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What people say about
The Underwater Stage
Steve
I just wanted to thank you and Mark for organising for me to use the Action Underwater film set on Sunday morning. I have to say that this is truly a superb underwater photography facility - its amazing to dive on coral reefs teeming with fish, dive a wreck and take images of a Hammerhead shark in Basildon Essex!!
I am currently experimenting with Snoots on my Inon strobes and also wide angle macro using 4inch dome ports in preparation for a couple of serious photography trips this year. I was able to fine tune everything from the comfort of an indoor pool in bright light - I even got some sunbeams silhouetting the Hammerhead!
I will definitely be using the set again and would thoroughly recommend anyone seeking to hone their underwater photography skills through to testing equipment prior to going overseas.
Thanks also to Fred who has built a really unique facility.
Regards
Martyn Guess
Dear Mark and Steve
Thank you for your day in the underwater photo studio . I did not appreciate previously what you had to do to make the day possible ; I was bowled over by the quality and quantity of the work you put in to create the reefs and other features . You really were able to take reality images and as a training arena it is fabulous and I am truly spoilt to be so close to it by car . Thank you also for the use of the second strobe and the results were eye opening both for wide-angle, close up and the combination ; I thought it would remove the handicap when on one strobe on wide-angle at worst and it improved other situations impressively . I hope it was a successful day for you .
Thanks again
Peter Froomberg
"An excellent facility. In a few moments I checked out a new system more thoroughly than I could achieve in a swimming pool. The simulated reef provides subjects that give a better check on results than the test targets one would otherwise need to use. I shall certainly use the facility for equipment checking before overseas trips in the future".
Peter Scoones, Emmy Award winning underwater cinematographer whose
credits include
"Blue Planet", "Earth", "Life in the Freezer" and "Great White Shark". evaluating the world's first purpose designed underwater photography set
"Steve and Mark have done it again. A session on the Underwater Photography Stage is an absolute must for anyone who has an underwater camera. No matter what style of photography you like, you will have plenty of subjects to choose from. There are artificial corals and small critters for extreme macro all the way through to a real wreck for wide angle. A lot of thought has gone into setting up the stage. The positioning of the props means that buoyancy and spacial awareness are also practiced and fine tuned. This combined with the 6m depth and various lighting conditions make for an extremely realistic experience, but without an impatient diving group!
You are given ample time to practice new techniques or try new equipment, so that your time in the open water will be more productive. Well done guys".
James Aqualina
"The benefits of practicing underwater photography in a tank are obvious. The chance to hone techniques old and new all in the comfort of bath -time comfort zone water will be rewarded when the real reef is in front of the lens. Practice does indeed make perfect".
Simon Brown, international photojournalist, Sport Diver Magazine
Hi Steve,
Just wanted to say thank you for re-arranging the stage diving for Saturday, it was great to be able to get back in the water and get some practice in before my trip at the end of the month. I found it very helpful being able to try some new things particularly Macro & depth of field so hopefully I will be able to produce some better results while I am away. Sorry I did not get a chance to say goodbye on the day but did see Fred & Mark before I left. I will certainly be interested in visiting your facilities again in the future and will spread the word to others.
Thanks again for your help in making the dive possible on Saturday
Cheers
Mike Skyring
Steve and Mark
Wanted to say "THANKS!!!" again for a wonderful session (on the Ocean Optics Underwater Stage )on Saturday... I really enjoyed the time and I'm delighted with some of the results. I'd be keen to try again at some point in the future with even more concentration on macro :-)
Joe Bater
Well, Alan and I went along to see Ocean Optics' Underwater Photo Stage yesterday, and I loved it! It's clear that Steve and Mark have spent alot of time and thought putting this together.
The set is made up of a number of artificial "coral outcrops", with all sorts of sponges, fans, and hard and soft corals. In and around these have been placed various "critters" - crabs, hawkfish, starfish, cowries, clownfish, etc. In one corner, they've created a wreck using a small boat, and placed fish in and around it. There are a couple of jellyfish floating mid-water, a Hammerhead (with a very friendly smile!), and even a diver floating mid-water. There was plenty to keep Alan and me occupied for a couple of hours underwater.
It's perfect for practising UW Photography - no Dive Guides to hurry you along, no queue of other divers waiting to take photos of the critter you've found, and since the pool's only 6m deep, you can do a 2-hour dive on a single tank!
Neil Stead
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