UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY - BSoUP - DIVER Print Competition

This year we have teamed up with Diver Magazine to stage this major competition at LIDS in March 2009, and with the London Sealife Aquarium for a four-week exhibition of the entries following in the spring of 2009. Of the prints entered into the competition 80 will be short-listed to be displayed at LIDS and judged by visitors to the show.

Entries for the Print Competition must be sent, with a cheque for the correct amount unless paying electronically, by post to Martha Tressler at the address on the entry form to arrive no later than Monday 23 February 2009. They may also be brought to the February BSoUP meeting on Wednesday 18 February 2009. The Print Competition will be on display at the London International Dive Show (LIDS) 28-29 March 2009, for judging by visitors to the dive show (see below for more details). It will then move to the London Sealife Aquarium as an Exhibit for several weeks (dates to be announced later).

If you wish to pay by Paypal please email a request to mikethediver@tiscali.co.uk (only for overseas entrants without the ability to pay by UK bank cheque or electronic transfer please). Information for payment by cheque or electronic transfer is on the entry form.

Competitors who match one of the criteria above must enter the Advanced categories; all others may enter any of the categories.

All short-listed prints will also be entered in the overall competition for the grand prize to be chosen by a panel of judges.

Anyone who is uncertain whether they qualify as Advanced should consult the BSoUP Committee whose decision is final

The British & Irish category is again being staged in association with The Wildlife Trusts (TWT), which is seeking UK marine images to support its marine activities. This year they are seeking images of with a theme of “Living Seas.” The winner will be selected by staff from TWT. The photographer of the image(s) selected will be asked to allow his / her image to be used by the TWT in its work.

Images entered must not have come first, second or third in a national or international competition, such as BSoUP's Open Portfolio or Beginners' Portfolio Competitions or the BSoUP or St Abbs splash-ins, BUIF, BSAC Travel Club, U/W Photographer of the Year, Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Marine Conservation Society etc.

All images must have been taken within the three years prior to Saturday 28 March 2009.

One copy of each print should be supplied unmounted as it will be mounted by the organisers.

Prints (including borders) must be no larger than A4 size. Only include borders if you want them to show.

Prints shall be genuine underwater photographs i.e. not from a fish tank.

The entrant must be the photographer.

A maximum of three prints may be submitted per entrant, no more than two in a British & Irish category and two in an Overseas category.

Prints will not be returned.

On the reverse of each print along one edge you must put an arrow clearly showing which direction is up. Do not write anything else directly on the reverse of the prints

Attach a post it note or a piece of paper using a small piece of sellotape to the reverse of each print with the category, entrant’s full name and an identifying number 1 to 3. NO SELF-ADHESIVE LABELS – MUST BE ABLE TO PEEL OFF EASILY!

In addition, a single piece of paper must accompany the prints, headed with the category, entrant’s full name, and containing for each print (using the identifying number referred to above) the category it is entered in, the subject, the location taken and the camera used.

All entries must be sent to Martha Tressler, 109 Lisbon Avenue, Twickenham, Middlesex TW2 5HL with a completed entry form to arrive no later than Monday 23 February 2009. Entries may also be brought to the May BSoUP meeting on Wednesday 18 February. Payment must accompany entries unless paying electronically.

80 short-listed prints, chosen by a panel of judges, will be displayed at LIDS 28-29 March, for judging by visitors to the show. An independent panel of judges will also award the grand prize.

BSoUP reserves the right to publish winning images both in the Society magazine and on its website. Winning images may also be used in future promotional material for the event royalty free, but copyright remains with the photographer. BSoUP may ask for a digital version of the image to be provided.

The organisers' decision on any matters arising from these rules shall be final.

All prints entered in all categories will be eligible for the grand prize of a one week diving holiday in the Red Sea from either London or Manchester donated by Oonasdivers. The best of show will be selected by an independent panel of judges.

The winning British & Irish Print will receive the Ocean Optics Trophy, a £250 voucher to spend at Ocean Optics, and a one year family membership to the London Sealife Aquarium.

The winning Overseas Print will receive the Cameras Underwater Overseas Print Trophy, a £250 voucher to spend at Cameras Underwater and a one year family membership to the London Sealife Aquarium.

The winning Advanced British & Irish Print will receive the Alan James Photography Print Trophy, £250 Oceanic voucher to spend on any of their products, and a one year family membership to the London Sealife Aquarium.

The winning Advanced Overseas Print will receive the Mike’s Dive Stores Overseas Print Trophy, a £250 voucher to spend at Mike’s Dive Stores, and a one year family membership to the London Sealife Aquarium.

The winner and runner-up in each category and the winner of the grand prize will receive individual acrylic trophies.

The winner selected by The Wildlife Trusts in the British & Irish and Advanced British & Irish categories will receive an acrylic trophy, a year’s free membership to TWT and a copy of The Unnatural History of the Sea, signed by the author, Professor Callum Roberts.