2018
Key events
A watershed year defined by two seismic shifts: the full-frame mirrorless revolution and the transfer of Wetpixel itself. Within a six-week window in late summer and autumn, Nikon launched the Z6/Z7, Canon launched the EOS R, and Panasonic announced the L-Mount Alliance — effectively ending the DSLR era for many photographers. Alex Mustard was awarded an MBE for services to underwater photography. Wetpixel’s founder Eric Cheng transferred ownership of the site to Adam Hanlon, effective December 1, 2018 — closing a chapter that began in 2001. On the conservation front, the Great Pacific Garbage Patch was found to contain 1.8 trillion plastic pieces, and the Maldivian police demolished Jason deCaires Taylor’s Coralarium sculpture after a government fatwa. Bob Halstead, pioneer of muck diving in Papua New Guinea, died in December.
January
- 2018-01-08: Panasonic announces the GH5S at CES — a cinema-focused variant of the GH5 with a 10.2MP sensor optimized for low-light video, dual native ISO, and 4K 60p. ([1])
- 2018-01-15: Peter Rowlands milestone interview marking UwP Magazine’s 100th issue, reflecting on two decades of underwater photography publishing. ([2])
- 2018-01-19: UW-Fotopartner, a major European underwater photography equipment retailer, files for bankruptcy. ([3])
February
- 2018-02-01: World ShootOut 2017 results announced at BOOT Düsseldorf: Franco Tulli wins the overall competition. ([4])
- 2018-02-15: Underwater Photographer of the Year 2018: Tobias Friedrich wins the overall title with a panoramic image of the Thistlegorm wreck. ([5])
- 2018-02-18: Our World Underwater 2018: Shane Gross wins Best of Show. ([6])
- 2018-02-19: Strobe comparison test published: Inon Z330 vs Retra Flash vs Symbiosis SS2 — a detailed head-to-head of three current-generation strobes. ([7])
March
- 2018-03-05: Seacam Silver D850 housing announced, offering the brand’s flagship build quality for the Nikon D850. ([8])
- 2018-03-23: Controversy erupts around DEEP Indonesia competition: judge Yung-Sen Wu’s winning blue-ring octopus image is alleged to involve subject manipulation, sparking a broad community debate about ethics in underwater photography competitions. ([9])
- 2018-03-23: A peer-reviewed study estimates the Great Pacific Garbage Patch contains approximately 1.8 trillion plastic pieces — a finding widely covered in the Wetpixel community. ([10])
April
- 2018-04-09: NAB 2018: Blackmagic Design announces the Pocket Cinema Camera 4K at $1,295 — a compact 4K cinema camera that immediately attracts interest from underwater videographers. ([11])
- 2018-04-16: ADEX 2018 Singapore: Nauticam unveils the production model of the WACP (Wide Angle Corrector Port); Seacam launches the Sea Flash 60 for Canon with HSS — the first non-Canon strobe to support Canon HSS; Peter Hughes receives a lifetime achievement award. ([12])
- 2018-04-21: SmugMug acquires Flickr from Verizon/Oath, rescuing the photo-sharing platform from likely closure. ([13])
- 2018-04-22: DxO Labs enters receivership, putting the future of its RAW processing software and the Nik Collection in doubt. ([14])
May
- 2018-05-05: Canon Collective and Scubapix co-host an underwater photography event at Heron Island on the Great Barrier Reef. ([15])
- 2018-05-28: Mike Bartick begins an article series on blackwater diving techniques — a growing discipline in which photographers dive over deep water at night to photograph pelagic invertebrates and larval fish. (source)
June
- 2018-06-08: Alex Mustard is awarded an MBE (Member of the Order of the British Empire) for “services to underwater photography” — a formal recognition of his contributions as photographer, educator, and Wetpixel associate editor. ([16])
- 2018-06-23: The Shootout 2018: Team Lembeh wins by a margin of two votes; Galice Hoarau wins the individual competition. ([17])
July
- 2018-07-09: UNESCO removes the Belize Barrier Reef Reserve System from its list of World Heritage Sites in Danger, following legislative reforms to protect the reef from oil drilling. ([18])
- 2018-07-25: Nikon pre-announces a full-frame mirrorless camera system with a new Z mount — formally ending any uncertainty about Nikon’s mirrorless direction. ([19])
- 2018-07-28: Jason deCaires Taylor’s Coralarium sculpture installation opens in the Maldives — an underwater gallery of life-size human forms designed to serve as an artificial reef and meditation on the climate crisis. ([20])
August
- 2018-08-13: Nikon re-registers the NIKONOS trademark, fuelling speculation about a potential revival of the legendary underwater camera line. ([21])
- 2018-08-14: Trailer released for Sharkwater Extinction — Rob Stewart’s posthumously completed sequel to Sharkwater (2006), documenting ongoing shark finning operations. ([22])
- 2018-08-23: Nikon announces the Z6 and Z7 — its first full-frame mirrorless cameras, using the new Z mount with 55mm diameter and 16mm flange distance. The Z7 (45.7MP, $3,400) and Z6 (24.5MP, $2,000) establish a major new housing ecosystem for underwater photographers. ([23])
September
- 2018-09-05: Canon announces the EOS R — its first full-frame mirrorless camera, using the new RF mount. Priced at $2,299, it marks Canon’s entry into a mirrorless full-frame market already contested by Sony and now Nikon. ([24])
- 2018-09-05: Inon D-200 strobe begins shipping — a new mid-range strobe positioned below the Z330, offering guide number 20 at $350. ([25])
- 2018-09-20: GoPro announces the HERO7 line with improved stabilization (HyperSmooth) and live streaming capability. ([26])
- 2018-09-24: Maldivian police destroy the Coralarium sculpture, citing a government fatwa that the human likenesses were un-Islamic. Jason deCaires Taylor condemns the destruction. ([27])
- 2018-09-25: Panasonic, Leica, and Sigma announce the L-Mount Alliance — a shared full-frame mirrorless mount — and unveil the Panasonic S1 and S1R cameras, completing the year’s trio of full-frame mirrorless system announcements. (source)
October
- 2018-10-06: Wetpixel and Alex Mustard co-host a Macro Workshop in Lembeh Strait, Indonesia. ([28])
- 2018-10-16: Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2018: Michael Patrick O’Neill wins the Under Water category. ([29])
- 2018-10-31: Nauticam MWL-1 Macro Wide Lens ships at $1,850 — a water-contact close-focus wide-angle optic for smaller sensor systems. ([30])
November
- 2018-11-05: ONEUW ONE160x strobe announced at €1,468, entering the premium strobe market alongside Retra and Inon. ([31])
- 2018-11-12: Retra announces the Flash Prime and Flash Pro — an updated strobe lineup at €599 and €739 respectively. ([32])
- 2018-11-15: Nauticam NA-Z7 housing for Nikon Z7 ships at $3,450. ([33])
- 2018-11-XX: DEMA 2018 runs in Las Vegas. ([34])
- 2018-11-27: Anilao Shootout 2018 concludes with 241 contestants; Dennis Corpuz named DOT (Department of Tourism) Underwater Photographer of the Year. ([35])
- 2018-11-30: Eric Cheng announces the transfer of Wetpixel ownership to Adam Hanlon, effective December 1, 2018 — ending Cheng’s tenure as founder-owner after 17 years. ([36])
December
- 2018-12-04: Nauticam NA-R housing for the Canon EOS R ships at $3,300. ([37])
- 2018-12-19: Bob Halstead dies — a pioneering underwater photographer and liveaboard operator based in Papua New Guinea, widely credited with popularising muck diving as a genre in PNG. ([38])
- 2018-12-21: Tales by Light Season 3 premieres on Netflix, featuring Shawn Heinrichs among its subjects. ([39])
- 2018-12-26: Japan announces its withdrawal from the International Whaling Commission (IWC), effective July 2019, signalling a resumption of commercial whaling. ([40])
References
- [41] — articles processed for the 2018 timeline
Sources
- Wetpixel article, Jan 8, 2018: Panasonic Announces The Lumix Gh5s ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 15, 2018: Interview 45 Years Of Underwater Image Making With Peter Rowlands ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jan 19, 2018: Uw Fotopartner Enters Bankruptcy ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 1, 2018: Live On Stage World Shootout 2017 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 15, 2018: Results Of Upy 2018 Announced ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 18, 2018: Results Our World Underwater 2018 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Feb 19, 2018: Strobe Tests Inon Z330 Retra Flash And Symbiosis Ss2 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 5, 2018: Seacam Announces Silver D850 Housing ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 23, 2018: Deep 2018 Results Controversy ↩
- Wetpixel article, Mar 23, 2018: The Ocean Cleanup Foundation Releases Starling Results Of Pacific Garbage P ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 9, 2018: Blackmagic Design Announces Pocket Cinema Camera4k ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 16, 2018: Show Report Adex 2018 By Drew Wong ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 21, 2018: Smugmug Acquires Flickr ↩
- Wetpixel article, Apr 22, 2018: Dxo Labs Goes Into Receivership ↩
- Wetpixel article, May 5, 2018: Live Updates Canon Collective Scubapix Imaging Event At Heron Island ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 8, 2018: Alex Mustard Is Awarded An Mbe ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jun 23, 2018: Final Results The Shootout 2018 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 9, 2018: Coral Protections Lead Unesco To Remove Belize Barrier Reef From World Heri ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 25, 2018: Nikon Formally Announces Full Frame Mirrorless Camera ↩
- Wetpixel article, Jul 28, 2018: Jason Decaires Taylor Opens Coralarium In The Maldives ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 13, 2018: Nikon Re Registers Nikonos Trademark ↩
- Wetpixel article, Aug 14, 2018: Trailer For Sharkwater Extinction Has Been Released ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 16, 2018: Seasea Announces Mdx Housing For Nikon Z6 And Z7 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 5, 2018: Canon Announces Eos R System ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 5, 2018: Inon Announces The D 200 Strobe ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 20, 2018: Gopro Announces Hero7 Cameras ↩
- Wetpixel article, Sep 24, 2018: Maldivian Police Destroy Jason Decaires Taylor Sculpture ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 6, 2018: Live Reports Wetpixel Mustard Macro Workshop 2018 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 16, 2018: Result Wildlife Photographer Of The Year 2018 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Oct 31, 2018: Nauticam Ships Mwl 1 Ultra Wide Conversion Lens ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 5, 2018: Oneuw Releases The One160x Strobe ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 12, 2018: Retra Announces New Strobes ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 15, 2018: Nautical Ships Housing For Nikon Z6 And Z7 Mirrorless Cameras ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 15, 2018: Dema 2018 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 27, 2018: Live Reports Anilao Underwater Shootout 2018 ↩
- Wetpixel article, Nov 30, 2018: Change Of Ownership At Wetpixel ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 4, 2018: Nauticam Ships Na R Housing For Canon Eos R ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 19, 2018: Rip Bob Halstead ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 18, 2018: Season 3 Of Tales By Light On Netflix ↩
- Wetpixel article, Dec 26, 2018: Japan To Resume Commercial Whaling ↩
- raw/articles/2018/ (unknown) ↩