Photo / Video News & Reviews
New Dive Camera from Paralenz Turns Regular Divers into Citizen Scientists
Paralenz have launched their newest piece of Ocean technology at Boot Düsseldorf. The Paralenz Vaquita is an underwater camera packed for impact, and the company reveals how new sensors and faster processors will spoil their users with exciting updates while adding even more meaningfulness to your dive.
According to the CEO, Ulrik Hvid a high-quality viewfinder, faster processors, more and better sensors and a whole new camera exterior will continuously improve user experiences, give even better quality videos and lead to a higher volume of shared Ocean footage and data for the sake of our Ocean.
“Our collaborations with organizations such as NOAA etc. give divers the possibility to actually contribute without lifting a finger. As marine life is declining dramatically, we strongly believe our users will value the possibility to add more meaningfulness to their dives by putting this ocean data in the hands of organizations who know what needs to be done.”
The GPS sensor makes it possible for divers to share their dive footage as pins on the map, available in the Paralenz app. This new feature enables users to view dives from all over the world to seek inspiration or research conditions for future dive trips, and get a clear overview of where they have been and where they want to go. Simultaneously, divers automatically contribute to create a baseline of ocean knowledge.
Paralenz Vaquita speaks Ocean
The Paralenz Vaquita brings a much more powerful processor that allows for smoother, brighter, and higher quality videos with great image stabilization, as well as the ability to shoot 4K in 60 fps. Users can expect better videos with a True Color OLED display, a viewfinder and real-time dive profile during the dive. Improved antenna and added Bluetooth make sure the connection to the app works smoothly and easily.
The Vaquita offers smaller file sizes without loss of quality, automatic geo-referenced footage for simpler organization, and it is packed with sensors for comprehensive data collection to document the condition of the Ocean, including conductivity, temperature, depth (CTD), and location.
Martin Holmberg, CO-Founder and CPO adds that:
“Paralenz Dive Camera+ was a solid step forward, but with the Vaquita we have reworked everything to incorporate all the features and improvements that our users wished for. And stay tuned, we will introduce some groundbreaking software updates for the Vaquita in the near future.”
Why “Vaquita”?
As an Ocean company, Paralenz feels obligated to educate and inspire, and therefore chose to integrate the mission of Ocean regeneration in the name of its upcoming camera. According to IUCN, the Vaquita Whale is a critically endangered marine species with less than 19 in existence. Their sad story raises awareness about how human interests impact the livelihood of entire species, whipping them out entirely for profit. The “Vaquita” is a tribute to the ones that remain.
What’s new?
- True color OLED Display and live viewfinder
- Automatically georeferenced footage
- Better quality videos with a higher frame rate
- More colors and much smaller file size
- Great image stabilization – even in 4K
- More data collected for our Ocean conservation partners
- The Vaquita camera is packed with sensors that collect data
The estimated Vaquita release date is April 2020.
Find out more at www.paralenz.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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