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Back
in November 1987 I purchased some tickets for the Diving Diseases
Research Centre Raffle, and them like most people thought
no more of it. Imagine my surprise when in May this year I
received a letter awarding me a one week diving holiday on
board the 'Likely Lad'. This was prize number 27! What was
prize number 1 - but that would be wishful thinking.
It
was at this moment I recalled seeing an advertisement for
two underwater photographic workshops on board 'Likely Lad',
one with Peter Rowlands and other with Les Kemp. It was too
late to consider Peter's week, but after a false start I managed
to secure a place on Les Kemp's workshop during the first
week of September.
Gradually
the time passed and I arrived at Kingsbridge Watersports emporium
to be greeted by Bill and Mary Bunting and meet my fellow
photographers for the week. These ranged from a couple who
had travelled all the way from Switzerland to a young lady
from Ocean Optics (a possible spy in the camp?). Les and Bill
had chosen the week to coincide with a series of neap tides
and, as it turned out, a week of near perfect weather. These
facts, mixed with the ingredients of the dive boat devoted
to photography and a daily processing facility, provided by
Les, should mean we could hardly fail.
The
structure of the 'workshop' was very informal, with Les making
suggestions for the technique of the day and offering advice
as it was needed. For myself, I had planned to spend the week
practising, and hopefully perfecting, the technique of double
exposures. As it transpired, the facilities provided by the
week were ideal for this, Bill Bunting, who is a keen photographer
himself, was endlessly helpful in identifying suitable shallow
water sites, although somehow the wreck of the 'Herzogin Cecile'
seemed to develop a magnetic attraction! Each evening we were
able to view the day's efforts after processing, share constructive
criticism and plan rectification of mistakes or a change of
technique. All this created a very relaxed and productive
atmosphere. Further entertainment was provided by Les's presentation
of his award winning audio-visuals and a picture-of-the-week
competition., which I was fortunate enough to win -although
not with a double exposure!
I
feel the week was a great success and hope that it will be
the first of a regular series of such workshops in the UK
(in fact Bill is promising further dates for 1989). Although
it has been said before, these style of events are essential
in the promotion and advancement of underwater photography
and really must become a regular feature to encourage those
into the sport who cannot afford the attractions of more exotic
locations. My thanks go to Bill Bunting for the diving and
to Les Kemp for his able presentation, organisation and speedy
processing ~ sixteen films a day is no mean feat, as I know
from personal experience. In the meantime I'm hoping my luck
with raffles stays with me.
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