News - September 2007
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Focus On -
The World in our hands
Website of the Week - Gavin Parsons
IUCN's Most Endangered Animals of '07
Announced
Bali Gallery- Alex Mustard
Southern Red Sea Galleries - Jeremy and Amanda
Cuff
September BSoUP meeting
ANZANG 2007
DIVE 2007 Underwater Photography Magazine
Website of the Week - Graham Parker
An evening with Jamie Watts
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Sony announce new D-SLR A700
camera
Alan James on the road to recovery
St Abbs Splash in 2007
LAUPS 2007 International Competition
NAUI 'Just Dive' Photo Contest
Website of the Week - Helen Parris
DivePhotoGuide.com's 100th Gallery
Edinburgh Exhibition by Mike Clark
REEF: Exploring the underwater world
New UK photo group - EMUP
BSoUP's 40th Anniversary
Website of the Week - Malcolm
Nobbs
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Focus On - The World in our
hands
Congratulations to Gavin
Parsons who was the winner of this month's Focus On
competition with an image of a stranded Manta ray (right) caught as
by catch by local fishemen on the coast of Tanzania. Gavin wins a
copy of 'Reef: Exploring the underwater world' by ScubaZoo, donated
by publisher Dorling Kindersley (see below).
Mark Webster came
second with an image of a Basking shark caught in a net set in Mounts
Bay, Cornwall. The shark was subsequently freed from the net and swam
away.
Position |
Photographer |
Score |
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1 |
Gavin Parsons |
87 |
2 |
Mark Webster |
55 |
3 |
Alex Mustard |
36 |
4 |
Mark Webster |
27 |
5 |
Paul Biggin |
16 |
6 |
Gavin Parsons |
15 |
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Stranded Manta ray © Gavin Parsons
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Gavin Parsons' Home Page
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Website of the Week - Gavin
Parsons
Each week we are highlighting a
BSoUP member's website. Gavin
Parsons' is this week's choice.
If you are a BSoUP
member and your website is not included on the BSoUP member's websites page, please
send the URL of your site to the BSoUP Membership
Secretary, Mike
Russell
Subsequently your website will be
added to the list. All we ask is that you provide a link on your
website to http://www.bsoup.org
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IUCN's Most Endangered Animals of '07
Announced
The Banggai cardinal fish is one of many new
additions to the World Conservation Union (IUCN)'s 2007 Red
List of Threatened Species which was made public this
week
The Banggai cardinal fish's popularity as a pet for
the home aquarium has landed it on the 2007 IUCN Red List. In the
wild, the striped fish is only found in the Banggai Archipelago off
Indonesia.
Human pressures such as the aquarium trade are the
main reason for the fish's decline, with habitat loss and climate
change also posing major threats.
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Banggai cardinal fish in Lembeh Straits,
Sulawesi,
Indonesia. Image © Linda Pitkin
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Fish stocks are in free-fall all over the world, both from
overfishing and the aquarium trade. Scientists estimate current
extinction rates are at least a hundred to a thousand times higher
than natural rates.
Further details: www.iucn.org/themes/marine/marine_species.htm
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Sea fan © Alex Mustard |
Bali Gallery - Alex Mustard
BSoUP member Alex Mustard is 'just
back from a most productive trip to Bali. It was an unusual trip in
many ways. First the main aim was shooting wide angle model shots
(although I have not put that many in the gallery as many are staying
under wraps until the book they are for comes out). Second I got to
take my girlfriend with me (a rare treat indeed) and third we did
almost all of our diving without a guide (which meant we had to find
the blasted critters ourselves). We also met plenty of Wetpixel
folks, including Mike Veitch, Simon Buxton, Drew Wong and Jeff and
Dawn Mullins.
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Diving wise we really covered many sites along the
north coast, from Gili Selang right across to Gillimanuk. And while
it was a predominantly wide angle trip we did have plenty of
exceptional marine life encounters. Highlights included a sequence of
mating Ghostpipefish (i'll post them at some point), my first
Wonderpus, many mimics and a cone shell snail that had caught and was
eating a fish. I decided not to go after the Mola mola on this trip,
but as luck would have it we had a fantastic Mola mola encounter, all
to ourselves, in the warm waters of the Liberty Wreck in
Tulamben.'
Further details www.amustard.com/
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Sunfish © Alex Mustard |
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Diver © Jeremy Cuff |
Southern Red Sea Galleries
Jeremy and Amanda Cuff,
photographers, photojournalists and BSOUP members
have recently published a new series of galleries from the southern
Red Sea, from a week aboard the Sea Serpent in late June/early
July.
Jeremy is the recent winner of Sport Diver
magazine's "Underwater Photographer of the Year Award 2007." The
winning image of the week, however, was taken by Amanda and captures
four clownfish that have arranged themselves into a unique heart
shape.
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The new southern Red Sea images can be viewed on
Jeremy and Amanda's website at www.ja-universe.com
The website features a selection of photography and
articles with particular emphasis on scuba diving and travel,
although other topics such as abstracts and black and white
photography are also included.
The website features a selection of photography and
articles with particular emphasis on scuba diving and travel,
although other topics such as abstracts and black and white
photography are also included. New work is regularly added to the
JA-Universe website in the form of new galleries and articles, and
also news items and an image of the month.
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Clown fish © Amanda Cuff
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September BSoUP
meeting
The next BSoUP meeting take splace on Wednesday 19th September
2007 at7.30 for 8.00 p.m. inThe Holland Club, Imperial College,
South Kensington, London SW7. If you can make the meeting,
please get your drinks at the bar in time to start promptly at
8.00 p.m. Directions.
Colour correction and dealing with
backscatter by David Lloyd.
Dave is Dive Magazine's Art Editor and a Photoshop expert
who has worked with the product virtually since it's birth in
the late 80's. He will take us through techniques to deal
with two very common problems that we frequently face with our
digital images!
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Focus On competition - The World in our
hands
We all know that the marine world is in peril
and our photographs can sometimes help to show others about its
problems.
Members only please dig out those images that
illustrate some of the dangers to our oceans and their
inhabitants - whether taken above or below the
water - and submit them by Tuesday night. See Rules and Entry form. If in doubt,
ask!
As an added incentive this month the winner
will receive a copy of the fabulous new book 'REEF: Exploring
the underwater world' by ScubaZoo, donated by publisher
Dorling
Kindersley (see below).
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'REEF: Exploring the underwater world' by
ScubaZoo.
Published by Dorling Kindersley |

Mark Webster
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Composition and the use
of negative space by Mark Webster
Mark is a well established
photo-journalist writing regularly for the major diving,
photographic and wildlife magazines. He has represented Great
Britain at the CMAS World Championships of Underwater
Photography winning silver and bronze medals and has other
competition successes including the BBC/British Gas Wildlife
Photographer of the Year and the Agfa Wildlife Photographer of
the Year, Blue Earth 2000, Geographical Magazine Photographer
of the Year 2000, Ocean Realm Magazine Marine Photo 2000, Diver
Magazine Image 2001 and 2003 and Subios 2004.
Mark's books include "The Art
and Technique of Underwater Photography" (Fountain Press) and
"Diving and Snorkeling Belize" (Lonely Planet) and his latest
publication 'Passions - Scuba Diving' (Duncan Baird). He
has also contributed to many other publications. See www.photec.co.uk/ for more details.
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ANZANG 2007
Congratulations to BSoUP member
Shannon Conway who won the Underwater category at
this year's ANZANG Nature and Landscape Photographer of the Year
competition with an image of a Clown fish in an anemone (right).
Shannon was also Highly Commended for two of his
images of Pygmy seahorses.
ANZANG is an organisation focused on the unique natural heritage of
the bioregion of Australia, New Zealand, Antarctica and New Guinea
and its photographic competition is the largest in Australasia.
Further details: www.anzangnature.com/
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Clown fish in an anemone
© Shannon Conway
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Mike DeGruy
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DIVE 2007, the Dive Show held at the
NEC, Birmingham
13 and 14 October, 2007
DIVE 2007 is organised by DIVER Magazine.
Visitors to this year's Dive Show will find
more than 320 exhibitors taking part, and whether you're a
beginner or seasoned pro; tekkie, wreckie, photographer or
fish-fancier; cold- or warmwater diver, there will be no end of
things to interest you.
Latest addition to a compelling line-up of
guest speakers at Dive 2007, the Dive Show held at the NEC,
Birmingham on 13/14 October, is celebrated US film-maker and TV
presenter Mike deGruy.
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Lined up alongside Mike DeGruy to speak at
the Dive Show are Fabien Cousteau,
Richard Peirce, Monty Halls
and John Boyle (marine life); Leigh
Bishop and Innes McCartney
(wreck-diving); Martyn Farr and Rick
Stanton (cave-diving); and the world's deepest
freediver, Herbert Nitsch.
BSoUP will be staging a
special exhibition to mark its 40th Anniversary. Why not meet
us there?
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Underwater Photography
Magazine
The September/October issue of the FREE bi-monthly
web based magazine Underwater Photography (UwP) is now available as a
pdf at www.uwpmag.com/
This issue includes News and Travel, New Products,
BSoUP Splash-in,Puerto Galera, Layang Layang, Compact choice, Perfect
system, Belize fish, Wratten 22 trials, Abstract, Shooting filters,
Book review and Parting Shots
The magazine is produced by former
BSoUP Chairman and current member Peter Rowlands and
includes articles by BSoUP members and others.
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UwP No. 38. Cover photo: Ralph
Mortimore
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Graham Parker's Home page |
Website of the Week - Graham
Parker
Each week we are highlighting a
BSoUP member's website. Graham Parker
's is this week's choice, although the site is currently being
updated..
If you are a BSoUP
member and your website is not included on the BSoUP member's websites page, please
send the URL of your site to the BSoUP Membership
Secretary, Mike
Russell
Subsequently your website will be
added to the list. All we ask is that you provide a link on your
website to http://www.bsoup.org
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An evening with Jamie Watts
How to find the world's best dive sites at the best
times of the year (and the best years): a marine ecologist's
perspective
Thursday 27th September 2007. Meet
first at Ocean Optics 7.00pm for 7.30pm. You must pre- register. All
welcome.
Download further information.
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Sony DSLR A700 camera |
Sony announce new D-SLR A700
camera
Sony is expanding its a (Alpha) digital SLR system
with the introduction of the DSLR-A700 camera, which is aimed at
photo enthusiasts or serious photo hobbyists.
The new 12.2-megapixel model features advanced
imaging technologies and ultra-responsive operation, as well as a
lightweight, dust- and moisture-resistant, magnesium alloy
construction common to enthusiast-class D-SLR cameras.
Like Sony's mainstream DSLR-A100 model, the new
A700 unit incorporates Super SteadyShotandreg; Inside image
stabilization in the camera body and is compatible with most Minolta
Maxxumandreg; mount lenses in addition to Sony lenses.
Further details: www.divephotoguide.com/sony-a700.php
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Alan James on the road to
recovery
Award-winning underwater cameraman and
BSoUP member Alan James suffered a
heart attack on 1 August, less than a month after winning the
Close-up and Fish categories at the British Splash-in
Championship.
Alan has now had a by-pass operation and in a web
exclusive for DIVE online, Alan tells the story of how a day's
diving went wrong, and starts to formulate a plan to recover quickly
and get back into the water.
BSoUP wishes Alan a speedy and full recovery.
Further details:www.divemagazine.co.uk/news/
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Alan James
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Lions Mane Jellyfish © Kam Arya

Northern Prawn © Jason Gregory
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St Abbs Splash in 2007
Congratulations to BSoUP members
Kam Arya and Arthur Kingdon who won
first and second respectively in the Digital Marine Life Portrait
category at the recent St Abbs Splash in. Also to Mike
Clark, Jean Manson and Peter
Ladell who came first second and third respectively in the
Digital Reserve Atmospheric cateogry.
Kam Arya's Lions Mane jellyfish
was voted Best Digital Image and Andy Pickersgill
was voted Digital Best Beginner.
David Ireland and Jason
Gregory came first and second in the Film Marine Life
Portrait category and David Ireland also won the
Film Reserve Atmospheric category and was voted Film Best Beginner.
Jason Gregory's Northern Prawn was voted Film Best
Image.
Richard Hall, Sam
Bean and JP Trenque came first, second and
third respectively in the John Goldie Most Humerous Shot category.
Robert Grieves won the Special Award for Young Up
and Comer
Full details: www.marine-reserve.co.uk/
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LAUPS 2007 International
Competition
Deadline: 21 September,
2007
The Los Angeles Underwater Photographic
Society (LAUPS) has
announced a call for entries for their 2007
International Photo Competition. Wetpixel members have done
very well in previous years, and should be interested to see
the new "Behavior" category, as well an expansion of the "Cold
Water" category - the deadline for entry is midnight on
September 21, 2007.
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NAUI 'Just Dive' Photo
Contest
Deadline: 10 September,
2007
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Are you living the "JUST DIVE;" lifestyle and
a life full of diving adventure and exploration? To kick off
its "JUST DIVE 2007" promotion NAUI is accepting photo entries
from photographers of all ages, skill levels and backgrounds
for its "JUST DIVE " photo contest.
It's a new year and NAUI wants to see you in
action. Show us your best underwater moment or diving adventure
pictures. You can win four tickets to dive in Walt Disney World
andreg; Resorts "The Seas" attraction at EPCOT during the
industry trade show 2007 starting the week of Halloween. The
winning shot will also be featured on the cover of NAUI's
Sources Magazine.
Full details: http://www.nauiww.org/justdive.php
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Website of the Week - Helen
Parris
Each week we are highlighting a
BSoUP member's website. Helen
Parris ' is this week's choice.
If you are a BSoUP
member and your website is not included on the BSoUP member's websites page, please
send the URL of your site to the BSoUP Membership
Secretary, Mike
Russell
Subsequently your website will be
added to the list. All we ask is that you provide a link on your
website to http://www.bsoup.org
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One of Helen Parris' website pages
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DivePhotoGuide.com's 100th
Gallery
Congratulations to DPG on adding the 100th Gallery
to their website last week.
'A hundred of the best, most prolific, talented and
inspirational, underwater photographers in the world. DPG set out to
develop THE gallery of all underwater photo galleries - a way to
feature the top pros, the image makers whose images transcend time
and place and touch our emotions.'
The site includes galleries by
BSoUP members Steve Jones, Charles Hood, Zac Macauley, Jane Morgan, Alex Mustard, Linda Pitkin, Peter Rowlands, Mark Webster and Tony White, although you will need to register to
view all of these.
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Edinburgh Exhibition by Mike
Clark
BSoUP member Mike Clark, noted for
his temperate water photography, is exhibiting a selection of his
work in Edinburgh.
The exhibition is aimed at celebrating the diverse
marine life and colourful shipwrecks found around the British
coast.
Entry is free and the exhibition will be running until the end of
September. The venue is The Ocean Terminal Shopping Centre, Ocean
Drive, Leith, Edinburgh, EH6 6JJ.
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Mike Clark
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'REEF: Exploring the underwater world' by
ScubaZoo.
Published by Dorling Kindersley |
REEF: Exploring the underwater
world
Words and photography by Scubazoo
Publication Date: 6th September 2007
Price: £25.00
'Explore the reefs of the world with divers,
photographers and marine conservationists, Scubazoo. Created in
collaboration with the Marine Conservation Society, this incredible
book of stunning underwater photographs includes a 30 minute DVD of
amazing underwater montages. Discover the wonder and variety of the
reef, from the Coral Triangle of South-East Asia to the Red Sea and
Hawaii.'
Further details: http://dpnow.com/4135.html
BSoUP members
qualify for a 20% discount. Details in the September BSoUP
meeting announcement e-mail.
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New UK photo group - EMUP
An underwater photographic group has been formed to
serve divers living in the East Midlands.
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East Midlands Underwater Photographers
(EMUP) has been created to cater for divers who
would otherwise have to make their way to London for meetings of the
British Society of Underwater Photographers (BSoUP);
to Manchester for the Northern Underwater Photography Group
(NUPG); or to Bristol for the Bristol Underwater
Photography Group (BUPG).
The group's inaugural meeting on 16 October will be
the first of monthly get-togethers from October to May each year, in
the Nemo Bar at the Stoney Cove dive site, in Leicestershire. Each
meeting will feature a well-known underwater photographic speaker,
and a "lighthearted monthly competition" for attendees, judged by the
guest speaker of the day.
There will be a small charge to attendees, based on numbers attending
and any sponsorship obtained, to cover the cost of hiring Stoney
Cove's function room.
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BSoUP's 40th Anniversary - Members
portraits wanted please
BSoUP will be mounting an
exhibition to celebrate its 40th anniversary at the Dive Show organised by DIVER Magazine in
Birmingham on 13/14 October 2007. We'll be showing a lot of different
things to illustrate what BSoUP is, who we are and some of the things
that the Society and its members have done over the years.
We are planning a display of as many current BSoUP
member's faces as possible just to show how many of us there are! So
far 40 BSoUP members have responded to our request for portraits of
themselves.
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If you are a BSoUP members and
have not already done so, please send a passport type image of
yourself - minimum size 45mm or 530 pixels high and 300 dpi. Please
send your image as an e-mail attachment to Brian Pitkin
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Website of the Week - Malcolm
Nobbs
Each week we are highlighting a
BSoUP member's website. Malcolm
Nobbs' is this week's choice.
If you are a BSoUP
member and your website is not included on the BSoUP member's websites page, please
send the URL of your site to the BSoUP Membership
Secretary, Mike
Russell
Subsequently your website will be
added to the list. All we ask is that you provide a link on your
website to http://www.bsoup.org
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Malcolm Nobbs Home Page
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BSoUP T-shirts, polo shirts,
sweatshirts and jackets.
Jane Morgan, our Meetings Secretary,
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 Jane
Morgan
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To order please
contact
Jane Morgan
Tel: 0208 255 6939 (home)
07887 558832 (mobile)
email: jane@morganreefphotography.com
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