Photo / Video News & Reviews
Jeff Goodman’s Red Sea Underwater Videography Course with the GoPro HERO3+ Black Edition
Red Sea March 2014
I have just returned from Marsa Shagra in the Red Sea where we held another successful underwater video course in association with Red Sea Diving Safaris (www.redseadivingsafaris.org) and Oonasdivers (www.oonasdivers.com).
Course students at Marsa Shagra. March 2014
Flying from Gatwick to Marsa Alam and then a short transfer to the resort, I was struck by how few holiday people there were to be seen. This was no doubt due to the press and media inferring there was a lot of political unrest throughout Egypt. I had no problems and so interviewed a few of the guests at Marsa Shagra to ask about their experiences. The interviews can be seen here.
The upside for us few visitors was having the house reef to ourselves. The water was clear, warm and safe. A great place for the video course.
Recently I have been mounting my GoPro +3 Black edition on the top of my standard Gates housing. This gives me a great wide angle perspective at the same time as the normal zoom range given with my small Sony Handycam. So, with a single rig, I can video great establishing wide angles and then concentrate on the mid shots and close ups. There can be a slight difference in the colour balance values between the GoPro and the Sony, especially when ambient light is predominant, but this is easily correctable in the editing and the two cameras match really well. Another really cool thing about the GoPro is its quick release mount which allows me to take it off and hold the camera in small spaces where otherwise it would be impossible to get a shot.
This image of the Coral Trout is taken from a GoPro video frame. The beautiful fish was hidden well into the coral and very shy about coming out to be filmed. Normally I would have had to leave it and move on, but with the GoPro now released and in my hand, I was able to ease the camera near to the fish without touching any coral. The trout stayed relaxed while gliding in and out of my frame.
For the next dive I decided to leave my handycam ashore and work solely with the GoPro.
One of the problems with very small cameras is holding them steady. It’s not so bad when you are moving or tracking, but often stationary shots will show a tell-tale shaking that can spoil the video image.
The Ikelite ‘steady tray’ solved this problem for me. Easy to use and very effective, the grips are comfortable and well spaced either side of the camera. The addition of quick release light mounts for either handle made the whole rig a joy to use. For lighting I tried the Ikelite ‘Gamma’ video light which for its size is a great little light and the diffuser over the front gave a very useful angle of coverage for video use. The light takes two CR123A batteries which can be either Lithium or rechargeable.
Towards the end of our dive I found a Hawksbill Turtle fast asleep on the sand with its head pushed tight up against a small outcrop of coral. Normally I would have left it to sleep as there was no way to get a good picture without disturbing it. However, with the Gopro, many things are possible. The little camera just fitted between the coral and the turtle and its super wide view gave me a nice shot of both turtle and diver behind.
The turtle shifted in its slumber moving its head to get a better look at the reason for being disturbed. This gave me the opportunity to slip the little camera in closer and get a different perspective before leaving the turtle to slip back into its dreams.
It’s what the GoPro is all about. Getting shots that would be very difficult to achieve with bigger cameras. And is there any loss in quality from going small? No. Shooting at 1080i the images cut really well with my HD handycam.
If you already have or are thinking of getting a GoPro, I would highly recommend you consider the removable LCD touchscreen. It is compatible with the HERO3+, HERO3 and has limited compatibility with HD HERO2 and Original HD HERO (Click here for more information).
For many users the camera’s wide angle is sufficient for sports and action use and the resulting images can be stunning. For more precise imaging, as with underwater wildlife videoing, the ability to accurately frame is an immense bonus. You can be sure of not cutting off a diver’s head or getting the fins of your buddy in an otherwise fabulous image of a dolphin. After all, framing is an important part of any photographic or video process. You wouldn’t dream of shooting blind on land and now you don’t have to underwater.
It has been said the touchscreen monitor drains the camera batteries very quickly but I haven’t found this to be the case. One battery easily lasts me an hour’s dive with the camera and monitor switched on. Of course spare batteries are a good idea so that one can be charging while the other is in use.
If you would like to find out more about Jeff’s Underwater Videography courses, visit www.jeffgoodman.co.uk or email him at jeffgoodman@supanet.com.
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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