Introducing the H1 Handy Zoom Studio Recorder

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Definitely gotta get myself one of these babies.  The uses are many. From musical performances, songwriting sessions and rehearsals to seminars, conferences, journalism or capturing audio for video, the H1 gives you clean, clear stereo sound effortlessly. In Stores August 20th.   

H1 Handy Zoom Recorder Website

Ocean Artists Society - Jett Britnell Profile

My profile is now up at the Ocean Artist Society's new website! 

Here's the link:    Ocean Artists Society ~ Jett Britnell

Who are we?

Artists united for the oceans.
The Ocean Artist Society is a unique alliance of the world's top marine life artists, sculptors, painters, photographers and film-makers to foster a continued interest in the ocean arts and marine life issues.

Background

The society was conceived by the founding members in an effort to organize a dedicated group of ocean artists that could, be together, be a voice and platform to further the reach of artists and communicate our mission. "Each of us had already dedicated much of our time toward ocean conservation," marine life artist Wyland says. "This is intended as a way to give us a larger voice to reach new audiences about the marine art experience."

Spain Nailed it! - Vancouver's Celebration of Light - July 24, 2010

Kathryn and I caught the fireworks display last night in Vancouver's English Bay.  We were on a luxurious dinner cruise, so I was unable to take pictures, but downloaded the attached You Tube video that highlights the show's finale as shot from the beach. The videographer in this case happens to be a friend of mine, BC Federal Conservative candidate, Ryan Warawa.

We have seen many fine fireworks displays throughout our life, but Kathryn and I both agreed Spain's show last night was one of the best we had ever seen.  The choreography of light & sound provided a spectacular 25 minutes of jaw-gaping wonder.  "Felicidades, Spain!"

I’m So Excited, I Just Can’t Hide It, I’m About To Use A Light & Motion Sola 600 Underwater Light And I Think I’ll Like It!

 

This past spring Light & Motion released their new Sola 600 compact imaging light. From compact cameras to DSLRs to video housings, the Sola 600 is the perfect companion for all of these underwater imaging platforms. The Sola packs a blinding 679 lumens of light for 75 minutes with a clean even beam pattern and also delivers 225 lumens of red light for close-up work at night.

I got my first glimpse of this remarkable feather weight light at the Tacoma Dive & Travel Show last May and was immediately impressed.  Though tiny in size,  the Sola 600 compact imaging light has already set a new standard for a powerful, easy-to-use light for both underwater photographers and videographers.  As a video light, the custom reflectors provide a remarkably even 75 degree beam. The magnetic bump switch takes a light tap to adjust white light levels or to switch to red light (the only compact imaging light that offers red light allowing you to focus without scaring your marine subjects). Pressure tested and factory sealed, the Sola never needs to be opened and recharges in 2.5 hours with exposed gold-plated plugs in the rear of the body. The light also features a charge status indicator to help the owner to manage the battery life across multiple dives.

I will be doing several product reviews on this amazing light once Light & Motion delivers one to me.  I can’t wait!

For more information on Light & Motion’s Sola 600, visit www.uwimaging.com or call (831) 645-1525.

R.I.P. ~ Wes Skiles

Some tragic news came over the internet today stating that professional  underwater photographer, Wes Skiles, 52, died yesterday during an ocean dive while working on assignment for the famed National Geographic Society.

The facts are sketchy at this point other than it has been reported that Skiles had signaled other divers near the end of the dive that he was surfacing after his camera ran out of film while filming underwater.  He was later found motionless on the the seafloor by team members around 3 p.m. ET, near West Palm Beach, Fla. Wes was later pronounced dead by the Palm Beach County Sheriff's Office.

A statement released by the National Geographic Society said:

"National Geographic has learned of the tragic death of Wes Skiles, the highly accomplished underwater photographer, cinematographer and explorer with whom we've worked frequently. The Palm Beach County Sheriff's Department is investigating the incident, which occurred following the conclusion of a scientific research expedition related to marine life off the east coast of Florida. Our thoughts are with Wes' family."

I had the opportunity to meet Wes many years ago at a dive show and he was friendly, exuberant and very gracious.  The diving community will miss his artistry as Skiles was one of those diving pioneers who always seemed to be pushing the boundaries in both undersea and cave diving exploration. 

We extend our sincere condolences to his family, and his very many friends & close associates around the world. 

www.wesskiles.com 

Going Viral - "The Great White Shark Song"

I wonder if this will be available for download on iTunes any time soon? Enjoy!

Ten Great White Shark Facts

1. Great white sharks inhabit temperate waters worldwide, primarily along coastlines. Though not abundant, they are most frequently sighted off the coasts of the United States, Australia, and South Africa

2. Great white sharks grow about 10 inches per year and can grow to mature lengths of 12 to 20 feet

3. The razor sharp jaws of a great white shark can exert bite pressures of up to 2,000 lbs. per sq. inch.

4. Scientists estimate that great white sharks can go as long as three months without eating.

5. A great white shark loses and replaces thousands of its teeth during its lifetime. Its upper jaw is lined with 26 front-row teeth; its lower jaw has 24.  Behind these razor-sharp points are many rows of replacement teeth.  These “spare teeth” move to the front whenever the shark loses a tooth.   At any one time about one-third of a shark’s teeth are in the replacement stage.

6. Unlike most other sharks, white sharks actually maintain parts of their body (swimming muscles and stomach) at temperatures well above that of the surrounding water, which classifies them as endothermic or warm-blooded, like mammals.

7. Great white sharks have a white belly and a grey back.  This coloration makes it difficult for prey to spot the shark because it breaks up the shark's outline when seen from a lateral perspective.  When viewed from above, the darker shade blends in with the sea.  This obliterative counter shading is a form of camouflage that makes them hard to see when they are in mid-water.

8. Great white sharks are ambush predators whose modis operandi it to attack prey from below.  Marine scientists believe that white shark attacks on humans are probably a case of mistaken identity by young, inexperienced sharks targeting what they think are seals or sea lions.

9. The white sharks diet consists primarily of tuna, squid, seals, elephant seals, sea lions, dolphins, whale carcasses, sea turtles, sharks and carrion, they are nonetheless labeled as man-eaters.

10. Between 1999 and 2000, shark researchers attached "pop-up" satellite tags to the backs of six adult white sharks near seal rookeries in California.  The electronic tags recorded data every two minutes on water depth, temperature and light.  Satellite data revealed that one of these tagged white sharks migrated from California’s coastal waters to the Hawaiian island of Kahoolawe, a journey of over 3,800 kilometers (2,280 miles).   Traveling at a minimum velocity of 71 kilometers (43 miles) per day, the animal remained in Hawaiian waters the entire winter and spring.

Strange Realization Today...

Strange realization today.  After seeing Johnny Rivers perform last weekend, I gave his best-selling 1968 Gold album, “Realization”, a good listen.  It was hauntingly familiar.  The album featured several chart hits such as "Summer Rain" (No. 2) and an amazing version of "Whiter Shade Of Pale" and one of the best covers of Bob Dylan’s, “Positively 4th Street” I’ve ever heard.

Of course, I remember.  I can vividly recall my dad having this album in his record collection and playing it often during the evening hours when I was, I’m guessing, between 11 or 12 years old.  It was the gift of music that my dad always brought into my life.

So what does all this have to do with a scuba diving / underwater photography focused site?  Well, simply this. The connection between music and creativity is undeniable.  Artists have long understood that music influences creativity.  So why not consciously influence your own creativity by listening to some great music while you’re plotting your next adventure or artistic endeavor?  It works!

Thanks, Dad, for sowing the seeds of love throughout my lifetime. You live on forever in our hearts...

Happy 70th Birthday, Ringo Starr... Peace & Love!

 

And a very special birthday surprise from a Beatle!

Depth Magazine - Published My Story On Diving With Bahamian Tiger Sharks

Depth Magazine, an online internet scuba publication, has published my story, "Ocean Tiger, Angry Dragon ~ Shark & Awe Encounters With Bahamian Tiger Sharks" in their July/August 2010 issue. The cover shot is also my image of a Caribbean Reef Shark.

Welcome Back Johnny Rivers To The Poco Side Of Town

Back in the mid-'60s, Johnny Rivers popularized the discotheque scene through his live recordings at Los Angeles' famous Whiskey a GoGo nightclub. In 1967, Rivers performed at the legendary Monterey International Pop Festival. During his career, he has charted seventeen songs in the top forty between 1964 to 1977.

Last night, we saw Johnny Rivers perform at the Red Robinson Show Theatre in Port Coquitlam, BC. And what a performance it was. Tearing through his former hits as well as several blues-influenced numbers, Rivers had the house on its feet. There is always something rewarding in seeing a music legend on stage performing the tunes that made them famous. Johnny Rivers literally just lays it out there and let's the music stand on its own merits. We dont see shows like this much anymore. We're glad we saw this one!