Underwater
imaging is to enter a new golden age in Britain, with the
introduction of a festival to celebrate the best in video
and stills. The British Underwater Image Festival will run
from 17 to 19 March next year at the Birmingham NEC as part
of the Go Diving! show.
The
competition has been designed to apply across a range of abilities,
from professional television documentary makers to first-time
photographers. Plans are underway for the entries to be exhibited
and shown in an event that will mirror the Antibes underwater
imaging festival in the South of France.
Organisers
of the show are currently putting together a set of lavish
prizes for the winners, which will include top-end liveaboard
trips, holidays and diving equipment. The best 50 prints will
be displayed on the walls outside the dive theatre, while
six finalists in the film categories will be shown throughout
the show on Friday and Saturday.
'Britain
used to have high-quality imaging festivals representing the
work of divers, but there hasn’t been anything of note for
a long time,' said DIVE editor Simon Rogerson. 'Now we are putting on something which
could grow into a showcase for the incredible talent I know
is out there. In France, they have the Antibes Festival, which
is a red-letter day for anyone who makes pictures underwater.
I believe the British Underwater Image Festival could grow
into something just as important.'
A
panel of high-profile judges was being set up as DIVE went
to press, with legends Peter Scoones and David Doubilet lined
up to lend their weight to the festival. The British Society
of Underwater Photographers (BSoUP - www.bsoup.org)
will also be involved in the planning and execution of the
festival and Matthew Ford of the picture library www.oceans-image.com will act as one of the judges.
Print
stills
1. Open - anything goes
2. Young photographers: entrants must be under 30 yrs old
on 17th March 2006
3. Portfolio, six prints to be arranged in two rows of three
Rules
for print stills
o maximum of six prints per entrant and one portfolio per
entrant
o there is no entry fee, but a payment of £5 will be
required if you want the prints to be returned
o prints must be A4 size with no exceptions, and will be mounted
by DIVE
o portfolios must be six A5 prints, accompanied by a guide
showing in which order they should be viewed, with three images
on top and three on the bottom - again, they will be mounted
by DIVE
Video
1. Professional category: 30 minutes' documentary-style
2. Liveaboard category: ten minutes open style (must have
been filmed by a resident liveaboard or dive centre videographer)
3. Amateur category: five-minute short, open to all comers
- suggested categories include scientific; imaginative; humorous;
storyboard and holiday
Rules
for video
o films must have been shot or broadcast during 2005
o the six finalists' films will be shown throughout the show
on Friday and Saturday, interspersing documentaries with shorts
o judging will take place in advance of the Go Diving! show
and the decision of the judges will be final.
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