Photo / Video News & Reviews
Duxy’s Winter Warmer Photo Trip February 2015 Part One
Bertie Gregory joins UK-based tour operator Scuba Travel on one of Duxy’s Winter Warmer Photo Trips to improve his Underwater Photography skills
After just five seconds in Sharm El Sheikh, my first expectation was surpassed. It was warm; very warm in fact, precisely 24°C warmer than when I set off from a very dark, damp Dorset earlier that morning. Moments later, things got even better as we learned our planned boat was in dry dock. Our replacement for the week was now the crown jewel of the Tornado Marine fleet, ‘Mistral’.
Having been on two brilliant liveaboards in the northern Red Sea, I was sceptical that my previous experiences could be topped. However, they were blown out of the water (I make no apology for the terrible aquatic puns in this article).
There were two key differences between a normal northern Red Sea itinerary and Duxy’s Winter Warmer. Firstly, instead of being a whistle stop tour with no more than two dives at any given site, we spent the majority of the week at just two dive sites: the Barge off of Gubal Island, and Jackson Reef in the Straits of Tiran. The photographic benefits of this are numerous. Throughout the day, the light underwater varies dramatically, so if I didn’t like the look of something with the sun front lighting it, I could always come back and try it again backlit. Furthermore, repeated dives on the same site meant I became very familiar with the underwater layout and so could plan my time efficiently with a subject I’d found on a previous dive. But the benefits weren’t just limited to photography; to encounter the more unusual wildlife like dolphins you need to get lucky. The Barge is one of the best places in the Red Sea to see dolphins, so by staying on site we dramatically increased our chances. This tactic paid off big time resulting in one of the most incredible wildlife spectacles I’ve been fortunate enough to witness.
The other USP of Duxy’s trip is the open deck policy; at the start of each day we were allocated four dives and, so long as we kept within diving safety parameters, we could use these four dives whenever we wanted. This meant we could time our dives to avoid other people on a site, but also plan to coincide with the best time to see certain wildlife. For example, dolphins are often spotted around the Barge first thing in the morning and last thing before sunset. Whilst I say we spent 3 days at the Barge, we had the ribs at our disposal, so conditions permitting, we could actually dive at any site around Gubal Island.
From a social perspective, the liveaboard concept initially seems a little dubious; captive on a boat with 19 strangers with no escape for a whole week. However, it’s a winning formula; meeting new people all with a common purpose – everyone loves diving. Duxy’s trip takes this one step further as everyone shares a second interest: photography.
Before the trip, Duxy sent out reams of information on what to expect and asked for information on what photographic gear we had and what we hoped to get out of the week. Looking at the list of responses there was everything from a simple GoPro to top of the range DSLRs with twin strobes. Being somewhere in the middle of this, I was slightly apprehensive as to how Duxy would manage to juggle the huge range of ability and equipment. As with all the previous hurdles however, he leapt over this one with grace and splendor (not literally, he’s a slightly over weight 50-year-old man).
Duxy excelled at giving tips and tricks between dives which thanks to the open deck policy, I could immediately go and practice underwater. A great example of this came when during a flash talk, Duxy discussed a lighting technique used in fashion photography where instead of lighting the subject front on, you position the strobes in front of the camera pointing in towards the subject at 90 degrees. This gives a powerful dramatic look, as it leaves a shadow down the middle of the subject. Liking the sound of this, I jumped straight into the water to experiment. The uniqueness of Duxy’s itinerary made this possible- I could get into the water when I wanted and return to a subject I’d already visited. This was the result…
The theme of the week was definitely dolphins. Rather than just brief flybys, we were incredibly lucky to have a number of close-up intimate encounters. My first marine mammal meeting came just as we were returning to the boat following a great dive on the Ulysses wreck. As the rib docked on to the main boat, a couple of dorsal fins popped up at the surface just meters away. Knowing how fast they are, I detached my strobe arms (thanks to Ikelite’s great quick release system sold by Cameras Underwater) so I could make some attempt at matching the dolphin’s hydrodynamic body. As I slipped into the water I was greeted with a volley of clicks. To my surprise, it was a mother and her calf- CUTENESS OVERLOAD. Whilst the following two minutes were magical, the pair were quickly gone and we all got out of the water. I had a strange feeling they might return so I kept my fins and snorkel on. Sure enough, moments later their dorsal fins appeared at the surface and they were coming towards the boat again. Whilst everyone else tucked into lunch, I spent the next hour and a half filming, photographing and playing with the mother and her calf. It was without a doubt the most incredible wildlife encounter I’ve been lucky enough to witness under the water.
But whilst this was a magical experience, it didn’t come close in terms of LMAO (google it) to what happened the next day…
Stay tuned for part two from Bertie next week.
Duxy’s Winter Warmer trips are very popular and get booked up very quickly, so Scuba Travel are putting two on in 2016 – here is the link to the February one and the March 2016 one is here.
Find out more about Bertie here:
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.”
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.”
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.”
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
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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