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Each
year the British Society of Underwater Photographers organises
a Beginners Portfolio Competition for the prestigious Diver
Trophy. Any underwater photographer who has not previously
won a place in a national or international competition is
eligible to enter.
Each
submits a portfolio of six slides taken anywhere in the world
to be judged at BSoUP's November Meeting by the audience present.
A record number of entries were received this year and each
of the 40 portfolios was projected in turn using six projectors
on an especially large screen. The 70 strong audience had
a difficult task choosing between a very impressive selection
but finally awarded a total of 28 points to MIKE CATTERMOLE
of Eastleigh, Hants, putting him in third place. His portfolio
comprised a Lion Fish, a Clown Fish, an Angel Fish, two Butterfly
Fish, a poisonous Sea Urchin and a close-up of a Butterfly
Fish, all shot in the Red Sea.
Runner
up, with 46 points was BOB SOAMES of Harrow, Middx. Bob, who
has been diving since 1981, took up underwater photography
in 1984, although he has only taken it seriously for the last
two years. His portfolio ranged from a dramatic wreck shot
off Rathlin Is., to a Puffer Fish in the Red Sea and a Lizard
Fish, a Fan Coral, a Xmas Tree worm and a diver silhouette
taken off Palawan in the Phillipines. Using a Pentax LX with
a 50mm macro lens or 17mm wide-angle lens in an Ikelite housing
with an Ikelite strobe, Bob shoots a variety of film stocks
from Agfachrome to Kodachrome.
This
year's winner of the Diver Trophy and a cheque for £50,
kindly donated by Bernard Eaton, was JOHN LEE from Ashburton,
Devon. His portfolio was awarded a total of 78 points, making
it an outright winner. John has been diving for two and half
years and taking photos for two years. He used to live and
work in Cairo, Egypt joining Cairo Divers to dive in the Red
Sea, where he shot his six slides, the majority in the last
year. These included a Spanish Dancer, a Clown Fish in an
anemone, a Humphead Wrasse, a Seaslug, a White tip Reef Shark
and a close-up of a Feather star. John used a Nikonos V and
a secondhand Sunpak Marine 32 strobe for his winning shots
which are on a mixture of Kodachrome 64
and Fuji 50.
Unfortunately
John was not present at the meeting, but the Diver Trophy
and cheque were carried back to Devon that night and presented
to him next day by a likely lad up for the evening!
BSoUP
BEGINNERS PORTFOLIO COMPETITION |
