Phew!  Well the stress and running around for Seaspace is over and it's time for a show report for Wetpixel.  I was asked to give two workshops at this year's show, entitled "Slideshows in the Digital Age."  Despite the busy schedule, giving the workshops, helping out at the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary area, and helping get the film festival set up, I was able to visit all of the photo related booths and find out what is new for this summer.

This year's show had a LOT to offer digital photographers.  The workshops and seminars this year were literally centered around the emerging popularity of digital underwater photography.  What was offered:

Jack & Sue Drafahl - Digital Imaging for the Underwater Photographer

Barry Guimbellot - Advanced Digital Photography - Going Beyond Point & Shoot

James Wiseman - Slideshows in the Digital Age
 

I have only been to 4 Seaspaces, but this year's show appeared to me to be the biggest ever.  I'll have to check with Ken Knezick to confirm this though.  The first two shots show the front exibit area, taken from the balcony leading to the workshop rooms.  As you can see, there was something for everyone: a pool for kids to try scuba, LOTS of vendor booths, a beautiful photo gallery, a climbing wall (???) and of course, the HUPS.org booth, complete with a digital slideshow running all the time.

Paul Barnett from Light and Motion demonstrates the Titan D100 housing.  This housing had some nice features - my favorite was the way the camera tray slides into the housing on steel rods.  No chance for mis-alignment.  Behind the housing you can see one of the adapter rings - this one is for use with Subal ports.

Jim Bullitt from Oceanbrite poses with the new Jonah housing for the Nikon D100.  I was very impressed with the size of this housing and features.  The photos show the craftsmanship, and ergonomics.  Deb Fugitt (well....her arm) demonstrates how one can actuate the focus lock (AE/AF Lock) and shutter at the same time using the right hand.  Nice! Photos below show the inside of the housing, and best yet, the price.

The folks from Backscatter were here and they brought the biggest and smallest - oldest and newest  "toys" with them.  Tony Mertz demonstrates how the moisture alarm on the Subal D10 housing for the D100 works.  They also had the Subal strobecase for the Nikon SB80DX speedlite.  In the last shot of the Backscatter booth our Moderator Craig engages the folks in a 2-hour conversation about the use of filters for underwater still photography.  You can see the rapt attention.