Houston's Premier Scuba and Dive Shop Oceanic Ventures Inc.

(713) 523-3483 (dive)
5808 Newcastle Drive
Houston, TX 77401

Photography

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SeaLife Photo Tip – Wide Angle Lenses on Small Subjects

Shooting Tip

When photographing small subjects it’s important to switch to the 0.5x or ultra-wide angle lens on your smartphone, allowing you to get close while capturing as much of the surrounding background as possible. Adding dual Sea Dragon lights will result in vivid colors and brilliant detail on the subject

Note from Eric — This is the same principle used with the Micro 3.0 or any wide angle lens

Equipment Used

SportDiver Smartphone Housing with iPhone 11 Pro using the 0.5x iPhone Lens, SportDiver’s Red Filter, Sea Dragon Duo 6000 Set

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Deepest Dive in Antarctica

“No one really knows what’s in the deep ocean in Antarctica. Now we have the technology to reach into the ocean depths, we accompanied scientist and deep-sea explorer Jon Copley and became the first to descend to 1000 meters underwater in Antarctica for Blue Planet II. The exotic creatures we found there will astonish you.”

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Travel Photography: Lighting Hints

I recently ran across a video from photographer Karl Taylor who has a series of YouTube videos and some on-line classes. In his video “Essential Skills that Will Transform You Photographs,” Karl introduces you to a few ways to look at lighting and how you can incorporate it into your photography.

He first defines light in to several categories. These primary light categories he uses are hard light, and soft light. You can think of hard light as direct light like that which comes from the sun. Hard light is a high contrast light producing defined shadows and well defined textures. Conversely, soft light is a low contrast light producing an even flat light and soft shadows.

Both types of light are found throughout the day when we are photographing and we just have to work with the light to produce the best image and one that conveys what you are trying to accomplish.

Karl uses a sunset photograph to both demonstrate the light and to show how to use it to create the image you are trying to create. He then moves indoors and again demonstrates how to use these two categories of light to create a portrait.

Watching the video will probably give you a few things to think about but the best way to understand how to utilize the different types of light is to go out and shoot some photographs around your own house or at a local park. See what using reflectors (remember you can make your own and even use a piece of paper as a reflector) can do to enhance your image.

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Archaeologist Staci Willis, PhD to Speak At Social Club Meeting

Staci Willis, PhD Diving in Albania

Are you interested in unexplored shipwrecks lying hidden on the ocean’s bottom just waiting to be discovered?  This is Dr. Staci Willis’ passion and this past summer she and a team of investigators explored a portion of the coast of Albania looking for some potential excavation sites.  For more than six days she and her fellow researched dove on various sites from 15 meters to 24 meters (50 feet to 80 feet) in an area around Corfu Chanel.
Their investigatory dives were successful and they will be returning next summer to start an archaeological dig on one or two of the sites.
Dr. Staci Willis is currently a Professor of Anthropology at Houston Community College and the Co-Principal Investigator of the Albania Ancient Shipwreck Project. She graduated from Texas A&M University with a Ph.D. in Anthropology, specializing in Nautical Archaeology, in 2016. In addition to her most recent work in Albania, Dr. Willis has also participated in a number of other underwater excavations, including a 7th-century BC Phoenician shipwreck off the coast of Spain, a 1st-century wreck in a river of northern Italy, and and 1st-century wreck in the Indian Ocean off the southern coast of Sri Lanka.
Staci will be discussing her work and these dives at the January 17, 2019 Club Aquarius Social Club meeting.
 
 

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The Houstonian Hosts Santa for Underwater Photographs

The Houstonian Hotel, Resort and Spa hosted Santa Claus for an underwater photography session.  The Houstonian staff were on hand with Hot Chocolate complete with marshmallows and the Oceanic Ventures staff were in the water taking the photographs and entertaining Santa!  People of all ages joined us and even a little rain did not stop the festivities.  To see what you missed…