LIDS Informal report

The London International Dive Show (LIDS) took place at the weekend and I thought I'd post a few pictures. This is by no means a comprehensive review of the event - just a few comments on the underwater photography related stuff. My comments are very much biased towards my interest (so there is little coverage of video - even though there was much there). Maybe other Wetpixel folks who were at the show can fill this out.

I am sorry the pictures are not great. They were taken with my compact - which I had taken along to demonstrate shutter lag at the digital clinic. Most of these snaps were taken before the show opened on Sunday morning (which is why there are no people)!

It wasn't my intention to cover the show. So I apologise for any omissions.

Alex

The UK diveshows do not attract lots of underwater photography companies, and few manufacturers come along. The shows are dominated by dive travel and equipment stands. That said there is always plenty to keep the underwater photographer interested.

Underwater photography retailers Cameras Underwater had a large stand in the PADI village. You can tell this photo was taken before the show had opened because their stand was 3-4 people deep through most of the weekend! This is a very popular stand and there was much photo banter in evidence.

Their stand was part of the PADI village and was shared/supported by Canon. Gates video were also there. They had many compacts on display - and were kind enough to lend me a rig with twin strobes to use as a prop during the digital clinic. They had DSLRs from Aquatica, Sea and Sea and Ikelite (that I spotted) on display.

The only DSLR housing manufacturer I spotted at the show was Hugyfot who had a good range of housings on display. I am quite a shy chap - so I didn't speak to them - but I did take this snap while passing. I did spot housings for the D300 and 40D - although wasn't forward enough to ask for more details. I really like the look of their housings.

Alex

Another familiar face at the show was Ryan Canon of Reef Photo & Video. This was Ryan's first visit to LIDS and he was not really there showing off Reef Photo's stock. Instead he was showing products that we don't get over here in the UK. I have a bit more detail here because I know Ryan so was happy to speak to him.

With Kenji from Japan they were showing the Fisheye FIX lights and the Seatool DSLR and video housings.

The other product that caught my eye was a new domeport with an interchangeable adaptor that will allow it to be mounted on a variety of housings. This dome is produced by a new company called Zen Underwater Products - that Ryan has a major hand in. This photo shows Ryan demonstrating the port to Wetpixel member Andy Barker.

Expect to hear more about Zen Underwater Products soon. They seem to have some exciting products (mainly ports) in the pipeline.

I also left a copy of Wetpixel Quarterly on Ryan's stand for passers by to look at. However it was nabbed almost immediately! The one on the BSoUP stand lasted all weekend and generated a lot of interest.

Here is the British Society of Underwater Photographers' stand, with Chairman JP Trenque and President Brian Pitkin in attendance. This photo is another from the early morning, while they were setting up, which is why the desk is bare.

The stand contained a nice display of members images.

Alex

Another popular stand was Maria Munn's Oceans Visions who specialise in underwater photography courses for beginners with compact cameras. Ocean Visions run courses both here in the UK and overseas, mostly in the Red Sea. Again this photo of Maria (with long hair) and her team was taken in the morning before the show opened.

I was also on show, and the show's organisers had printed 36 of my photographs which were on display at the show. I was a bit embarrassed to hang out too close to them during the opening hours (I never like standing near my photos when they are exhibited), but spying from a distance they were always attracting plenty of people. I took these pictures before the show reopened on Sunday morning.

Many of the photos were new images, quite a few currently not in the public galleries on my website, and taken since the publication of Reefs Revealed. They were from Australia, Indonesia, Mexico, Grand Cayman, the USA, Egypt, the Maldives, the Canary Islands, the Bahamas and Malaysia.

Alex

And finally I met lots of interesting folks with muchos banter all round. I really enjoyed doing the Photo Clinic with Saeed. And I also enjoyed the evening socials, hearing great tales from the diving world from the likes of Bantin, Monty, Pilo, Busitilli, F. Cousteau etc. Saw plenty of folks from Wetpixel and had a chat with the gang from digidiver.net forum - many of whom had travelled from the States for the show.

I even met the infamous Burmanator - who was mourning the lack of mermaids after his recent Russian experience.

Alex

Well he did'nt have painted nipples or even a sultry Russian accent but Tim was a lovely bloke who put up with my stroppy egotistical demands and shouts of "do you know who I am" to bewildered Bar ladies...

Good day and well done to Alex and Saeed on their clinic.. First one I've been to where they don't take blood samples and put cocktail sticks down the end of your

Dive safe

DeanB

How can you say Bantin was interesting is what i would like to know.... love ya Johnny... how many times did he mention shark bites in Tahiti ?

Mind you... mentioning Dean B... brings the whole event coverage to a new level.. you guess which way...

How can you say Bantin was interesting is what i would like to know.... love ya Johnny... how many times did he mention shark bites in Tahiti ?

We don't talk about shark bites on this forum at the moment.

Of course we do John, but politely so

The other product that caught my eye was a new domeport with an interchangeable adaptor that will allow it to be mounted on a variety of housings. This dome is produced by a new company called Zen Underwater Products - that Ryan has a major hand in. This photo shows Ryan demonstrating the port to Wetpixel member Andy Barker.

 

 

Alex

Looks to be a bit smaller than superdome size, which is probably needed for the 14-24. Conceptually this (adaptation) makes more sense than a housing with a new port size.

I see you didn't post any of the photos from the evening social Alex. Now which folder did I download those photos to?

Was that when he set fire to his hotel with his hair straighteners?

(One of the exhibition centre hotels burnt down on the Friday night and with blame aimed at a set of hair straighteners left on a bed.)