimming pools, and attracts entries from all around the world. The contest has 13 categories, testing photographers with themes such as Macro, Wide Angle, Behaviour and Wreck photography, as well as four categories for photos taken specifically in British waters. The winners were announced in an award ceremony in Mayfair, London, hosted by The Crown Estate. This year’s UPY judges were experienced underwater photographers Peter Rowlands, Tobias Friedrich and Dr Alexander Mustard MBE.

Header image: Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024 winner Alex Dawson

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World’s Best Underwater Photographers Unveil Breathtaking Images at World Shootout 2023

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The winners of the prestigious World Shootout 2023 underwater photography competition were announced at this year’s BOOT Show, captivating audiences at the world’s largest diving and water sports exhibition in Dusseldorf, Germany. Hundreds of photographers from 54 countries competed across nine categories, pushing the boundaries of creativity and technical skill.

Grand Prize Winners

  • Picture of the Year: Spanish photographer Eduardo Acevedo “secured” the top Honor with the prestigious prize the “boot Dusseldorf Director’s Prize, earning an Andromeda statuette and a €2,000 cash prize.
  • Best 5 Images Portfolio: Luc Rooman from Belgium triumphed in this category, winning a dream 4-week diving trip for two to Papua New Guinea, valued at $18,900.
  • Amateur Photographer: Alexandra Ceurvorst from the USA impressed the judges with her talent, taking home the 1,000 cash prize award.

Celebrating Diversity and Innovation

This year’s competition saw 11,680 entries from 964 photographers, showcasing a remarkable spectrum of skills and perspectives. From the intricate wonders of Macro photography to the beauty of “Black Water”, the “Underwater Fashion” category added a touch of artistry and innovation, while the ever-important ” Environmental & Conservation” category served as a powerful reminder of the need to protect these fragile ecosystems.

Looking Ahead: AI and Ocean Conservation

World Shootout founder and producer David Pilosof unveiled an exciting addition for the 2024 competition: this year the Environmental category will be focusing on the impact of plastic on our oceans and future.

This category will embrace the potential of AI or other editing software as a tool to amplify the conservation message.

Entrants will submit campaigns of three original underwater photographs dealing with plastic pollution, along with their final AI assistance processing. This innovative approach encourages artistic expression while raising awareness about a critical environmental issue.

Explore the Stunning Collection

Discover the complete album of competition entries by clicking here.

For Low-resolution photos of finalist entries in eight categories, click here.

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