After a successful premiere last year with an area of about 300 m², this year the Underwater Pixel World enlarged the area of the exhibition up to 2,500 square metres.
25 exhibitors of the diving and photographic industry participated in the Underwater Pixel World presenting cameras, housings, lighting and accessories for underwater photographers and filmmakers. In addition to the exhibitors, in a separate area there were a stage for speeches and awards.
In the same area there where the photography exposition of four professional photographers: Linda Pitkin, Alptekin Baloglu, Ralf Kiefner and myself. One place was dedicates to presentations and on the same area this year several photo-film manufactured had also their booths. On one side there were also a Cafe Lounge where to stop and have a break.
The Show has been a good occasion to meet some friends and collegues , talk and share ideas about equipment and destinations.
Beside the Photo exposition, I talk on the stage about my work and advertise about the upcoming Photo Expeditions, Photo courses and workshops. The full program you can see here:
– Constantinos Petrinos, Fred Bavendam and myself -
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Underwater Pixel World – Boot 2012
Boot Düsseldorf (21 to 29 January 2012)
In cooperation with Taucher.Net, Boot Düsseldorf’s Underwater Pixel World is developing very promisingly. Under this title, an exhibition on underwater photography and filmmaking was premiered last year in Hall 4. The idea caught on and is now bearing fruit. “At boot 2012, the Underwater Pixel World is being staged with more exhibitors, a broader range of products and in a much more attractive setting. It is occupying an area of 2,500 square metres right by the new, spacious and bright entrance area to Hall 4. Along with the exhibitors’ presentations, there will be a separate area with a stage for lectures, seminar rooms and workshop zones.
Some of my works will also be presented there and I will be at the Boot Show from Wednesday 25 to Sunday 29. During these days I will do some lectures in the afternoon and presenting my upcoming photo trips
This year there will be a café lounge, that gives visitors an opportunity to relax and chat after their tour of the show.
If you come to the Boot, stop by and it will be a pleasure to meet you there and have a chat or just to say hello!
Great White sharks from Guadalupe
Few weeks ago I’ve been in Guadalupe, an island located 280km west of the coast of Baja California. It is nice biological paradise, declared a Special Biosphere Reserve, which emerges from the depths of ocean, from about 4.000mt of water column.
Guadalupe is known worldwide as a first choice destination for anglers’ enthusiasts. It gained a good reputation because of the large quantity of yellow-fin and blue-fin tunas and other pelagic cruising nearby.
It is also the world’s best place to see and dive safely with great white shark, Carcharodon carcharias. The waters surrounding the Mexican island offer exceptional visibility, often exceeding 30 meters, and this makes the difference when we are in the water, trying to have the most from our cameras. Obviously this kind of experience does not happen for chance or good luck , but it is organized until the smallest detail, focusing particularly on the safety of divers and operators, and also the safety and health of the animals.
I trusted of the experience and professionalism of the crew of the Solmar V. For this uncommon underwater experience, I chose the operator who has earned the best reputation: no-one diver neither one shark has ever suffered any damage during their expeditions. Since 2001 they have organized these trips, which have always been successful, ensuring at their guests the best and safest underwater observation of white sharks.
I departed from San Diego –where I met other 12 people and we formed our group- and quickly we crossed the Mexican border and were driven to the port of Ensenada, where Solmar V and its friendly crew were waiting for us. Once the customs formalities were cleared, we set out to the island, where we arrived the next morning.
I repeatedly dived for several hours each days and I have seen great white shark every time. One, two, three sharks at a time, sometimes even 5-6, swam close to the two cages placed at the stern of the boat and to the submerged cage situated at depth of 10 meters, offering a unique show and giving us spectacular photo opportunities.
Banfi’s world (Swissinfo.ch)
Watch the Slideshows made from swissinfo’s Tim Neville about my work.
Swiss photographer Franco Banfi searches the sea for fascinating creatures.
As a professional underwater photographer, Banfi has spent much of his life exploring a mesmerizing world that thrives beneath the waves. His images reveal a beautiful, captivating environment where humans are at best short-term guests. “I don’t mind cold places, fresh or salt,” says the Ticino-based lensman, who has shot the bottoms of icebergs in frozen Swiss lakes, beluga whales in Russia and mysterious wrecks of the Adriatic. “The best are the whales,” he says. “You can see how they watch you.” swissinfo’s Tim Neville caught up with Banfi on assignment in Croatia.
