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I just wanted to share some pictures of my recent and first ever trip to Bangka and Lembeh! Equipment used was: Nikon Z8 + Nikon Z 105mm Macro Seacam Housing and Strobes plus Retra Snoot

My first leafy sea dragon I found after moving to South Australia, I was very excited to finally see one. They're very shy and tend to turn away from you when you approach, so I got very lucky with this portrait. R5, 15-35mm, 2 x Z330s

Another tradition of this thread is cheating - by posting multiple images! Here is my favourite shot: Which is my favourite because this was my favourite dive of the year. It was just one of those moments when the underwater was truly stunning. I was at Raw Mohammed in the Red Sea and seemingly had the place to myself, with great schools moving through and a beautiful reef. Photo taken with Sony A1 and 28-60mm. Nauticam housing, Nauticam WWL-1B. 2 x Retra Pro Max flashes. 1/200th @ f/11. I even have a photo of me on the dive - thanks Nick. In the spirit of cheating - I've also recorded a video running through all my favourites from 2023, if you want to see more photos: Alex

I am excited to announce today the launch of a new YouTube channel - The Underwater Photography Show, with me and Matthew Sullivan. Hopefully it is an enjoyable and accessible source of information. Please subscribe if you are interested in such things! https://www.youtube.com/@UWPhotoShow Waterpixels.net even gets a mention on our first episode!

A few pictures from my trip to Anilao (Philippines) in September 2024. Unfortunately the weather was very bad and we had high water temperatures, too. So there were not that many critters around as I was used to. Also Blackwater diving was not possible because of the weather. Equipment used: Nikon Z8, Nikon Z 105mm Macro, Nikon 8-15mm Fisheye with 1.4TC (first picture); Trioplan Copy (last picture) Seacam Housing, Seacam D150 Strobes, Retra Snoot

A few more shots from my first trip to Bangka and Lembeh, including my first Mandarin diver ever 😬 Equipment used: Nikon Z8, Seacam Housing, Seacam strobes, Retra snoot

As the first month of WaterPixels winds down and the New Year approaches, it strikes me how happier and lighter this website feels, especially compared to the way Wetpixel ended for me. I think a lot of this has to do with how Rich, Tim, Chris and Davide have handled the transition, and how the new recruits and refugees from WP have taken this up. I would raise a year end toast to the Mod's and the community. Well done all! Ian

I have done multiple wide angle dives in the last few months with the Retra Pro Max, Seacam 160, Backscatter HF-1, Kraken KS160 (and Scubalamp SUPE D-Pro in December). They are all very good strobes. My preference is the Retra, but if I was forced to use one of the others I'd get by fine. I am always interested in testing gear that might expand by capabilities - but I won't test gear that I feel will restrict my photography in any way. I am not interested in wasting my dive time using lesser strobes - but the fact that I have done multiple dives with all of these - is a vote of confidence in them all. The Retra is my favourite because it has the nicest quality of light, lots of power and is two strobes in one (in Lembeh (May) I shot it small with 4 batteries, while in Raja Ampat (March) and Red Sea (June) I shot it with 8. None of the other strobes here are ideal for macro - so you probably need to budget for a second set of something else if you do dedicated macro trips. People make a lot of fuss about 8 AAs, but if you get good, fast chargers - they are super easy to live with and in real world UW photography you are never waiting for them to recycle. The battery life is a big step on from previous Retras. The controls are simple and excellent. Like the Bluetooth updates and I like how you can fix and change aspects of them by connecting to phone. Wished they made a non-TTL model. I own Retra Pro Max, totally reliable. I've not tried their sticky out Lithium battery yet, but I am not planning to get them (but will try some when I have a chance). The first Seacam 160s I tried (borrowed from he who shall not be named of Wetpixel) when they first came out were unreliable - and I didn't like them as a result. But I borrowed Erin's in March and had a very good experience with them. I find the light very, very similar to the Retras, just with slightly more throw and slightly less softness. The light output level is near as damn it the same as the Retras with real subjects. The batteries are nice, but that is a lot of money to pay and you need your own spares if nobody else is shooting these strobes. This is what is best about AAs - you can borrow them from everyone if you have a charging issue/flood etc. The power control was a bit annoying, without a deadstop - so you have to look at the screen all the time to know where they are set, and even worse the smaller increments are indicated by small dots on the screen which are hard to see without looking (closely). Erin's were set to 1/3 stop increments which was also annoying - but I presume this is an option. Anyway, very good strobes, but I wouldn't have them over the Retra even at the same price. Erin's were totally reliable. The Kraken KS-160 has a nice quality of light. But it does not have as much light output as the Retra and and Seacam. I know it has more stated WS-1 than the Retra - but this does not translate to light output. But they are still powerful strobes and capable of rapid firing with the Lithium batteries (although after you've shown off to your buddies - this really has limited uses in normal underwater photography, other than making everyone think you have no sensitivity towards the wellbeing of your subjects). The lithium battery packs are very nice to live with and charge straight from USB-C which is nice. I used them a few months apart, but I felt that the light and power from the "similar" SUPE D-Pro was identical. The SUPE I tried was not reliable and several of the power settings did not work. The Krakens were totally reliable. I think that they are correctly priced versus the Retras - cheaper - but a level below. I like that they are simple with no TTL. The Krakens weak point is ergonomics. The main power knob is in whole stop settings and then your have a turny dial to adjust within stops - I could say more, but this is not nice to use. They are heavy in the water, but have good buoyancy collars. The Backscatter HF-1 does not have the natural quality of light of the strobes above. But boy, does it have a lot of power. And it also has a well judged diffuser (the flat warmest one) that gives it a very decent quality of light, when attached. While still giving out more power than those above. It has excellent battery performance, which means you can shoot all day (not a big deal), but more importantly encourages you to use more of the power, more of the time. If you regularly shoot big animals/pelagics in bright conditions this would be my choice. If you shoot more close focus wide angle then you might favour one of those above with a more pleasing quality of light. The ergonomics are better than the Kraken and Seacam. They are a bit heavy in the water. They were totally reliable on my trip. They also have a video light. They are very attractively priced at present. They are my second favourite here. Alex

I'm old school...

One of the critters unique to Sydney divesites is the Sydney pygmy pipehorse, they are quite small and cryptic and apparently restricted to the coast south of Sydney NSW. They are so cryptic that it takes real experience to find them and they can "disappear" seconds after you have been shown precisely where one is. Lucky enough to dive recently with a diver who routinely finds up to 40 individuals on a dive at The Steps, right at the entrance to Sydney's Botany Bay and got a lot of photos of individuals with varying colouration. They range in length from 30 to 55mm long and colour varies in shades or reds, pinks, white and green-brown shades. To add to frustrations they sway just a little out sync with the surge and squirm a bit following food items, plus their eyes also swivel rapidly and there's plenty of shots where the pupil can't be seen as it is looking behind.

I can't decide which is my favourite from these two taken during my trip to Lembeh in July. Both taken with the Nauticam EMWL with 160º objective lens.

Beautiful photos at display here! I just cannot decide wich one I like most, I was so excited with my new camera in 2023 (A7R5). I have to cheat and put in three photos (all made on the Red Sea workshop with Alex in June/July 2023): SS Thistlegorm: practically no current and very good vis allowed to take a panorama from the stern. Canon 8-15mm fisheye @15mm, 1/160s, f/11, ISO 1000, no strobe: And here Lisi in the SS Dunraven, coming towards me and separate the enormous school of glassfishes inside. I love the circular fisheye look and this was such a good occasion. Canon 8-15mm fisheye @8mm, 1/5s, f/13, ISO 500, 2*Z330 strobes: A macro, taken at Gubal island. The big eyes of the squirrelfish make it look like a character from a Japanese cartoon. Sony 90mm macro, 1/200s, f/16, ISO 100, 2*Z330 strobe: And here an extra cheater: MY Ghazala Explorer at sunset near Ras Muhammed. Canon 8-15mm fisheye @8mm, 1/125s, f/22, ISO 800, 2*Z330 strobes: All the best in 2024 too you All and great success to Waterpixel! Wolfgang

With some coaching from our guide while diving at Atmosphere Resort on the Dauin coast, I was able to spot this Kuro Sapsucking Slug on my own.

Hey everyone, I’m excited to share that I’ll be upgrading our forum software to the latest version soon. This is a major update focused on backend improvements, enhanced security, and overall modernization. While I’m working hard to make the front end as close as possible to what we’re all accustomed to for this initial migration, you will notice some changes. Here’s what to expect: Classic and Modern ThemesThe current look and feel of the forum will be called “WPX Classic” and will remain the default for now. After the migration settles, I’ll introduce a “WPX Modern” theme. You’ll have the option to switch between Classic and Modern based on your preference. Even in the Classic theme, the forum will gain a more modern, functional experience. Key ImprovementsWhile there is an endless list of little things that are improved on the front & back end, here are a few of the key improvments. Mobile: A significantly improved mobile browsing experience and App Setup. Dark Mode: A native dark mode option will be available from launch. My Streams Menu: A customizable view for sorting articles, posts, topics and even tags, moving beyond just showing “Unread All.” Performance Improvements: Along with the software upgrade, I’m also moving the forum to a new server. This upgrade to both the software and hardware should provide noticeable performance improvements. While things have been running pretty well, now is the perfect time to make these enhancements. Future Customization: This upgrade will enable us to introduce and customize future enhancements on both the back end and front end, giving us greater flexibility to adapt and improve over time. Temporary ChangesTags: Tags will be temporarily disabled at launch but will return soon as we digest how to use in the new system. The updated tagging system will be more useful, allowing features like creating streams based on tags and following your preferred tags. The store will not be available initially after the migration. A new store will be launched soon. Downtime InformationThis migration is a large and complex task. I estimate that the forum will be offline for up to 4 hours during the update. I’ll try to keep the site accessible in guest mode during this time, but you won’t be able to log in. Migration TimelineThe update will take place between April 12th and 15th. Once I finalize the exact date and start time, I’ll post an update here. I’ve already done a few dry runs, and I’m confident it should go smoothly. Thank you for your patience and understanding as we work to bring you these exciting updates. I’m confident this upgrade will not only enhance our community now but also set the stage for continued improvements and useful features in the future, providing a more secure and customizable platform for everyone. I think thats it for now.. Stay tuned for more details.

Hi, i want to share a video from my latest trip to Greenland with you The professional freediver Anna von Bötticher and I spent a tour in East Greenland and dived unique icebergs. An iceberg was crystal clear and gave a utopian impression underwater. At another iceberg we went into the water right next to a huge iceberg at the narrow gap that is created by the tides. It was great, almost endless visibility and a great atmosphere. Read more in the Youtube description and watch it till the end, its not 2:22 long! Alex.

Well, just joining, so a little late, but here are some of my faves in the last 2 years, since diving has been minimal for me.

Before my most recent trip last year I purchased the Nauticam USB-C bulkhead for my OM-1 housing which uses the M24 bulkhead on the housing. The setup consists of an M16 bulkhead and a specific M24-M16 adapter that is machined so that the right angle USB plug will fit through. In summary it works as advertised, I can charge the camera without breaking the vacuum and also download images. Download is a little slow compared to using a card reader it seems the limit is set by the camera interface. I achieved around 28 Mb/sec, while I can achieve 150 Mb/sec with my card reader. Battery charging seems to be about the same as plugging the camera directly into a charger. I got the bulkhead as I shoot the Canon 8-15 with metabones adapter, which requires placing the camera in the housing then assembling the lens from the front placing the dome over the installed lens. This takes some time to pull apart and re-assemble, so being able to charge and download without opening is one less thing I need to deal with each evening after diving. Here is a couple of photos of the bulkhead installed, it seems to be a high quality cable. and externally the bulkhead uses a sealed cap similar to a vacuum valve to protect the USB terminal inside. It is sealed so holds a vacuum if the cap is removed. Overall I'm happy with it as it does what it's meant to do.

No idea. The normal rule in underwater photography is think of the maximum amount you can possibly justify or afford and then double it!

Hi, i went back to Malapascua Island after 17 years to see Tresher sharks. We saw up to 8 Tresher sharks cruising together in one spot. Luckily i spent 2 weeks in Malapascua, (compared to most other divers who stay only 2 or 3 days), because the viz varied from 25 to bad days 10-12 meters. Afterwards i visited Moalboal to get some Sardine school shots. Enjoy watching! Alex.

Here is what I know, the hosting provider had a major datacenter move for a bunch of there servers. The notice was sent out weeks ago that this would be happening. Moved server account holders will be given a new IP address for their servers when the move happens. DNS records for domain will need to be updated to new IP address for the site to be reachable again. So this is where things are, the server was moved to new datacenter on new hardware & software and a new IP. Adam should have been notified of this multiple times and he will need to change and update the DNS records to reflect the new IP for wetpixel.com or the server will never be able to be reached. So I guess we wait and see if he ever updates that. I imagine even if it comes back, the days are still numbered when it does go offline permanently. In reflection of the last year and our actions to get this site going when we did and migrate as many members as we have.. I’m thankful we did it and thanks to all of you for helping rebuild the community here. 👏

Hello to all members of WaterPixels. It has now been almost 5 months since the birth of this wonderful community. We do not forget where we came from and we have done everything to make the transition to this new community as smooth as possible and to continue the good work that had been built up over twenty years. We also see the impact of social media and how they have made public debate more toxic. Behind our avatars and nicknames there are still people with all their facets, complexities and feelings. This is why we want to remind everyone that when registering and using the forum, you agree to accept the following conditions of use: https://waterpixels.net/terms/ Be respectful: Treat all forum members with respect and courtesy. Avoid personal attacks, insults, or any form of harassment. Disagreements are fine, but keep the discussion civil and focus on the topic at hand. Just agree to disagree. Maintain a welcoming environment: Foster an inclusive and friendly atmosphere. Avoid discriminatory language, hate speech, or any form of offensive content that targets individuals or groups based on their race, ethnicity, gender, religion, sexual orientation, or any other characteristic. Stay on-topic: Keep discussions relevant to the forum's purpose and guidelines. Avoid derailing threads or posting unrelated content. If you have a new topic to discuss, create a new thread or find an appropriate existing one. Leave it to the moderators to decide if something is badly off-topic bearing in mind that the forum is about having fun as well as learning! No spamming or self-promotion: Avoid excessive self-promotion, advertising, or posting irrelevant links. If you want to share content or links, make sure they are relevant and add value to the discussion. Protect privacy and confidentiality: Respect the privacy of others and avoid sharing personal information without consent. Do not post private or confidential information about yourself or others. Report inappropriate behavior: If you encounter any behavior that violates the code of conduct, report it to the forum moderators or administrators. Do not engage in public arguments or attempts at moderation. Be mindful of intellectual property: Respect copyright laws and give proper credit when sharing or quoting content from other sources. Do not post copyrighted material without permission. Use appropriate language and tone: Avoid excessive use of profanity, offensive language, or derogatory remarks. Maintain a professional and respectful tone in your interactions. Be aware of the consequences: Understand that violations of this code of conduct may result in warnings, temporary suspensions, or permanent bans from the forum. Respect the authority of the moderators and administrators in enforcing the code. From now on, a progressive system of warnings will be implemented that may lead to the suspension of users who do not comply with the above-mentioned code of conduct.

This was an image I captured with natural light at the end of dive as I was heading to the exit and saw the other buddy pair in the water doing their safety stop. I think it captures the expansiveness and the feeling of clear-water, ice-diving of floating under expansive clouds. Plus, I like the grain as it gives it a bit of a classic feel like I was shooting hi-iso slide. The story of the image was I forgot my flash sync cables (doh) on this dive so was forced to shoot everything with ambient and very little light. This dive was pretty much pitch black so I pushed the camera to its limit throughout the dive and ended up taking pretty different pictures than I frequently do and this ended up being one of my favorite images I took during the year. This is from Dayton's Wall, Ross Sea, Antarctica.

This is probably my favorite photo of 2023. The main reason is the cool subject in it. Marine Iguana was one of the top items in my bucket list. In 2023 i have been so fortunate to dive with them in Galapagos. Nikon D850, 105mm macro+Nauticam EMWL 160, 2 x Inon Z330 strobes

Southern Right Whales Sony A1, WACP-1, 14m 1.8GM and ambient light (I reduced the image size/resolution as each original is 30mb+) Shot under special permit issued by the Argentine government

A trio of Humpback Whale (Megaptera novaeangliae) escorted by Bottlenose Dolphin (Tursiops truncatus) and California Sea Lion (Zalophus californianus) as they hunt and feed in Magdalena Bay, Baja Pacific, Mexico. Seeing whales underwater for the first time was definitely the highlight of a snorkeling trip to Magdalena Bay with Nautilus Liveaboards. Nikon Z8 w/8-15mm @15mm fisheye lens, f8@1/250s iso640, Natural light

I had the chance to shoot it in Lembeh, last week, while the Backscatter boys were in town. Matthew and I will surely chat about it when I am back.

Starting a new thread to do a quick review of using the MFO-3 with the Olympus 60mm macro. The 60mm is commonly used on m43 setups as the usual macro lens, it's quite sharp and AF is quite good on later bodies but it's a bit on the long side at 120mm FF equivalent, so larger subjects require backing up a lot with a lot of extra water in the way along with all the particles to make backscatter. The MFO3 reduces the field from that of a 60mm lens to about 37 mm focal length increasing diagonal field from 20 to 33 degrees. I used it for the first time in Lembeh Strait this week, popping it on to shoot things like Lionfish, anemone fish and other larger subjects like big cuttlefish. The extra field of view is significant and allows you to shoot these subjects with a lot less water between you and the subject. I found the field to be quite sharp into the corners when reviewing on my laptop and the subject really was very sharp. AF was pretty snappy as well. In Lembeh where you might be shown a tiny emperor shrimp followed immediately by a 200mm long scorpion fish or cuttlefish it was really very useful, in fact I'd say it was indispensable. I carried in a pocket on a pair of cargo shorts complete with bayonet mount and found it easy to get out but a bit trickier to get back in with one hand. I took the supplied neoprene pouch on the boat and after rinsing stored it in there to stop it drying out. some examples: Weedy Rhinopia - slight crop: A False clown anemone fish, I would normally crop and get in closer but this shows the sharpness across the frame: A Trumpetfish which was about 500mm long : A zebra lionfish, cropped slightly: Hopefully this gives some idea what the lens can do. The only real downside is the bulk of the lens, it a big lump but easy to use with bayonet mount. The pics were chosen to show the versatility I found. Lens supplied by Scubapix, the Australian Nauticam distributor it was from the first batch imported. I paid for the lens my myself. Let me know if you have any questions, hope the review is useful for those considering it.

Hello everyone, I've now completed 20 dives with my two new AOI UIS-P1 Ultra and i am absolutely satisfied with my purchase decision. I've used the flashes both in the lake and now in the Red Sea, and I can only say positive things about them. They're fast, easy to use, and they have a lot of power! Even with dry gloves, the flashes are easy to operate. The displays on the back of the flash provide information about the status, battery life, etc. When the flash is firing at full power in TTL, an audible signal is given. Along with the new flashes, I also replaced my flash trigger and treated myself to a Backscatter Smart Control TTL trigger. This is also excellent, and I shot most of my images using TTL, and it works fantastically. For me, the big advantage of the backscatter trigger in the Nauticam housing is that there are no cables going up to the LEDs, which makes the whole process of installing and removing the camera from the housing much easier. Tino

Had a little success with the Frogfish this year, all comments and critique welcomed Mike

Here’s a little clip I shot this week on Okinawa Main Island’s Pacific coast (Kin Red Beach) — a classic but colourful commensal / symbiotic combo: Emperor shrimps (Zenopontonia rex) riding their lofty nudibranch palace (?Ceratosoma trilobatum?). Edited to “Raindrop” by Tomotsugu Nakamura (sound on if possible) This was shot on my old Lumix LX10 compact in 4K/30fps, using either the Nauticam CMC-1 alone or stacked with a UCL-165 close-up lens. Lighting was from two Kraken Hydra 8000 V2 lights and one Backscatter MW4300. There was a bit of water movement and suspended silt, so I'll need to be more careful with light placement next time using the triple-light setup... Cheers and happy bubbles, Ben

With a small "dome" of less than 4in/100mm, the RS 13mm is never going to be as good for splits as a large dome. A large dome makes the water line smaller and easier to keep positioned where you want it - especially in wavy conditions. A large dome also decreases the focus difference between underwater and topside portions (so the topside is less blurry). That said, splits are possible with the RS 13mm, and a small dome actually has a couple of advantages in that you can do splits of smaller subjects and in shallower water. Here are a few examples. Note that I didn't stop down the aperture very much for these (f/5.6-f/.8). Obviously, shooting at something like f/16 would give a less blurry topside if that's what you're going for.

Since I've gone thourgh all the work of gathering this data from various sources and personal tests over the past few months, I might as well share it here in case other find it helpful. Corrections and additions welcome. Update on 24/06: I've updated the spreadsheet with three new sheets, one showing my detailed Power, Color Temperature and Flash Duration tests,other showing the recycling times / high speed shooting tests, and a final one with images comparing the beam cover with and without diffusers for the strobes I've tested. https://docs.google.com/spreadsheets/d/1hWG6Enh-ukiQXjN5y_3NMTFF8b4dhJ64YfZqyIdpFew/edit?usp=sharing

Here's a few from a recent trip to the sites close to Tulamben 1. Frogfish 2. Donut nudi 3. Goby with eggs 4. The ever faithful Shaun the Sheep nudi 5. Velvet Ghost Pipefish 6. Leaf-fish hiding in coral 7. Juvenile batfish Mike

Guys I have the impression that this thread has reached a dead end. Everyone has had a chance to express their preferences on flashes and battery packs and in particular on the novelty introduced by Retra. We also had a direct feedback from Oskar. It is not often that we have the privilege of a manufacturer participating in the forum.... Long story short: now we all have an informed opinion and try to remember the old adage: agree to disagree 😉

My favourite photo of 2023, for obvious reasons... doubt I'll ever get so lucky again. What an animal!!

I flew into Cabo a year or so ago with bags full of Rebreather and Camera gear. My strategy to avoid getting nabbed by the camera-tax vultures was simple but effective: I put the dive gear in a pair of big pelican cases I put the camera gear in a standard checked suitcase (well packed, Nauticam housing in its padded box) I walked the pelicans through customs myself, and the vultures pounced on me instantly, only to be disappointed that I only had diving equipment. My wife walked right behind me with the standard suitcases, and strolled right on past.

Heres a video from my recent trip to Cocos. It was my second time at Cocos since 2006. We saw six different shark species, but seeing & getting good footage are two different things. As you know, sharks are shy when there is no bait in the water, even the big Tigers. I also saw big Hammerheads schools twice. The first time i had an 18mm WW lense set up (the first time after a few days because the second dive was planned at an arch. I switched lenses too early – a big mistake). I saw the HH school swimming in shallow water, while i stayed at 25-30m at Alcyon. I filmed them, but they looked like ants in the footage…The 2nd time at Alcyone with the proper 28mm lense…the HH school in shallow water again, but too strong current during descent…no chance to set and focus on the camera, as i reached the bottom the sharks were gone I uploaded directly from DVR in 4K on YT. The 4K video has only 360MB…that resulted in some color banding in the uploaded YT clip, which i don´t have in DVR with a 16bit color depth cam or rendered in decent 4K resolution. No slow-down uw footage in post.

A point worth raising is that it is difficult to do really precise test shots with and without the MFO-2. I just wanted to highlight this issue – as surely many with and without shots will be shared in the coming months and you should look at them bearing in mind the difficulty in having a consistent methodology. The problem is two fold. First, the addition of the MFO-2 requires the camera lens to refocus (because of the Focus Optimizing stuff). For test shots this means you can’t simply use a fixed focus on the camera to do a with and without shot. And second the MFO-2 is a macro lens and is very long. I have been doing with and without shots keeping the camera a constant distance from the subject. Theoretically, you might think that it is best to keep sensor to subject the same for both shots. However, because the MFO-2 is so long (and we’re shooting macro here) the front element ends up much, much closer to the subject, than the bare lens. So it has been suggested that it would be a better test to keep the front element of the bare lens and the MFO-2 the same distance from the subject – as this is often the limiting factor in underwater photography – both when approaching as subject as closely as possible and also for shooting through as little water as possible. But doing makes the MFO-2 looks a lot, lot wider than the straight macro lens (because the camera has to be moved further back from the subject). The MFO-2 is already a lot wider! There is no perfect way to show/shoot with and without MFO-2 images. All I can say is that when you put it on it does make a really significant change. This test shot was done with the keeping the sensor the same distance from the subject (keeping the camera in the same place) – although I accept this means that the front element of the lens of the MFO-2 is much closer to the subjects, than the standard lens (so for some this underestimates how much wider it makes the view). Without MFO-2 With MFO-2

I've just got home from a terrific 12-night Raja Ampat trip on Emperor Diver's vessel, MV Harmoni. The itinerary started in Kaimana, covered Triton Bay, Misool and the Dampier Straits - and ended in Sorong. Others have written about the diving delights of the area so I won't rehash that. Suffice it to say that, my first trip to this part of Indonesia, I found the diving just fabulous. Abundance and variety of marine life was something else. Whale sharks and mantas included. I've been fortunate to have been on lots of liveaboards over the years. This was, by far, the best I have ever done. Harmoni has a crew of 21 for 24 guests and is spacious,. comfortable and relaxed. Lead by a first class Cruise Director, the entire crew were unfailingly helpful and considerate. We splurged and got an Upper Deck cabin. This was roomy with a ?king-size bed (depending on what side of the Atlantic you live), sofa, wardrobe and a bathroom that two people could actually use at the same time, tons of hot (and cold) water and quality shower and hair gels. I'm not sure if it is a blessing or a curse, but Harmoni has Starlink WiFi which is included in the trip price. So if the mood takes you, internet is available in the galley at all times throughout the trip. It reaches some cabins too. Diving was from a RIB with four guests accompanied by a dive guide. Nitrox was included in the price. Following the usual briefing, divers put on their wetsuits and only had to carry their mask and camera to the RIB. All gear was loaded by the crew with divers being helped into their BCs etc on the RIB immediately before a backward roll onto the divesite. No carrying heavy gear down to the RIB or down to a dive deck. Luxury. A dive guide was assigned to each group of four and rapidly understood what the group wanted to do in terms of photography, ease of the dive, avoidance of current etc. Dive sites were usually 4-5 minutes (enjoyable) RIB-ride from Harmoni with at least one RIB monitoring the dive with several ready for pick ups at the end of the dive. At the end of the drive, the crew moved dive gear, except mask and camera, from the RIB to Harmoni so, again, no lugging of gear. They even rinsed wetsuits after each dive. At the end of the trip, the crew rinsed all dive gear (apart from cameras), got it all dried and delivered into the galley for collection! Food was always excellent and a mix of Asian and European. The system was the classic light breakfast, dive, big breakfast, dive, lunch, dive and dinner. Harmoni had a well-stocked bar complete with barman and espresso machine (yay!) We used the Aston Hotel in Sorong and the Grand Papua Kaimana in Kaimana. Both were good. We flew KLM to Jakarta and then Garuda to Sorong and Wings Air to Kaimana. No problems with any of the flights and the service was always very good. On one flight there was a tiny charge for excess baggage. We applied for Indonesian visas online and were seriously impressed by the arrival formalities in Jakarta: a quick transit through e-gates. I celebrated an "x0-birthday" during the trip and cannot think of a better way of marking the occasion. I can recommend Harmoni highly.

Even if I encounter them for the thousandth time, I still find these fish fascinating. They move almost magically, like ghosts, with an unexpected swiftness. In the depths of this dive spot, there’s a resident colony of about ten individuals. Speaking of rebreathers, thanks to the fact that we were diving in closed circuit, some individuals allowed us to get very close—a rare occurrence here. In the end, we were the ones who left, not them 👋🏼 Technical note: With the WWL-1B, I can't get this quality while zooming (perhaps also due to the flimsy 14-42mm kit lens), and the footage always has a slight wobble. I believe the camera’s OIS is thrown off by the focal length change caused by the wet lens. This dive confirmed my impressions. I was using the Panasonic 12-35mm F2.8 with the 6" acrylic dome. It had been a long time since I used it, and this dive brought me back in sync with my camera. The footage is finally rock steady, with stabilization working perfectly, and the lens is incredibly tack sharp, especially when zoomed in. All the shots are at F4-5.6. Put on your headphones and turn up the volume!!! 🔊🔊🔊

Here's a little something I shot over 3 "bonfire" (light-trap) style dives, a setup I've been experimenting with here on the shores East Bali's Lombok Strait. Being alone in this venture, my bonfire setup is really basic, with very little lure lights to work with... It's not really much of a bonfire to be honest, more a modest campfire than anything, but hey, it is what is is, right? 🙂 Despite being all on my lonesome with a very light-limited setup, these experiment have nonetheless been rather interesting, with some surprising encounters. The dives also brought-up very video-centric questions on lighting power, positioning, spot focusing, and the relationship between video lighting’s constant light output and the lure lights, something I'll be developing in this thread (along with details on the lure setup used) Please note that I shot in 30fps, because I don't have 4K 60fps on my compact, so this video is probably a little different from the ultra-slow motion often seen for such critters. While I certainly do wish I had access to 60fps and its smooth 50% slow-mo for lightning fast subjects, I find I'm actually ok with a little erratic critter movement, as the real-life action itself is rather chaotic at times - let's just hope it won't have you reaching for dramamine pills... 😉 Equipment used: - Panasonic Lumix LX10 (LX9/LX15 in some locales) compact camera in a NALX10 Nauticam housing, Inon UCL-165M67 +6 diopter - 2 Kraken Hydra 8000V2 video lights - Lures lights: Backscatter MW 4300 video light and Archon dive lights - Shot in Amed, east Bali, in 4K 30fps, CineD profile, manual focus, 400 ISO cheers! ben

Thanks to Dr. Mustard for sharing some of the first images of our new SMC-3 ! What I wanted to achieve was to make use of the experience I accumulated over the years to improve one of the best macro lens even further. While maintaining the same magnification, with the use of some extreme glass material (very high refractive index and special dispersion character), I was able to reduce 1/3 of the weight of the original SMC-1, 40% of the thickness, while increased the longest working distance by 8mm. Theoretically, internal reflection has been eliminated. Yet to be confirmed from extensive field tests. Edward

Mediterranean wreck 'Le Grec' between 40m and 50m deep, close to Porquerolles, France. GoPro 11 and Keldan 4x.

Last bit of advice - You clearly want to establish yourself as a knowledgeable person with respect to underwater photography. You are trying on a regular basis to use science to back up your theories. Show us beautiful photos instead. You really, really, need to look and think about how you came across on the internet if you want an audience to respect your thoughts. Just once in a while, try listening to and understanding other peoples opinions and experiences - chances are you will learn something yourself. Look at both sides of a debate without being confrontational, you're sounding like a football fan who cannot see past his own team. The title here is Full Frame bubble Burst. It hasn't, and it likely never will. Maybe you don't feel the need to use it, and that's great- people get fantastic shots with compact cameras - but to not consider a huge portion of the genre and still try and defend your point really doesn't do you any favours. On that point, I think I'm done with this thread, Mike

Reflecting on what has gone down, I can't help feeling a bit sad for Eric. Eric is such an intelligent, forward thinking, charismatic, honest person, who built Wetpixel from the ground up. To have Wetpixel go down in flames the way it has is not fair to his legacy. I do not want to dwell on the negative, but feel the community should hoist a pint to Eric. I would like to recognize his role in the whole process that has gotten Waterpixels to where it is right now. Ian

Image taken @ Anilao in may/june

Here are a few of my favorites of the year: [Pacific Spiny Lumpsucker - Puget Sound] [Wolf eel - Puget Sound] [Scalyhead Sculpin - Puget Sound] [Strawberry Soft Coral / Sculpin / Lemon Nudibranch] [Leafy Sea Dragon - Adelaide, NSW]

Taken in "La Gravière du Fort". A pond in Alsace, France, near Strasbourg, managed by and dedicated to divers. Not as cool as some exotic places, but only one hour from home, and many friends there. Olympus EM-1 mkII with Olympus 8mm Fisheye in Nauticam housing and 2x Retra Pro Xnull

I've shot over 3000 underwater images with the Sony 100mm now. It is definitely the best macro lens that I have tried on my Sony. And arguably the best macro lens on the market. That said it is small gains over other options, rather than this being a whole new world. AF better, especially tracking and difficult subjects. Sharpness excellent, but not that different. Bokeh more attractive. The 1:1.4 range makes it very versatile - you can definitely do so much with the lens and MFO-1. Works very well with MFO-3, SMC-3 and EMWL-160 (although I find I get a bit more camera shake than with 90mm - despite stabiliser - need to check settings). The most impressive thing to be me is the performance with teleconverter. AF is amazing with TC.

Found an absolutely gorgeous Mosshead Warbonnet (Chirolophis nugator) on Sunrise Reef in Gig Harbor. (About 1 hour south of Seattle in Puget Sound.) This is one of the most amazing fish of the Pacific Northwest. With it's ornate and detailed camouflage mossy head dress, bright red color, and patterned body it's got a lot going on. This one was quite large at about 20cm and more colorful than most of its kind. So of course I had to shoot it! I was carrying a wide-angle lens setup, hoping for big GPOs and Wolfeels. Nikon Z8, 24-50mm, WWL-C port, so really not ideal for this small subject. The WWL-C optics closed the gap however! I zoomed to 50mm and flipped the sensor in the DX 1.5x crop mode to achieve a near-macro framing. My big, high-power HF-1 strobes were powered down to 1/8, angled in, and didn't blow out the scene. I'm happy with the result! Even though I forgot to roll the ISO down toward 100 for a macro subject I can't see anything negative at ISO500. Nikon Z8 w/24-50mm, @50MM, WWL-C, f13@1/200s iso500, Pair of Backscatter HF-1 strobes: I found a Giant Pacific Octopus too, snuggled in a den: Nikon Z8 w/24-50mm, WWL-C, f11@1/160s iso500, Pair of Backscatter HF-1 strobes: