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How
was it for you?
by
Bill Bunting
Reproduced
from in focus 28. June/July
1988
Well,
it was all that swine Glover's fault really. 'Get yourself
a camera' he said, 'living down here you've got every opportunity.'
After his departure I ruminated. 'Every opportunity for what
?' I wondered, 'Health? wealth? sex? Still, photography, now
that was a thought!'
I
had just moved down to Devon and bought a charter boat and
after twenty years or so of diving, hadn't got much to show
for it. I was never into knocking wrecks about? I'd seen enough
brass and copper scrap in my plumbing days to last me a lifetime.
It would be nice to have some snaps to thumb through in my
old age. But underwater photography though - well, why not?
Hadn't I, many aeons ago, mastered the intricacies of the
Brownie 127?? Can't be any more difficult than that, I'll
give it a whirl.
I
phoned my mentor for advice on camera purchase. No doubt whatsoever
in his mind - start with a Nikonos and maybe go on to a housed
camera later. Get a Nik II or III but not a IV, they leak!
(The Nikonos V wasn't around then).
Much
searching of the small ads followed and, eventually, after
a round trip to the Midlands and back, I was the proud owner
of a Nik II, Oceanic 2000, tray and lightmeter all in a neat
little blue case.
I phoned my mentor again. "Good' was his comment followed
by the cautionary advice 'Don't get too despondent with your
first film, if you get one or two good shots you're doing
very well'.
Armed
with these encouraging words and a roll of Ektachrome 200
I took the plunge into the mysterious world of f-stops, shutter speeds and depths of field. When I collected my film from
the chemists shop I was cock-a-hoop. I always knew, of course,
that I was naturally brilliant but this film proved it beyond
any doubt, I had at least fifteen and possibly twenty really
great shots on that roll! My euphoria lasted until the weekend
when the accursed Glover came to visit. 'One or two good shots
huh!' I said, casually tossing my masterpieces on to the table.
'Take a look at them. ' He did, and, one by one, somewhat
callously I thought, cast them aside until he was left holding
just one. He studied that one again and said 'That one' s
not bad, the rest are rubbish.' Allowing me a moment or two
to pick up some of my fallen ego he said he thought I was
on the right tack and to stick at it. 'Try some extension
tubes or close up - the 35 mm is a bit limited, especially
when the water is a bit murky.'
Now
I had always thought that extension tubes were some sort of
marital aid but Peter Rowlands soon put me right and I became
the owner of a set of gleaming black Oceanic tubes and framers,
not fully appreciating that I had embarked on the long and
never ending voyage to destitution. Somehow or other I was
instantly successful with macro, producing good clear shots
of jewel anemones and the like. When asked how I achieved
such consistent shots I would smile knowingly to hide the
fact that I hadn't really got a clue.
Using
my success with more justification, a close-up kit was soon
winging its way to me from Mr Rowlands emporium. I was rapidly
becoming a gear addict.
Around about this time, Steve Page showed me an excellent
A.V, he had put together. Of course I had seen slide shows
before but never had I seen one picture dissolve into another,
making a third on its way and all set to beautifully appropriate
music, 'That', I said to her of infinite patience, 'is what
I want to do'.
Consultation
with father Glover revealed that the only projectors to have
were Kodak Carousels. A few days later found a rather green,
would be film producer in a photographic store in Plymouth.
'Can
I help?', said the assistant.
'Yes,
I would like a couple of Kodak Carousels please'.
'Oh,
would Sir like the AV something or other or the SAV something?'
'What's
the difference?'
'The
AV etc is several hundred pounds and the other one is even
more hundreds of pounds'.
'Hmm',
I said, trying to regain my composure whilst mentally picturing
my rag clad wife and children shuffling along the snow laden
streets. 'Have you anything else?'
Eventually
I settled for a pair of GAF's, promising myself that I would
replace them at the earliest opportunity. An arm and a leg
later I had an Imatronic fade system, a new tape deck (suitably
converted by Les Kemp) and the first epic production was underway,
What fun, what joy, what frustration and when finished, what
sense of achievement, but if I hear that piece of music just
once more I shall ....
Nevertheless,
I had done it and if no one else liked it, so what - I did.
Since then, I have acquired a wide-angle lens, a flashgun
to cover it and an overdraft. I have assured Mary that my
outfit is now virtually complete but I can see that she has
her doubts. My pictures are not, and probably never will be,
prize-winners, but I like them and I get a tremendous amount
of enjoyment out of planning and taking them. I have a host
of happy memories, Mary and I have both made lots of new friends
and I now throw away my own rubbish. I shall always be indebted
to my very good friend Mike Glover for starting me off and
for his subsequent patience and help.
I
could go on reminiscing about Splash-Ins, Brighton festivals,
Cameras beneath the Waves, my award winning shots that judges
somehow missed etc, but I must finish this article now as
the shop down the road is about to close and I hear they have
an underwater video system in stock. Also, my bank manager
has expressed a desire to meet with me - URGENTLY.
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