Visions Conference 2006

I just got an email about the 10th anniversary Visions In The Sea conference, which this year returns to a two day format. I'll put something on the front page closer to the time, when all the details are available, but I thought I'd share the story so far...

The conference follows its usual format mixing international (non-UK) speakers, to wow the audience with the best images from their portfolios, with British and Irish regular speakers, who tend to give more technique orientated talks.

I have been to all 10 conferences and this year will be my 6th Visions in row speaking. I will be talking about photography with fisheye lenses (including my new macro-fisheye technique).

Here is the email:

The tenth annual Visions in the Sea Underwater Photography Festival takes place on November 4th and 5th, 2006. The event is unique in the northern hemisphere and promises underwater photographers a winning combination of presentations that will showcase awesome underwater pictures from around the globe, together with talks designed to help them get their own stunning images.

Visions 2006 has attracted speakers from the USA, Australia, Italy, Mauritius, Greece and Ireland as well as the UK.

Amos Nachoum is one of the most fearless of underwater photographers and, as a result, has a portfolio without equal. Specialising in shooting some of the largest, and often most dangerous sea animals, under extreme conditions, Amos will drop your jaw with his photographs and amaze you with the stories behind them.

Michael Aw has had more than 20,000 images published worldwide in National Geographic magazine, Underwater Geographic, BBC Wildlife and other leading publications and has more than 50 major awards to his credit, including a Gold at the prestigious Antibes Festival last year.

Andrea and Antonella Ferrari are the co-authors of "Reef Life" and an array of superbly illustrated dive guides including '"Malaysia Diving Guide", "Malaysia - an Underwater Paradise", "Layang, Layang - The Island of Dreams Come True", "A Divers Guide to Underwater Malaysia Macrolife" and "Ocean Segreti" which won the World Grand Prize for books at the Antibes Festival in 2004.

Constantinos Petrinos is the man responsible for the definitive guide to the Lembeh Straits - "Realm of the Pygmy Seahorse" - and the main photographer behind "Nudibranch Behaviour". He is celebrated for his stunning behavioural images.

Peter Rowlands, the publisher and editor of UWP, the online underwater photography magazine that attracts a worldwide audience, is a pioneer British underwater photographer with a reputation as one of the best wreck photographers around.

Charles Hood is Dive magazine's Senior Correspondent. A highly accomplished and versatile photographer, he is known for detailed presentations that show you how shoot your own top images.

Alex Mustard is an established force in professional underwater photography. The photographer for the critically acclaimed "Art of Diving' and a widely published photo- journalist, he is also an innovator. Alex's Magic Filters are rewriting the possible in available light photography.

Martin Edge needs little introduction to underwater photographers around the world. He is the photography educator who many top photographers credit with their success. Now in it's third edition, "The Underwater Photographer" has become the classic text for the underwater image maker, beginner and expert alike.

John Collins is an expert is low visibility photography and has just published his first book - "Cool Water, Emarald Seas". John's accomplishments should encourage other photographers to look anew at the

wealth of subjects in Northern waters.

Pheobe Rudimino-Dusiacke shoots rare subjects in a unique environment. Movie stars underwater on the Pinewood lot. Her portfolio includes "Basic Instinct2" and the latest Bond - "Casino Royale".

Gerald Rambert is a highly accomplished exponent of compact digital photography. Even though he also has a professional level underwater SLR.Gerald shoots professionally and is a regular contributor to "Diver Magazine" with quite a few cover shots to his name. Gerald is based on the island of Maurtius.

I keep reminding myself to call Steve Warren and book myself a place for this but then forget to do it. I missed the last one but willtry and be there this time.

Looking forward to it.

Tim

Gerald Rambert is a highly accomplished exponent of compact digital photography. Even though he also has a professional level underwater SLR.Gerald shoots professionally and is a regular contributor to "Diver Magazine" with quite a few cover shots to his name. Gerald is based on the island of Maurtius.

Ha ha ha. Gerald's an old friend. Taught him UW Photo and sold him one of my old cameras a few years back B) . It's great to see that he's going places

Alex, Peter or the Mavericks at Ocean Optics: will you bring some Magic (especially green) and save on postage to the interested?

Tim

B)

Ocean Optics sent out this flier for the event, yesterday:

http://www.oceanoptics.co.uk/Visions06.pdf

Alex

Hi Alex,

This looks very interesting. But 95 pounds for a two day ticket? how big is this festival? How many people are attending? It would mean some traveling again a week after Antibes....

Thanks,

Andre Crone

Hi Andre,

This is a different style of event to Antibes or other festivals. This is much more of a conference - with talks and workshops all day. With social time in the evening. It is much more focused on techniques, tips and advice. Attendance is usually between 100-150 people - so there is plenty of access to speakers etc.

Alex

I have just managed to extract this out of Steve Warren at Ocean Optics.

It is the provisional program for the event. Gives you a much clearer idea of the structure and also the topics of most of the talks.

That first morning of Petrinos, Nachoum, Hood and Ferrari looks pretty tasty.

Alex

Visions_2006Program.pdf

Hi All,

I have now go the updated and official program for the Visions in the Sea 2006. Most exciting is the addition of Peter Scoones to the list of speakers. Plus I have been moved from an early start on Sunday so I can enjoy a few sherberts on Saturday night.

Alex

Here is the program:

Visions in the Sea 2006

Saturday, November 4, 2006

9.30     Coffee, tea and biscuits in the Great Hall

10.00  Constantinos Petrinos

10.45   Amos Natchoun – Techniques for Incredible Images

11.30   Charles Hood – Shooting and Selling for Profit

12.15   Andrea and Antonella Ferrari – The Magic of Macro

1.00 Lunch, photo clinics, etc

2.30     Martin Edge – Working a Photo Idea

3.15     Peter Rowlands – Au Natural: a Breakthrough in Available Light Photography

4.00     Tea, coffee and biscuits

4.30     Pete Atkinson – Progress or Photobabble: a Polemic by this adventurous photographer

5.30 Conclusion

6.30 EVENING EVENT – Amos Natchoun: Confronting the Giants of the Ocean

8.30 VISIONS DINNER

Sunday, November 5, 2006

10.00   Coffee, tea and biscuits in the Great Hall

10.30   Mike Aw – A Retrospective

11.45   Gerald Rambert – Successful Underwater Photography with Compact Cameras

12.30   Anne-Marie Kitchen-Wheeler – Freediving Techniques to Improve Your Underwater Photography

1.00 Lunch, slide clinics, etc

2.30     John Collins – Opportunities and Techniques in Cool Waters

3.15     Jean-Philippe Trenque – Digital Workflow: What to do with your images once you have downloaded them to your computer.

3.45     Alex Mustard – Mastering the Fisheye

4.45 Peter Scoones – A One Person Show by the Godfather of Underwater Cameramen

6.00 Conclusion

That looks great! I wish I could attend...

that does look good... have fun

I am not sure that famous Amos's name is spelt correctly - but that is how the organisers sent it to me!

Alex

See you chaps there. We're now going down the night before so we don't have to rush out part way through the day to check in.

Who else is going? See you there Tim.

Martyn