Borut Furlan

Role: Underwater photographer, technical writer, equipment developer
Nationality: Slovenian
Born: 1959, Postojna, Slovenia
Based in: Ljubljana, Slovenia
Education: Master of Science (M.Sc.) in chemistry
First appearance: 2005 ([1])
Website: borutfurlan.com

Biography

Borut Furlan is a Slovenian underwater photographer known for his technical expertise, competition success, and contributions to underwater lighting and optics innovation. Born in 1959 in Postojna, Slovenia, he holds an M.Sc. in chemistry and lives in Ljubljana ([2]).

Furlan began diving in 1977 and entered underwater photography in 1979, building his own underwater housing for his first camera. He has used Nikon photographic equipment since 1980, Seacam underwater housings since 1998, and transitioned to digital photography in 2006 ([3]).

He is a CMAS diving instructor level II, ANDI technical Nitrox diver, and underwater photography instructor. His diving has taken him worldwide, from Norway to South Africa and from Colombia and Mexico to Indonesia, the Philippines, Malaysia, and the Solomon Islands, though his primary focus remains the Mediterranean and the Egyptian Red Sea ([4]).

Alex Mustard described Furlan as “(yet another) Slovenian underwater photographer” when referencing his work on the LSD, noting that Slovenia “is located in a rich belt of European underwater photography bordering both Austria and Italy” ([5]).

Publications

In 2006, Furlan presented the first Slovenian underwater photo monograph, a 296-page coffee table book titled “A Journey into the Silent Worlds,” published by Didakta. His work has appeared in National Geographic Slovenia and other domestic and foreign publications, brochures, calendars, and book editions. He has given numerous photo exhibitions, lectures, and multivision slide shows in Slovenia and neighboring countries including Italy and Croatia ([6]).

Contributions

Optimal Macro Aperture Research (2005)

Furlan conducted research addressing the question of what f-stop to use in underwater close-up photography at 1:1 reproduction ratio to obtain the best compromise between depth of field and sharpness loss due to diffraction. He also addressed whether objects underwater appear 1.33 times bigger or 1.33 times closer. This work was conducted with film but remained relevant to digital photographers. Eric Cheng featured the research on Wetpixel in 2005 ([7]).

DX vs. FX Sensor Size Comparison (2011)

Furlan authored a comprehensive technical article for Wetpixel examining whether DX (cropped sensor) or FX (full frame) sensors are better suited for underwater photography. He tested a Nikon D2x (DX) against a Nikon D3 (FX) using equivalent lenses — the AF Nikkor 10.5mm f/2.8 DX fisheye paired against the AF Nikkor 16mm f/2.8, and the AF-S Nikkor 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5 DX against the AF-S Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 VR for wide-angle. For macro, he used the AF-S Nikkor 105mm f/2.8 VR on both. He used the same Seacam dome ports for equivalent comparisons, with Seacam flash units for lighting ([8]).

Adam Hanlon added the article to the Wetpixel front page, and Alex Mustard commented: “I am sure that a real effort involved in doing all those tests. It is very interesting to see things confirmed in underwater tests what many underwater photographers have felt, but not necessarily tested rigorously. I am sure your tests will be widely referenced by the underwater community” ([9]).

Light Shaping Device (LSD) Development (2010-2011)

Furlan played a key role in the early development and testing of the Light Shaping Device (LSD) for underwater photography. In 2010, Slovenian photographer Oskar Marko Music contacted Furlan with a concept for a device that could selectively illuminate underwater subjects from a distance using a lens to project focused light — a significant advance over conventional snoots and fiber optic systems. While Music developed his LSD on a Seacam 250 Digital strobe, Furlan built his version on a Seacam 150 Digital ([10]).

Both devices saw the light of day at the end of October 2010, when Furlan first tested his LSD in the sea. He authored a comprehensive review for Wetpixel in September 2011, explaining the three-module design (light collector, aperture, and projection lens) and documenting advantages over conventional snoots: the ability to illuminate subjects from greater distance without scaring them, focused light with minimal dispersal, and less light loss ([11]).

Alex Mustard later referred readers to Furlan’s Wetpixel review for the theory behind Retra’s LSD technology, noting that Furlan “also helped in the development of the product.” The LSD concept became the basis for Retra Underwater Technology’s commercial LSD Pro and LSD Prime snoots, co-founded by Oskar Music ([12]).

Nikonos RS 13mm Lens Conversion (2014)

In April 2014, Furlan shot test images with a Nikon D800 using Seacam’s adaptation of the Nikonos RS R-UW AF 13mm f/2.8 fisheye lens, providing the sample images published in Adam Hanlon’s article about Seacam’s conversion ([13]).

In May 2014, Furlan authored his own detailed technical article for Wetpixel documenting his independent project to adapt the Nikonos RS 13mm lens for use with modern digital Nikon cameras in a Seacam housing. Unlike a previous adaptation that used a special adapter connecting the lens, camera, and housing, Furlan’s approach started from scratch to avoid engineering risks including potential hydrostatic pressure effects on delicate digital cameras and complicated mounting procedures. He studied the original Nikon patent (U.S. 5579169) to understand the lens structure before developing his conversion ([14]).

Competition Results

Furlan has competed in underwater photography competitions since the beginning of his career. From 1994 to 2003, he won the Slovenian national championship in general underwater photography every year — ten consecutive titles ([15]).

International Competition Results

Expeditions

Furlan participated in the Wetpixel Bahamas Sharks and Dolphins Expedition in 2012, joining trip leader Jason Bradley and fellow photographers Tracie Elliott, Jim Rakowski, Bill Stotzner, Andy Wallace, Chris Dascher, Craig Dietrich, Laura O’heir, and Jenna Slovis on the Shearwater liveaboard ([25]).

Equipment

Furlan has used Nikon photographic equipment since 1980 and Seacam underwater housings since 1998. His DX vs. FX article documented use of the Nikon D2x and D3 with Seacam housings and flash units. His LSD was built on a Seacam 150 Digital strobe, and his Nikonos RS conversion used a Seacam D800 housing ([26], [27], [28]).

Timeline

References

Sources

  1. Wetpixel article, Jun 9, 2005: Optimal Underwater Macro Aperture ↩
  2. Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2011: Review Light Shaping Device ↩
  3. Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2011: Review Light Shaping Device ↩
  4. Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2011: Review Light Shaping Device ↩
  5. Wetpixel article, Feb 18, 2013: Field Review Retra Lsd Prime Snoot ↩
  6. Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2011: Review Light Shaping Device ↩
  7. Wetpixel article, Jun 9, 2005: Optimal Underwater Macro Aperture ↩
  8. Wetpixel article, Mar 18, 2011: Dx Or Fx ↩
  9. Forum thread: Sensor Size In Uw Photography ↩
  10. Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2011: Review Light Shaping Device ↩
  11. Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2011: Review Light Shaping Device ↩
  12. Wetpixel article, Feb 18, 2013: Field Review Retra Lsd Prime Snoot ↩
  13. Wetpixel article, Apr 18, 2014: Seacam Reinvents The Nikonos Rs 13mm ↩
  14. Wetpixel article, May 22, 2014: Insight The Nikonos Rs 13mm Conversion ↩
  15. Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2011: Review Light Shaping Device ↩
  16. Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2011: Review Light Shaping Device ↩
  17. Wetpixel article, Oct 20, 2006: Laups 2006 Contest Winners Posted ↩
  18. Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2011: Review Light Shaping Device ↩
  19. Forum thread: Congrats Wagsy Simon Shawn Carol Etal ↩
  20. Wetpixel article, Dec 3, 2011: Laups Announces Winners Of ↩
  21. Wetpixel article, Jan 7, 2015: 2014 Ocean Art Competition Winners Announced ↩
  22. Wetpixel article, Feb 15, 2018: Results Of Upy 2018 Announced ↩
  23. Wetpixel article, Jan 13, 2020: Results Ocean Art 20191 ↩
  24. Wetpixel article, Jan 23, 2023: Results Dpg Wetpixel Masters 2022 ↩
  25. Wetpixel article, Aug 17, 2012: Trip Report Wetpixel Bahamas Sharks And Dolphins 2012 ↩
  26. Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2011: Review Light Shaping Device ↩
  27. Wetpixel article, Mar 18, 2011: Dx Or Fx ↩
  28. Wetpixel article, May 22, 2014: Insight The Nikonos Rs 13mm Conversion ↩
  29. Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2011: Review Light Shaping Device ↩
  30. Wetpixel article, Jun 9, 2005: Optimal Underwater Macro Aperture ↩
  31. Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2011: Review Light Shaping Device ↩
  32. Wetpixel article, Oct 20, 2006: Laups 2006 Contest Winners Posted ↩
  33. Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2011: Review Light Shaping Device ↩
  34. Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2011: Review Light Shaping Device ↩
  35. Wetpixel article, Mar 18, 2011: Dx Or Fx ↩
  36. Wetpixel article, Sep 2, 2011: Review Light Shaping Device ↩
  37. Wetpixel article, Dec 3, 2011: Laups Announces Winners Of ↩
  38. Wetpixel article, Aug 17, 2012: Trip Report Wetpixel Bahamas Sharks And Dolphins 2012 ↩
  39. Wetpixel article, Apr 18, 2014: Seacam Reinvents The Nikonos Rs 13mm ↩
  40. Wetpixel article, May 22, 2014: Insight The Nikonos Rs 13mm Conversion ↩
  41. Wetpixel article, Jan 7, 2015: 2014 Ocean Art Competition Winners Announced ↩
  42. Wetpixel article, Feb 15, 2018: Results Of Upy 2018 Announced ↩
  43. Wetpixel article, Jan 13, 2020: Results Ocean Art 20191 ↩
  44. Wetpixel article, Jan 23, 2023: Results Dpg Wetpixel Masters 2022 ↩
  45. Optimal underwater macro aperture (article) ↩
  46. LAUPS 2006 Contest Winners Posted (article) ↩
  47. DX or FX (article) ↩
  48. Review: Light Shaping Device (article) ↩
  49. LAUPS announces winners of 2011 competition (article) ↩
  50. Trip report: Wetpixel Bahamas Sharks and Dolphins 2012 (article) ↩
  51. Field Review: Retra LSD Prime snoot (article) ↩
  52. Seacam reinvents the Nikonos RS 13mm (article) ↩
  53. Insight: The Nikonos RS 13mm conversion (article) ↩
  54. 2014 Ocean Art Competition winners announced (article) ↩
  55. Results of UPY 2018 announced (article) ↩
  56. Results: Ocean Art 2019 (article) ↩
  57. Results: DPG/Wetpixel Masters 2022 (article) ↩
  58. Forum: Sensor size in UW photography (forum) ↩
  59. Forum: Congrats wagsy, simon, shawn, carol et al (forum) ↩