© Gunther Deichmann - www.deichmann-photo.com

Tags: PHOTOGRAPHY, Puerto Galera

Tags: NATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC TRAVELER, Underwater Photography, SAILFISH, Sardines, Gulf of Mexico, Interesting News

Layang Layang, 27 July 2008 - Congratulations to the winners of the
Layang Layang Underwater Digital Photo Shootout 2008!

After six days of friendly competition among 34 competitors from 10 countries, a panel of three internationally acclaimed underwater photographers (Settimio Ciprianni, Stephen Wong and Rod Klein) selected winning images from entries submitted by contest participants.

Each of the participating divers undertook the challenge of creating beautiful and creative images during their dives around Layang Layang, with contest rules permitting everyone to submit up to three images in each of two categories — macro and wide-angle.

Given the world-renowned, rich waters around Layang Layang, as well as the determination and skill of the contest participants, it’s no surprise that Read more…

Letter from Fins Magazine...

Hi Alan, Tommy, Dermot and Bill
The Layang Layang Underwater Shootout 2008 has already finished. The results have been announced in FiNS Blog already. The feedback about PMA from the event was very good. Most of the participants feel like the three prizes from you are the most attractive. Some of them have just heard of Puerto Galera, Truk and Palau, but never considered to visit there. During the event, divers talked about the prizes, and talked about diving in Philippines and Micronesia a lot. In my opinion it was quite effective.

And here are the winners of your three prizes:

Puerto Galera by Asia Divers with El Gallean Beach Resort
and Blue Horizon Travel
Ms. Leander Maree Wiseman (Australia)

Palau with Sam's Tours
Mr George Russel Childress (USA)

Truk Lagoon with Truk Lagoon Dive Center
Mr Adam Daniel Butler (UK)

Tags: Layang Layang, Underwater Shootout 2008, PHOTOGRAPHY, Digital Photo , FiNS MAGAZINE, COMPETITION

The Reflection of Excellence continues...

Great NEWS! Soon to arrive...Aperture 2 at Sam's Tours Palau Micronesia...stay tuned for more updates from Sam's Tours Digital Photo Center.
Surviving for our underwater photographers has just become a lot easier in Palau, Aperture 2 is on it's way, ready for YOU to use.

Sam's Tours Digital Photo Center is the only one of it's kind in Palau, Micronesia and in the Pacific, check out my previous blogs or go direct to Sam's Tours DPC site click this link Sam's Tours DPC.

© Gunther Deichmann - that is how it looks on my personal iPOD

But we offer a lot more at Sam's, now you can upload all your holiday/vacation photos on your iPod, the staff at the DPC will be happy to assist you with all your requirements, the only thing you have to do... bring your iPod, but then who doesn't these days and once back home show your friends and family members on TV how great your last vacation has been. We take away all your hassles, you be organized back home, no more looking for hours on end where you stored these great shots... just switch on your TV and enjoy the show.

We can do the same with your video footage, at Sam's Tours you connected and can concentrate on your diving, we take care of the rest, surviving for all our underwater photographers has just become a lot more realistic and fun.

Now enjoy your vacation, dive the great dive sites of Palau like, Blue Corner and Blue Hole, dont feel like diving...no problem, join Sam's Tours on one of their great land tours by road or take a Kayak trip for a day or two, explore and discover Palau... "The Pearls of the Pacific." and a founding member of the Philippine - Micronesia Alliance. The Divers Choice.

For all the latest info and tips on Aperture 2 please visit Gunther Deichmann's Blog @ http://www.deichmann-photo.com/blog.html

GD

From left to right: Rhea Richardson newly trained and now in charge of operation,
Arnold Munoz, Sam Scott, Dermot Keane and Gunther Deichmann the first day of operation.
All Photos: Hermes Singson

When we arrived we had to unpack, install and fine tune all the six iMac's including the installation of the additional RAM, oh boy... we though all of it had been done prior shipment but to our surprise well... we had to do it.
Installation of the RAM was easy and went through without a glitch, then we upgraded all the iMac's to Leopard since the operating system was all on Tiger, now that was fine too, however we encountered some real problems in upgrading all six(6) iMac's due to the internet connection, that took us about 3 days to finish.
Then we setup all the external hard drives for a perfect back-up system, not to forgot upgrading Aperture to 1.5.6 which was a little cumbersome, the latest update does not work via the 'Software Update', due to a glitch, we had to get it direct from the Aperture site, and after hours of downloading we were finally up and running.
Sam's Tours made available two staff for the training, Rhea a Filipina and Alex a Polish divemaster are now running the Digital Photo Center, after receiving a crash course on the operating system we went straight to Aperture for the remaining days.
The system at Sam's Tours was set up in such a way that customers can give the Compact Flash (CF) cards after the dive to the DPC and the staff will import the images direct into the database of Aperture.

Setting up time- left : GM Dermot Keane, Sam Scott
and Arnold Munoz,
right: Gunther Deichmann and Sam Scott
All photos Hermes Singson, thanks Hermes

Since most of the diver photographers come to Palau for about a week or two, the images are uploaded every day and by the end of the week the staff will prepare a CD/DVD for them to take home.
But now comes the good part, if for what ever reason the customer looses his or her CD/DVD up on returning home, they only have to send an email and request a copy.
This is where Aperture comes in very handy, all images are stored as a project (the project name in this case is the name of the Customer/Diver) as reference files and further backed up again to another drive which is independent.
Customer files are usually kept for about 60 to 90 days, but upon request special arrangements can be made for longer storage, in the DPC two iMac's are set aside for photographer who like to use Aperture themselves, a similar back up and storage system is in place.
All six (6) iMac's are connected in the same network via the Airport Extreme Base Station for file sharing, perfect for photo workshops, we put a lot of emphasis on the back up system, so no matter what happens to your great underwater shots they'll be safe even after you leave Palau.

Aperture installed including your own back up X2
All Photos Hermes Singson, thanks Hermes.

All iMac's are wi-fi connected and have dedicated access to the internet, thanks to Arnold our I.T. guy making the DPC a virtual internet Cafe as well, a Video station is soon to be implemented as well, separate printing via an Epson printer is also available plus external CD/DVD burner with labeling ability.
But there is a lot more... small Canon digital cameras with underwater housings are for rent and some new video cam's are available also, there you have it, diving with Sam's Tours has just gotten a lot better, thanks to the new Digital Photo Center, now you can leave your laptop at home, you are in good hands at Sam's Tours.
To round it up, this is the most complex and efficient Digital Photo Center in Palau, Micronesia, the Pacific and I believe a first in the diving industry, in this part of the world.
Stay tuned for this real great news and info, you won't believe the one from Chuuk Micronesia, the things I came across during my travels....
the title will be "The forgotten ones" related to our partner Truk Stop Hotel and Dive Center, Chuuk Micronesia.
GD

________________________________

We all know the slogan from Sam's Tours...
A reflection of Excellence... now it is...
a Reflection of Excellence continues. (Part 1)
15/01/2008 Sam’s Tours Palau, Micronesia



Photo: Hermes Singson -
Finally... it is done! Gunther Deichmann and Sam Scott,
we did have a few glasses of wine afterwards, celebrating another
mile stone at Sam's Tours.

I know I kept everybody in suspense for about a week, as of tonight it is no longer a secret. It is late, I am very tired but it is done and official, a first for Palau, Micronesia and probably in the Pacific and I guess in the diving industry. Sam’s Tours is open for business, a complete Photography-Internet-Digital workstation entirely run on the latest iMac’s loaded with RAM for our photographers and Aperture users.
It doesn't matter if you an amateur or professional Sam’s Tours is catering for all your needs, like to rent a camera for underwater or above, or a small video cam is not a problem.
Our trained staff can assist you after the ‘dive workflow’, show your images to your friends while still on location with a impressive slide show, burn you images on CD/DVD for you to take home. We offer you all the options, do it yourself or let our staff take care of all your images while you wait and enjoy a cold beer at our Bottom Time Bar.

Photo: Hermes Singson-
A very happy Sam Scott from Sam's Tours
with the newly arrived iMac's

All of this is now possible at Sam’s Tours Digital Photoshop, DSL wi-fi internet connection using Airport Extreme, but most impressive is the photo workstations, not only one but six high end iMac computers with all the software you ever going to need.

We have also installed high-end backups so we can always guarantee that your images will be safe and secure with us after each dive or adventure trip in Palau.
In case you loose your CD/DVD, we backup your images for up to 60 days just send us an email and we will burn another copy of your CD/DVD and post it to you.

Photo: Hermes Singson - Gunther Deichmann training Sam's Tours
staff on Aperture and the digital workflow after the shoot.

For our professional photographers Aperture is installed and if you not familiar with Aperture, you can always use Bridge or Photoshop Elements.

That’s about it for now, I am very tired and need to get some rest, we follow up with part two in a couple of days, and explain in more details of this unique setup in Palau.
Congratulation to Sam’s Tours!
Please stay tuned for more in depths details in my next blog, by the way our commercial shoot at the Palau Pacific Resort is also completed, some more training in the next few days for the staff at Sam’s Tours on the Leopard operating system and of course Aperture, we should be all sweet by the weekend before we proceed to Chuuk (Truk Lagoon)

Photo: Hermes Singson
Five of the six workstations at Sam's Tours Palau

Special thanks to Apple Singapore and the Power Mac Center Manila, for the support in this project, thanks to my staff Hermes and Arnold for the very long working hours in completing this job. Thanks to Dermot Keane the GM from Sam's Tours for all his help and assistance.
Gunther Deichmann is an Apple Certified Pro Trainer and has been on site with his Manila staff in Palau as a consultant, training the staff on the operating system including Aperture, Dermot Keane the GM of Sam's Tours and Gunther have been responsible for the concept and initial set up of the Digital Photoshop Center a first in Micronesia, even Photographers have a better survival rate in Micronesia now, thanks to Sam's Tours.
GD

Stay tuned for part two. (2) or subscribe to our Blog at: http://www.alliancediving.com/blog/
Sam's Tours is a founding member of the Philippine-Micronesia Alliance: http://www.alliancediving.com/

For Photography and Photo Worshop related matters please visit Gunther's website at: www.deichmann-photo.com
The very first Photo Workshop utilizing Sam's Tours new facilities will be held together with Tony Wu and Gunther Deichmann in April 2008, for inquiries please contact Sam's Tours
at: info@samstours.com

Photo: Hermes Singson - From left:
Dermot Keane, Gunther Deichmann,
Rhea Richardson and Sam Scott in the new
total Mac/Aperture Photography-Digital- Internet Center

__________________________________

Direct from Palau Micronesia… more great News!
No it is not the Survivor show, but never less very cool news from Sam's Tours.
A major event is just about to go down at Sam's Tours Palau... great News for... find out on the 15th of January.

If you can guess what is going to happen on the 15th of January at Sam's Tours... the first email with the right answer can win...
...3 days of free diving at Sam’s Tours, Palau.

© Gunther Deichmann - for more images from the
Philippine-Micronesia Alliance destinations please
click the image above.

Clue: It's Simply Digital!

You have 3 days to figure this one out, please send your email to: info@samstours.com

Note:
Sam’s Tours staff, Gunther Deichmann and Team, family members and close associates are not allowed to participate. Sorry guys.

Next week starting on the 13th I be reporting direct from Sam’s Tours from where we will fire up our big surprise. At the moment we are still tied up at the Palau Pacific Resort. After the 15th things will be very different at Sam’s concerning … opps… I almost slipped and let the cat out of the bag, and after Palau around the 18th of this month I am leaving with my web master for Truk Lagoon to prepare for some major work for our Alliance Partner Truk Stop Hotel and Dive Center. January 2008 is a real Micronesia month for us.

Our next blog with the announcement re. Palau will be in the evening on the 15th. 01. 2008
GD

__________________________________________