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Beginners Portfolio competition 1984

Winner - VIV PEARSON

by Brian Pitkin

Reproduced from in focus 7 (December 1984)

The Beginner's Competition for the Best Portfolio, organised by BSoUP and sponsored by DIVER Magazine, has been held annually since 1980. In that year GRAHAM PATTIE emerged a clear winner with six slides varied in character. The following year BRIAN HUMPHRIES won the DIVER Trophy with six slides taken in British and 'foreign waters.

Six slides shot in the Red Sea won the Trophy for MIKE VALENTINE in 1982 and last year saw the first lady winner when LINDA PITKIN received the Trophy for her portfolio taken in British and foreign waters.

This year the trend set by Linda continued when VIV PEARSON beat thirty-eight other beginners to win the DIVER Trophy and a cheque for £50 donated by BERNARD EATON, Diver's editor, and two tickets for 'INNER SPACE 84', an audio visual extravaganza, donated by MIKE VALENTINE.

David George presents the DIVER Trophy for the Best Beginners Portfolio to Viv Pearson.

Viv has been diving for ten years and is a first class diver and advanced instructor. She is an active member of Holborn BSAC and has served as their diving officer in past years. Encouraged by MIA BUEHR and KEN VAUGHAN, Viv has been taking photographs underwater for about five years, but in line with conditions of entry has never won a major photographic competition.

Her winning portfolio (to be published in January's issue of DIVER magazine) was taken in the Gulf of Aqaba using a Nikon fwith an Action Finder in an Ikelite housing with a Subatec S100 or Vivitar 283 in a housing.

All but one of her six winning slides were taken this year, only weeks before the competition, on Ektachrome 64 and 106 film. Viv, who was 'surprised and shaking like a leaf' when the results were announced hopes to travel abroad again next year as well as continuing to dive in home waters.

Second and third places went to ROBERT DINWIDDIE and CHARLES HOOD, with BOB BRAY in fourth place, only two points behind Charles. The overall standard of entries was high, with most portfolios having some excellent shots.

The Society would like to thank all participants and hopes that you all continue to enjoy taking photographs underwater for many years to come.

BSoUP BEGINNERS PORTFOLIO COMPETITION