BWPA is delighted to announce the 2012 competition is now open for entries. With twelve separate categories, the subject matter covers everything from marine life and animal behaviour to creepy crawlies and urban wildlife.
With a prize fund of up to £20,000 and the overall winner receiving a cash prize of £5,000, the images receiving judges’ commendations will form part of a series of nationwide exhibitions and be included in a book.
Congratulations to BSoUP Member Rico Besserdich who is this year’s World Champion in the UnderwaterPhotography.com 2011/12 Competition!
Rico, a CMAS Instructor Trainer, said 'Underwater photography is a passion & profession for me. Right now, I am living in the Republic of Turkey where I do most of my uw photo work & projects. Beside many other activities in u/w photography I am the head of the "Underwater Photography" department at the Photography Fine Arts Association ( IFOD - Izmir, Republic of Turkey ). Here at UWP I am the founder & the head of the "photo critiques" feature ;-) I started with "normal" photography in 1978, underwater photography in 2001. My more than 3500 dives taught me, that I don't have an favourite divesite. I just want to get wet! I use CANON D-SLRs, Ikelite housing, Sea & Sea strobes & Canon/Sigma/Tokina lenses. More information on my website: www.maviphoto.com'
Congratulations also to BSoUP Members Nick Blake, Paul Colley, Paul Flaudinette, Michael Gallagher and Arun Madisetti.
Michael Gallagher won a Gold Medal in the Topside category and was one of the runners-up in the Macro category. Paul Colley won a Gold medal in the Wide-Angle (Wrecks category), one of the runners-up in the Macro - Close-Up category and one of the runners-up in the Over/Under category. Nick Blake won a Gold medal in the Freshwater category and was one of the runners-up in the Wide Angle - Natural Light category. Paul Flaudinette was one of the runners-up in the Macro - Close-Up category. Arun Madisetti was one of the runners-up in the Wide Angle-Natural Light category.
The amazing two minute video 'What a Wonderful World' narrated by Sir David Attenborough and originally uploaded by the BBC on Dec 7, 2011 on their youtube channel for the UK audience is now avaiable to worldwide at http://www.youtube.com/embed/auSo1MyWf8g
The video is a compilation of clips from Sir David Attenbourough's seminal series.
African Diver - Latest issue
The latest issue of the FREE magazine African Diver is now available to download.
This issue is a tribute to the magnificent diving destination of Aliwal Shoal off the southern coast of South Africa. On a good day, there’s nothing to beat diving the Shoal. Blue waters, an abundance of species, interesting topography and wrecks. The Shoal offers it all: baited diving with tiger and black tip sharks, open water diving with ragged-tooth sharks, exploring and penetrating wrecks and observing myriad species of tropical and temperate fish. If you’re looking for excitement and adventure this issue is just for you. It’s packed with detailed advice on dive sites, dive operators and when to visit the Shoal. We believe it’s a download you’ll keep on your hard drive for years to come.
Wetpixel launches Picture of the Year 2011 contest
Voting deadline: 28th February, 2012
Wetpixel has launched its 2011 Picture of the Year contest. This allows the public to vote for their favorites from all 51 winners of the Wetpixel (POTW) Picture of the Week contest for 2011. The POTW contest never ceases to amaze with the quality, diversity and talent that it produces. The public vote for the Picture of the Year will start today, and run through until 28 February 2012, after which the winners will be announced.
The contest has a fantastic selection of prizes available. Solmar V has offered a trip aboard their luxury liveaboard as first prize and Ikelite, who also kindly provide the prizes for each and every POTW competition, has donated a DS161 strobe for the entry voted into second place. Nauticam USA has provided a $1,000 gift voucher for the third placed image with Reef Photo and Video of Fort Lauderdale, Florida generously giving gift vouchers of $500 and $250 for fourth and fifth placed images respectively.
The contest's voting page is open now so please head on over to wetpixel.com/competition/ and cast a vote for your favorite images of 2011.
EMUP - Next Meeting
Tuesday 7th February, 2012 at 7.30
Nemo's Bar, Stoney Cove
Stuart Gibson - Using Adobe Lightroom for Underwater Photography
Competition: Anything goes (Photoshop crazy)
For this month's competition we are encouraging you to be creative in post processing. Be as extreme as you like. Cut and paste a Great White Shark onto a photo of the Stanegarth. Use some fancy filter in PS to make a van-Gogh or Dali-esque masterpiece of the Red Sea. So basically, anything goes. Only rule is everything in the image has to be yours. So no cutting and pasting other peoples work and passing it off as your own!
The next NUPG meeting will be on Monday 13th February at the Gurkha Grill in West Didsbury.
Ken Byrne will be doing a talk on a Photoshop technique used in underwater photography, John Spencer will be talking about his recent trip to Bali, Indonesia and the competition theme is "and now for something completely different!" Please enter up to 2 images (follow the instructions on www.nupg.org.uk) showing off unusual photography techniques you have used while underwater
Website of the Week - Charles Hood
Charles Hood is Photojournalist, Photographer, Skipper, and Diving Instructor. He is currently the Equipment Tester for the BS-AC's SCUBA magazine.
Charles runs a successful Dive Charter business specialising in Basking Sharks. His RIB Logan is a seven metre (23 feet) rigid hull inflateable boat, which is the preferred option to use for snorkelling as it is easy to get in and out of. She is licensed to carry 7 passengers plus skipper up to 20 miles from a safe haven, which is more than far enough. Although we can take out 7 passengers, if everyone wants to get in the water with camera equipment then 4 is recommended. she carries a full itinerary of safety equipment including oxygen.
The latest issue of BSoUP's magazine 'in focus' has been mailed to all BSoUP members.
Issue 97 for winter 2011/12 includes:- Edtorial by Joss Woolf, Under the Spotlight - Jane Morgan by Joss Woolf, Diving a nuclear test site by Shannon Conway, Glowing Edges by Pedro Vierya, Seal the deal by Rob Bailey, Competition Results, Back to the Maldives by Linda Pitkin, Leena Roy, Neil Rosewarn and Joss Woolf, When they don't play ball by Gavin Parsons, BSoUP Officers 2012 and lots of images.
This issue was edited by Joss Woolf with assistance from Paul Morgan and Mike Russell and produced by Gavin Parsons, to whom BSoUP extends its sincere thanks.
If
you would like to receive printed copies of in focus,
as and when it is published, then why not join
BSoUP.
Some earlier issues are availaible to BSoUP members only as a free pdf download. You will need to login first, if you haven't already done so this session.
Composing Underwater Photographs
by Linda Pitkin
BSoUP Member Linda Pitkin (www.lindapitkin.net) is one of more than 20 underwater photographers and videographers giving 15 minute daily talks in the Underwater Pixel World at Boot in Dusseldorf this week. Her talk covers some of the key areas: rule of thirds, color, perspective, background, framing, movement and patterns, and the talk is illustrated throughout by Linda's images.
On Monday last Adam Hanlon (wetpixel.com) recorded Linda's talk, which you can view by clicking on the image (right) or at Wetpixel on Vimeo.
If you have never attended a course on underwater photography with Martin Edge, he is offering one lucky BSoUP Member a single FREE place on a one day course near Bournemouth. BSoUP will pay £60 for the use of the hotel and pool and Martin will provide his services at no cost to you. You will be expected to pay your travel expenses and accommodation.
To qualify please send a brief statement about your current camera system (camera, housing, lenses, flashes), tell us about your underwater photography background and experience, send us six of your best images and tell us why you think you would benefit from this one-off special offer.
The lucky BSoUP Member who makes the best case will be notified in due course.
Please e-mail your statement and images to info@bsoup.org by 27 March, 2012
Although Martin specialises in courses for dSLR cameras he is willing to offer the course to four thirds and compact camera users as well.
British Underwater Photography Championship (Splash-In) 2012.
The annual British Underwater Photography Championship (Splash-In) takes place on Saturday 14th July, 2012 at Mount Batten, Plymouth.
The competition will run on similar lines to last year's (see Results 2011 and Rules 2011), although a few changes will be made. The Grand Prize for the overall winner is a 7-day live-aboard holiday for two in the Maldives (exclusive of flights and taxes) courtesy of Maldives Scuba Tours. Other prizes and awards will be announced as they are confirmed.
Those attending who have not booked accommodation or a space on a boat should contact Martha Tressler who has some spaces available.
Wildlife Photographer of the Year - Competition 2012 open
Deadline: Thursday, 23 February, 2012
The Veolia Environnment Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2012 has now opened for entries with renowned underwater photographer, David Doubilet, as one of the judges. Categories include: Animal portraits, behavior (mammals, birds and cold-blooded animals), animals in their environment, botanical realms, underwater worlds, wildscapes, urban wildlife, nature in black & white, creative visions and 4 special awards. There is also a youth competition with classes in three age groups.
Deadlines: 3rd, February to 16th April, 2012 - rates vary
The 2012 Blue Ocean Film Festival is calling for entries. The event will be held from 24-30 September in Monterey, California and consists of, firstly, an international film competition which honors all genres of ocean related films. Films from around the globe are selected to be screened and celebrated during the festival and recognized at the BLUE Carpet Awards Ceremony. Secondly, an industry conference is to be held during the festival, and lastly, a conservation summit during which leaders in ocean issues, solutions and policy will head up a series of lectures & panels in conjunction with community educational outreach programs.
The International Conservation Photography Awards (ICP Awards) is a premier worldwide photography event focused on conservation and the environment. The 2012 edition of the biennial juried photo competition, along with awarding cash & merchandise to selected photographers, will include an online exhibit, a 5-month museum gallery exhibit at the prestigious Burke Museum of Natural History and Culture in Seattle, Washington, and publication in national photography magazines and other printed communications.
The competition includes an Underwater category. There are entry fees.
