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Review: Tobias Friedrich’s Lightroom Presets for UW Photography
I take pictures underwater for fun. That means that after the basic file management is done, sometimes the image selection and post-processing never happens. On a busy trip there are often more exciting demands on your time than sitting in front of Lightroom! So while it is a great tool, I still haven’t fully explored its capabilities.
Today I’ve tried out the preset Develop settings which Tobias Friedrich has produced specifically for underwater photography, and I’m excited to find that they can get me really quickly from selecting an image to having it ready to share. You get a live preview of the changes, so you can quickly pick the right value for each setting in turn – the instructions clearly explain how to go through Exposure, White Balance, Colour, Background, Vignetting, Noise Reduction and Sharpening settings in sequence.
There are separate sets, for Wide Angle and Macro, but they work in basically the same way. The Colour settings include some standard contrast adjustments, and some more creative ones such as “Dramatic Ambience” for wide angle. For macro, the Black Background setting isolated my hermit crab nicely.
Left: As Shot; Right: Black Background setting
The Macro “standard look” suits a host of close up images well. I really liked the Blue Water Plus and I’ve enhanced the blue water behind that big triggerfish.
Left: As Shot; Right: Blue Water Plus
Note just as with any editing it’s quite easy to overdo it, and that these are all whole-image changes – so for example, you can’t darken a blue background too much without making a pale sandy foreground look unnatural.
Left: As Shot; Right: Dramatic Ambience
Obviously it’s best to get things right in-camera, but before exporting pics from Lightroom I usually want to adjust something, and this is a useful and structured way to quickly make some tweaks. You might see more of my shots on social media now while I’m still away on a trip!
For more information on these Lightroom Presets from Tobias Friedrich or to purchase them click here.
Last Thursday, Oyster Diving transformed Mercers Lake into a hauntingly unforgettable underwater realm for their inaugural Halloween Scuba Party. Approximately 20 intrepid divers plunged into the darkness, weaving through a mesmerising scene of spectral decorations, glow sticks, and eerie underwater pumpkins.
After the thrilling night dive, participants gathered to feast on a ghoulish spread of pumpkin soup, chilli con carne, and decadent fudge brownies, perfect fuel for the frightful festivities.
With a resounding success, Oyster Diving is excited to announce plans for this event to become an annual tradition. Next year, look forward to a fully licensed bar and live music, promising an even spookier celebration under the moonlit waters.
Join us next Halloween for an experience that promises to be a haunting delight!
Find out more about Oyster Diving at oysterdiving.com.
After a two-year tour of UK art galleries, community spaces and aquariums, the Shark Trust’s acclaimed Oceanic31 exhibition takes its final bow at the Royal Geographical Society later this month. And the unique collection of artwork, depicting 31 species of oceanic sharks and rays, donated by 31 artists, is now open for bids from art lovers and shark enthusiasts. The online auction, launched today, will close on the 7th December at 8pm (BST). The money raised will support the Shark Trust Oceanics Programme.
People can now bid on 27 of the artworks by visiting this website:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
It is a chance to own a beautiful piece of original art and to support the Shark Trust. The timing of the auction also means that these would make a very special Christmas gift for any shark-lover.
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- Bigeye Thresher Shark by Janina Rossiter
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- Carcharodon carcharias by Jimmy Higgs
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- Croc VR 2030 by Tom Mead
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- Oceanic Whitetip by ATM
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- Silky Street by ScapaJoe
The diversity of pieces mirrors that of the sharks and rays they represent. You can bid on paintings, digital creations, sculptures, mixed media and more. You can pick your favourite artist or species of shark. Or you can select the perfect artwork to make a statement in your home or office. Whichever you choose, you will be supporting the work to protect these amazing animals.
One of the pieces of art has been selected to be auctioned live by Steve Backshall at the For the Love of Sharks event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the 29th November. In addition to this, two further pieces will be raffled at this event, giving people a chance to win an incredible piece of shark art. For the Love of Sharks is the Shark Trust’s flagship evening. A night to celebrate sharks. Steve Backshall is the headline speaker at this event that will see other prominent shark advocates join him on stage.
Tickets for the event can be snapped up here:
https://thesharktrust.org.uk/Event/flos24
Those that would like to see the Oceanic 31 exhibition have one final chance. It is being displayed at the Pavilion at the Royal Geographic Society from 26th November until the 7th December. Entry is free.
Find out more here:
https://www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/oceanic-31
Paul Cox, Shark Trust CEO, Said “This exhibition has given us the opportunity to reach out to a new audience. And inspire more people with the wonderful sharks and rays on which our Big Shark Pledge campaign is based. We are immensely grateful to the 31 artists who have worked so hard to create these works.”
Bid for your favourite Oceanic 31 artwork here:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
Banner Image: Smooth Hammerhead by Alicia Hayden
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