My portfolio
Arthur Kingdon
I started diving way back in 1968 and, being a keen land photographer, it was not long before I had an underwater camera. A Nikonos 11, costing £75 second hand (a month’s wages then), complete with standard lens and no flash, lasted for about four rolls of film before it was damaged beyond repair – one of the ‘helpful’ shore party at a Kimmeridge Bay dive, used it to break his fall on the rocks. My results had not impressed me anyway and I had no spare cash, so that was the end of my underwater photography. So, for the next thirty years, it was lump hammer and crow bar, which fitted in much better with the other members of my dive club.
A trip to Newfoundland in 1999, and a close encounter with a humpback whale, convinced me that I needed to get another underwater camera – also, I was getting bored with being a wreckie. A Nikonos IVa with SB 101 came my way and back I went to Newfoundland the following year. Of course, the humpback whales now kept their distance but I was sufficiently encouraged by the results to purchase a 20mm lens. The Nik IVa was replaced by a Nikon F4 in an Aquatica housing (loved it apart from the size) and that was followed by a D100 in an Aquatica housing (still a big lump) - my enthusiasm for diving and u/w photography had increased considerably.
I joined the Bristol Underwater Photography Group www.bupg.co.uk in 2003 and that was when my results started to improve. With lots of experience amongst the members, Alan James in particular, I was able to learn from them and started to produce images that were a bit more than just a record shot. However, I feel I still have a long way to go and would love to have the creativity and flair of photographers such as Alex Mustard.
I am keener than ever to get underwater and now do several overseas trips each year. However, when I look back over the past few years, my favourite images have often come from diving in British waters; usually the product of just a day trip to the south coast or a few days in St Abbs.
Although I have been pleased with some of my British images, I do not have an extensive portfolio so sorting out six for this competition was not that difficult. However, I was very lucky with how they went together and it was all done in an hour or so. I feel a portfolio should show a variety of techniques from macro to wide angle, available light and flash illumination, as well as a variety of subjects. I reversed a couple of shots to balance the portfolio as far as diagonals and composition were concerned but that was about it. This was the first BSoUP competition I have entered and I am very encouraged by the result.
Image details from top left, clockwise: |
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3. Compass Jellyfish - Nikon D100, 12 – 24mm Nikkor, 1/1000th f8, available light. A trip to Lundy in August 2006 found poor viz and not much by way of contact with the seals. However, on the way back to the boat, there were several jellyfish and I took a variety of shots. This one fitted the portfolio after reversing the image. I liked the shape of the tentacles, the juvenile fish hiding within, and the sun rays in the water. |
