Underwater Photography Magazine Coming To Newsstands Jan 2012

Cover Photo: Imran Ahmad (Sample only. Subject to change)

Scuba Diver Through the Lens will be debuting in November at the DEMA 2011 show held in Florida.  It will hit newsstands on January 1st, 2012 and run quarterly in both print and digital formats.

The new magazine is designed to educate the global underwater photography and videography community on equipment, technique and travel destinations as well as highlight the world's top underwater image-makers. 

The magazine is a collaboration between Scuba Diver AustralAsia, DivePhotoGuide, and Edition Fifty Fathoms.  An editor from each source will represent their respective region.  

I first heard about this fantastic new publication from the DivePhotoGuide Twitter page.  DPG has proven to be a valuable resource for technical information on underwater photography and videography.  It features guides on technique and traveling; equipment reviews; daily community news; monthly contests; and beautiful photo galleries.  The images I've found on DPG are among the coolest I've ever seen - both above and below sea level.  Here's a sample of what you might come across:

Eric Cheng

Mark Melnick

Thomas Peschak

If you're interested in pursuing underwater photography, but don't have the extra cash for a fancy rig, check out the Canon SX230 and its underwater housing on www.BandH.com.  For less than $600 you can get a great new pocket camera and an introduction to a very addictive hobby.

- RA

Following the Equator / Welcome

"We had the whole Pacific Ocean in front of us, and nothing to do but do nothing and be comfortable." - Mark Twain

   
Thanks for checking out Garnish With Lime, the official blog of Key Lime Films.  It's all about cameras, traveling, and movies; designed for amateurs and professionals alike.  Everyone has their stories and pictures they share with friends and family over good food and drinks.  This is the place to read through some of those adventures, while learning about new camera gear and upcoming movies.  Our writers are travelers and professionals within the entertainment industry.  Feel free to send us your thoughts and stories about your own excursions to: KeyLimeFilms@gmail.com.

We're just getting started, and we have much more in the works.  Upcoming articles include: Argentina to Antarctica by boat; postcards from Paris; a lens review featuring photographs from India; filming in Papua New Guinea; a travel essay from a young violinist on tour in Germany; more gear reviews; and sneak peeks at upcoming movies / TV shows.  Stay tuned.

Add something extra to the ordinary: Garnish With Lime.

- RA

Postcards from Iceland

Photographs by Lauren Ahearn.

Canon 60D: Shape of Things to Come?

The Canon 60D is an interesting camera.  It has beautiful resolution, and is a strong addition to the Canon line of DSLRs.  It may have a smaller sensor than than the 5D, as well as lower resolution, and less durability, than both the 5D and 7D, but the 60D can do a few tricks that it's older brothers can't.

The most noticeable difference is the flip-out LCD screen.  Photographers may scratch their heads as to it's necessity, but for DSLR filmmakers without the budget, or need, for a shooting rig decked out with an EVF on an articulating arm, it's a welcomed sight. It seems like such a little change, but the biggest DSLR learning curve I had to overcome was always needing to bring myself to eye level with the viewfinder.  Being a taller guy, I'm used to looking down through an angled eyepiece.  The flip-out option on the 60D makes getting into position a lot easier, and definitely more comfortable.

There's also the addition of adjustable audio levels.  The 60D is the first to introduce this feature, and it's a large step in the right direction.  What can we expect to see out of the new versions of the 5D and 7D, rumored to debut summer 2012?  Canon had no new toys to show off at the 2011 NAB.  I trust Canon.  I know that they must have something cooking.  It makes me wonder what we'll see next.  I feel like the 60D, built with less power than the 5D and 7D, is really just a testing ground to get feedback on the shape of things to come.

The video below is uber-cheesey, but it's a great example of what Canon's EOS line of DSLRs are capable of.

Canon PowerShot SX130: The Best Camera Under $200

If you’re looking for a compact camera that takes great pictures, check out the Canon PowerShot SX130 and SX230.  They're certainly not professional-level cameras, but for everyday use, or just a night out on the town, they'll definitely take quality pictures for you to share with friends and family.   No other point-and-shoot camera even comes close to the color and clarity of Canon’s SX line.  The SX130 is slightly larger than a pocket camera, but is still small enough to easily carry in a jacket pocket or a small purse.  It also comes loaded with fun features like: fisheye, color accent, and macro.  The picture below is a great example of the color quality, and latitude between the highlight and shadow areas.

The miniature effect mode creates a soft focus at the top and bottom of the frame.  With high angle shots, it creates the illusion that the subject is smaller than it appears to be.  With smart foreground and background compositions, it also does a great job of mimicking the shallow depth of field achieved by professional DSLR cameras. The result is an image that leads your eyes to the important part of the picture (it also looks just plain cool). Check out the image below.

 

If you have a larger budget, or want something with a pocket-sized design, take a look at the Canon PowerShot SX230.

At around $350, it’s a slimmer version of the SX130 with features that are slightly more enhanced, including a toy camera mode.  Canon also offers a waterproof housing for it, available on B&H for $189.  So, for about $539 (plus tax) you get Canon’s quality images in a pocket-sized camera, AND the ability to shoot underwater.  That’s not a bad deal at all.

Whether you go with SX130, or the SX230, you’re getting a great camera at a great price. 

- RA

(Photographs by Emily Espinosa)