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Those
were the days
by
Colin Doeg
Reproduced
from in focus 44 (Apr.
1992)
Colin
recalls the formation of BSoUP 25 years ago this year [1992].
Really
Peter Scoones and I should be writing this together. Because
the launching of BSoUP and its early success was very much
a joint effort.
However,
it happened by accident. Peter and I had each entered a photographic
competition run by a diving magazine which, sadly, is no longer
in existence. After the contest had been judged, some transparencies
were posted by mistake to my home. They belonged to a photographer
called Peter Scoones.
I
didn't know him at the time, but I knew that he had won a
gold medal for an 8 mm film at the Brighton Film Festival
a short time before! And I knew I wanted to meet him, especially
as he did not live far away - North London compared with South
London, where I was living.
So
off I went with the trannies. I knocked at the door of his
house ... and we never got off the doorstep for something
like three hours. We were too busy talking about underwater
photography and another idea which had been buzzing around
in each of our minds - an organisation for underwater photographers.
We
found we both complemented and inspired each other in our
ideas, our contacts, and in the skills and enthusiasm necessary
to launch such a body.
The
outcome of that chat and subsequent phone calls was a notice
sent to many diving clubs and people who we knew which declared
"Because
of the widespread interest among British divers in underwater
photography it is proposed to hold a meeting to discuss the
formation of a society to enable closer co-operation among
all those interested in this branch of photography."
"The
proposed society would also foster and stimulate interest
in underwater photography in all its aspects."
"The
idea of forming such a society has resulted from talks with
many divers. The general feeling is that a society should
provide a forum for the discussion of ideas and problems associated
with underwater photography in any way."
"It
should also foster interest in all aspects of underwater photography
as an art by holding exhibitions of work representative of
the trends and techniques".
"The
society would also be concerned with developing techniques
and equipment for use underwater".
"in
particular, the society would be open to anyone interested
in underwater photography and not in any way limited to an
experienced few."
Recipients
of the notice were urged to display it on their club notice
boards and then Peter and I waited for the response.
Meeting
It
came in the form of a meeting in Peter Scoones' front room
attended by 16 people. Among them were Dr John Betts, Mike
Busuttili, Tim Glover, Geoff Harwood, Kendall McDonald and
John Meredith.
The
minutes record that the meeting was "called to bring together
a society for underwater photographers and others interested
in the field."
They
went on to state that the meeting started with an 'informal
discussion' - you should have been present for some of them
-on items that those present considered such a society should
attempt."
We
were thrilled by our visions of the future. And our ideas
were suitably wide-ranging and far-sighted. They were:
*
Making an arrangement with a photographic agency to handle
member's work.
*
Formation of a print/slide clinic to help members who would
like advice on their work.
*
A postal portfolio of underwater photographs.
*
The holding of meetings to discuss problems, exchange ideas
and show photographs and films.
*
Formation of a Technical Exchange Service to put members in
touch with others who wanted assistance or had information
that might help others.
*
Investigation of the possibility of underwater photo-safaris
to more equable climates.
*
Provision of a forum where members could air their views and
complaints.
BSoUP
christened
It
was agreed that the Society should be called The British Society
of Underwater Photographers and Kendall MacDonald, with the
agile mind of a Fleet Street national newspaper editor, promptly
pointed out that it would be known henceforth as BSoUP, which
a pretty good description of the stuff we dived in and which
we attempted to get recognisable images.
The
annual subscription was set at three guineas "payable in advance".
Now there was a touch of class. Guineas. For those who haven't
heard the term, a guinea was one pound sterling and one shilling
in real money.
The
first officials were:
Chairman:
Colin Doeg
Secretary:
Peter Scoones
Treasurer:
Juliet Scoones
Committee
Members: Geoff Harwood, Tim Glover, Kendall MacDonald, Don
Allen and Phil Smith.
It
was decided to hold the first meeting of the Society on 5
December 1967 at 7.30 for 8.00 p.m. Members were asked to
bring six pictures for display ... and so began the scurrilous
suggestion that BSoUP was only formed so that we could show
each other our prints and slides! It was also decided that
the Society should have a symbol. Various members undertook
to think of ideas.
BSoUP
logo
Kendall
MacDonald went back to the newsroom of the now defunct London
Evening News and explained the problem to one of the newspaper's
artists. Without hesitation, he said "This is what you want"
The
genius then did a few scribbles on a piece of paper .. And
so was born the outline of a fish in the middle of a frame
sight.
With
a burst of generosity, we rewarded the designer with a packet
of twenty fags for his work. Today the creation of a logo
and a house style would cost a packet ... of money.
Early
days
For
those involved at the outset, they were exciting times as
we bubbled over with our visions of the future. Some have
been achieved already. In fact most have. Others are still
to be fully met.
Above
all ease commercialism and competitiveness had not emerged
to the same extent, so everyone was eager to share ideas,
talk about techniques and help each other produce better results.
Because
those were days when it was a triumph to produce a recognisable
image of the underwater world .. even if it took you several
years to manage it the first time. The formation of BSoUP
and the forum it provided began to help people to produce
satisfactory results much more quickly.
Over
the years, underwater photography has leapt ahead, but I always
hope that those who take it up will continue to have as much
fun and excitement as the founders of the Society, which is
now world-wide in its membership and influence.
Reproduced
from in focus 44. MarApr. 92 with kind permission of Colin
Doeg. |
