#nyups — Public Fediverse posts
Live and recent posts from across the Fediverse tagged #nyups, aggregated by home.social.
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Predators: The Survivor — A Tiger Shark with a Broken Jaw (Maldives)
Most of us have a specific image of what defines an apex shark—speed, power, and dominance. But off the coast of Fuvahmulah, I spent time with Luana, a resident tiger shark navigating the blue with a severe, permanent jaw injury. This film is a study of her quiet resilience and how she has adapted to a life that, by all logic, she shouldn't have been able to sustain.https://scubahanknyc.com/2026/04/24/tiger-shark-with-a-broken-jaw-maldives/
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Light, Shadow and Sea – A Black and White Short Film
This month, I presented a short film titled “Light, Shadow and Sea” at the New York Underwater Photographic Society meeting. Focusing on black and white, the film explores underwater contrast and texture, capturing diverse marine environments and emphasizing mood over color. It serves as an exercise in illuminating the subtleties of underwater life.https://scubahanknyc.com/2026/03/25/light-shadow-and-sea-a-black-and-white-short-film/
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Marine Life Close-Up: The Eyes Project
Last week, I had the chance to present my latest project at the New York Underwater Photographic Society (NYUPS) meeting. The theme was “EYES”—a challenge that pushed me to look through my archives with a very specific focus.
As divers, we often get caught up in the wider scene or the specific behavior of a subject. But for this project, I wanted to strip away the distractions and focus purely on the “windows to the soul” beneath the surface. From the alien gaze of cuttlefish to the textured detail of rays and crustaceans, isolating the eyes changes the way you connect with the animal.
I put together a short montage to capture these fleeting connections. You can check out the full video below.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vRRJfCv8lic
What started as a monthly challenge became a solid reminder. Underwater photography is worth the effort for that split second when you lock eyes with another creature. In that moment, you realize you’re both just passing through the same space.
#bigAppleDivers #NewYorkUnderwaterPhotographicSociety #NYUPS -
Presented this #demo #reel last night at #NYUPS. 🐡🎥
It's a work in progress where I'm testing out a new FCP plugin called "Fast Transitions" from LenoFX. Check out the results here:
#FinalCutPro #LenoFX #UnderwaterVideo #video #photography #fediverse #ocean
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Presented this #demo #reel last night at #NYUPS. 🐡🎥
It's a work in progress where I'm testing out a new FCP plugin called "Fast Transitions" from LenoFX. Check out the results here:
#FinalCutPro #LenoFX #UnderwaterVideo #video #photography #fediverse #ocean
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Presented this #demo #reel last night at #NYUPS. 🐡🎥
It's a work in progress where I'm testing out a new FCP plugin called "Fast Transitions" from LenoFX. Check out the results here:
#FinalCutPro #LenoFX #UnderwaterVideo #video #photography #fediverse #ocean
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Presented this #demo #reel last night at #NYUPS. 🐡🎥
It's a work in progress where I'm testing out a new FCP plugin called "Fast Transitions" from LenoFX. Check out the results here:
#FinalCutPro #LenoFX #UnderwaterVideo #video #photography #fediverse #ocean
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Presented this #demo #reel last night at #NYUPS. 🐡🎥
It's a work in progress where I'm testing out a new FCP plugin called "Fast Transitions" from LenoFX. Check out the results here:
#FinalCutPro #LenoFX #UnderwaterVideo #video #photography #fediverse #ocean
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Life on the Ocean Floor – Dauin
I recently shared this short film at our monthly NYUPS gathering in New York City. The meeting is a chance to show personal projects, discuss creative choices, and learn from one another’s approaches. This film came out of that same mindset – keeping things simple and letting small moments speak for themselves.
“Life on the Ocean Floor” focuses on the incredible biodiversity found in the sand and rubble. These are the heart of Dauin’s world-famous diving sites. These areas might look like a barren “desert” to the untrained eye. However, they hold an amazing concentration of life if you know where to look.
Featured Marine Life:
- The Partnership: Watch the tireless work of a blind shrimp and its Goby protector [00:10].
- The Nursery: An Anemonefish fanning its eggs with constant devotion [00:45].
- The Miniature Titan: The vivid, flashing rings of a Blue-ringed Octopus as it glides across the sand [01:45].
Gear Behind the Shots:
To capture these tiny subjects, I relied on a high-magnification setup:
- Camera: Panasonic GH5
- Lens: OM 90mm (excellent for that 2:1 macro reach)
- Housing: Nauticam
- Location: Dauin, Philippines (Silver Reef Dive Resort and Atmosphere Resort & Spa)
Dauin rewards the patient diver. Even a patch of sand that looks empty at first glance can hold a surprising amount of life if you take the time to look closely.
#Dauin #featured #macro #NewYorkUnderwaterPhotographicSociety #NYUPS #Philippines -
Caribbean Reef Life in Tobago – Short Film for NYUPS
This week, I had the pleasure of presenting my latest short film at our monthly gathering for the New York Underwater Photographic Society, or NYUPS.
NYUPS is a free, monthly meetup in NYC for divers who are passionate about underwater photography and video. We get together to share images, short films, and exchange tips and tricks we’ve been learning in the field. Lately, we have been meeting at Fred’s, a great spot on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It’s open to everyone—no membership, no fees—just a group of people who love to shoot underwater and talk about it.
This month’s theme was Close Focus Wide Angle (CFWA), and I put together a short edit from a recent trip to Speyside, Tobago. The waters there are incredibly nutrient-rich, and every dive feels packed with life—turtles on the sand, stingrays dusted in sediment, and fast-moving reef fish weaving in and out of the frame. CFWA fits Tobago well because you can stay close to your subject while still keeping the wider reef in the story.
The film, titled “Caribbean Reef Life in Tobago,” opens with our dive guide filming a turtle, which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the edit: observing the vibrant, busy life of the reef.
I hope you enjoy this two-minute glimpse into the incredible underwater world of Tobago!
Shooting Details
Camera: Panasonic GH5 | 14–42 + Nauticam WWL1-B
Location: Speyside, Tobago
Dive Op: Tobago Dive Experience
Theme: Close Focus Wide Angle Shooting in Tobago#NewYorkUnderwaterPhotographicSociety #NYUPS #Stingrays #tobagoDiveExperience #tobagoScubaDiving #TrinidadAndTobago #Turtles
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Caribbean Reef Life in Tobago – Short Film for NYUPS
This week, I had the pleasure of presenting my latest short film at our monthly gathering for the New York Underwater Photographic Society, or NYUPS.
NYUPS is a free, monthly meetup in NYC for divers who are passionate about underwater photography and video. We get together to share images, short films, and exchange tips and tricks we’ve been learning in the field. Lately, we have been meeting at Fred’s, a great spot on the Upper West Side of Manhattan. It’s open to everyone—no membership, no fees—just a group of people who love to shoot underwater and talk about it.
This month’s theme was Close Focus Wide Angle (CFWA), and I put together a short edit from a recent trip to Speyside, Tobago. The waters there are incredibly nutrient-rich, and every dive feels packed with life—turtles on the sand, stingrays dusted in sediment, and fast-moving reef fish weaving in and out of the frame. CFWA fits Tobago well because you can stay close to your subject while still keeping the wider reef in the story.
The film, titled “Caribbean Reef Life in Tobago,” opens with our dive guide filming a turtle, which immediately sets the tone for the rest of the edit: observing the vibrant, busy life of the reef.
I hope you enjoy this two-minute glimpse into the incredible underwater world of Tobago!
Shooting Details
Camera: Panasonic GH5 | 14–42 + Nauticam WWL1-B
Location: Speyside, Tobago
Dive Op: Tobago Dive Experience
Theme: Close Focus Wide Angle Shooting in Tobago#NewYorkUnderwaterPhotographicSociety #NYUPS #Stingrays #tobagoDiveExperience #tobagoScubaDiving #TrinidadAndTobago #Turtles
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NYUPS Is Back — Spiny Devilfish
On September 30, 2025, NYUPS (New York Underwater Photographic Society) – the imaging arm of Big Apple Divers – held its first meetup since the pandemic pause, filling the back room at Fred’s on Amsterdam Ave. Hosted by Larry C., Mike R., Adam S., and myself (Hank), it was standing-room only. Around ten presenters shared their underwater images. Most were stills. The energy was exactly what you’d hope for. People were excited to talk only about underwater photography and videography.
My screening: Spiny Devilfish Courtship (Dauin, Philippines)
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3QqCfP2QoVE
I presented a 2-minute short about Spiny Devilfish courtship. It was filmed in front of Atmosphere Dive Resort in Dauin, Negros Oriental, Philippines. It’s a quiet behavioral story – glances, approaches, rejection, persistence – ending in a tense, sandy flare-up. I shot these clips with a Gopro Hero 11
Gear: GoPro Hero 11 + Backscatter Action Cam Sharp Wide Lens
About NYUPS (and how to join in)
NYUPS is a NYC community for underwater shooters — monthly themed shares, friendly critique, and bite-sized talks. The next meeting is planned for late October 2025; the date will be posted on the NYUPS Facebook group.
Share a short video (≤2 min) or 5–10 photos and tell us what you want help with—color balance, macro focus, pacing, lighting… anything. Kindly follow the submission deadline so we can queue everything in advance.
Also, attendance is free. In appreciation for the venue, we ask each guests to order at least one food item and one drink.
#DiveClub #NewYorkUnderwaterPhotographicSociety #NYUPS #spinyDevilfish #UnderwaterVideo
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12 Prized Sea Slugs: A Macro Cinematography Guide
This short underwater macro film brings together 12 sea slugs and nudibranchs filmed on scuba dives in Indonesia, the Philippines, Fiji, and St. Vincent. In about two minutes, the video highlights the extraordinary color, texture, and form that make sea slugs such compelling subjects for underwater cinematography. From tiny leaf-like sacoglossans to boldly patterned nudibranchs, each clip was selected to show how much variety exists across the world’s best macro diving destinations. Use the video and species timestamps below to identify each sea slug featured in the film and explore where each subject was filmed.
The Indo-Pacific Epicenter
In biodiversity hotspots like Lembeh, Anilao, and the Visayas, the density of nudibranch species can feel endless on a single dive. Many of the Indo-Pacific clips in this film were shot on black-sand “muck” sites, using a tripod or carefully braced fin tips to keep the camera rock-steady at high magnification. Subjects like Costasiella kuroshimae often measure just a few millimeters, so small movements or surges can easily ruin a shot.
Caribbean & South Pacific Gems
The Caribbean offers a different palette of “macro gems.” St. Vincent, featured prominently at the 1:25 mark, is a prized destination for divers seeking unique sea slugs that aren’t found in the Pacific. Similarly, Fiji provides stunning reef backdrops that make macro subjects pop against the vibrant soft corals.
Macro Video Techniques Used in This Film
Most clips in this sea slug video were filmed with a dedicated macro lens, small apertures for extra depth of field, and dual video lights to bring out the true colors underwater. I favored manual focus and slow, controlled moves so the viewer can study the nudibranch’s rhinophores, gills, and texture without distraction. For especially tiny subjects, I locked the focus and gently rocked the housing until the critical details popped into focus in the viewfinder.
Latest Videos and Images From The Logbook
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2 Minutes and 12 Sea Slugs
I am incredibly humbled and grateful to have been awarded first place in the Big Apple Divers Video Contest at Beneath the Sea on March 26, 2023. It is an honor to be recognized by such a respected organization in the diving community.
I want to sincerely thank the judges who took the time to review my submission and recognize the effort and dedication I put into my work. I am also grateful for the opportunity to showcase my passion for underwater videography and for being able to share it with fellow diving enthusiasts.
#marineLife #Nature #NYUPS #oceanCreatures #ScubaDiving #seaLife #seaSlugs #UnderwaterVideo #wildlife
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2 Minutes and 12 Sea Slugs
I am incredibly humbled and grateful to have been awarded first place in the Big Apple Divers Video Contest at Beneath the Sea on March 26, 2023. It is an honor to be recognized by such a respected organization in the diving community.
I want to sincerely thank the judges who took the time to review my submission and recognize the effort and dedication I put into my work. I am also grateful for the opportunity to showcase my passion for underwater videography and for being able to share it with fellow diving enthusiasts.
#marineLife #Nature #NYUPS #oceanCreatures #ScubaDiving #seaLife #seaSlugs #UnderwaterVideo #wildlife
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2 Minutes and 12 Sea Slugs
I am incredibly humbled and grateful to have been awarded first place in the Big Apple Divers Video Contest at Beneath the Sea on March 26, 2023. It is an honor to be recognized by such a respected organization in the diving community.
I want to sincerely thank the judges who took the time to review my submission and recognize the effort and dedication I put into my work. I am also grateful for the opportunity to showcase my passion for underwater videography and for being able to share it with fellow diving enthusiasts.
#marineLife #Nature #NYUPS #oceanCreatures #ScubaDiving #seaLife #seaSlugs #UnderwaterVideo #wildlife
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Black and White Underwater – Maldives
The underwater world is full of vibrant colors. As an underwater image-maker, sometimes we need to light our subject to bring out these exciting and rich colors. Occasionally, it is better to go back to basics and produce black & white images. Photographers might do this by shooting film, setting a digital camera to black & white, or converting the image in post.
As some of you might know, I am a member of a NYC dive club called the Big Apple Divers. (You can find out more about our dive club here.) Each month a group of underwater photographers and videographers gather to discuss underwater photography and share our images. Normally we meet at a local bar but due to the pandemic we are meeting by video conference.
This month I presented the video above.
Enjoy!
#BlackAndWhite #laamuAtoll #maldives #Nature #NYUPS #ScubaDiving #UnderwaterVideo #wildlife -
Beneath The Sea, Big Apple Divers and NYUPS
Beneath the Sea is the premier international dive, travel and oceans exposition in the US. It’s held annually at the Meadowlands Expo Center just outside of NYC. BTS overall mission is to provide continuing education to the recreational diver community. It aims to educate the public in the benefits of protecting the ocean environment. BTS also supports ocean and environment-related projects and charities.
Exhibitors from around the world come BTS to promote dive products and scuba diving destinations. Also, a few local dive clubs have booths at BTS to promote regional diving and support the overall dive community. The Big Apple Divers obtained a booth with a video monitor this year. They asked members to submit their work for display during the consumer trade show (March 29-31, 2019). I presented these three underwater videos.
I filmed this ribbon eel off the coast of Tulamben, Indonesia. Accommodations and dive guides were supplied by Bali Dive Resort & Spa.
I shot this young sea turtle while I was shore diving near the Salt Pier in Bonaire. Accommodations, truck rental, and tanks were supplied by Captain Don’s Habitat.
#BeneathTheSea #Bonaire #Indonesia #NYCSeaGypsies #NYUPS #RibbonEel #ScubaDiving #SeaTurtle -
Big Animals & Compact Cameras
Last February, I presented this video at The New York Underwater Photographic Society (NYUPS). NYUPS is the photographic subgroup of the Big Apple Divers. Each month the group meets to share their underwater images. This month the subject was “Big Animals”. I created this underwater video to showcase the biggest animals I have recorded with my Gopro Hero 4 Silver.
I was able to find these underwater animals with help from the following dive operations:
- Whale Sharks in the Philippines:
- NY Dive Travel Group: Ocean Blue Divers
- Resort & Liveaboard: Atlantis Dive Resorts and Liveaboard
- Bull Sharks in Playa Del Carmen, #Mexico:
- Dive Shop: Phantom Divers
- Sea Lions in La Paz, Mexico:
- NY Dive Travel Group: Scuba Network NYC
- Dive Shop: The Cortez Club
- Hotel: La Concha Beach Resort & Condominiums http://www.laconcha.com
- Loggerhead Turtle in the Bahamas:
- Liveaboard: Bahamas Aggressor
- Manta Rays in Costa Rica
- Liveaboard: Okeanos I Aggressor
- Whale Sharks in the Philippines: