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ANNUAL
GENERAL MEETING
1. Apologies for absence - Hilary Driscoll
2.
Minutes of A&M 2000 - Pat Morrissey
3.
Matters arising from AGM 2000 - none
4.
Membership Secretary's Report
Peter
Tatton reported current membership numbers down on the last
f inancial year. Of the 54 new paid members, 39 renewed their
membership.this financial year. 27 new members joined BSoUP
this financial year. Numbers, working on postal addresses
as opposed to individuals, numbered 216 (approximately 240
members in total including 7 honorary members).
5.
Treasurer's Report - Hilary Driscoll
Peter
Tatton on behalf of Hilary Driscoll A reminder to all those
who have yet to amend their standing orders for club membership
-your current payments can only be accepted as 'donations'.
If
you wish to continue to receive your copies of In Focus please
amend your payments; within a 50 mile radius of Central London
- £25.00. Outside the 50 mile radius £20.00 Overseas
members £23.00
It
is accepted that the annual Splash In and Fish Hunt are not
run to make a profit, merely break even.
Monies spent on the BSoUP magazine In Focus are deemed monies
well spent and there should be no objections to spending more
should it be necessary.
Funds
for 2001 saw a shortfall of income of f?500.00, however, expenditure
for 2001 was also lower, in the region of E500.00. It is thought
that to ensure the smooth running of the club, available funds
should not fall below E5000.00.
6.
Chairman's Report - Colin Doeg
An
appeal for competent participants for the two day CMAS event
in France next year. Applicants should be experienced in 'day'
events to compete. The five categories are; wide angle (with
model), wide angle, macro, specialised macro and fish portrait.
Another
appeal for those interested in the Swimming Pool Championships.
CMAS are running the pool event and the open event on alternate
years.
Changes
to next years Splash In - thoughts are to discontinue the
Fish Hunt but to include another category in the Splash In
event.
Plans
to run a 'Red Sea Shoot Out' have been shelved. It was thought
to be a little unfair to those unable to attend. A special
category may be included in the BSoUP year for one of the
monthly meetings.
Paul
Kay together with the MCS are planning a Code Of Conduct for
underwater photographers. Although some aspects of the codes
may prove unpopular, BSoUP is to show responsibility and
support and draft the code.
The
fall in membership is acceptted. With the evolution of other
photography clubs around the country (BSoUP encourages these)
the fall is predicted. Influence from the USA - Afghanistan
situation may also be partly to blame. The low turn out for
this year's Spalsh-in could be down to low publicity - the
uncertainty of Bovisand's future the main reason for this.
The event itself is far from 'remarkable'. Maybe a change
of format, paid advertising, or some innovation to make it
more appealing?
9. Any other business - none.
Beginner's
Portfolio for the DIVER Trophy
Best
Beginner's Portfolio attracted 17 entries this year, all jostling
for a chance to bag the Diver Trophy (the silver clam, spoon
warmer) the shield and the £100.00 cheque donated by
Diver magazine. And a magnificent display it was too, far
from my interpretation of 'beginner'. Bold colours, bountiful
marine life, and an abundance of creativity enough to satisfy
anyone beyond the 'beginner' category.
In 4th place, with 29 points - Ewan Shearer. Holding 3rd place
with 41 points - Jukka Nurmminen, with an outstanding exhibition
of freshwater opportunities -lilies, diver silhouettes and
good moody freshwater scenery. 2nd place with 54 points occupied
Mary Jelliffe with a masterly mix of frogfish, children, jacks,
pigmy seahorse and an emperor shrimp. But the winner of the
2001 Best Beginner's Portfolio with a massive 80 points, Bristol
Group guest Cathy Lewis and a worthy offering of clown fish
and glass fish, clam mantle, tubeworm, green coral and frogfish.
Fantastic!
Congratulations
to all for such a high standardl
Deep
Wreck Photography by Leigh Bishop
Many
of you will have read about the 1998 expedition to the wreck
of the Brittainic. Many of you will have seen some of the
images from the seabed at 120 metres, but have any of you
wondered about the implications of such a photographic venture,
or of the man behind that article and others on deep ocean
wrecks?
Well,
imagine yourself and all your photo kit, now add twin 20ltr
cylinders plus 2 x 121tr side mounted cylinders, make a jump
entry of several metres, descend to 120 metres for twenty
minutes bottom time and then spend around five hours at deco
stations! This is precisely, what Leigh Bishop has been doing
regularly. In a bid to bring reader something 'different',
Leigh has mode regular visits to the deep "I compile
articles on wrecks, including the Brittannic and, more recently
the Charybdis.
I had little photographic knowledge," Leigh explained.
" I had borrow a camera and a strobe... I didn't even
know the depth rating the cameral I just parked up my scooter
and took photographs." But the photographs were an essential
part of what Leigh had in mind. He had hurdles to scale to
be able to produce the sort of article he wanted to put his
name to; the knowledge of deep technical diving, to build
his own confidence, wreck research and of course, the photography.
And, through much trial and error Leigh managed a series of
successful shots that began to build him into the self-sufficient
photojournalist he aspired to.
"I
got my best results on aperture priority initially,"
Leigh explained and went on to praise the versatility of 400
ASA film, vowing to continue its use while projecting image
after image of deep dark wreck. The photography did progress
and subsequently Leigh decided to buy his own kit - F90X in
Aquatica housing, 20mm and 60mm lenses and a variety of strobes
including the Sea & Sea YS 300 and 120.
"My
pictures were improving," (his confidence too), "and
I often found myself switching to manual." Leigh had
visions of the shots he wanted and called himself an, 'image
creator'. Some of those images, from the Lustiana '99 expedition
graced the screen, equally rewarding and atmospheric, testimony
to Leigh's determination. But what next? The experiments with
photography go on. The deep wrecks will be visited and the
articles will follow.
All
that Leigh needs to do now is,"to get those technical
divers out of those black suits! ... Colour photography needs
colourl"
We
wish you luck!
A
superb evening once again!
Reproduced
from in focus 73 (February
2002) |
