News
Take Better Underwater Pictures and Make a Difference
INON UK announce free Open Day in Manchester, Saturday, January 21st
Four specialist underwater photography companies from the fields of equipment design and manufacturing, training, conservation and dive photojournalism will be giving six presentations to help you take better underwater images on your next trip. But they will also show you how to go beyond social media likes and, even if you are a beginner, start putting your pictures to work by publicising environmental causes and supporting marine life monitoring and outlining how to share your diving photo-stories in the media.
Understanding the INON Underwater Photography System with Takuya Torii of INON Inc.
INON Inc of Japan provides one of the most respected, comprehensive and best backed up ranges of underwater photography equipment in the world today. The line-up spans premium quality wet wide-angle and bug eye lenses for compact and mirrorless users, four strengths of close up lens, pro -level housings, trays and arms, plus probably the most popular strobes for enthusiasts and working professionals alike. Takuya will be demonstrating some of the latest products INON has released and explaining how using INON kit can advance your own underwater photography achievements.
Not Quite 101 Tips for Better Underwater Photos with Alphamarine Photography
Alphamarine’s Anne and Phil Metcalf will take you through some of the best ways they’ve found to improve your underwater pictures, from which diving courses will give you the most help to why some equipment is a better use of your budget than others.
They’ll look at the mistakes they made when starting out and what techniques and knowledge took their photography to higher levels.
Whether you are just beginning to take images underwater or have been doing it a while and want to up your game, this rapid-fire collection of hints will give you some inspiration.
Photographing Sharks and Rays Around the World and How Your Underwater Images can be Used for Marine Conservation with Frogfish Photography
Nick and Caroline Robertson-Brown take you on a global underwater tour of some of the very best places to photograph sharks and rays. From diminutive pyjama sharks to the majestic tiger shark, from the UK to Australia. Learn about the places, techniques and equipment used. Also find out how your images can help shark and ray conservation projects in 2023 and beyond.
Five Fast Tips with INON UK
Steve Warren from INON UK is going to briefly cover five annoyances that needle underwater photographers and offer tips to help counter some of the problems each can inflict from happening to you. He’ll be discussing how to avoid floods, prevent invisible backscatter, when and how to use manual focus, buoyancy control for your camera and packing for air travel.
Buyer Beware – Avoiding a Housing Crisis with INON UK
In a switch to the original program, Steve is going to talk through some of the all important gotcha’s you need to consider when purchasing a compact, mirrorless or SLR housing. With over three decades experience advising clients from those just getting started to top professionals shooting for National Geographic Magazine, Steve has lots of insights to help ensure your system is an investment in your underwater photography, not a costly mistake. Steve will also explain INON UK’s decision to add Fantasea and Marelux housings to its existing INON X2 housing line up. Topics include optics, viewfinders, ergonomics and back up.
An Introduction to Dive Photojournalism with INON UK
After the main event, Steve will be giving a free additional talk on how to get started in dive photojournalism. INON Uk partners Lisa Collins and Steve have worked extensively in dive and non–diving media, from scuba magazines to newspapers to books and TV.
Based on their extensive combined experience, Steve is going to explain that the field of dive photojournalism is open to anyone with a basic compact camera system (it’s all some dive magazine editors own) and a bit of imagination and some of the insider intel this talk will provide.
Steve will be discussing what features magazines want, how to find your niche, constructing a photo story, writing styles, picture requirements and collaborating with other writers and photographers.
Venue: Mercure Manchester Piccadilly Hotel.
No Spaces: 40
Register for your place at info@inonuk.com.
Marine Life & Conservation Blogs
Book Review: Shells of the World
Shells of the World: A Natural History by M.G. Harasewych
Shells of the world is a guide to the world of marine, shelled molluscs. And what a varied and interesting world it is. Some of my favourite things to find on a dive are detailed in this book, including disco clams (or Electric File Clams as they are correctly names), the cephalopods, giant clams and sea hares. There are also many on my wish list, top of which is the Nautilus.
Each chapter provides a detailed description of the species, along with beautiful images. You can dive deeper and discover where they live, both with global distribution and the habitat they prefer. Learn about their diet, reproduction and diversity.
Having dipped in and out of this lovely book over the past few weeks, it has inspired me to learn more about this group of animals that we see on most divers, wherever we are in the world. Some of the shells are incredibly intricate and beautiful. I have always agreed with never collecting, or touching, marine life. The description of a certain set of cone shells should be a warning to those that are happy to pick up marine life! One of the cone shells has a local name called the cigarette snail. Why? Because once the venom is in your system from this animal, you only have time to smoke one cigarette before the affects of the venom are fatal!
What the publisher says:
Mollusks are invertebrate animals with a remarkable natural history and a rich fossil record, and their shells are prized for their breathtaking variety and exquisite beauty. Shells of the World provides a wide-ranging look at the incredible diversity of marine mollusks. An informative introduction outlines the lineages covered, followed by a directory section, split into classes, that profiles a broad selection of different taxa to give a sense of their sheer numbers and variety.
- Features hundreds of beautiful color photos, depicting both the live animals and their shells
- Discusses mollusk evolution, anatomy, life cycles, behavior, and ecology
- Describes unique characteristics, distribution, habitat, and size
- Provides valuable insights into the conservation of the world’s marine mollusks
- Ideal for malacologists and shell collectors everywhere
About the Author:
M. G. Harasewych is research zoologist emeritus and former curator in the Department of Invertebrate Zoology at the Smithsonian Institution’s National Museum of Natural History. A fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, he is the author (with Fabio Moretzsohn) of The Book of Shells: A Life-Size Guide to Identifying and Classifying Six Hundred Seashells.
Book Details
Publisher: Princeton University Press
Hardcover
Price: £25
ISBN: 9780691248271
Published: 9th April, 2024
Gear News
Go anywhere with Stahlsac
Stahlsac dive bags and travel luggage are built for our community of divers, surfers, kayakers and outdoor explorers who need bags that are constructed with durability, toughness, and the highest quality the industry has ever seen. We were founded by one man determined to build better watersports and dive bags, and today, that mission is carried on by many. Adventure doesn’t just present itself; it requires discovery. When we design dive bags, we make sure they are tough enough for you to explore in all conditions—warm and cold, wet and dry—to the nearest and farthest reaches of the earth. And for those times you want to push the boundaries of adventure, Stahlsac dive bags make sure you can truly GO ANYWHERE.
Abyss Duffels
Made to be your partner-in-crime on every adventure, Stahlsac’s Abyss Duffels protects your gear from Mother Nature’s worst. Tough and 100% waterproof with double-TPU nylon material that shrugs off daily wear-and-tear, and RF-welded seams further boost the bag’s potential for lifelong exploring. Get Wet. Get Lost. Go Anywhere with Abyss.
- A weatherproof duffel for trips, travel, and adventure
- Ultra-durable double-TPU nylon protects your gear
- Material repels water and keeps your equipment dry
- RF-welded seams are flush, tough, and waterproof
- Removable straps transform duffel into backpack
- Zippered internal stow compartments carry essentials
- External zippered flap is easy to open and close
- Welded external handles make transporting a breeze
Panama Mesh Backpack
The most copied design in scuba diving, the Stahlsac Panama Mesh Backpack is the “original” design and features two high-density foam padded shoulder straps, extra durable polyester mesh, duffel bag handles and our unique zippered dry pocket inside that combines with a wet pocket outside. The bottom’s built from reinforced 18-gauge PVC nylon to combat the wear and tear of your active coastal lifestyle, and, as a bonus in every bag, we supply a 12″ x 12″ mesh drawstring satchel for extra stowing utility. Pack up your beach kit and go.
- Density foam padded shoulder straps
- Outside wet/dry pockets
- 2 Carry handles
- Tough, snag-resistant polyester mesh
- Reinforced PVC bottom
For more information about Stahlsac bags, visit www.stahlsac.com/dive-bags.
Sea & Sea is the home of Stahlsac and other leading diving brands in the UK.
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