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Reproduced
from in focus 78 (Spring
2004)
Part
1 - Photographs by Mike Portelly
Between
1976 and 1980, Michael was hooked on photography but knew
little about it. He recalls 'grilling Colin Doeg and Peter
Scoones', and 'pestering Steve Greenaway' in a bid 'to find
out what photography was about!' He remembers being sat in
the BSoUP audience mouth open in awe of what he was viewing.
Not swayed by his ignorance, Michael invested in a Hassleblad
and set about his edification. 'BSoUP was an exciting place
to be - a place of discovery', he claims.
Michael's
advice to underwater photographers these days:
Experiment
and be willing to make mistakes - what you glean from mistakes
is the measure of your learning.
Even if you don't know how to do something, don't be put off
trying.
Don't feel the need to conform. Break away from cliches, toss
aside predictability and be an individual - 'if you feel it,
do it!'
If you use models, choose well and appreciate what you're
asking them to do.
More important than any of these points, however, is to illustrate
environmental issues. 'Tell the world about our abuse', and
'illustrate what impact we're having on the underwater world!'
Michael
also said he was excited about revolutionary new printing
technology that'makes it possible to produce colour prints
unsurpassed for resolution and intensity of colour'. Used
in combination - computer colour grading and 'Giclee' inkjet
printing technology - 'specially pigmented inks will remain
bright for generations!' Indeed, an expected life of 200 years
with the guarantee of 75 years! The images he showed us were
brilliant in their testimony to such a procedure.
See for yourself on his new website www.Portelly.com
Focus
On - Theme portfolio
The
annual Theme Portfolio Competition attracted 14 entries. 84
carefully shot images all jostled and arranged into eyecatching
sets of six, each with fitting titles.
Jamie
Craggs achieved 3rd place with 40 points awarded for his portfolio
'Shoals'. In 2nd place with 42 points -Pedro Vieyra - with
his 'Pelagics' entry of grey reef shark, spinner dolphins,
silvertip reef shark, juvenile humpback and silvertip. But
the winner and proud owner of the BSoUP Theme Portfolio Trophy
2004 with 54 points was Jane Morgan, with a pretty spectacular
six titled 'Dressed Crab': Porcelain crab from Wakatobi, orang-utan
crab from Sipadan, porcelain crab from Mabul, Xeno crab from
Wakatobi, porcelain crab and zebra crab from Komodo.
Congratulations!
Part
2 - The Ocean's baughter by Mike Portelly
In
1980, Mike Portelly made a film exploring new underwater photographic
and diving technology. 'I felt honour bound to make a film
with a strong environmental/spiritual message', he says. 'The
ocean has always commanded a certain awe and reverence as
the place where all life on earth began. In the ancient world
it was seen as the mother of life, and there is nothing that
walks, crawls, swims, or flies that does not have water f
lowing through its veins!'
So
why aren't we doing more? There are many reasons why we slip
beneath the surface, there will soon be many more why we choose
not to.
The
Ocean's Daughter is 'dedicated to the children of the future
in the hope that sanity will prevail'. It's up to all of us
to ensure that we leave them something more than dire bewilderment,
isn't it?
Reproduced
from in focus 78 (Spring
2004)
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