ISSUE
N°42
N O V 2018
Travels Maldives
Underwater Portraiture
Review Action 7F
Sparklights Multifunctioning
Books Submerged Shots
Francesco Pacienza
Travels Cave Diving
Tuscany Mountains Rino Sgorbani
Contest Eggs
Monthly Contest
Portfolio by Cai Songda
A Different World
Dear friends, Summer has gone in the northern hemisphere... as every year as winter approaches it’s time to make a recap and good proposals for the next season, set up new destinations and new goals for the next UW shooting. Someone says that the 1st of September is the real new year’s day... wether or not you think the same, here at scubashooters we do and as a new proposal we set up one word : quality. Our proposal is to bring you more and more quality and we will start from our magazine; to achieve this purpose we will reduce the actual 12 issues/year to 8, divided into 6 bi-monthly issues and two special issues. This hasn’t been an easy choice but for the moment we believe is the best option in order to be able to increase the quality of the content we send your way. You know we also keep on working on partnerships. The last but not latest is with David Pilosof “Worldshootout”. Together with them we will choose the Worldshootout Italian photographer of the year, in the same way as they do in Germany, UK, Spain and many other countries. We believe this is a very important milestone for Scubashooters.net and we are happy to share this important achievement with you. Stay tuned for more!
Marino Palla Owner and Founder Scubashooters Network
Cover image by: Cai Songda
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CONTENTS November 2018 3
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EDITORIAL by Marino Palla
TEST - Orcatorch - D620 Led Torch
14 TRAVELS Experience the Maldives and learn underwater Portraiture
22 PORTFOLIO by Cai Songda
50 MONTHLY CONTEST Eggs
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CONTEST Italian photographer of the year 2018 World Shootout 4
56 TRAVELS Cave diving on Tuscany mountains
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REVIEW - Sparklights Action 7F multifuncioning diving light
76 BOOKS Scatti sommersi vol.2 - Submerged Shots
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DAN EUROPE - Good fortune after bad
94 CONTEST 5th Giovanni Smorti contest
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CONTEST - Anilao Underwater Shootout
V erein S cubashooters - 8952 S chlieren G raphic
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E ditor : F abio S trazzi - S witzerland 38668878
design and supervising :
S ilvia B ogni L ayout : E lisa F urlani , S ilvia B ogni T ranslations : P iera P irini
TEST Orcatorch D620 Led Torch
Words and Pictures
Davide Lombroso
I had the chance to test this torch and despite all these kind of torch have been considered for “technical dives”, I found really useful for fun and underwater photo dive! Once received, we can say that the professional case for travelling, it’s
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really a protection against any accidental damage; opening the case torch, battery, charger, car-charger are well positioned. Orcatorch D620 is very compact LED torch designed for underwater use, as for technical divers as for fun. The easy use also with gloves, helps any divers for any underwater solution; the switch can be locked when rotated 90° degrees, offering am easily operation avoiding an accidental turning on of the light. The adjustable rotary ergonomic handle can be adapted to different needs and can be assembled before the dive easily. The torch, using 4 included rechargeable Li-ion batteries, has a maximum output of 2700 lumens, more than enough for photo or video light. Light angle can be adjusted to 120° degrees max for superwide lighting, and the max depth rated to 150mtr. As underwater photographer, I can say that Orcatorch D620, helps to have an optimal lighting in any situation without limitation, the battery pack well positioned into the BCD does not limit the movement.
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For any further info www.orcatorch.com
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唀渀搀攀爀眀愀琀攀爀 攀砀瀀攀爀椀攀渀挀攀
Featuring: * Cree XHP70 LED, 2700 lumens output * Uses four 18650 Li-ion batteries * 90°rotary lockable switch offers easy and reliable operation * Easy-pack adjustable rotary goodman handle * Water pressure resistant construction ,depth rated to 150 meters * Over-heat protection * Reverse polarity protection, to protect from improper battery installation * Over-discharge protection function * Aircraft-grade high strength aluminum material
挀⼀漀 匀琀愀戀椀氀椀洀攀渀琀漀 戀愀氀渀攀愀爀攀 ᰠ匀琀攀氀氀愀 䴀愀爀椀渀愀 渀⸀㜀ᴠ 一甀洀愀渀愀Ⰰ 䤀琀愀氀礀 吀攀氀⸀ ㌀㤀 ㌀㌀㔀 㘀㘀㈀㔀㌀㌀㤀 䔀洀愀椀氀⸀ 椀渀昀漀䀀挀攀渀琀爀漀猀甀戀洀漀渀琀攀挀漀渀攀爀漀⸀挀漀洀 眀眀眀⸀挀攀渀琀爀漀猀甀戀洀漀渀琀攀挀漀渀攀爀漀⸀挀漀洀
Puerto Galera - Oriental Mindoro - Philippines
Share your passion for diving wishlist exploring the magical underwater world of Puerto Galera. This fabulous destination offers the perfect mix of diving and culture, hiding surprises for even the most expert of divers in its unique biodiversity and colourful marine creatures. An ideal destination for macro photographers.
www.fishermenscove.com
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+63 917 533 2985
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info@fishermenscove.com
TRAVELS Experience The Maldives And Learn Underwater Portraiture 1 PRO PHOTOGRAPHER, 2 EXPERT MODELS, ENCHANTING LOCATIONS Have you ever dreamed of capturing underwater photos of more than marinelife? Imagine for a moment, building a portfolio of one-of-akind underwater portraits in the serene, private setting of a Maldivian Atoll. A place where you’re photographing skilled underwater models against the backdrop of pristine coral reefs, whale sharks and manta rays while also funding local ocean conservation efforts....
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Now you don’t have to just dream it; you can experience it. AND the underwater camera housings are provided for free! **Read on for a 10% off discount exclusively for the Scubashooters community.**
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Professional underwater photographer Chiara Salomoni leads a 6 day, 5 night all-inclusive masterclass at the Palm Beach Island Resort in the Maldives on Lhaviyani Atoll, Nov 12th-17th, 2018. This customized workshop enables scuba-divers and photographers alike to gain technical mastery in every aspect of underwater portraiture, working in a variety of settings from pool to open-water shallows and even deep ocean scenes with marine mammals. Expert underwater models Christine Ren and Syrena, Singapore’s premier mermaid performer, will pose as the subjects and provide training on how to work safely with both non-models and models in the water. But the best part is 10% of the trip’s proceeds are reinvested locally into marine conservation projects. Travel somewhere beautiful, learn amazing new skills, and save the ocean - what’s not to love? This is an all-inclusive trip: Accommodations, local transportation, meals, gear rentals, boat dives are all included. Airfare is separate and students must bring their own camera (affordable DSLR rental options are available upon request). 17
Be sure to sign-up for this unique opportunity! Full details are available at www.theunderwaterwoman.com/workshops/maldives. The trip pricing is: Single occupancy $3,950 Double occupancy $3,700 A 50% deposit is required to reserve a spot. **USE CODE: ‘SSMALDIVES18’ for 10% off the listed price above exclusively for the Scubashooters community.** Reply to me@theunderwaterwoman.com to today if you’d like to join the epicness!
Enjoy your passion. We make it possible.
Via Milano 177/B 37014 Castelnuovo d/G Verona - ITALY 0039 45 6450480 info@isotecnic.it
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PORTFOLIO Cai Songda
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Cai Songda was born in Fujian, China. Spending his childhood on a fishing village, it is not surprising that he grew fond of the sea. Now a full-fledged underwater photographer, Cai spends most of his time in diving and marine photography.
Cai started photography at a very young age. Being in charge of their jewelry company’s photography, he was able to sharpen his aesthetics even before he engaged in marine-life photography. From taking photos of gems in the land, he now photographs what he considers as gems in the sea. His dedication to underwater photography started in the year 2016. His first diving experience showed him a different world that he has 24
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never experienced before. It was breath-taking, the feeling of being one with nature as you dive deeper into it or the majestic harmony of sea creatures coming in plain sight. In that one dive, his breath was not the only thing that was taken away, the wonder that he experienced on that day was also able to capture his heart. Though his career in the underwater photography scene is quite young, his determination doesn’t pale in comparison to other professional divers. Cai’s dedication to what he does has managed to win him major prizes in the last few years.
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Leo3 Plus
Leo3
Leo3 Wi
MAKE IT EASY
Leo3 Smart
MONTHLY CONTEST Eggs
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st
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CLAUDIO CERESI
2nd DANIEL GEARY
3rd
STEW SMITH
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CONTEST
Italian Photographer Of The Year - 2018 - World Shootout Single Registration - Double Chance to Win! This year, Italian photographers who register and submit images to any of World ShootOut 2018 categories are automatically enrolled in the Photographer of the Year 2018 competition. While no additional registration or submission fees are required, your chances of winning great prizes for your images were just doubled! What is Photographer of the Year? Photographer of the Year 2018 is a national title awarded by a competition held in various countries around the world. Names and images of photographers participating in the World ShootOut 2018 are automatically passed on to the organization holding the competition in the photographer’s country. In each country, a professional jury panel first selects and publishes the 5 finalists competing on the title. Later on, the winner is announced during a local dive show.
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Winners of Photographer of the Year 2018 will be announced as following: • France – Paris Dive Show (Salon de la Plongee), January 11-14, 2019 • Germany – boot Dusseldorf fair, January 26th, 2019 • Russia – Moscow Dive Show, January 31st – February 3rd, 2019 • Italy – European Dive Show (EUDI), March 1-3, 2019 • Israel – Haifa International Film Festival, September 22nd – October 1st, 2018 Amazing prizes and great national pride await the winners! More info at:
https://www.worldshootout.org/l/ITALIAN
Our productions have started in 2005 with the Eilat Red Sea Shootout, and ever since we have awarded underwater photographers with prestigious prizes valued over $1,000,000, including over $260,000 prizes in cash. Producer David Pilosof initiated the first World ShootOut online competition in 2011, breaking all boundaries and introducing an international competition as never produced before. Hundreds of photographers from around 40 countries around the world take part in the World ShootOut competition year after year, submitting thousands of images and videos, ranging from those that capture the calm lakes of the Nordic countries and Canada, showcase the exotic secrets hidden in Alaska and introduce the great dramatic white shark in the Gulf of Mexico. World ShootOut 2018 winners will be announced on a festive winning ceremony which takes place on January 25th, 2019, at the boot Düsseldorf dive show in Germany. Underwater Photography Global Championship winners will be announced on a separate winning ceremony which takes place on January 26th, 2019, also in the boot Düsseldorf show. World ShootOut participants who do not make it to the boot dive show will receive their prizes by mail and post. 53
www.revistaaQua.com • aQua #18
free download
aQua magazine
www.revistaaqua.com
TRAVELS
Cave Diving
On Tuscan Mountains Words and Pictures
Rino Sgorbani
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After the accident occurred on January 9, 2016 at the Bossi cave in Switzerland, ended with the death of my friend Borgio, I promised myself not to go cave diving again. Nevertheless, things went differently. To convince me, for this speleological diving adventure, it was my friend Luciano Tanini of Grotta Giusti during our meeting for Grotta Giusti’s 35th anniversary. During that evening in Montecatini Terme, they screened a movie made by my friend Davide Briccolani and the undersigned and during dinner, around the table, Luciano told me about his project: diving in the “Buca Del Tinello” cave. He told me “On the Tuscan Mountains there is a beautiful cave, easily accessible and not demanding. We need someone making a reportage with beautiful pictures ... come with us.
We wait a few months, maybe before the summer, when the water decreases and facilitates entrance.” Luciano tried to persuade me with these arguments, but I was not convinced and left him with a vague answer “...we’ll see.” After the spring, Luciano got back on track “We organized everything, come with your wife ... you’ll be our guests. I’ll take you to dinner at a nice place, and then in the morning we’ll go 58
to the mountains: fantastic landscapes! We’ll take care of the equipment, and then we’ll go to lunch in a very characteristic place.” So I accepted. Let’s say he took me more by the throat than by the dive. The date was set for mid-July, so the night before I found myself din-
ing in Montecatini Terme with Luciano Tanini and his right-hand man, Paolo Lenaz. During dinner, Luciano began to describe in detail what we were going to do the next day, even with some extemporaneous drawing on a paper napkin. Mountains, waterfalls, narrow passages, siphons ... as the explanations became more detailed, I understood that maybe it was not for me, but now I was at stake and I could not pull back. The next morning, after a good breakfast, I met again Luciano and Paolo, the two of them by their car and me and my wife on our pickup. Yes, because my wife Cinzia came too: I promised her a nice ride in Tuscany... everybody in the car, ready to leave, heading to Lucca. At the exit of the motorway to the Garfagnana, two other members of our team were waiting for us, Emanuele Buono and Giovanni Caponi. Giovanni, for those who do not know him, is a well-known cave-diver 59
with years and years of cave exploration behind him. After the usual introductions, we set off again towards the road leading to Garfagnana, in the Apuan Alps. Breathtaking landscapes, valleys, hills, forests with green, lush trees, although we were already in plain summer. As we progressively climbed, the road became narrow, a typical mountain road, and the forest surrounded us more and more. After more than an hour, beyond the village of Fornovolasco, in the municipality of Vergemoli, the road reaches a curve with a wide-open
space. On the left, there is a small trattoria, on the right a bridge passing over the stream. In the middle, in the rocky wall hidden by a vault and vegetation, there is the cave. Once parked our cars, we began to prepare our equipment. First of all, I went to make a close inspection to realize the degree of difficulty I would have to face to get to the entrance. The slope’s descent is quite steep; therefore, I decided I definitely would not have done it wearing all my gear! Under the vault there is a small waterfall of perennial spring water flowing into the stream and, at about three meters in height, there is a small opening in the rock. 60
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That, they told me, is the entrance to the cave. After the site visit we started assembling our equipment: each of us had at his disposal a 7 + 7 double tank with double DIN regulator, a helmet with double lamp plus a spare torch, reel and various accessories, all for cave diving. My
buddies had a six or seven millimeters wetsuit, with protective overalls. Whereas, I had my old dry suit, certainly less suitable for this type of diving. Before getting ready, Giovanni made us a detailed briefing: the cave called Buca Del Tinello, explored for the first time in 1996, is located at 525 meters above sea level. The water passing inside is from a perennial spring, with a temperature of 8 - 9 degrees Celsius. The entrance is an opening in the small waterfall. Inside, the cave widens enough to stand up; just below, at three meters depth, there is a siphon eight meters long and after the first siphon you re-emerge in a cave a little bigger, with stalactites rock formations. The second siphon is twelve meters long then, after a large cave, there is a third siphon sixty meters long at six meters deep. In 62
the stretch between the second and third siphon, we should take off the equipment, walk and climb on the rocks. In short, from the briefing I deduced that it was not as easy as Luciano described! Outside we placed some ropes to facilitate both the descent from the escarpment and the entrance into the cave. After wearing all the equipment, I approached the entry rope: Giovanni was already climbing. He would be the first to get in, me second. I saw him entering into that hole above me, crawling with difficulty. I thought that if he, who is
a bit bigger than me, succeeded getting in, I should have done it too. I grabbed the rope and climbed up. Once I arrived at the entrance, I asked someone from below to hand over my photographic equipment and passed it to Giovanni, who was beyond the entrance hole. I could only see his arm and hear his voice: that hole is really tight! After handing over my camera, I put the mask on my face and the regulator in my mouth, because Giovanni told me that I had to crawl forward on my stomach and, beyond the hole, I would have slipped downwards into the water. I had enough trouble getting in: the doub63
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ble tank was jamming everywhere. I could not even raise my head that I crash with the helmet, and crawling on the slimy rock I slipped into that icy water upside down. Once I entered, I stood up with the water coming to my waist. The cave is not very wide: just a meter above my head and about three meters wide. Giovanni said to me “are you all right?” “... let’s say yes,” I replied. Without wasting time I took my housing, switched on the headlights and all seemed to me more beautiful, almost surreal. Therefore, I
started taking some pictures, while my other buddies came in one by one. While we were preparing to cross the first siphon, I felt a bit cold in the suit and thought, “I hope it is not flooded!” I illuminated under my feet with my headlights and, about three meters deep, at the bottom in front of me, I saw the opening of the siphon. Paolo entered first, I went behind. I deflated my BCD and, dragging myself on the bottom, I arrived in front of the opening. Naturally, we were all without fins that in these situations are not needed. I dragged myself into this narrow gut of rock about eight me 67
ters long and meanwhile I shot some pictures to the buddies in front of me. Arriving in the second cave, wider than the first, I positioned myself waiting for the others, continuing to take pictures even external: the rock formations, beautiful and smooth, looked like chocolate. I began to feel cold and realized that my dry suit had flooded, and it must have been something serious because when I was standing I could feel the water up to my calves. Definitely a rip when I crawled at the entrance. I thought about it for a moment, then I said, “Guys, I have to go out: I flooded my dry suit, I’m very cold and I think I cannot go on.” These are tough decisions to make, but my experience tells me that you need to know when it’s time to say no. Everybody agreed: I would go out and the others would continue, though Giovanni would have accompanied me to the entrance. Once there, retracing the path backwards, I was already half frozen: I could no longer feel my legs, I could not even pass in the entry hole and thus I decided to take off the double tank. As soon as I got outside, Giovanni passed me the equipment that then 68
I lowered down through the rope. I had a lot more trouble getting out than getting in. Fortunately, the outside temperature was very pleasant and once I was undressed, I recovered quickly. My wife, who in the meantime had gone for a walk, arrived at that moment while I was undressing. I told her what happened, and she shook her head and said, “Do you understand that you are not twenty anymore!” After about an hour, my buddies came out, happy and joyful: for them it was like a walk. When Luciano saw that I was pretty depressed, told me, “Now I’ll take
you to a place that will make your good mood come back!” A few kilometers away, in a remote place amidst the mountains, there is a kind of agritourism called “The Hermit”. The name fits like a glove and we ate very well: I think I’ve had the best “Lardo di Colonnata” in my life. Surely my good mood was back, but I think I’m done with cave diving. 69
匀 吀䄀夀 䤀 一 倀䄀 刀 䄀 䐀 䤀 匀 䔀
䄀 䜀 唀 匀 吀䄀 䤀 匀 䰀 䄀 一 䐀 Ⰰ 刀 䄀 䨀 䄀 䄀 䴀 倀䄀吀Ⰰ 䤀 一 䐀 伀 一 䔀 匀 䤀 䄀 䤀 一 䘀 伀 䀀 䄀 䜀 唀 匀 吀 䄀 刀 䔀 匀 伀 刀 吀⸀ 䌀 伀 䴀 䄀 䜀 唀 匀 吀 䄀 刀 䔀 匀 伀 刀 吀⸀ 䌀 伀 䴀
匀栀攀爀愀琀漀渀 匀栀愀爀洀攀 䠀漀琀攀氀☀刀攀猀漀爀琀Ⰰ 匀栀愀爀洀攀 䔀氀 匀栀攀椀欀栀Ⰰ 䔀最礀瀀琀 吀攀氀⸀ ⬀㈀ ㈀ ㈀㈀㤀 㤀 㠀㐀 䔀洀愀椀氀⸀ 椀渀昀漀䀀戀甀戀戀氀攀搀椀瘀攀挀氀甀戀⸀挀漀洀 眀眀眀⸀戀甀戀搀挀⸀挀漀洀
REVIEW Sparklights Action 7F Multifunction Diving Light
Multifunction Diving light • 6 functions + SOS flash,4 levels of lights • High brightness LEDS • Small size • SECURE battery with UN 38.3 test report (24 Wh) • Rechargeable through external interface, with (1A) USB charger • Rechargeable, every smartphone or tablet charger • Can function without water, and below freezing point • Battery status indication • Practical accessories • Premium, unbreakable packaging • Durable aircraft-grade aluminum, surface is premium type anodizing , strong and flexible plastic • Waterproof: 100M • 115mm (length) *54mm (dia. of lamp head), weight: 285 gr, weight in water: 102 gr • European product 72
• Combined White lights (max. 2500 lumen, 90°+10°, 4 x CREE 10W XM-L2 white LED’s) • Video-Photo light (max. 1900 lumen, 90°, 3 x CREE 10W XM-L2 white LED’s, Color t: 5500 K) • White Spot light (max. 600 lumen, 10°, 1 x 10W CREE XM-L2 white LED) • Red light (90°, 2 x 3 W CREE LED’s) • UV light ,biofluorescent (365 nm, 90°, 2x3 W LED’s) • Blue light ,biofluorescent (455 nm, 90°, 2x3 W LED’s) • Runtime hour(High/Low level): Video-Photo light-1/16 h; SOS-5h; Spot-3/48h; Red,UV,Blue-4/55.
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Package contents: •
1 Sparklights Action 7F light
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1 Premium Storage Box
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1 pistol grip
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1 USB charging cable
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1 Hand strap
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1 Photo Mount
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1 pc USB wall adapter (EU)
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1 pcs Yellow mask filter with
maskstrap
• With this product, you only have to take one lamp with you, but because of its functions it can replace many others. • It can be used as a light source for action cameras. • This lamp is waterproof, it does not have to be disassembled for charging. The Action Light 7F can be charged with any USB power supply (phone charger, cigarette lighter chargers with USB input, etc.) that is capable of min. 1A amperage, so there is no need to use any special kind of charger. Our product contains a battery that has the capacity of 5200 mAh, in order to be reliable, to have a longer run- and lifetime. It has excellent quality, and is also suitable for the prescriptions of the EU. • Our lamp has an indicator light that indicates the current status of the battery, while it is being used, or charged. • The Action Light products are made of strong and flexible plastic components, and metal components that are used in the aircraft industry. The products have been tested for dropping from 1 meter high to concrete, at least 100 times and they passed these tests. • High capacity: its capacity is equal to a lamp, which has the output of 200W. • 6 functions +SOS flash • Its Spotlight (that covers 10°) can be used as a searchlight. 74
• White Video-Photo light (that covers 90°) helps taking proper pictures and recording videos under the water, as it is able to fully cover what the human eye sees. • Combined lights (10°+90°) there is no need to switch between the functions, either. • As most of the sea animals are unable to see the red light, it does not bother them. • With the Blue and UV lights you can see the biofluorescence. • It operates in 7 different functions in order to fulfill every demand. • Full function: (SPOT, SPOT +VIDEO-PHOTO, VIDEO-PHOTO, RED, BLUE, UV, SOS flash) • Basic functions: (SPOT, SPOT + VIDEO-PHOTO, VIDEO-PHOTO, SOS flash) • Combinations of the functions: (one optional function + SOS flash) • This diving lamp can be used at dry conditions, as well. On max. 25°C, it operates with 70% capacity. It can also be used, below freezing point, because of the formation of its switches, as they will not freeze in fresh water. • It is extra small, it even fits in the palm of a ten-year-old child, thus it is comfortable to use
匀䤀吀䤀伀 䈀䄀䰀䄀䜀䈀䄀䜀 䈀䄀刀䄀一䜀䜀䄀夀 䈀䄀䜀䄀䰀䄀一䜀䤀吀 䴀䄀䈀䤀一䤀ⴀ倀䠀䤀䰀䤀倀倀䤀一䔀匀
⬀㘀㌀ 㘀㌀ 㠀 㐀 䀀䌀䄀匀䄀䈀䄀䠀䤀䄀
BOOKS Scatti sommersi Vol. 2 Submerged Shots A book by Francesco Pacienza “Francesco’s style of underwater photography caught my eyes a long time ago. The lighting, the subjects, the composition and his message of discovery and divulgation of the underwater world and its inhabitants. A message that unites us even if transmitted and used with a different photographic style because that’s what attracts our photographic attention. It soon became clear that his style and approach is out of the ordinary, I was pulled in by his vision to see more, to learn and to enjoy a photographic style that often makes the Underwater World a fairytale place, a place where children’s fantasies take shape and become the life that populates the ocean beneath its surface. Besides each photograph, even the nature, is an art form and as such must involve all the observer’s senses by creating in him the emotions that led the photographer to “feel” to take that photo. Francesco transforms his subject in his style, in a classic manner from the limited seen world of the underwater domain into mainstream to the desktop, magazine and publication. It is like I am looking at jewels, out of this world…only to be cherished. Francesco intuitive understating of ambient light and his skill in matching strobe light, it is like the stroke of brush by a master painter. He uses light and composition as elements to capture the viewer’s attention, even the most distracted, and take it, even though virtually under water to live this magical and fantastic sensory experience. 76
Francesco is a visionary of underwater photography, a person who believes achievable things that others are not; and all his photography is impregnated with these visions: in a word, Francesco, can be considered a revolutionary in photographic language and style, sometimes very stereotyped, of underwater photography. Thank you Francesco and I am only looking forward to seeing more of your work and your vision.� Amos Nachum Owner/Director Explorer, Wildlife Photographer, Speaker California, USA
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My relationship with photography has its roots in my childhood: in my inborn curiosity towards everything that surrounds me, towards the colors, the play of light, the memories and emotions that every moment, captured by my eyes, creates inside of me. At the age of twenty-five, I feel that my studies to become a lawyer do not belong to me, and I am increasingly attracted by a passion that will completely overwhelm me: photography. Thus, I abandon a classic and attractive law degree, and I start my photography studies at the European Institute of Design in Rome where, after my diploma, I will be assigned a professorship. In that same period, I publish my first book: a manual on the use of the Optical Bench that will be, in those years, the first publication in Italy on this subject. From there began my professional career, and the twenty-five years in the advertising world allow me to use and apply the technical knowledge achieved even in the photos of the seabed: a hidden world, which with its fantastic creatures captures my emotions and attentions. The two components of light and composition have always occupied a priority place in my work: photography is writing with light, and the knowledge of this element is for a photographer what the grammar is for a writer. The technique alone is not enough if you do not have the ability to put your emotions into the visual element to photograph. Only an excellent technical knowledge joined to an emotional sensitivity allows the photographer to creating a communicative code with the subject to photograph, thus allowing to transmitting his sensations to the final observer. Few are those who succeed. 78
Few people can transmit emotional sensations through a technically perfect photo. The skill is in knowing how to mix the two aspects, perfectly balanced in a shot. In short, there are few people who are really able to talk about Photography, many who believe they can do it. Throughout my professional life, I tried to make mine a concept of the ZEN philosophy: learning an art (technically) so well that you can forget how to do it! In other words, technical knowledge must become an integral part of the photographer, enough to be used in a natural
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way, and not forced, because constitutive essence of the professional himself. My photography is all this: an apparently complex whole that, in its simplicity that belongs to me, interacts with my creativity. I quote Alexandr Rodcenko about creativity: “the difficulty is finding, seeing the unusual in the most usual.” The most difficult task is “to stimulate people to change. To learn seeing from different angles and with different light”. Learning to see, to pre-visualize (as Master Ansel Adams asserted) what the final result of our shooting will become. A photograph is a set of actions that do not stop and concretize at the time of shooting, but imply and require other actions such as developing that set of information that otherwise would not be visible, even with digital. The developing, reminiscent of ancient emotions connected to the film, to the acrid smell of the darkroom acids, today is often demonized by the term post-production. However, as it happened with the film, that without developing there would be no photograph, the same happens today with digital, which needs developing too. Where is the difference, then? The difference is that for digital we have two distinct types of developing: the one made by cameras for those who decide to shoot in JPEG format and entrust the final result to the cameras’ presets; or the one you can do comfortably in front of your computer when you decide to shoot RAW. This may look like the developing based on the over or under-developing test required to the professional laboratory to which you addressed. Between automatic and professional developing, I have always preferred the latter: I do the same 80
to my digital files shot in RAW. In conclusion, when I am diving in the water element my feeling of freedom becomes absolute. Photography, which is an element of maximum expressive freedom to me, merges with the water element, reaching the apotheosis of freedom. That is, in my photos I try to enclose and transmit this enormous sense of freedom and harmony, of physicality without boundaries. Francesco Pacienza
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SUBMERGED SHOTS - PRESS RELEASE During the event of Eudi Show 2018, the second volume of the SUBMERGED SHOTS series is dedicated to the Masters of Italian Fotosub. Born in 2017 with the first two volumes dedicated to Andrea Ghisotti, chosen as the ideal tutelary number of this collection, and to Francesco Turano, this year SUBMERGED SHOTS presents a monograph whose protagonist is Francesco Pacienza. But what is it and what does it want to be SUBMERGED SHOTS. The best way to find out is to read what wrote summarizing by Mojetta Angelo, director of the series presented by Magenes, a publisher of the sea has made its specialty publishing dozens of titles that have the center of the underwater world. “The time comes”, writes Mojetta “in which we begin to take stock of the past few years by putting good things into the assets and asking for forgiveness for mistakes. It is also the moment when we open the drawers in which we have locked up dreams and hopes and try to turn them into reality first of all with their own strength and then, perhaps with the help of someone willing to believe and to share our projects.
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SUBMERGED SHOTS is one of these.... I talked to someone in the underwater environment trying to figure out if it could work and provoking controversial reactions, sometimes bored, sometimes amazed, sometimes interested. All ended almost invariably with a question: “Why?” Which generally implied “Who makes you do it? What are you looking for?” Dreams, however, are desires and desires, at least in this case, they have come true putting at the disposal of photography enthusiasts something that was not there, a series of photographic books dedicated to underwater photography, a necklace made of small runs and to collect to collect the most beautiful images of the underwater world, chosen by the authors, and only by them, to tell with the eyes of great Italian underwater photographers the passion, the talent, the ability to imprison the beauty and know how to look down there with different eyes. The objective of these monographs is as simple as it is noble: to allow many to get to know the great names better, study their techniques and get inspired, as always happens when you look at those who left a tangible sign. It’s an invitation, after all, to discover or deepen, to do more or better, to gather an ideal witness, as these photographers have done by the greats of the past, and pass it on to the younger generations to further bring the frontiers of underwater photography. For 2018 this task belongs to the volume dedicated to Francesco Pacienza, a photographer who certainly needs no introduction, but who in his monograph will be told, as is the rule in this series, by three testimonials whose names alone are an implicit recognition the skill of our photographer: Settimio Cipriani (5 times World Champion CMAS), Amos Nachum (disseminator of the big mammals and speaker in California) and Imran Ahmad (Ambassador of the Oceans for Blancpain).. Appointment at Eudi Show 2018 to browse through this novelty and listen to the story directly from the author’s voice on the occasion of the official presentation scheduled for Saturday 3 March from 12 to 12.30 at the University of Photography. Francesco is a visionary of underwater photography, a person who believes achievable things that others are not; and all his photography is impregnated with these visions: in a word, Francesco, can be considered a revolutionary in photographic language and style, sometimes very stereotyped, of underwater photography. (Amos Nachoum) 83
Francesco Pacienza embodies the above statement. However simple or mundane his subjects are, he always manages to bring out the best in them. His ability to compose shows his mastery. I would say “making the ordinary, extraordinary.” He then adds colors to his palette, like a painter or an artist. (Imran Ahmed) One thing that has always struck me about Francesco is his continuous and constant search for new photographic techniques, as when he began to photograph the nudibranchs with a white background but contextualizing them and then applying this technique to other less “collaborative” subjects such as spirographs, seahorses and fish. This technique, much opposed in Italy, will eventually become, together with that of the mirror, a must in the world where it is still appreciated and applied by many names of the fotosub. (Settimio Cipriani) Leafing through the pages of this book you will discover that these photos, chosen by the author among the endless possibilities offered by his vast production, not only tell stories and moments of life in the aquatic world, but go beyond highlighting the spirit of research mentioned above brings Francesco to use ancient and modern techniques, perhaps invented instruments at the time and bring almost to the extreme his desire to realize “the shot”, that “shot” that can make him say like a Faust’s character “you’re so beautiful. Stop! “. Click. (Angelo Mojetta)
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DAN Good Fortune After Bad A 40-year-old male did four rebreather dives one day from a liveaboard near Socorro Island. Maximum depths of the dives ranged from 35 to 39 metres of seawater; dive times were from 62 to 76 minutes. This was the third day of his dive series, which totaled 10 dives. All dives were uneventful, and he was out of the water at 6 p.m. The Incident Approximately 3.5 hours after his last dive, the diver experienced nausea, vomiting and difficulty breathing during dinner. His fellow divers reported that he was unable to recognize them and could not recall his home address or date of birth. Fortunately, two physicians were among the passengers, and they examined the diver. The exam revealed dilated pupils, slurred speech, motor weakness and involuntary muscle contractions. The crew activated the vessel’s emergency action plan. They placed the diver on oxygen at approximately 10 p.m. and contacted DAN for medical advice and to initiate an evacuation to a suitable medical facility. The Complications Located in the eastern Pacific south of the Baja peninsula, Socorro Island is approximately 240 nautical miles from Cabo San Lucas. It is one of four volcanic islands that make up the Revillagigedos Islands (the other three are San Benedicto, Roca Partida and Clarion). The boat ride to Cabo San Lucas takes about 24 hours. A Mexican military airstrip is on Socorro, but the runway is unable to accommodate larger aircraft, including those that can maintain sea-level pressure during flight. Inbound flights require permission from the military and must clear customs and immigration on the mainland before departing. The airstrip is insufficiently lit to allow takeoff or landing at night. As evacuation plans were being made, the diver’s symptoms began to resolve as he breathed supple-
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mental oxygen. DAN established direct contact with the small military facility on Socorro, which has a functional hyperbaric chamber and professional staff. They quickly recognized the severity of the diver’s condition and that a favorable window of opportunity existed to recompress him, so they agreed to receive the patient. Though there was no physician at the chamber, the diver’s improving condition made treatment at the local facility a good option. The diver arrived at the military facility within four hours of his notable decline. He was able to walk into the chamber, and the chamber operators administered a U.S. Navy Treatment Table 6 with guidance from DAN’s physicians. The treatment led to complete resolution of symptoms, and the diver was released to the boat for monitoring and frequent detailed neurological evaluations by the physicians on board the vessel. A well-known dive medicine physician happened to be aboard another dive boat in the area, and freely rendered his assistance. After a detailed evaluation, he confirmed full resolution of the patient’s symptoms. The diver made an uneventful return home and did not experience any return of symptoms aside from some mild, intermittent general soreness.
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Discussion Evacuation of this diver presented many challenges to the medical personnel involved in his care, and there are excellent lessons to be learned at each phase of treatment. First, quick recognition of serious dive-related problems is important. In many cases, denial can lead to a refusal to accept that something is wrong and needs attention. Divers may employ hopeful rationalizations to discount early symptoms, because a declared emergency has the potential to end further diving — for both the injured diver and others. Even when an injury is finally recognized, a desire exists for things to spontaneously improve without the need to notify the divemaster. In this case an astute dive team recognized abnormal symptoms and behaviors that led to a diagnosis of cerebral decompression sickness (DCS). Next, caregivers should administer first aid promptly and conduct further investigation. This dive team quickly provided oxygen, which resulted in dramatic improvement in the diver’s condition, and then identified medical professionals in the group and engaged them in his care. They contacted DAN for help with both treatment suggestions and evacuation options. In remote locations, it is important to be familiar with local medical capabilities and evacuation options before emergencies happen. In this case a two-leg flight would have been necessary to get the diver to a fully capable hyperbaric facility (at the University of California, San Diego). There are hyperbaric facilities in Cabo San Lucas, but getting there would still require air evacuation or a long boat ride. Because of the limited capabilities of the island’s airstrip, an unpressurized aircraft would have to take the patient to the mainland, where a second flight would deliver him to San Diego for definitive recompression therapy. Symptoms developed in the evening, so due to darkness any flight to the island would have to be delayed until morning, introducing further delay. DAN notified the Mexican navy of the diver’s serious condition, and they understood that a delay in treatment could lead to a poor outcome. Despite the busy tempo of the remote diving unit, the commanding officer opened his recompression chamber to the civilian diver. The chamber crew were true professionals who quickly administered the necessary hyperbaric treatment that resulted in complete resolution of all the diver’s symptoms. Doctors on the dive boat reeval90
uated him and decided he could remain aboard and transit back to the mainland according to the ship’s original itinerary. Three days after his treatment he made an uneventful flight back home. Four fortunate events positively affected this diver’s episode of serious cerebral DCS. First, his well-trained fellow passengers and the crew quickly recognized the problem and monitored his health until he reached the medical facility. Second, they administered oxygen quickly, which resulted in considerable improvement. Third, an expert in diving medicine was diving in the vicinity and rendered assistance. And fourth, the highly professional Mexican navy opened a restricted facility, which enabled definitive treatment and prevented potentially permanent neurologic injury to the diver. He was indeed lucky, but he also was a beneficiary of divers’ willingness to help other divers. Such willingness can overcome significant obstacles, even international borders, as seen in this case. Please take time to thank the professionals who are committed to helping injured divers. In particular, thank those who keep hyperbaric facilities open for diving emergencies 24 hours per day, seven days a week; they are diving’s unsung heroes.
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CONTEST
5th Giovanni Smorti Contest
Words and Pictures
Davide Lombroso
On weekend of June 30th July 1st 2018, Punta Ala famous touristic Tuscany place, hosted edition of the 5th Giovanni Smorti Underwater Photo Contest conceived and sponsored by Smorti family, in memory of Giovanni Smorti underwater enthusiast photographer since 1980 The program that foresees the arrival of the competitors, began on the afternoon of June 30th with the briefing held by the competition director Paolo Smorti, where were illustrated the rules about the images to be captured, 1 wide 1 fish/macro 1 external. This year two additional special awards: A) Marina di Punta Ala awards sponsored by Marina di Punta Ala Spa: The best image of the Punta Ala port. B) Yacht Club awards sponsored by Yacht Club Punta Ala: The best image of the Punta Ala Yacht Club. After usual briefing, T-shirt to all competitors and group picture of 30 photographer, the competition start at 15:00 with free time to capture the external 94
picture. The first dive meeting on Saturday at 9PM at Punta Ala pier, were managed with professionalism and punctuality by the Feeldive diving of Scarlino, started the short navigation to Porcello small Island, where competitors have to take the pictures within 2 hours. Calm sea and splendid sun ensured the perfect performance of the competition. Once back, it was time for a great and friendly local food & wine thanks to organizer! Sunday, July 1st second dive at Sparviero Island; being supported by a beautiful day of sun and calm sea, the competitors were divided on the competition field looking for the best shots. Like the previous day, once back and refreshed, the competitors chose the images to be presented to the demanding jury. After the photographic efforts, all competitors had time for relaxing on the beach waiting for the jury results! As scheduled, at 21.00 on Sunday 1st , the award ceremony began at Punta Ala Yacht Club, and after the traditional space given to local authorities and thanks, all the images of the participants were projected. Despite the clarity of the water was not at its best, the level of the images was high, with great satisfaction of any competitor and numerous participant to the cerimony. 95
The final ranking for DSLR rewarded Davide Lombroso that preceded runner-ups Italian Team members Francesco Visintin and Marco Bollettinari. In the compact category triumphed Guidi Everi that preceded Paola Corradi and Maurizio Stella, while in the open category won Carlo Marsiglietti that precede Andrea Giarin and Luca Pianigiani. 96
The two special “external� awards to Francesco Visintin and Marco Bollettinari. The thanks go mainly to the Smorti family for their hard work in scheudiling the Competition very strongly. The high number of participant appreciated a lot the whole organization and the very rich prizes offered available by the Smorti family and by the various sponsors. The Giovanni Smorti photo contest is now a reality of national competitions, rightly recognized with many participants, thanks also to the beauty of the place as well as easy to reach from different parts of Italy. www.ilmaredipuntaala.com
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匀䠀䄀刀䬀 䘀䤀一 䔀䄀刀一䤀一䜀匀
匀䠀䄀刀䬀 吀伀伀吀䠀 倀䔀一䐀䄀一吀
匀䠀䄀刀䬀 吀伀伀吀䠀 刀䤀一䜀
CONTEST
Anilao Underwater Shootout
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The stage is set for the 6th edition of the Anilao Underwater Shootout happening on November 27 - December 1, 2018. Registration is now open! Stay tuned for exciting updates http://anilaoshootout.ph/ https://www.facebook.com/anilaounderwatershootout/ https://www.facebook.com/DOTdivephilippines/ https://www.instagram.com/anilaoshootout/
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