Sterling Zumbrunn: This morning we had some great dives, and I had the opportunity to test out the Sony NEX-5 again, this time using the 16mm pancake lens, fisheye converter, and Nauticam 4.33 inch dome port. This combination delivers an extremely wide perspective, and allows focusing within inches of your subject, both critical factors in underwater photography. The small size of the dome port is great because it allows you to bring in the strobes tight for lighting the subject when doing close focus wide angle photography. Between the 18-55 kit lens and the fisheye, the NEX-5 is ready for most underwater subjects.

In the afternoon, Berkley delivered a crash course in the principals of underwater photography for all of the participants. I’ve learned most of what I know about shooting underwater from Berkley, and I pick up something new every time I see him speak. He’s one of the most generous photographers I’ve ever known, and a real inspiration to all of us on the Shootout staff.

In the evening, we had our first slide show party, and it was fantastic to see everyone’s images projected on the big screen for Berkley and I to give feedback. The guests have already captured some impressive photos and videos. We’re off to a roaring start!



Jennifer Penner: A typical day at the Shootout goes something like this... Early to rise for 7:00AM breakfast. Go diving for two tank boat dives. Back for lunch. Seminars in the afternoon from 2:30PM - 5:00PM. Nightly slide show of participant's submitted images for critique at 7:30PM - 9:00PM, then off to sleep to wake up the next day and do it all over again. However, add in afternoon boat dives, shore diving the house reef 24/7, test driving demo gear and dropping by the help center, better known as 'Go Ask Erin or Sterling', for quick tips in either Lightroom or Photoshop, and you've got more than a full plate on your hands! Wasn't this supposed to be a vacation?!?!?!

Indeed, it is your vacation. So take it fast or take it slow. We encourage everyone to participate only as much as he/she desires. So if we see you by the dock gearing up for a dive when seminars are in session, we'll give you a big smile and a thumbs up!

Jim Decker: Today is the first official dive boat day. The mantra for this trip is after you set up your gear, take 3 test shots and make sure that all controls are working properly. There have been some people that have not done this. And of course the thing that you don't check is sure to be the one that doesn't work. The last place you want to find out that stuff isn't working is at 80ft on the shipwreck.

Gear Tested Today
I was test shooting the Panasonic LX-5 in the Nauticam housing where I ran into a sea turtle who was being a very good model. The level of detail in the highlights and shadows is excellent. The housing has a threaded front port allowing you to use macro and wide angle lenses. I was using wide lenses and getting close to the subject. The camera has a good focus lock feature that works great for wide angle, and the TTL in manual exposure mode is awesome. I'll be testing the movie mode later on in the week.



Rusty Sanoian: Today is our first day on the boats (unofficially, with the official boat schedule beginning on Monday) and everyone is excited to get in the water! I am looking forward to trying out the new systems and putting all of the demo gear that I can into people’s hands. We had our first slideshow tonight and there were some really good pictures and videos. For many of our guests, this would be their first time editing video or shooting pictures underwater. For one of the guests on my boat today, it was her first ocean dive. It’s incredible to watch guests’ images improve over the course of the week, and I look forward to seeing the winning images at week’s end!

Jean Bruneau: Got wet, just under the resort piers, bumped into a small octopus, a moray eel, a fairly large barracuda and tons of minuscule blennies (my favourite, but oh, so frustrating subject). Well what do you expect, it’s Bonaire! We expect that stuff right at our door step and they deliver!!! My roommate this year is Ed Meyers from Canon USA (Ed doesn’t know I snore...yet), both of us have been doing The Digital Shootout and scuba shows for a while now and he has become more than just an acquaintance over time and is just the coolest guy to have as a roommate, quite the brainy guy when it comes down to the nitty gritty of under the hood mechanics of Canon products (I am a self-confessed Nikon user, at least I am still... I think... maybe, well, let’s see what one week with Ed will amount to!). Speaking of Ed, we opened up the Jean & Ed’s Garage, Your Friendly Photo Service AT NO CHARGE in room 729, your Aquatica and Canon specialists (see our custom vintage door sign), just so that attendees know where to find us to demo our gear.

Chris Parsons: First boat dives of the trip - it's great to be back in Bonaire and hear the divemaster rattle off site names that I fondly remember. Today we visited Klein Bonaire, the uninhabited island offshore surrounded by reef. We had a great group on the boat, and other than a blown HP hose, the first set of dives went off without a hitch. I shot the Canon 7D in a Nauticam (of course) with a Zen 230mm. Part of the time I was working on getting some shots for the Shootout blog that would include some people shots and some gear. I decided to shoot the Canon 10-22 for this. Everyone loves Tokina 10-17, and I also love to shoot that lens, but for me there is just something about shooting rectilinear underwater that I enjoy. The downside is that you can't shoot the mini-domes like the awesome Zen Underwater DP-100; the upside is that you get to use the also awesome DP-230. With the combo of the 230mm dome and the 10-22 lens, I got some gear images that were absolutely tack sharp.

In the afternoon I opted for the bugeye lens, officially the Inon Underwater Micro Semi-Fisheye Relay Lens UFL-MR130 EFS60 (say that 3 times fast). This is definitely a specialty lens; hard to get sharp shots, but the perspective it affords is very unique. I enjoy shooting it a lot, and it sometimes frustrates me to no end, but today I managed to get one keeper, a super tight shot of a black seahorse. It's cool to get that close to something and still get a blue and wide background.

Marissa Wiganowske: With boat assignments receiving their final touches, participants and staff were getting on any boat where space allowed. Divers began seeing the Pegasus Thruster for the first time and the questions and curiosity hit strong. With shooters dialing in their rigs and new purchases, Berkley of Backscatter set up his tank to try out the Thruster. Moving with ease underwater, at a speed that was unexpected, he was able to locate great shooting sites for video. With lowering your air consumption and fatigue level, we were able to set the tone for the what the Pegasus Thruster can allow you to do, including an afternoon session on the house reef testing the Pegasus with various rebreather models.