Photo / Video News & Reviews
Breathtaking Colour with the Sea Dragon light range from SeaLife
Divers know that the underwater world is much more colourful than you could possibly imagine. To make sure that photos and videos show these brilliant colours the photographer and videographer must ensure optimal illumination. Especially suitable are the new Sea Dragon photo-video dive lights that light up the underwater world, exposing a blaze of colour.
Here are the four new and exceptional Sea Dragon lights from SeaLife:
TRUE COLOURS WITH SEA DRAGON 2500F
The newest Sea Dragon UW light delivers 2500 true colour lumens in a smooth, even 120° wide beam. This revolutionary COB LED array technology produces a 90 CRI (colour rendering index) that mimics natural daylight. Most other LED’s have 70 CRI, missing wavelengths of the visible light spectrum.
Technical Details
- Powerful 2500 lumen LED light. Latest COB LED array technology
- One button control for easy operation. One button to power light on/off and select brightness
- Three brightness levels 100%, 50% and 25%
- Hidden emergency signal mode. 1 sec blink interval and SOS Morse code. Push and hold power button for 4 seconds to activate
- 60 minute burn time at full power and constant brightness
- Easy to expand with Flex-Connect™ trays, grips, arms, cold-shoe, ball joint and Y-S adapters
- Quick-release button to detach light and aim in crevices and hard to reach areas
- 120° wide beam angle evenly illuminates the subject with no hot spots.
- Depth tested to 200ft (60m) – Guaranteed
- Corrosion-proof metal light head for heat dispersion and durability
- Removable 25W Li-Ion battery w/ charger and international plug adapters included
- Waterproof battery compartment – even if the O-ring seal fails, the battery compartment is isolated so water cannot reach the internal electronics
SWITCHABLE BEAMS FOR WIDE AREA FLOOD TO LONG RANGE SPOT WITH SEA DRAGON 2500SF
The new Sea Dragon Dual Beam combines power and versatility into one compact light. The 2100 lumen 100° wide beam is ideal for shooting still images and video, or viewing a wide area. Easy, one-button operation switches the beam from flood to an 800 lumen 15° spot for longer reach and pointing out sea life.
Technical Details
- Dual beam – Powerful 2100 lumen wide and 800 lumen spot. Featuring 7x CREE XM-L2 LEDs
- One button control for easy operation. Power on/off, adjust brightness and switch beam angle
- Four brightness levels – 100% Flood, 50% Flood, 25% Flood and 100% Spot
- Hidden emergency signal mode. 1 sec blink interval and SOS Morse code. Push and hold power button for 4 seconds to activate
- 60 minute burn time at full power and constant brightness
- Easy to expand with Flex-Connect™ trays, grips, flex arms, handle, Y-S, ball joint, cold shoe and other Flex-Connect adapters
- Quick-release button to detach light and aim in crevices and hard to reach areas
- 100° wide and 15° spot beam angles
- Depth tested to 200 ft (60m) – Guaranteed
- Corrosion-proof metal light head for heat dispersion and durability
- Removable 25W Li-Ion battery w/ charger and international plug adapters included
- Waterproof battery compartment – even if the O-ring seal fails, the battery compartment is isolated so water cannot reach the internal electronics
The 2500F and the 2100SF are compatible with every underwater camera when used with accessories from the Sealife Flex-Connect-System such as trays, the Flex-Arm, grips, handles and adapters.
SEA DRAGON 650S AND 650F
The compact and ergonomic 650 Spot is a UW light equipped with a long range beam. The 650 Flood has a 120° beam angle, offering the ideal illumination for photos and videos as well as a wide viewing angle during diving.
Technical Details
- 650 lumens Using latest CREE XM-L2 LED
- Beam Angle 650F: 120° ultra-wide beam for photo-video or wide area viewing
- Beam Angle 650S: 15° spot beam for long range viewing and pointing out sealife
- One button operation: Long push (1 sec) to power on/off; Short push to cycle through 3 light modes: 100% full brightness → 50% half brightness → Emergency (blinks once every second at full power)
- Three light modes: Full power 650 lumen, half power 325 lumen, emergency signal
- Includes Y-S mount and 3 mounts for connecting light to GoPro, AquaPod or housing cold-shoe.
- Depth tested to 330ft (100m)
- Battery options: Two (2) CR123 lithium single-use batteries (included) -or- one (1) 18650 Li-Ion rechargeable battery (Sold separately)
- Constant current. Light maintains consistent brightness as battery voltage drops
- Coloured Battery indicator. Green = full, yellow = medium and red = low battery strength
- Safety pressure release valve relieves internal pressure built-up caused by damaged battery
- Burn Time: 60 minutes with CR123 batteries
100 minutes with Tenergy 18650 Li-ion battery (2600 mAh/3.7V) at full power
(120 and 200 minutes respectively at 50% power)
- Construction: Anodized aluminium head with rubber-armoured / polycarbonate body
- LED life span: 30,000 hours
- Colour temp: 6200 to 7000K
- Dimensions:6” diameter x 6.3” (41mm x 159mm)
- Weight: 7 ounces (189 grams) w/o battery
Sea Dragon Lights are available at authorised Subgear dealers.
Sea Dragon 2500F £439
Sea Dragon 2500 Duo Set £739
Sea Dragon 2100SF £439
Sea Dragon 650F and 650S £125
For more information, click here.
Blogs
Diver Discovering Whale Skeletons Beneath Ice Judged World’s Best Underwater Photograph
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.”
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.”
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.”
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.”
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
News
World’s Best Underwater Photographers Unveil Breathtaking Images at World Shootout 2023
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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