Big Blue Movies

15/07/2020

Hats off to ex Big Blue Movies Videographer James Emery who is this week being focused on as the Photographer of the week by the prestigious Dive Photo Guide.

Congratulations James.

If you want to get started on a career in underwater photography there is no better place to start than with Big Blue Movies.
Find out more information on our Photography courses here https://www.bigbluediving.com/specialty-photo/

Our friends at Lembeh Resort have employed a number of well-known and talented underwater photographers over the years, and this week we are happy to feature the work of their latest photo pro, James Emery.

12/07/2020

Another video shot by ex Big Blue Movies Videographer David Palfrey and shared by SSI of a sharks breakfast lunch & dinner.

Check out more videos shot by the very talented Davey Palfrey at Hydra Productions & Training and become an underwater videographer and share encounters like this that very few people ever get a chance to experience.

Learn how here https://www.bigbluediving.com/specialty-video/

09/07/2020

Love it when we make a video that gets picked up by the National Geographic!

Become a professional Underwater Videographer!👇

We'll make you famous!

https://www.bigbluediving.com/specialty-video/

06/07/2020

We've had a few encounters with octopus in the waters around Koh Tao since the end of the lockdown. Way more than we normally come across, actually.

It's the most fascinating creature you can encounter. It'll have you mesmerized!

And it makes for an awesome subject for underwater videographers 😍

Here we see an octopus changing colour frequently with facts filmed and edited by Billy Cloud

03/07/2020

Australian photographer Jasmine Carey has the world's biggest prize in photographic competition this year – netting herself a cool $120,000 for her touching underwater image of a mother humpback whale with its calf in the Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum International Photography Award.

The HIPA awards are now in their ninth year, and are known for their huge cash prizes which are funded by the Crown Prince of Dubai, His Highness Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin RashidAl Maktoum.

This year's main competition was on the theme of Water.

Jasmine Carey's winning shot was taken in the Vavaʻu Islands in Tonga last year, using a Canon EOS 5D Mk IV in an underwater housing.

In total, $424,000 in prizes were given out in this annual contest.

You can see the full gallery of award winners below.

And you thought there was no money in Underwater Photography!

Get started and become a professional underwater Photographer / Videographer today.

Read how here 👉 www.bigbluediving.com/specialty-video/

30/06/2020

Everyone seems to be taking videos these days. As long as you have a cellphone, you’re a content creator. But when you move to start taking video underwater, things get a bit more complicated.

There’s special gear that you need to know how to use in order to keep your camera protected underwater, you need to consider buoyancy as you compose your shots and techniques and approaches to getting a good shot change because of the challenging environment.

The Specialty Video course is designed for people with a basic knowledge of photography or videography already. You will a bit about how to change settings on your camera to better prepare it for shooting underwater, but the course does not cover how to use the camera itself.

It’s better if you have your own camera for this course since it’ll likely be that camera that you continue shooting with in the future. But if you don’t have your own camera you can rent one from Big Blue, complete with housing and a camera tray.

To register for the Specialty Video course you must be at least 18 years old and be a certified Open Water diver.

Also check out our Photography specialty course at Big Blue Movies here 👇

https://www.bigbluediving.com/specialty-photo/

27/06/2020

Sharks sometimes adjust their jaws when they try to grab food. It's notoriously hard to catch this in a photo.

After about a year of watching sharks 'yawn', Tanner Mansell was finally able to capture this stunning shot.

It's not just a skill that makes a great photographer. You need patience too!

📸 Tanner Mansell

(Photo not taken on Koh Tao)

24/06/2020

So cool when one of our local dive sites hits National Geographic

This wicked shot by Dan Charity at Sail Rock was scooped up and promoted by the world-famous publication. Now that's an achievement!

Learn how to take great underwater photos with Big Blue Movies. We'll teach you the skills you need to get out there and make yourself famous!

www.bigbluediving.com/specialty-photo/

21/06/2020

How's this for an incredible shot of a whaleshark?!

This beauty was taken by ex Big Blue Movies Photographer David Palfrey while diving Ningaloo Reef in Australia.

Great work Davey 📸❤️

If you want to see more incredible shots by David then do check out his website and follow his underwater career 👇

www.hydraproductions.com

18/06/2020

The SSI Underwater Photography Course is an amazing course that is very high on my list of "want it, need it". It's designed to give you all the tools you need to be able to take stunning underwater photos and video. The package includes dives to improve your buoyancy- after all, what's the point in having a camera underwater if you can't keep it, or yourself still? Once you've got the hang of that, then you can focus on learning all about how to take the shots you want. You'll learn all about composition, lighting, framing, exposure rates, shutter speeds, infinity settings, use of filters, and all manner of other stuff that I know nothing about!

Then, once you've had a bit of experience in recording video clips, you'll learn how to use editing software, so you can get all that raw footage into something spectacular. Once you know what you're doing and get your qualification, you can work as an underwater videographer, and get paid to do something that you love!

If you want to find out more about the SSI photography or videography courses, check out our website

15/06/2020

We get quite a lot of squid here in the waters around Koh Tao, and they're one of our favourite creatures to film.
Check out this great clip from our in house Movies Videographer Bridget Parry.

If you are interested in getting started in underwater videography then check out what a Videography Course at Big Blue Movies consists of

https://www.bigbluediving.com/specialty-video/

Koh Tao Diving | Squid at Chumphon Pinnacle – Koh Tao, Thailand Subscribe To Our Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxPF9EUJcj9_7spZIxxtslw You'd be s...

12/06/2020

Another camera we recommend to the budding underwater photographer is the Nikon Coolpix.

This is a great camera if you're looking to take photos in places you generally won't or can't bring your phone, namely underwater or in harsh environments.

The camera body is more about function than about stylish design, but its easy to hold and good to look at. Most photographers will enjoy the easily accessible controls on the back, side and top of the camera, which means you won't have to continually get lost in the menus to access an exposure setting or mode. In fact, many settings are just a click or two away.
It has a secure battery-chamber/memory-card slot cover latch and latch-release system, thus ensuring you won't accidentally flood the battery compartment and ruin your camera.

What makes this camera especially great is that its also waterproof to a depth of 30m, deeper than most models in its class, including the TG-5, which is waterproof only to a depth of 18 meters.

09/06/2020

One of the most amazing photos Ive come across of a whaleshark is this taken in Baja by Evans Baudin.

What a shot!

Have you got any great underwater photos you want to share with us?

06/06/2020

Here's a question we get asked a lot. What is the best underwater camera out there for recreational purposes?

There are many camera's to choose from but just a handful that we would highly recommend. Here's one.

- The Panasonic Lumix TS7 (called the Lumix FT7 outside the US).

As opposed to Olympus, which reduced the resolution of its TG-5, Panasonic has gone the other direction, increasing the pixel count from 16.1MP in the TS5 / FT5 to 20.4MP in the Lumix TS7 / FT7.

Lens coverage remains the same as its predecessor, with a 4.6x zoom range that covers 28-128mm.

The Lumix TS7 / FT7 does have something unique for a waterproof camera - a built-in electronic viewfinder. The 1,170k-dot, 0.2-inch display might not be the largest out there, but it does offer a useful alternative to shooting with the rear display which, especially in bright light, can make composition tricky.

There's lots to like about the Lumix TS7 / FT7, including its excellent tough credentials, but it is let down by a sensor that crams too many pixels onto a relatively small area, which sees image quality sacrificed.

But if image quality is secondary priority to how rugged and easy to use the camera is, then the Lumix TS7 / FT7 is a good choice.

if you want to learn more about underwater photography then have a think about taking a photography specialty with us here at Big Blue Movies.

https://www.bigbluediving.com/specialty-photo/

03/06/2020

Being a professional underwater photographer its rare to be the one being photographed but sometimes it just can't be helped!

30/05/2020

With equipment like this why would you not want to go shoot something!

Join us at Big Blue Movies and start shooting fishies today!

https://www.bigbluediving.com/specialty-photo/

28/05/2020

Awesome shot of a jelly with some seastars taken by resident Big Blue Movies photographer Bridget Parry from Bridge Parry Media ❤️

Might need to submit this shot to a few competitions!

Learn how YOU can become a great underwater photographer with us 👇

https://www.bigbluediving.com/specialty-photo/

25/05/2020

What do you reckon? Is this a photo or a painting?
Zoom in.
Yep its a photo!
Learn to take incredible photos and learn how to edit them to make them incrediblier!👇

https://www.bigbluediving.com/specialty-photo/

22/05/2020

Picture This!
In 1892, the French scientist, Louis Boutan likened the difficulties faced by naturalists reliant on specimens being fetched up from the depths in trawl-nets as being, “analogous to a visitor from the moon who might make observations from a moon-ship floating on top of our atmosphere … he would be reduced to using the means our own naturalists have used up to now: He would drag and net.”
The problem faced by Boutan and his colleagues was that diving was still in its infancy and the equipment bulky and clumsy. Few scientists had the inclination to dive and most divers lacked the systematic training necessary to make valid studies and observations of what they saw.
Deciding that photography would prove a valuable scientific tool in studying natural life beneath the sea, Boutan set about designing and - in 1893 - building the world’s first underwater camera.
Studying, and overcoming, the various problems associated with his first two designs, Boutan’s third underwater camera had an astigmatic lens that could be focussed before the dive. It proved an outstanding success and led him to experiment with the idea of artificial lighting.
Building two storage batteries powering two submerged arc lamps pressure tested to a depth equivalent to 100 metres, the camera proved its worth when, in 1899, it was lowered to a depth of 50-metres where – despite one of the housed arc lamps flooding – it took a sharp picture image of a previously prepared sign reading, “Photographie Sous-Marine”. It was another forty years before photographs were taken at depths exceeding those achieved by Boutan.
Today, of course, underwater photography is an established scientific tool and art form that’s helped introduce millions to the fascinating world beneath the sea.
No photo description available.

19/05/2020

Has anyone been reading up on their skills while they're hanging out at home?

If so we'd love to hear from you and if anyone has any questions on how to take a better photo then get in touch with us.

We've been teaching underwater photography & videography courses here at Big Blue Movies for years so know what we're talking about.

Check out our course offerrings here and have a gander at some of our best pictures taken by resident Big Blue Movies Professional Photographer Bridget Parry here on Koh Tao.

15/05/2020

Triggerfish are common on Koh Tao and are an awesome creature to catch on video not just because they look great on camera but also cos they're absolute bastards!

Learn more about hy here 👇

https://www.bigbluediving.com/specialty-video/

Video credit Fatfish movies Koh Tao.

Triggerfish can be quite aggressive in Koh Tao. Here is a short compilation of some of the attacks we've encountered whilst diving here! No divers and no fis...

11/05/2020

The sea is often referred to as being something other wordly mainly because we can't breathe there without assistance and also for the life which lives within it.

So the same can be said for us in the eyes of those that live there!

Nothing better expresses that better than this photo.

Become an underwater photographer & be extraordinary!

https://www.bigbluediving.com/specialty-photo/

07/05/2020

Introducing you to to the lady behind the lens at Big Blue Bridget Parry.
Working for us at Big Blue Movies now for the last 3 years Bridget has made quite a name for herself in the world of underwater video & photo.
Check out her meet the crew vdo and check to see if she's as comfortable infront of the camera as she is behind it.

Subscribe to our YouTube channel and check out 100's of amazing underwater videos shot by Bridget & the crew at Big Blue Movies

https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCxPF9EUJcj9_7spZIxxtslw?view_as=subscriber

Bridget is an accomplished musician and wedding photographer. It's her job to shoot the last 2 dives of your Open Water Course and present it to you at the b...

03/05/2020

Literally can't wait till we can go diving again!
Counting down the hours...

Want to join us and become a professional underwater photographer?

Here's how 👉https://www.bigbluediving.com/specialty-photo/

30/04/2020

A few notes to all fellow photographers entering in the 7th Annual UN World Oceans Day Photo Competitions:

1. deadline has been extended, entries can be submitted by May 3rd @ 12 midnight EST (6 PM GMT+2)

2. you can find all contest rules here: http://www.divephotoguide.com/…/seventh-annual-united-natio….

3. Many of you are asking me about photo manipulation: yes it will be allowed if used wisely, we are not putting stringent limits to it. Nature manipulation will not be allowed at all though, so please read the 'Charter for Participants', our ethical Code of Conduct, and be sure to fully comply to it before entering.

GOOD LUCK!

27/04/2020

Wow! What a fu**in shot!

Become an underwater photographer & learn how to take a great shot & how to edit a s**t shot & make it great!

https://www.bigbluediving.com/specialty-photo/

24/04/2020

Love watching the careers flourish of our past Big Blue Movies crew. Here's James Emery in Indonesia now flaunting his skills and knowledge to those in need.
Highly recommend joining James in improving your underwater photography skills especially his reknowned editing proficiency.
Great job James.

21/04/2020

Amazing how much fun a drift dive can be especially when speeded up!

https://www.facebook.com/allstarliveaboards/videos/2652847208319538/

18/04/2020

Hello everyone, there is a free filter to filter your dive pictures. I think it could help in the diving community.

Just go to: https://www.doodive.com/view/authentification/login.php

Then import your photos and filter with the "Doofilter" filter.

I gave you the results after my image test.

here is also a short video to help you to use it: https://youtu.be/wt9czN2eJko

Thank you.

12/04/2020

With this lock down going on I'm feeling a bit worried that the next time I see my Camera its gonna look a little old & dated!