Welcome to our monthly newsletter designed to keep you informed of the goings on in the wonderful world of Digital Imaging and Dive Travel. We hope you find this of interest and if you have a topic you would like us to cover in future newsletters, please let us know.
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La Paz: The World's Greatest Aquarium |
Joe's Underwater Imaging Instruction JoeBuy Underwater Imaging Equipment Bargains |
La Paz: The World’s Greatest Aquarium
We will be spending three weeks in La Paz the month of October. We will enjoy 85° water, clear, calm seas, whale sharks, dolphins, barracuda, sea lions, mantas, maybe hammerheads. Baja’s Sea of Cortez is what Jacques Cousteau called “the world’s greatest aquarium.” We call it Paradise.
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October 10-15, 2007
Includes Package does not include airfare and airport
transfers.
We have a couple of spots open for the October 3 – 8 trip. Airfare and transfers are included. $1489. For details, click here Or call 949-448-0499. Or e-mail: orca2@cox.net. Be sure to see some pix from our 2006 trip here and here. |
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Photo Tips: 10 Sure Ways to Get the Shot
A primer for beginners. A reminder for the experienced. Simple, sensible and foolproof!
- Learn proper buoyancy control. Learn how to hover. A good photographer doesn’t need to hold onto the reef or any other living thing. A good photographer has mastered buoyancy control and can take the shot while holding his/her camera steady.
- Get pre-dive information. A pre-dive briefing of the site should inform you of what will be available to take pictures of. Knowing in advance what type of subjects you will see will help you select the right lens for the dive.
- Go digital. Get instant results. See how you’re doing. Correct your mistakes on the spot. Shoot a subject until you get it right. And with digital you can always do a bit of correcting in the computer.
- Pre-dive camera routine before every dive.
- Install fresh batteries and memory card for at least 100 images. You can’t get a picture without these!
- Set ISO. ISO 200 is a good start for point-and-shoot cameras.
- Set the camera’s shooting mode. Beginners should start with Program Mode.
- Take a few shots before installing camera in house to make sure all is working properly.
- Pre-dive external strobe. Check before every dive. You may not get a picture if your strobe isn’t working!
- Install fresh batteries. Clean and lube all serviceable O-rings.
- Check locks are secure and strobe sync connectors/fiber optic cables properly seated.
- Pre-dive housing check before every dive. You definitely won’t get a picture on this dive or any other if your system floods!
- Make sure housing is clean.
- Install the camera within the housing.
- Clean and lube all O-rings.
- Seal the housing.
- Attach external strobe and cables.
- Power up camera/strobe and fire a few test shots. If all is working, turn off power.
- Perform a leak test in fresh water before every dive. Immerse completely attached system into a bucket/tub. Look for air bubbles escaping from around supposedly sealed surfaces. No bubbles, no leak. Okay, you can go diving.
- Get in close to your subject, as close as the lens will allow. The closer the better for sharper and more colorful pictures. I repeat: as close as the lens allows. There is such a thing as too close. Every lens designed has a minimum focusing distance. Read the instruction manual and find out how close you can get to your subject before the image is out of focus.
- Learn how to use artificial light right.
- If you are shooting a point-and-shoot camera and are relying on its built-in flash, use a diffuser over the reflector. Try to shoot only in clear water to minimize backscatter. If the water is too dirty, turn off the strobe and go for ambient light shots.
- If you are using an external strobe, position the strobe above and to the left of the camera. Direct your strobe light at the top and slightly behind your subject to ensure the light will illuminate the subject at its actual distance.
- Bracket. Take several images, each time changing strobe-to-subject distance, strobe beam angle, composition. With digital cameras, you are not limited to a mere 36 exposures like you were with film. You can shoot and shoot until you see in the LCD that the image is right!
- Bonus Tip! Get professional instruction
I am available for one-on-one photo lessons. My fee is $50 per hour, minimum two hours. For good shots on your next trip, priceless!
Reader Question of the Month
Debby Margulis asked about point-and-shoot digital underwater cameras. Of all that are available, what is the best choice?
Well, Debby, I am really impressed with Sea&Sea's new DX-1G. In my opinion, it is the most advanced compact underwater digital camera system to date. The new DX-1G housing and 1G camera features 10.01 effective megapixels and a 24-72mm wide-angle-to-telephoto zoom lens for incredible versatility.
Building on the success of the DX8000G (reviewed in the April 2007 newsletter), the DX-1G is more technologically advanced, yet user-friendly, and offers SLR performance and features without the bulk and cost of an SLR system.
Some of the features that I particularly like about it are:
- a shutter response of .1 seconds with power-up of 1.1 seconds and recycle time of 1 second, making it the fastest in its class
- a large 2.5” TFT liquid crystal monitor in a lightweight aluminum camera body
- exceptional macro capability of 1/2 inch to ∞ at 24mm and 2 inches to ∞ at 72mm.
- optional wide-angle accessory lens reduces close focusing distance to 0 inches!
- three exposure modes and 2 custom modes available for heightened control over image composition
- RAW shooting mode for highest quality files and image processing in Adobe Photoshop or other available software.
For more detailed information about the new camera, click here: http://www.seaandsea.com/DX1G/specs.pdf
The price is right too. At Liburdi's Scuba Center, it will sell for only $999.95. And that includes a free mini photo lesson from yours truly.
The system will be available in several packages with Sea&Sea's YS-110 DS-TTL strobe and YS-27DX strobe and accessories.
It will be available early August. If you are interested, best to order now. Call me.
Back to Palau, February 2008
I'd been to Palau five times before this past February trip and I wasn’t prepared. I mean, I knew the diving there was terrific, otherwise I wouldn’t have scheduled another trip there. But terrific doesn’t describe the quality of that trip. Try awesome! Amazing! Exceptional! Mind-blowing!
Yes, it was that good and so we’re going back. Another custom-tailored trip like no other.
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Palau
Micronesia
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Passport update
All the recent passport changes have been confusing. So here is the latest: the federal government has temporarily waived the restriction enacted in January that required passports for travelers flying to Canada, Mexico or other destinations in the Western hemisphere. (The applications for passports were so overwhelming that the government was swamped with a huge backlog.) So now all that is needed is a government-issued photo ID and proof of application for a passport. This new requirement is in effect till September 30. Travelers to other areas of the world still need a passport.
Great Links
It's always a good idea to check on your departure flights before you leave home and arrivals of those you plan to pick up. Put these in your address book.
- John Wayne Airport www.ocair.com Phone 949-252-5200
- Los Angeles International Airport www.lawa.org/lax Phone 310-646-5252
- Long Beach Airport www.lgb.org Phone 562-570-2600
Mark Your Calendar!
Make your plans now! Maldives Aggressor September 2008
Underwater Exposures
11 Lantana • Aliso Viejo, CA 92656
phone 949.448.0499 • fax 949.448.0499
email: orca2@cox.net
Copyright Underwater Exposures, Inc. 2007
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