Macro Slideshow

Triggerfish article

I've been testing a new optical slave trigger called the Triggerfish for about 10 days, for a review that was published on Wetpixel today. It is an excellent addition to me creative arsenal! Below is a picture of the Capernwray aircraft. I put two remote strobes in the cockpit and post-processing was done in Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.

We join Team Chester!

Caron and I have joined Team Chester. My brother and sister in law (Robert and Caroline Chester)have planned and enlisted us in a hectic series of fund-raising events over the summer this year. They are all in aid of excellent causes so please head on over to the blog, check it out and if you are interested, sponsor us!

More D7000 pictures

I was able to get underwater with the camera again this week. Over on Wetpixel, I posted an excellent review of the camera and housing by Keri Wilk. In it, he points out the ability of the camera to shoot in 14 bit format-extending and increasing the tonal range of the image. In conjunction with the high pixel count, I'm starting to see the smooth tonal gradients, especially when compared to the D2Xs.



Another plus with the camera is the 1/320 flash sync speed. This makes for much more pleasing sunburests, even when the sun is quite strong.

Shark finning in California

There is currently a proposal in the Californian legislature to ban the shark fin trade and practice of shark finning. Seantor Leland Yee has opposed the bill as he feels that it impinges on a cultural right to shark fin. He proposes that fins from sharks of "sustainable" populations should be allowed to continue.

Senator Yee's assistant, Dan Lieberman replied to my email asking him to change his mind thus:

Thank you for contacting our office regarding the proposed ban on shark fins in the State of California. In reading the many emails our office has received regarding this matter, the Senator felt that his remarks needed further clarification as some news outlets did not reflect the full scope of his arguments. Below is a letter the Senator wrote covering his views on the practice of shark finning and the best way to regulate it effectively.

“I wanted to write to you personally to make sure you understood my full position on the recent proposal to ban shark fin soup in California.

I am extremely concerned about the plight of sharks and the ecological impact to the oceans caused by the depletion of certain species. I am a strong supporter of the 2000 federal law, recently strengthened by President Obama, against shark “finning.” It’s a horrendous and cruel practice.

The seriousness with which I take environmental issues is evidenced by the 100% rating I recently received from Clean Water Action, the California League of Conservation Voters and the Sierra Club – one of only two Senators in California to receive this distinction.

That’s why, while I oppose a complete ban on shark fin soup, I strongly support efforts to protect endangered sharks and stop the practice of shark finning.

I believe we can both protect sharks and preserve the 1,800-year cultural heritage of shark fin soup through the following actions:

* A complete ban on any importation of shark fin to California that does not comply with the federal law against shark “finning” and a ban on the use of shark fins from endangered species of sharks;

* Adoption by California of the federal prohibition against shark “finning;”

* Imposition of strict penalties for breaking these laws;

* Use of such resources collected through penalties for regulation and education about sharks and ocean ecology.

While I do feel that we should find a way to protect a cultural staple, I made a mistake by indiscriminately labeling those who support the ban as “culturally insensitive.” That is neither accurate nor constructive, and I deeply regret offending those who were hurt by my comments.

Those who have labeled my position as one of disregard for the environment and the plight of sharks are making a similar mistake.

My commitment is to seek common ground and pass meaningful legislation that protects endangered species and our oceans.”

The Senator ended by asking people to email him if they had any further questions, and I will extend the same offer. While the vast majority of people writing in on this matter have done so, I would ask that you try to keep the tone of this discussion civil and respectful as I honestly don’t believe that our stances are as far apart as they have been made to seem. I look forward to hearing from you and hope that the Senator’s answer addresses your concerns.

I have just replied:

Many thanks to you and the Senator for taking the time to reply.

I accept and applaud the Senator's record on environmental issues. However I cannot help but feel that he is being politically cynical on this issue. His current stance is flawed in two areas:

1. There is currently no method nor desire in the shark fishing industry to land a sustainable catch. In it's very essence, the industry is not sustainable. Fisheries conservation is a complicated business, but the length of time that sharks take to reach reproductive maturity makes them far more vulnerable to over-fishing than any other fish species.

To state that policy would be to only use fins from sustainable sharks or to ban the use of fins from endangered shark species is disingenuous at best. There are no "sustainable" shark populations, and the monitoring of which fin comes from which type of shark is impossible in practice.

2. The long cultural tradition of shark fin soup dates from an era when it was a scarce and unique foodstuff. As such it was sustainable as the numbers of shark caught were tiny. Now however, we have commercial fishing methods supplying a vast demand. This demand is in itself the problem. Shark fin is no longer scarce nor unique!

Whilst I support the theory that all cultures should be free to maintain traditions, this cannot be at the expense of a global environmental catastrophe. If we continue to decimate the apex predator of a complex ecosystem, that is what we as a human race will face, directly due to a culture's "right" to it's tradition. History serves us with many examples of when cultures haven't acted to correct or modify traditions that have become out-moded in a modern world.

I urge Senator Yee to reconsider his position. He holds the power to influence not only the law, but also attitudes towards this destructive and wasteful trade. In California, there is a unique opportunity to show that it's legislators value principle over political expediency. History is littered with examples of expedient politicians, but those who show strength of principle are the ones that achieve lasting legacies.

I'd like to once again thank you and the Senator for your responses, and would ask you to please please pass my above comments on to him.

Please write to the Senator (Leland@LelandYee.com) and/or his assistant Dan Lieberman (Dan.Lieberman@sen.ca.gov) to encourage him to reconsider his position.

Japanese whalers leave the Southern Ocean

Reuters and the BBC have both reported today that the Japanese whaling fleet has now left the Southern Ocean. They have actually cited the harassment that they have received from Sea Shepherd as the reason for their early departure. I wrote a piece on Wetpixel earlier this week about the fleets failure this season, and now it seems they have given up.

Definitely cause for celebration. Massive kudos and congratulations to all those involved in Sea Shepherds Operation No Compromise.

Check out Support needed: California shark fin bill

I want you to take a look at: Support needed: California shark fin bill 

Senator Yee's inbox was hard to access. Sahraksavers have come up with an alternate email address. Please write and express your displeasure at him playing local politics with a global issue (You do not need to be from California to do this!)

D7000 underwater

I have recently started using a Nikon D7000 and have now had the opportunity to take it underwater a couple of times. It is an amazing camera, especially considering it's price. It's rendering of sunbursts is spectacular, especially when compared to that of the Nikon D2Xs that I have been using up until now. It is also amazing to switch the strobes off, and dial in an ISO of 1600 and take ambient light shots that until now have just not been possible for me.

I don't think the AF is quite as good as it could be, I need to live with this a bit more to gain a more complete understanding of what is going on, but the jury is out.

Below are some underwater images taken using the camera:



I will be conducting a review of available housings for this camera on Wetpixel over the next month or so, so if you are interested in this camera for underwater use, please be sure to keep checking the site.

Animal voices!

Chinese New Year-stop shark finning

Join me in saying NO to shark fin soup this Chinese New Year! Set this picture as your Facebook profile picture from now till CNY on 18 Feb to show your support in the fight against shark finning.

Here's how: Right click on the picture of your choice below and save it to your computer. Upload the photo to your Facebook profile and set it as your profile picture! Or you can also tag yourself to this photo and set it as your profile picture!

Please get all your friends to do the same too!