TimG

Waterpixels is always happy to help promote the activities of our own members. Husband and wife team, John Warmington (johnvila) and Sandra Kaye, have set up Critter Spotters in Vanuatu which they describe as a "Photographer-Friendly Retreat". Here's what they have to say: "We’re John Warmington and Sandra Kaye, a husband-and-wife team with over 40 years of dive experience between us, and a combined 26 years of living here in Vanuatu. Together, we’ve built Critter Spotter, a dive offering created for underwater photographers and thoughtful divers — and Karma Waters, a private villa just steps from the reef we call home. This isn’t a large scale commercial operation or a packaged tour. It’s a personal invitation to dive the way we dive — slowly, with care, with curiosity, and with space to stay as long as the subject needs. 𝐖𝐡𝐲 𝐕𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐚𝐭𝐮 ---- 𝐀𝐧𝐝 𝐖𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐞 𝐖𝐞? Vanuatu is an island nation in the South Pacific, east of Australia and north of New Zealand — a chain of volcanic islands with rich marine life, warm waters, and minimal dive traffic. If you can get to Australia, New Zealand, or Fiji, you’re just one short flight away. Direct connections from Brisbane, Sydney, Auckland, and Nadi make it surprisingly easy — especially compared to many Indo-Pacific destinations. We’re based on Efate, just 45 minutes from the international airport, in the calm, sheltered waters of Havannah Harbour — a site known for its gentle conditions and exceptional macro biodiversity. 𝐊𝐚𝐫𝐦𝐚 𝐖𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐕𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚 – 𝐘𝐨𝐮𝐫 𝐁𝐚𝐬𝐞 Karma Waters is a newly constructed private, one-bedroom, self-contained villa set among tropical gardens with ocean views and direct access to the reef. It’s ideal for dive couples or photography buddies who want flexibility and privacy without compromise. The king bed can be split to two singles for travelling buddies and in addition to your own comfy timber deck with water views you will have access to a large covered deck right on the waters edge, a luxurious day bed and lounges overlook the water. Grab a kayak and go exploring for yourself. We also offer on-site massage, yoga, or pilates sessions and can host your own private lifestyle workshop. You’re welcome to self-cater at your own pace, or just relax and let the water set the rhythm. There are dining spots close or private catering ca be arranged. ➡️ If your group is more than two, we can comfortably cater for up to four divers. While the villa remains best suited for couples or pairs, we’re happy to help arrange nearby accommodation for extra guests without compromising the experience. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 – 𝐌𝐚𝐜𝐫𝐨-𝐑𝐢𝐜𝐡, 𝐂𝐫𝐨𝐰𝐝-𝐅𝐫𝐞𝐞 Our reef is one of those places that rewards repeat dives and patient eyes. Whether you're looking for frogfish, mantis shrimp, nudibranchs, moray eels — or simply just love long cruisy dives you'll have the space and time you need to make it memorable. We offer dives right from the villa, just go down the steps! It’s your choice --- we will introduce you to the area on arrival with a few guided dives and then it’s up to you – guided or unguided. Lets us know how many tanks you need! Our 5 metre diver friendly boat is surveyed and ready for adventure on request. We limit our numbers for a reason — so that you never feel rushed or overlooked. We don’t do schedules - dive when you're ready, linger as long as you want, your experience is the priority. We don’t teach – we dive and cater to certified divers only. Maximum of 4 divers. We all know the worry about weight limits and travel – we can ease that burden – all dive gear is available for hire plus we can cater to photographers with: GoPro, TG7 or Nikon D500 / Nauticam set ups on site, ready to hire. 𝐑𝐮𝐧 𝐛𝐲 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐩𝐡𝐨𝐭𝐨𝐠𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐡𝐞𝐫𝐬 John has spent the last decade developing his underwater photography through patience, passion, and deep familiarity with local marine life. He’s happy to share insights, offer camera advice, or help you troubleshoot a setup — casually, in-water, or over a post-dive photo chat. If you want more --- Workshops are available on request, whether you're just starting out or want a focused photo session. Sandy, a qualified divemaster and accomplished videographer, is especially intuitive with guests newer to diving, and is always ready to help spot subjects, keep an eye on conditions, or simply ensure your dive feels safe and supported. 𝐌𝐨𝐫𝐞 𝐓𝐡𝐚𝐧 𝐉𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐃𝐢𝐯𝐢𝐧𝐠 We’ve called Vanuatu home for years — and it shows in how we host. From cultural tips to hidden snorkelling spots, we make it our mission to ensure every guest walks away with more than just good photos — but a truly memorable experience. We share what we love in a way that’s real, relaxed, , no crowds, no rush and tailored to you! Ready to Learn More? 📍 www.critterspotter.com 📩 Email: [email protected] 📷 Follow us: @critterspotter If you're looking for a quieter, slower kind of dive trip — with time to shoot, space to think, genuine rest and relaxation, and a reef that still surprises us after hundreds of dives — we’d love to welcome you to Havannah Harbour. See you underwater, John & Sandy Critter Spotter | Karma Waters | Vanuatu"

Adobe have announced an update to version 14.4 to Lightroom Amongst the new features the Adobe website explains: Reflection Removal on Desktop Shooting through a window or glass door? Use Reflections Removal to eliminate glare and surface reflections from your image, leaving behind a clean, crisp final photo. You can even adjust the Quality setting to control your final resolution—great for balancing speed and precision. People Removal Crowded backgrounds? The new People Removal feature automatically detects and removes extra or unwanted people from your shot. Whether you're on the desktop or mobile app, it's easy to clean up your photo so your main subject shines. View and Update AI Edit Settings Stay in control of your edits. Now, when you apply AI-powered tools like Denoise, Remove, or Lens Blur, an AI Edit Status icon will show up. If anything changes that might affect your results, the icon turns yellow so you'll know it's time to reapply or tweak your settings. It's an easy way to keep your edits looking their best with no guesswork needed. Tether Capture with Fujifilm Cameras Lightroom Classic now has native support for tethered capture using Fujifilm cameras. Performance Improvements Enjoy faster, smoother, and more accurate performance across tools and adjustments, making interactive editing feel quicker and more responsive. Key improvements include improvements in Crop Rotation, Brush, and linear gradient in the Masking panel.

Nikon have announced a firmware update to v3.0 for the Nikon Z8. Pixel shift, importing Custom Picture Controls and improvements to focus-limiter controls are amongst the new features. Full details are available here: https://www.nikon.co.uk/en_GB/products/firmware/z8-firmware-3.00