News
NUPG hears the confessions of an ex-critter-fiddler, Alex Tattersall
The Northern Underwater Photography Group gathered en masse in March to hear from acclaimed underwater macro photographer, Alex Tattersall. The group meet at a curry house in South Manchester and it was great to catch up with such a lovely bunch of underwater photographers over some spicy food before the talk started in the function room upstairs.
Alex’s talk attracted a large crowd, as he is an award winning photographer, great speaker, is the Nauticam distributor in the UK and his talk subject was about a hot topic that we all care about. Alex’s talk focused on macro photography subjects, and how it seems that more and more competition winners seemed to have moved or manipulated their subjects. Alex confessed to having done this himself in the past, but he is now a reformed character and is championing the cause to stop underwater photographers from being tempted to cause distress and harm to marine life, just for a photograph. He also is calling for judges to stop awarding huge prizes to photographers shooting animals out of their natural environment.
Dolphins hunting on the Sardine Run by Nick Robertson-Brown
The NUPG holds a competition each month for the members and those attending the meeting to enter. This months theme was “schooling” and was obviously a tricky subject for the members, as there were fewer entries than normal, but there were some great shots. Two of the images could not be separated and so joint winners were announced: Nick Robertson-Brown with a shot of dolphins hunting in a school of sardines on the sardine run in South Africa, and John Spencer with a shot of a lionfish hunting in the shallows in the Red Sea. Maggie Russell took the compact winner, with a shot of a school of sweetlips in Raja Ampat in Indonesia, which also came third in the overall competition.
Lionfish hunting in the Red Sea by John Spencer
Alex’s second half of his talk moved on to finding ways to create stunning underwater macro images, without having to manipulate the subject. He talked the group through using techniques such as depth of field and lighting to create images that stand out from the crowd, as well as gear available to make photos stand out, such as snoots and wet lenses. He showed off some of his outstanding macro images to the group and shared how he got those shots.
Schooling Sweetlips by Maggie Russell
It was a great meeting, with plenty of great tips for macro photography from Alex, plenty of discussion about how we all abhor “critter-fiddling” and how we thought it could be tackled going forwards, as well as a great chance to meet up with others who share a love for underwater photography.
The next NUPG meeting will be on Monday 9th April at the Gurkha Grill from 8-10pm. Joseph Litt will be speaking about his new book Galapagos.
For more information about the Northern Underwater Photography Group visit their website by clicking here or their Facebook site by clicking here.
For more about Alex Tattersall, visit his website: Underwater Visions.
Whether you are a beginner or a professional diver – with the three new main regulators from DYNAMICNORD, everyone will find their favourite regulator. They all look super stylish.
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Amazing underwater adventures with the IR-50
The IR-50 is the top regulator for advanced and experienced divers. Natural breathing is the essence of this regulator.
Ideal breathing effort at 0.8 J/l /certified for diving in waters below 10 degrees / compensated membrane / adjustable venturi (dive/predive) and adjustment knob for individual inhalation comfort/ outlet valve and deflector for minimum exhalation effort and reduction of bubbles on the face / design made of sandblasted brass, matt chrome finish / 2 HP and 4 NP outlets / mouthpiece made of high-quality, anti-allergic silicone for maximum comfort.
The Workhorse – our CS-30
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Octopus OP-30
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The TR-80, IR-50, CS-30 (DIN & INT) regulators and the Octopus OP-30 are available from DYNAMICNORD dealers and in the online store.
DYNAMICNORD – Your Outdoor Companion.
Renowned anti-whaling activist Paul Watson has been released from custody in Greenland after spending five months in detention. Denmark’s Justice Ministry rejected Japan’s request for his extradition, citing insufficient guarantees that his time already served in custody would be credited against any potential sentence.
The 74-year-old Canadian-American was arrested on July 21 in Nuuk, Greenland’s capital, when his ship docked to refuel. His arrest was based on a 2012 Japanese warrant related to a 2010 encounter in Antarctic waters. Japan alleged Watson obstructed operations and caused damage to a whaling research ship during efforts to disrupt illegal whaling. Watson has consistently denied these claims, maintaining his commitment to marine conservation.
Denmark, which oversees extradition matters for Greenland, concluded that while the legal conditions for extradition were met, the lack of assurances from Japan regarding time-served credit made extradition untenable.
In a video shared by his foundation, Watson expressed gratitude and relief, saying, “After five months, it’s good to be out… and good to know they’re not sending me to Japan.” He added that the most difficult part of his time in custody was being separated from his two young sons.
Watson is a pioneering figure in marine conservation, known for founding the Captain Paul Watson Foundation in 2022 after decades of activism with the Sea Shepherd Conservation Society. His bold efforts to defend marine life have earned him widespread support, including from celebrities and conservationists. His work has also been featured in the acclaimed reality TV series Whale Wars.
Watson’s lawyer, Jonas Christoffersen, praised the decision, stating, “We are happy and relieved that Paul Watson is now free.” He added that Watson is eager to reunite with his family and continue his vital work.
The arrest occurred while Watson’s vessel, the M/Y John Paul DeJoria, was en route to the North Pacific with a team of 26 volunteers to intercept a Japanese whaling ship. His foundation described the arrest as politically motivated and emphasized that Watson’s actions were focused on ending illegal whaling practices.
Japan resumed commercial whaling in 2019 after leaving the International Whaling Commission, asserting that whale meat is a cultural tradition. Conservationists, however, continue to challenge these practices, highlighting their impact on marine ecosystems.
Despite the challenges, Watson remains steadfast in his mission to protect marine life and bring attention to whaling practices. His dedication to ocean conservation has made him a globally respected advocate for the environment.
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