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Milazzo,
Sicily
Underwater
Photo Fish Hunt & Underwater Photographic Competitions
by
Greg Cassar
Reproduced
from in focus 54
(March 1995)
Following
our participation in the photo fish hunt competitions held
in Malta and Italy in 1993 (see
In Focus No. 50), Les Kemp and I were invited to participate
in a further event billed as the first world championship
and to be held in Milazzo, Sicily in late 1994. Unlike the
previous events, however, all photographs were to be taken
whilst snorkelling!
For
us the event started in late September when we received our
invitations. At that time we came up against our first problem
- we could not practice, due mainly to the weather conditions
at that time of year. The second problem was one of language,
as the invitation was in Italian and required translation
and to a certain extent interpretation. The bare minimum information
was given and it it was not until we reached Milazzo that
it became evident that aside from the fish hunt there was
also a second completely separate underwater photographic
competition involving the use of SCUBA. Needless to say we
were totally unprepared for this, as we believed we would
only be participating in a fish hunt using snorkelling gear
and had only taken lenses and other equipment appropriate
to that event! Panic set in. Persornal and national pride
were at stake.
Like
the competition in Cefalu in 1993, the timetable was fairly
hectic. We left the U.K. on Friday morning and, after a change
of plane at Pisa, arrived in Cattania, Sicily late in the
afternoon. From Cattania we had a 100 mile white knuckle ride
to our hotel in Milazzo. At 9. 00 p.m. the organisers gave
us a briefing for the photo fish hunt and issued film. We
then adjourned to our room to prepare cameras at close to
midnight. We were awakened at 6.30 a.m. and after breakfast
at 7.00 a.m. were on the beach ready to get on our boat (each
country was allocated its own small boat). We were on site
at 8.45 a.m. and the competition began at 9.00 a.m. and finished
at 2.00 p.m. This event was particularly exhausting because
the entire five hours was spent snorkelling. Add to that,
we were stalking fish and taking photographs. You may begin
to get an idea of what we were up against.
We
returned to the hotel later that afternoon and ate a hearty
lunch. Around 7.00 p.m. the processed films were returned
to the competitors to select their entries and identify the
species of fish they had photographed. After this a late dinner
before the briefing for the next day's competition. We adjourned
to our room to consider our strategy and cobble together enough
camera equipment to make a reasonable showing. Luckily Les
had thought to bring a 20 min lens and dome port. I had brought
slave flash guns and various other bits. Both of us had brought
DVs. Luckily, the organisers were able to loan us back packs.
We were in business.
The
second competition was of a more general nature. Each country
was allowed two participants and each participant allowed
to enter a portfolio of four photographs - two macro and two
wide-angle. The situation was not ideal, but we could compete.
As on the previous day, we began the competition at 9.00 a.m.
and finished at 2.00 p.m. Our processed films were returned
at 7.00 p.m. Les had been asked by the organisers to bring
one of his audiovisual presentations with him and, at this
point, he had to go and set up. Whilst he did so, I made an
initial appraisal of our work and then assisted Les with his
presentation. We were later granted twenty minutes to make
our selection for entry into the competition.
Les
presented his show "Eye Witness" at about 9.00 p.m.
and I have to report that the Italian audience were spell-bound,
not only by the standard of photography in the show but also
by the wizadry employed. The show received a standing ovation
and certainly demonstarted to the Europeans where the expertise
in this medium lies.
The
results of both competitions were posted on Sunday morning.
In the photo fish hunt, Les won the award for the most beautiful
picture and together we came fourth. In the second competition
we acheived another fourth place. A formal presentation followed
with members of the press and television present. We departed
the hotel later that Sunday and were back in the U.K. by 11.00
p.m. that night, ready for work on Monday morning.
Our
thanks go to our Italian hosts, whose hospitality was superb
and who paid all the expenses for all competitors.
Milazzo
Photo Fish Hunt Results
Individual
awards
Most
beautiful picture Les Kemp (U.K.)
Best natural picture Massimo Nicosia (Italy)
Most significant picture Chris Borg Cardona (Malta) |
