4-6^th October 2008

Now I know why the "old hands" raves about this weekend! For a tropical fair weather diver with "just" a wetsuit….I learnt a few things about myself…when my feet are numb I can still look forward to dive 2 + 3……that I can wait to pee for 5 hours if need be…that I can’t navigate in pea soup…..that it’s ok to have bits left over when putting together my new BIG arm, bring ear plugs and vodka next time……and not to follow Nigel - ever.

My life will never be the same… thanks to expert guidance, I have finally dabbled in photoshop for the first time…..and I will be busy now for the next 12 months fixing up three years of images. I will come up for air next year….same time, same place….and can’t wait! Great crew, great companions and great fun!

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Marine life

A great weekend despite the unfriendly weather and conditions – for liveaboards in NSW a dry suit is highly recommended! The first time we tried the challenges of underwater photography and it was good fun. We didn’t flood the camera and managed to take some great shoots (improved with a little help of Photoshop).

Thanks for the great support of the crew and our follow divers! I have definitely learned a lot about the basics of underwater photography and time will tell how my skills will develop.

See you soon!

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Marine Life

My first liveaboard trip, and it was bloody awesome! A few things to remember for the next time though:

don’t forget at home your short 3ml suit or your drysuit! Or if it happens make sure you reserve for yourself the use of the hot water hose for the next 3dd! Next yr it’s mine!!!J

Train for at least 10yrs before competing in a photoshoot competition with these guys if you wanna have any chance at all. Even if your mickey mouse miraculously grows strobes overnight, that’s not gonna help you much I’m telling you J

If by any chance you get a lucky shot, never show Dom otherwise he’ll reward you with his praise: "great shot, you b*tch!" J

And eventually, last but not least: make sure you book early enough for 2009 compe: you don’t wanna risk it to leave you without you!

All the best guys and keep it up with the fun!

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Marine Life

This is my second shootout on Ocean Trek and I’ve enjoyed it just as much as the first. The weather hasn’t been great and the vis not much better but the crittters, fellow divers and Trekkie staff have been superb. We have really enjoyed the opportunity to chat with other photographers, share ideas and be inspired by the creativity of everyone on board. My first shot with a strobe last year was of a starfish tea cup in the Trekkie lounge and since then I have definitely improved! Taking up underwater photography has enhanced my diving experience – contrary to what I expected and I have been inspired by surrounding myself with people who REALLY know what they’re doing. Another great trip and thanks to everyone on board for being so friendly and so much fun.Till next time…..

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Marine Life

Here we go again another photo contest. This is the first shootout experience. With 3 downloads under my belt I felt confident in achieving a reasonable result. What I didn’t count on was the stress factor in choosing the best shots from a wet weather weekend. I may need counselling. It was a great weekend as usual with a varied group of fellow photograghers, all willing to help when the needs required. The decision to stay up with Mick for a night cap or two wasn’t neccessarily the best one. Good fun and a great experience.

ps Mick's company is always Fun

Marine Life

What can one say about attending a Ocean Trek Digital Shootout, except there is no better way to spend a long weekend. Great company, great food, great wine, challenging diving and the camerarederie of diving with fellow under water photographers. Awesome learning experience and great to be challenged by the conditions, and be amazed at the range of different images that we can come up with from the same dive. Fastest way to improve my skills, thanks to Lyn & Mick our hosts and to Kev, Cherrie, and Mike for taking on the onerous jobs judges and mentors…you help set the tone and pace for a great weekend.

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Marine

So I have never taken a single photo underwater before in my life before…Well I tell you what, its kind of fun.. New camera and new housing before I came on board. Every thing went according to plan and taking the good advice of all the ‘pros’ on board I took some good pics and the camera never took a bath once. Many thanks to Lyn and Mick a great trip.

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Marine

This was my time attending the Jervis bay Shootout. I arrived full of anticipation, setup the camera & went diving. Only to find my strobe not only not working but completely flooded on the first dive. Luckily I still had a good torch. Spent the weekend taking creative natural lite shots & in doing so took some awesome images. By going back to basics I rediscovered the art of photography. I had some good advice from the "pros’ on which helped my confidence.

I learnt more about photoshop than could hope to do myself in a month.

Another great weekend with like minded people. Thanks to all who attended & helped make the weekend. 

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Marine

Kev, Mick and I polished off the Vodka on Sunday night. The big unit Patrick was not interested. He felt too cold and went to bed early.

Gaining more confidence with boat diving and with my photography.

ps Mick's company is always Fun

Marine

I am back! 3 years away and I am back onboard Ocean Trek … and Lyn and Mick I have missed you!

After one Digital Download and winning the Encouragmement Award, I was excited by the invitation to join the 12^th Digital Shootout! I have my mickey mouse Panasonic Lumix TZ1 that will one day grow a strobe or two and was intimidated by the dome ports, extendable arms and very expensive looking equipment of the other divers! The conditions were a big equaliser … lots of green, not much viz … but we found critters galore! Morays, Weedy Sea Dragons, PJ, Eastern Blue Devil Fish, Scorpion Fish, lots of nudibranchs and many more.

My photography has improved out of sight with the advice of the staff and other photographers. I learn’t so much about the settings on the camera, composition of photos, modelling etc. Thanks everyone and good luck in the competition.

Lyn and Mick a pleasure as always, see you next year!

Oh, and yes, I had better mention the social activities on board. Pegging is no longer in vogue but the comraderie, food and drinking make it an extremely social event! Thanks guys!

Dive buddy extradinaire Boris/Borrie/Robert … thanks, couldn’t have learn’t to love my dry suit without you!

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Marine

Again a very enjoyable weekeend, even though

I was a naughty boy on my first dive and was sinbinned for 24 hours

And did not zip up my dry suit, of course with the obviuos result

But I did have one successful dive, so alls well.

Thanks for Lyn, Mike, K1, K2 & Rob, not to forget everyone else on this weekend.

Kindest Regards

Nigel

Another great shootout. Thanks Lyn, Mick, Ken1, Ken2, Rob, Mike, Cherie and Kevin.

Thanks to all of the shootout competitors, there were a lot of very outstanding images produced on the weekend. Just proves no matter what the conditions are great images can be still produced.

See you next year.

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Marine

A good learning weekend, comprising great company, food, dive sites and staff that were very obliging and who made the long weekend a success.

Next year I will be prepared with more than 1 dive with my new camera.

Until next time

Amazing what we have learnt since our first trip on Ocean Trek in 2005. It has been a delight to be able to come on board for the shoot out with the best crew in NSW and professional judges to learn from (and one whom was a great model as well). We learnt a lot and enjoyed the company of all – I felt more like a team effort to produce good images than a competition.

Close (Peter)

Close (Kathy)

Marine (Peter)

Marine (Kathy)