Mark Webster has enjoyed a long association with Ocean Optics, making his first purchases way back in 1980 when the shop was based in Battersea. Optics has moved on since those early days through several locations in London before settling in their present impressive premises, co-located with Mavericks Diving. Mark has maintained his relationship throughout whilst developing his own career in underwater photography as a photo-journalist, competitor and workshop instructor.

Mark's credentials are impressive - a well established photo-journalist writing regularly for the major diving, photographic and wildlife magazines. He has also been selected four times to represent Great Britain at The CMAS World Championships of Underwater Photography winning silver and bronze medals. Further competition successes include the BBC/British Gas Wildlife Photographer of the Year and the Agfa Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Blue Earth 2000, Geographical Magazine Photographer of the Year 2000, Ocean Realm Magazine Marine Photo 2000, Diver Magazine Image 2001 and 2003 and Subios 2004 along with numerous other awards.

Mark's books include The Art and Technique of Underwater Photography (Fountain Press) and Diving and Snorkeling Belize (Lonely Planet) and his latest publication Passions - Scuba Diving (Duncan Baird).

Mark has also contributed to many other publications including: The Blue (a UNESCO publication celebrating the year of the Ocean in 1998), Reef Fishes and Corals of the Red Sea (New Holland), The Diving Guide to the British Isles and Northern Europe (White Star), The Blue Planet (BBC), Diving and Snorkeling the Red Sea (Lonely Planet), Oxford Guide to the Camera (OUP).

Mark began teaching underwater photography workshops in 1992 in the Red Sea and soon began to build a reputation for passing on his skills and advice in an informal and productive manner. Since then regular workshops have been held in the Red Sea, Caribbean, Thailand and Indonesia There are normally three dates a year to choose from: two in the Red Sea and one in the Far East - these will be Bali in 2008 and the Philippines in 2009.

The Optics connection has also included two presentations at Visions in the Sea and a previous open day with Mark and his wife Susanna in 2006.

The forthcoming open day on 2008 January 12 will follow a slightly different format to include two technique based presentations, question and answer sessions and an opportunity to have your images critiqued.

The schedule is as follows:

10:30   Presentation - Wide Angle Techniques
11:15   Q&A session
11:45   Break
12:00   Image critique
13:00   Lunch Break
14:30   Presentation - Image Composition
15:15   Q&A session
15:45   Presentation - Susanna Webster

Mark is often accompanied by his wife Susanna who spent many years modelling in front of the camera. Now she has joined the fray with her own compact camera system and is able to tell us first hand that all is not as easy as it looks. She will give us a light hearted insight to the art of UWP from a beginner's perspective.

Image Critique - there will be a short period for image critique which will need to be pre-booked. If you would like Mark to help with problem images please limit your selection to only two images in jpeg format. Please bring these on a jump drive, CD or on your own laptop - please sweep all media for viruses as this has caused problems in the past.

The Ocean Optics day is free but it is necessary to book your place in advance. If you wish to bring images for critique please let us know when you book. Time for this session is limited and will be booked on a first come first served basis.