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News - October 2004

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2004
BSoUP Focus On Final 2004
Cousteau film needed
October BSoUP meeting

Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2004

Congratulations to Doug Perrine Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2004 organised by BBC Wildlife Magazine and the Natural History Museum. Doug also won the Underwater World category with the same winning image of a Bronze whaler and was runner-up with a second image of a Bronze whaler

British underwater photographer and BSoUP member Charles Hood was highly commended for his image of a Great hammerhead shark (right).

Other Highly commended images include Spotted ray face, School of crescent tailed big-eyes, Hawksbill turtle eating soft coral, Giant fishing spider and Harp seal pup learning to swim.

An exhibition of all of this year's winning and highly commended entries at the Natural History Museum, London is open from 23 October 2004 to 17 April 2005. Adults £5, £3 concessions, £12 Family.

Great Hammerhead taken in the North Bahamas. Nikon D100, 28mm lens, Sea & Sea housing, 1/350th sec f8, ISO200 natural light.

BSoUP Focus On Final 2004

Congratulations to Charles Hood who won this year's Focus On final with a digital image of a Great Hammerhead Shark (right).

It is a silhouette of an eleven foot Great Hammerhead. "What happened was as soon as it appeared everyone swam away from the boat to try and get nearer to the shark for a closer shot. However, all this did was to push the shark further away into the blue. I remained on my own a few metres away from the stern just underneath the bait. I noticed that the other divers were now so far away from the boat that the shark swam round them and straight for the bait".

"So I descended to try and get the shark head on. Instead it turned parallel to the transom and at the same moment the boat pitched severely on a wave creating the white foam back drop. I didn't notice the pilot fish until I viewed the image later on my MAC".

Alex Mustard came second, also with a digital image (right). His picture "Dancing Pygmies" is a composite of 4 shots taken in the Lembeh Strait with a Nikon D100 and 105mm lens and +4 dioptre. Pygmy seahorses are a common photographic subject and in an effort to try something new Alex specifically shot this sequence with a composite in mind - and had made this image on his laptop within 30 minutes of surfacing.

Alex said "I didn't use a focusing torch because I have found that pygmies don't like it and tend to turn away from the camera, and so I was impressed that the D100 AF was able to track the pygmy without losing focus". 1/180th @ f38 (virtual aperture).

Cousteau film needed for Film Festival.

If you have a copy of Jacques Cousteau's film with an English commentary featuring, amongst other striking behaviour, sharks feeding on squid and an octopus using its tentacles to unscrew a jar to access food, then please contact Michael-Portelly@excite.com. The film is needed by André Laban (see www.cinemarine.net/cinemarineGalery/index.php) for a film festival.

October BSoUP meeting: Wednesday 20 October at 7.30 for 8.00 p.m.

The Holland Club, Imperial College, London SW7 5BD.

FILM & TELEVISION LIGHTING IN U/W PHOTOGRAPHY - CHRIS MORRIS

Chris will explain his use of film & television lighting in u/w stills photography. All his work is captured with continuous lighting and he has not used flash/strobe lighting for 8 years.

Chris is an established, London based fashion photographer. Innovative use of lighting supported by a solid grounding in photographic technique has enhanced his profile and ensured a growing reputation in this highly competitive market. He is a respected lecturer in Fashion Photography at the London College of Fashion and is retained by Messrs Kodak to lecture their clients and students.

Additionally, Chris is a respected underwater photographer. His underwater fashion work is featured on the Polaroid 2001 calendar and the television series London's Burning. His work is also featured in a new Hollywood action thriller 'Mind Hunters' directed by Renny Harlin and due to premier in the USA this November. His current clients include Vogue (Spanish), L'Oreal, Laura Ashley, Kodak, Polaroid, Intercontinental Hotels and Ministry of Sound.

Check out Chris's work on his website www.smilecheese.com

FOCUS ON COMPETITION - FOCUS ON FINAL 2004

The 1st and 2nd winning pictures from the 'focus on' competitions during 2004.

BEST OF BRITISH

The 'Best of British Portfolio' competition will take place at the next London meeting on Wednesday, 20th October 2004. This is in addition to the '2004 Focus On Final' already described in the monthly bulletin.

'Best of British Portfolio' is open to members only. Each entry must comprise 6 35mm slides taken in British waters by the entrant. Photos taken in an aquarium or pool are NOT eligible.

The winner will receive the BSoUP Best of British Trophy and a cheque for £100 donated by Sport Diver Magazine, who reserve the right to publish the winning portfolio.

If you would like to enter but are unable to attend the meeting next week please send your portfolio as soon as possible to:

BSoUP Best of British Portfolio
25 Bemish Road
Putney
London
SW15 1DG

DIGITAL, FILE USAGE AND THE FUTURE - PAUL KAY

Paul has been using digital cameras above water for several years, and for nearly a year underwater. He will discuss the tremendous advantages that digital provides together with the downsides, and will also explore the difference between file optimisation and manipulation - and there is a dramatic difference. Paul believes we live in truly fascinating times photographically and will also look towards the future, attempting to focus attention on where we are at and what may or may not happen next.

Paul has been diving for over 20 years and started taking photographs as soon as he learnt to dive. He has a degree in scientific photography and has also attained the highly respected FRPS (Fellowship of the Royal Photographic Society), achieved with the first digitally printed submission of temperate underwater photographs in the Nature category. He is the author of 3 books (The Shallow Sea of Wales, Lundy (for English Nature) and Underwater Photography) and has illustrated several others. He is the accomplished recipient of a variety of awards for underwater photographs - mostly temperate. A holder of an HSE Part 4 Commercial Scuba certificate (as is his wife, Lucy), he has worked for independent film companies as well as the BBC as a videographer. Together with operating as a freelance photographer, he is the Seacam dealer for Britain and Ireland. He specialises in temperate underwater photography and also runs workshops and courses.

Check out Paul's websites: www.marinewildlife.co.uk and www.underseacameras.com

Gill McDonald

The Blue Dolphin of Malta 2004

International Underwater Photographic Competition

October 2004

The Federation of Underwater Activities  Malta (F.U.A.M) welcomes you to the Maltese Islands and invites you to participate in the 11th edition of the Blue Dolphin of Malta international underwater photographic competition. This edition is being held on the beautiful sister island of Gozo from the 9th to 14th November 2004.

For five days, competitors and their models, judges and journalists from various countries, are meeting to respectively share and exchange, the pleasures and knowledge of capturing the beauty and wonders of the Mediterranean Sea. All will once again dive into Maltese Islands clear blue waters and shoot on film  to capture not to kill - the beauty, colour and grace of the blue!

The Blue Dolphin of Malta became, and still is a very important and renowned event throughout the international diving community. Every edition has been graced by the presence of internationally known personalities like the late Jacques Mayol, Peter Scoones, Pelizzari, Pipin, and international judges like Lionel Pozzoli (France), Linda Dunk (UK) and Vincenzo Di Martino (Italy). This year will not be an exception.

The Blue Dolphin of Malta is an excellent opportunity to discover the beauty of the Mediterranean Sea and the marine environment in general. The waters around Gozo are famous for their clear blue waters, cave and deep diving.

Each competitor will compete over two days (six hours), to present a set of three slides. The slides must include one macro or close up (all subjects except fish), one fish (macro or close up) and one wide angle (ambient).

A Disposable Camera competition is being included again to attract more divers to this speciality and encourage them to discover underwater

photography. Finally, for the first time, a Digital underwater photography competition is being organized for all those digital enthusiasts.

The 11th Blue Dolphin of Malta International Underwater Photographic Competition is organised by FUAM in collaboration with Malta Tourism Authority (MTA), Malta Olympic Committee, our official carrier Air Malta, Malta Maritime Authority (MMA), FUJI and St Andrews Dive Cove, SEA & SEA . Many thanks to all the other sponsors and other partners; without them there will be no Blue Dolphin of Malta.

For further information please visit our website www.fuam.org or contact FUAM on fuam@digigate.net or tel. 00356 99424275 or fax 00356 21578167

Comprehensive Nikonos V cameras, lenses and strobe kit for sale. All little used, boxed & in superb condition.

Comprising

1/ Nikonos V (orange) body + spare seals  boxed with manual

2/ Nikonos V (green) body + spare seals  boxed with manual

3/ UW Nikkor 15mm f2.8  boxed etc (current new price £1,695)

4/ Nikonos 15 dedicated viewfinder  boxed etc (current new price £299)

5/ UW Nikkor 20mm f2.8  boxed etc (current new price £799)

6/ Nikonos 20 dedicated viewfinder + 28mm mask  boxed etc (current new price £199)

7/ UW Nikkor 28mm f3.5  boxed etc (current new price £399)

8/ Ikelite Nikonos viewfinder with 15, 20, 28, 35mm masks  boxed etc

9/ LW Nikkor 28mm f2.8 

10/ Ikelite Substrobe 225, [v.powerful with wide coverage to suit 15mm Nikkor]

11/ Ikelite Quick Charger 4052 for the above

12/ Ikelite Nikonos substrobe brackets, grips, extension arm, 2xleads and accessories for Nikonos&

13/ Ikelite large padded hard case for substrobe & accessories&

Underwater Photography is a web magazine edited by Peter Rowlands with articles by BSoUP members and others.

The October/November 2004 issue of Underwater Photography (UwP no. 21) is now available for download free at Underwater Photography.

BSoUP T-shirts, polo shirts, sweatshirts and jackets.

Martha Tressler, our Hon. Treasurer, has a selection of BSoUP branded items of clothing for members to purchase. T-shirts will be available in navy blue or white with a white or blue BSoUP logo and the full name of the Society. Other items, sweatshirts and polo shirts, in navy blue with white BSoUP logo and name. Caps by special order!

Prices from £10 for T-shirts to £24.00 for jackets. You can buy yours at any of the monthly meetings of the Society or contact Martha Tressler

To order please contact

Martha Tressler

109 Lisbon Ave, Twickenham, Middlesex TW2 5HL

Tel : 0776 460 3657 (days)

Tel : 0208 255 4765 (eve, wknd)

E-mail :

martha@mtressler.com