Red Sea Photo Workshops with Mark Webster

 

Mark Webster is a world class underwater photographer and an established Photo-Journalist who writes regularly for the major diving magazines. He has enjoyed great success in competitions and has been selected four times to represent Great Britain at The CMAS World Championships of Underwater Photography winning silver and bronze medals. Numerous other successes include the BBC/British Gas Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition and in the Agfa Wildlife Photographer of the Year Competition.

Mark's own books include "The Art and Technique of Underwater Photography" (Fountain Press) and “Diving and Snorkelling Belize” (Lonely Planet) and he has made major contributions to numerous other titles.

Mark has been hosting liveaboard-based underwater photography workshops with Oonasdivers in the North and the South of the Red Sea for the past fourteen years.

Imaging Media

The digital day has finally dawned for most of us. It has also become increasing difficult to get E6 chemicals reliably in Egypt and these combined facts sadly will now exclude the processing of films on board. This of course does not preclude film users at all and the same level of attention and advice will be available to users of both media. The techniques for both film and digital vary very little, the big difference is what you do with the image after the dive. The themed presentations will be suitable for you no matter what your media choice.

The Workshop

The June Workshop will be exploring the northern red sea on board M.Y. Blue Planet 1. This smaller intimate vessel gives the ideal surroundings for the workshop. The October workshop will be held aboard M.Y. Blue Waves. She is spacious with six twin cabins and two double cabins, all with en-suite facilities, air conditioning and 240 volt power in all cabins 24 hours a day. She is stable and quiet, has a well laid out dive deck, a 4.8m RIB tender and all navigational & safety aids. All this makes for very easy and comfortable diving with plenty of space for photographers to spread out – the maximum group size is ten.

 

The workshops for 2008 & 2009

 

 

All these itineraries will offer some stunning diving, great variety and excellent image opportunities.

Joining an underwater photography course or workshop with Mark will give you the opportunity of working with one of the UK's foremost photographers in a relaxed atmosphere and amongst a group who all have the common interest of taking pictures underwater. Groups are small to allow individual needs to be covered on a one to one basis and the aim is to achieve an improvement in your photography during the week and maybe even produce a competition-winning picture!

 

The workshops are designed to be informal with the emphasis on individual development at your own pace assisted by presentations on key topics. Ask as many questions as you like or do your own thing if you prefer - there will be no pressure and the whole group is dedicated to the common goal of photography.

 

Camera Equipment

You will need to bring all your own camera equipment. If there are techniques that you wish to experiment with but lack equipment then consider hiring before we depart. Look at the classifieds in Diver magazine or contact the suppliers in Mark’s departure notes.

Diving Gear/Clothing

You will need to bring all your own diving equipment with you. Tanks and lead are on the boat. If you need to hire equipment then please contact Oonasdivers who will arrange for collection on our way to the boat. Clothing on the boat is very informal - T-shirts and shorts during the day and as we are in the south these are also suitable for the evenings.

Cost

Tour Includes

8 day tour includes direct flights to Marsa Alam a/c coach transfers (approx 1 to 3 hours depending on the departure port), 7 nights full board including soft drinks, 6 days diving and the workshop(price in UK sterling pounds) including your visa.

If you have any queries regarding photography workshops please do not hesitate to contact Mark on Tel/Fax 01326-318307, E-mail: markwebster@photec.co.uk

Guest Testimonials

Austen Bannister

“I have been diving now for almost twenty years and started underwater photography fifteen years ago. I started with a disposable camera in an underwater housing (my blue period) and have upgraded to a Nikon D200 in a Sea&Sea DX200 housing. I am self taught using books like Mark Webster's “The Art and Technique of Underwater Photography” to learn the basics.

I had reached a point where I was not getting the shots I wanted, so the Photo workshop was an ideal way the sharpen my skills.

Marks technique is very relaxed, so it is possible to approach him at any time and discuss what I needed to do to improve my photo's.

He is very knowledgeable about all types of underwater cameras, so if you are using a compact camera, or an SLR housed system he can give you positive advice. Another plus of course is being on a Red Sea liveaboard, giving you a great range of photo opportunities. The dive site where I took the winning photo was Shab Shouna a really good place to find the large Green Back Turtles.

Mark advised me on camera settings , composition and peak of action and it was while putting them into practice that I took the shot that won the workshop competition and also got the picture printed in Diver magazine”.

'The Blue Days' - before workshop ........... & Post workshop Sept 2007

Mark Webster's Photographic Workshops are open to anyone who owns an underwater camera and has a desire to improve the quality of the picture they are taking. You don't need to own thousands of pounds worth of lenses and strobes to benefit from Mark's years of professional underwater photography. You never know, you could have the front cover of the Oonasdivers 2009 Brochure as many of Mark's current and previous workshop participants can lay claim to.

Bartosz Stróżyński

Early 2006 I decided to participate in underwater photo workshop with intention to benchmark and develop my underwater photography skills. I scanned internet and I selected Mark Webster Red Sea workshop organized by Oonasdivers as best option form me. It was really big step for me, first time on Read Sea and in addition, trip organized by foreign company. Now, I can say, it was perfect choice.  Great service, friendly people and plenty of nice pictures with this very special one, called “Strong Impression”, awarded with second place in workshop completion made this trip very special for me. All my pictures ware made with Canon Ds1 Mark II housed with Seacam.

I strongly recommend this workshop for all of you.

This photo from the 2007 workshop by Bartosz won the Oonasdivers 2008 brochure cover!