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News and Events
NEW 2010 CALENDARS - JEREMY & AMANDA CUFF
Official Call For Entries: 2010 Competitions - Over $80,000 in Prizes
PRESTIGIOUS INTERNATIONAL UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY & VIDEO COMPETITIONSERIES ANNOUNCES 2010 COMPETITIONS - OVER $80,000 IN PRIZES
The "Superbowl" of International Underwater Image & Video Competitions Celebrates The Splendor, Mystery & Plight of The Oceans With Categories For All Levels From Novices To Professionals New York, NY (Oct. 12, 2010) - Underwater photographers and videographers have become the unsung heroes of the most important ecosystem on earth. During a time when the oceans are in crisis, a growing global community of scuba divers and photographers have become the eyes and ears of the ocean, helping to educate and inspire the rest of the world.
One of the largest and most prestigious international underwater photography and video competition series celebrates its five year anniversary this year. The competitions showcase the beauty, mystery and delicacy of the marine environment, as well as the art of underwater photography. Underwater photographers of all levels, from novice to professionals, will compete in what has become the "Superbowl" of international underwater imagery events, with over $80,000 of world- class prizes, major industry involvement, and the opportunity to have their images showcased to the world as some of the best. Esteemed judges include leading professional underwater photographers, cinematographers and magazine editors from around the world.
The unique competition series was founded by professional underwater photographers Jason Heller & Eric Cheng and hosted by popular websites DivePhotoGuide.com and Wetpixel.com. The series is held in association with two leading scuba diving expos on opposite sides of theworld, simultaneously - Our World Underwater, now in its 40th year, and one of the largest consumer scuba diving expos in the US, and DEEP Indonesia, the first and only scuba diving and watersports expo in Indonesia, one of the most bio-diverse marine ecosystems in the world.
Participants will compete in technical, themed and video categories, to win more than $80,000 in prizes including premium dive travel, underwater photo and video equipment, scuba diving gear and more. Dive packages include trips to some of the top photo destinations in the world.
A complete list of sponsors, prizes and competition guidelines are listed on the website UnderwaterCompetition.com.
** Deadline for submissions Jan 15, 2010 **
Winners for each respective competition will be announced live on stage at either the Our World Underwater film festival in Chicago (February 19 - 21, 2010), or at DEEP Indonesia in Jakarta (March 27 - 29, 2010), and will be published by supporting media partners worldwide. Winning videos will be broadcast via The Underwater Channel, and podcast as episodes of the iTunes-featured DiveFilm Podcast Video and DiveFilm High Definition Podcast Video.
As with all UnderwaterCompetition.com events, 15% of entry proceeds will be donated to marine conservation efforts.
For hi-res images for print publications or more information, please contact us.
Ocean Optics Films For BBC - Showing October 13th, 10.35PM, BBC1
www.loveproductions.co.uk/the-marchioness
Andrew Sutton, a survivor of the Marchioness disaster and a professional film maker, returned to film the wreck of the Bowbelle - the dredger that sank the Marchioness and nearly ended his own life. He invited Ocean Optics' Steve Warren along as assistant underwater cameraman. JP Trenque, chairman of BSoUP, was detailed to shoot stills. You can read Tim Ecott's interview with Drew here.
NEW Underwater Digital Compact Photography Courses
From Ocean Optics and Mavericks Diving
• World's First Inon Underwater Photography Academy
• World's First Fuji Approved Underwater Photography School
• World's First Purpose Designed Underwater Photography Teaching Set
HMS Royal Oak Signed Prints
In June 2009 Simon was invited by the Royal Navy to photograph and document HMS Royal Oak. Simon has donated this image to the Royal Oak Survivors Association and a limited number of prints will be signed by some of theremaining survivors. All proceeds of the sale will be used by the Royal Oak Survivors Association to help fund the building of a permanent memorial to their comrades in Scapa Bay.
Only 10 signed prints will be offered to the general public. Each print is A1 in size and reproduced on archival paper, available from October 14th timed to coincide with the 70th anniversary of the sinking. If you are interested in purchasing a print please visit
www.simonbrownimages.com/html/hmsroyaloak.html
Or call Simon on +44(0)1252 653 759
A range of diving activities and talks are planned for the 2nd Essex Diving Festival, organised by Mavericks Diving and held at Underwater Studio’s famous underwater movie tank. This year the theme is ‘Take Better Underwater Images’. Find out more., Download Info PDF
Places are limited to just 21 people. The cost is £49.oo per head including lunch. Saturday 5th September 2oo9
Feeding Frenzy-Manta Rays of the Maldives
The photo story Feeding Frenzy by Save Our Seas Foundation Chief Photographer Thomas P. Peschak appears in the July issue of National Geographic magazine. The 32 different language editions of the magazine introduces the manta rays of the Maldives and the pioneering research of Save Our Seas Foundation scientist Guy Stevens to more than 50 million readers. In recent news, the Maldivian government has proclaimed the research site, Hanifaru, a marine protected area which will aid in the conservation of these beautiful creatures.
Diver Magazine Buoyancy Challenge - the June issue carries the results of the challenge. Book your Precision Buoyancy Clinic with Steve or AJ, who co - designed the event. We work with only two divers per instructor and can customise the course to meet your needs as a photographer. Feedback from experienced divers who've taken the workshops is very positive.
The Ocean Optics Underwater Photography Stage
should be in place during late July/early August. Designed for teaching and practicing underwater photography techniques, the set will include an artificial coral reef, kelp, and wreck workstations together with props including divers and fish.
Underwater photography courses
for compact users will start in August. Mark and Steve are designing a comprehensive program that covers, indetail, concepts including exposure and restoring colour. They'll discuss techniques for shooting subjects including fish, divers and shipwrecks. Students will be provided with their own camera system to use with three lenses and a strobe. Radiophones will help our instructors coach you underwater.
Our next Marine Biology Day for Divers
with Jamie Watts is on September 12th.
This one day event was very well received last year. This is much more than a local fish ID chat. It's an explanation of the global story of the seas and oceans and their inhabitants. It will help you better understand the marine ecosystem, achieve more from your dives andunderstand how to be in the right place at the right time for the animal encounters you really want. Find out more
6th - 8th November, Manchester UK
Visions in the Sea 2009 is the underwater photography event of the year: a festival of underwater photography hosted in Manchester. It will include an international competition as well as presentations from world renowned underwater photographers and a "Teach In" at our 5m pool with experts on-hand to help delegates improve their techniques. The weekend is in aid of the Shark Trust to raise money and awareness throughout the weekend for this important and relevant charity.
Find out more: www.visionsinthesea.com
Photographers, photojournalists and Ocean Optics customers Jeremy and Amanda Cuff have published a new PDF feature about “Fly Diving” on the Great Barrier Reef in Australia, which describes in words and images the experiences of diving this unique area in a unique way. more
Windsor Underwater Photography Event
Solution Shooting with Aquatic Element
Aquatic Element are a Windsor based dive shop, training school and underwater photography specialist. On May 7th, Steve Warren, from Ocean Optics, will be explaining a few simple techniques to help you get started successfully in shooting underwater pictures using compact cameras. He'll discuss some of the problems of shooting underwater, including limited visibility, colour loss, shutter lag and solution you can apply to make your own underwater images better. Topics Steve will cover include shooting scenics and shipwrecks, fish photography and extreme close up work as well as strobe lighting techniques.
For more details, please contact Aquatic Element.
London International Dive Show
2009 March 28-29, ExCeL London Stand 451
Ocean Optics -Mavericks Diving will be exhibiting Inon underwater camera accessories including lenses and strobe systems, Subal professionallevel D - SLR housings and the new range of HD video housings, Fathom lenses and lighting equipment from Light and Motion Industries. The Ocean Optics team will be launching Inon approved underwater photography courses through the Inon Underwater Photography Academies. This is our concept to ensure Inon equipment is sold through our exclusive UK dealer network by specialist underwater photography educators who can provide in water training on how to get the most from your inon equipment. Steve will be speaking at 11.00 AM in room 18 in the North Gallery. He'll also talk about the worlds first underwater set built specifically for teaching and practicing underwater stills and videography. Mavericks Diving instructors, Steve and AJ are discussing the Diver Magazine Buoyancy Challenge at 12.15 in room 14 in the North Gallery and will be on the stand to talk about their unique Precision Buoyancy Control Workshops and NAUI scuba courses. Fred Woodcock from Underwater Studios, where Ocean Optics -Mavericks Diving is based, will be explaining his role making the underwater sequences in movie blockbusters like "The Bourne Supremacy" reality at 11.45 in room 18 in the North Gallery. Individual divers, scuba and freediving clubs and professional dive schools can also find out how they can have inexpensive access to thisunique 6 metre deep private facility for their own use.
Congratulations to Maria Munn who rerecently won a Bronze Medal with a fabulous photo of the pier at Neweiba in Egypt in UnderwaterPhotography.com's annual photo contest against over 12,000 other entries. It was taken with a Fuji F30 and an Inon Fisheye Lens on Underwater mode. (Read More)
For all the latest news and events download our latest News Letter here
30th October - Exploring the Philippines - Kings College, London.
Pressentations by Len Deeley, Maria Munnand Keith Lyall*
You must pre register for this event. Seating is very limited. There is a £5.00 charge
payable on the door.
To register please send your full name, contact number & email address to paul.otoole@atlantishotel.com 
*Tony White was due to speakat this event, but due to unforeseen circumstances will not be able to attend.
8th November - SHARK DAY- Special Guest - Amos Nachoum Shark Day is still building momentum. Keep checking our website for the latest information
Alison Carroll, a 23-year-old gymnast from Croydon, is the latest beauty to bring the gun-toting cyber heroine to life.
She follows in the footsteps of Jolie, who starred as Lara in the Tomb Raider film.
But Carroll has not landed a movie role - instead she will promote the new Tomb Raider video game, Underworld, which is released in November.
To prepare for her new job, she will be given SAS survival training, a weapons training course in eastern Europe and a crash course in archaeology (Lara's day job).
Alison spent the day at the Underwater Studios shooting publicity photos on land and underwater - Underwater video shot by Steve Warren.
- Talks
- Demonstrations
- Exhibitors
Action Underwater Studios and Ocean Optics - Mavericks Diving present the Essex Diving Festival. More than a dozen presentations from leading experts celebrating sport diving. Come and try it and demonstration sessions in the movie tank. Lots of special interest exhibitors. Presentations on getting started in diving, marine biology, nautical archaeology, wreck diving, diving with sharks, freediving, underwater photography, top worldwide diving destinations and much more.
For a great day out you need to be at The Essex Diving Festival.
HAWAII’S KONA COAST
Photographers, photojournalists, Ocean Optics customers and BSOUP members Jeremy and Amanda Cuff have published a new PDF feature about Hawaii’s Kona Coast which describes in words and images the experiences of diving this unique coastline. More
Marine Biology -
An Insight for Divers
7/8 June 2008
Our special introduction to marine biology course.
This course will be invaluable to anyone wanting to have a greater understanding of the marine environment and derive greater pleasure from exploring it. Underwater photographers keen to achieve better natural history images will be rewarded from the insights into marine ecosystem events and marine life behavior Jamie will provide. This is the real deal given by a professional marine ecologist and not a hyped up fish ID "specialty".
Ocean Optics and Mavericks Diving Move to
Action Underwater Studios in Essex
The move will provide the underwater photography and diving specialists with access to Action Underwater Studios unique filming tank.
The 10 x 12 metre tank is 6 metres deep. According to Steve Warren, owner of Ocean Optics and Mavericks Diving, " sharing Action Underwater Studios facilities means that we can provide our underwater photography equipment clients with a basic in - water camera familiarisation session at the time of purchase. We're also consulting with underwater photography guru Martin Edge on constructing a dedicated underwater set to meet the needs of wide angle and other specialised underwater photography courses.
After we have moved to our new premises we are having a special
Open Day on Saturday 26th April 2008 with special guest Martin Edge. BOOK YOUR PLACE NOW - Find out more
Photographers, photojournalists and BSOUP members Jeremy and Amanda Cuff have recently published a new brochure called “Shoot To Thrill Policy” which showcases a sample magazine feature article and an accompanying selection of images. Find out more
The Great Diving Adventure Presents:
Understanding Sharks with Grant Bates
Tuesday March 11th 2008.
7.00pm until 9.30pm
(£5.00 per head, all proceeds to the Shark Trust)
Dive Into History, Dive the Cote D'Azur:
Antibes/Juan Les Pins:
Friday 20th to Monday 23rd June 2008
In conjunction with Alex Diamond's talk about the excellent diving available is a short trip away in the South of France on Tuesday March 11th, we have six places available on this forthcoming long weekend trip to Antibes.
Newsletter
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