News - February 2009
Please send items for the News to Brian Pitkin
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DivePhotoGuide U/W Photo and Video Competition
Website of the Week - Kitty Jempson
Blue o two onboard competition winner
Focus On February 2009 - Result
Website of the week - Jon Martin
BSAC launch Underwater Photography
Course
February BSoUP Meeting
Magic filters - instructional DVD now
available
More Underwater Photography.com BSoUP
winners
Website of the Week - Jason Gregory
DiverSE'09
Digital Underwater Photography
Course
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BUPG - February meeting
Underwater photo and freediving
course
Underwater Photography.com BSoUP winners
2008
African Diver - latest issue
Website of the Week - Arun "Izzy" Madisetti
BSoUP / DIVER PRINT COMPETITION AT LIDS
2009
11th International Festival U/W Picture
"PELAGOS 2009"
Shipwreck Conference
In Deep - The Northern Dive Show
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 Best of Show © Justin Gilligan |
DivePhotoGuide
International Underwater Photo and Video Competition in association
with Our World Underwater.
Winners
announced!
DivePhotoGuide.com
and Wetpixel.com are proud to announce the winners
of the 4th annual underwater photography and video competition in
association with Our World Underwater.
The competition is part of a
joint series often referred to as the "Super Bowl" of international
underwater imagery competitions, with world-class prizes, esteemed
celebrity judges, significant media support, and the opportunity to
have your images showcased to the world as some of the planet's
best.
The competition is truly an international event.
Entries were received from all corners of the globe. Winners alone
represented 22 countries. We want to congratulate all the competitors
for the high quality level of the images submitted. It was a tough
competition to judge. A formal statement from the judges can be found
here. Congratulations to the winners!
For full details please visit www.divephotoguide.com
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Website of the Week -
Kitty Jempson
Each week we are highlighting a
BSoUP Members website. This week's choice is
'Undersea Images', the website of Kitty
Jempson.
Kitty started diving in 1997.
She did an Art Foundation course in Manchester soon after learning to
dive and has always been a passionate amateur
photographer.
Kitty went digital in 2005 and
bought a Nikon D200 and Hugyfot housing. After a few problems
with this housing she gave in and bought the housing she 'd always
really wanted, another Subal.
For further information please
visit www.underseaimages.co.uk/Site/Home.html
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 Kitty Jemspon's Home
page |
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 Jim Garland's winning image.
Diver framed by soft corals |
Blue-o-two onboard
competition winner
Congratulations to
BSoUP Member Jim Garland on winning
the Blue o two onboard competition.
Jim's winning image was selected
from over 40 other photograghs taken by blue o two guests. The judges
of the competition were acclaimed underwater photographer
Alex Mustard and blue o two's resident dive guide
and photograpy expert Dray Van Beeck.
Jim is the owner of the
dedicated wreck photography website www.wreckshot.com. He
is interested in wreck history and photography, particularly WW2
Aircraft.
Jim currently uses a Canon EOS
5D, Aquatica Housing, Sigma 15mm FE lens, Sigma 50mm Macro lens,
Canon 24mm wide-angle lens with Inon z-240 strobes.
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Focus On February 2009 -
Results
Red Sea
Images
Congratulations to
Gareth Lock who won last night's Focus On
competition with an image of divers exploring a wreck Gareth beat 41
other entries scoring 38 points.
Second place went to
Arthur Kingdom with an image of a male Anthias taken
with a 105 mm lens scoring 28 points.
Third place, with 21 points,
went to Tony Baskeyfield for his image of a
turtle.
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Wreck © Gareth Lock |
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 Male
Anthias © Arthur Kingdon |
The top 7
winners:
Position |
Photographer |
Points |
Firsts |
1 |
Gareth Lock |
38 |
9 |
2 |
Arthur Kingdon |
28 |
6 |
3 |
Tony Baskeyfield |
21 |
2 |
4 |
Malcolm Nobbs |
20 |
3 |
5 |
Arthur Kingdon |
16 |
4 |
6= |
Helen Parris |
16 |
3 |
6= |
Richard Boutcher |
16 |
3 |
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If you were not in the top seven
and would like to know how you fared please e-mail Brian Pitkin.
BSoUP members
only may view all the entries in projected order in the Competition slideshow.
Next month's competition is the
annual BSoUP Members Theme Portfolio
Competition.
For full details please visit
Theme Portfolio
Competition.
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 Turtle ©
Tony Baskeyfield |
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 About Jon Martin |
Website of the week -
Jon Martin
Each week we are highlighting a
BSoUP Members website. This week's choice is
'Marina-Life.co.uk' the website of Jon Martin.
Although a lot of John's blog
covers the marina lifestyle and natural history, a particular
emphasis is on the marine environment, and particularly that found
under the water. Since his first tentative breaths in the Sovereign
Centre's swimming pool, he's gone on to log over 100 dives, in a
variety of exotic locations, including St Lucia, Antigua, Florida,
Bahamas, the Red Sea, as well as Australia's Great Barrier Reef. He's
also dived in some seemingly non-exotic, but equally fascinating
places, such as various locations around the UK, including Soverign
Harbour's North Marina. |
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BSAC launch Underwater
Photography Course
The British Sub-Aqua Club (BSAC)
is launching a new Skills Development Course on Underwater
Photography on Monday 16th February.
The course has been developed
with DIVE's photographer and BSoUP Member
Charles Hood, resulting in a course that will
improve and develop divers' underwater photography skills.
The aim of the course is to
teach the basic use of a compact digital camera and housing to
students with little or no knowledge and experience of underwater
photography. The course requires half a day of theory instruction and
dry practical, followed by an underwater practical, followed by a dry
session to review the results. The duration of the underwater
practical will depend on numbers and location.
The Syllabus, Intructors Manual
and a powerpoint presentation for use in the classroom are available
to downlaod (as a zip file) at www.bsac.com/
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 BSAC
Skills Devlopement Course
Underwater Photography |
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February BSoUP
Meeting
The next BSoUP meeting takes
place on Wednesday, 18th February 2009 at 7.30 for
8.00 p.m. at our usual venue the Holland Club, Imperial College, S.
Kensington, London. Directions.
Photo
techniques: U/W photography in the Celebes Sea, Borneo -
Multiple speakers introduced by Brian Pitkin.
In November last year a number
of BSoUP members participated in a photographic
workshop organised by JP Trenque and Jane
Morgan in the Celebes Sea, Borneo. They spent a week on the
liveaboard 'Celebes Explorer' diving and photographing on the reefs
of Sipadan, Mabul, Kapalai and Siamil in Sabah and a week at the
Maratua Paradise Resort diving and photographing the
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reefs of Maratua, Sangalaki and
Kakaban in the Derawan Islands, in East Kalimantan,
Indonesia.
Speakers include Keith
Lyall, Andy Cooper, Brian and Linda
Pitkin, Mike and Jan Maloney who will talk
about their images. Brian will also present a short slide show of
Bill Bradley, Robert Kemp and
Mark Roberts images and introduce Jo
Horrocks' short video 'A taste of Borneo'.
Focus On
Competition: Red Sea Images.
This month the category is Red
Sea Images. The competition is open to BSoUP members
only and all images must have been taken underwater in the Red Sea
and should not previously have been entered into a national or
international competition
Please read the Rules before
submitting your entry via the online Entry Form.
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 U/W photography in the Celebes
Sea, Borneo |
 Gavin
Parsons' website |
Main Event: How
to annoy fishermen and save our seas by Gavin Parsons
Gavin spent a large part of the
summer 2008 working for the environmental organisation Greenpeace. He
worked on its Oceans campaign in the Mediterranean and on a project
to protect an area of North Sea. As the photographer, his role was to
be among the actions and activities to record what unfolded. It
turned out to be a summer of mixing it up with fishermen - and they
are not as nice as Captain Birdseye would have you believe A few were
friendly and liked what Greenpeace was doing, but most expressed
themselves with finger gesticulations, shouts, lead weights and
shotguns. Gavins presentation is a humorous look at trying to save
the seas both above, on and under the waves.
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Magic filters -
instructional DVD now available
The DVD was filmed and produced
by Peter Rowlands and follows Alex Mustard over 6 dives in the Red
Sea, 3 shooting with his DSLR and 3 with my compact camera, while he
demonstrates and describes the techniques he uses and the
considerations, both technical and artistic that go into producing
stunning available light photographs with Magic filters.
The DVD covers white balancing,
subject selection, approach, exposure, composition, why you need a
filter, etc. An important feature is that after each dive, we do a
review of the shots and discuss in detail why some have worked and
others have not. It gives you an idea of what you can expect to
achieve in similar conditions. You will see all the shots, both good
and bad, unadjusted straight from the camera.
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 Jim Garland's Gold
Medal Image |
More Underwater
Photography.com BSoUP winners 2008
Congratulations to
BSoUP Member Jim Garland who won a
Gold Medal in the Wide-angle Wrecks category in the
underwaterphotography.com contest 2008 with an image of the Giannis-D
at Sha'ab Abu Nuhas Reef, Red Sea, Egypt.
Jim is the owner of the
dedicated wreck photography website www.wreckshot.com. He
is interested in wreck history and photography, particularly WW2
Aircraft.
Jim currently uses a Canon EOS
5D, Aquatica Housing, Sigma 15mm FE lens, Sigma 50mm Macro lens,
Canon 24mm wide-angle lens with Inon z-240 strobes.
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Congratulations also to
BSoUP Member David Stephens who won
a Bronze Medal in the Over/Under category in the
underwaterphotography.com contest 2008 with an image of a boy
fishing.
David lives in Pontllanfraith in
South Wales and is also a member of the Bristol Underwater
Photography Group.
After learning all the basics
with a Nikonos IV, he moved onto a Nikon F90X and in 2004 decided to
go digital with a Nikon D100 .
David enjoys UK diving
especially Cornwall, Devon, West Wales and St Abbs.
For further details please visit
www.underwaterphotography.com/
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 David Stephens'© Bronze
Medal Image |
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Jason Gregory's Home page |
Website of the Week -
Jason Gregory
Each week we are highlighting a
BSoUP member's website. This week's choice is
'British Marine Life Pictures' the website of Jason
Gregory.
Jason says 'I'm not a
professional photographer or a marine biologist. I'm just an ordinary
chap that enjoys diving, photography and the natural world. I'm BSAC
trained, and live in Yorkshire, England'. To learn more about Jason
and view his work please visit www.britishmarinelifepictures.co.uk/
If you are a
BSoUP member and your website is not included on the
BSoUP member's websites page or you
have changed your web address, please send the URL of your site to
the BSoUP Membership Secretary, Mike Russell.
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DiverSE'09
BSAC South East, Southern and
London regions proudly presents the fourth annual conference at the
University of Surrey, Guildford on Sunday 15th March 2009.
We have a diverse range of top
flight speakers including TV presenter, author and explorer
Monty Halls, Technical diving guru Jack
Ingle, Underwater photography expert Paul 'Duxy'
Duxfield, Thames RNLI Helm Eamonn French,
Computer expert and underwater photographer James
O'Neill. There will also be a range of exhibitors including
the coaching teams.
Space is limited, all 3
previous years have been complete sell outs in advance, so don't
delay and book your places now. For more
information and to book tickets, visit www.bsac-se.org.uk/diverse
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Blue Planet Aquarium's website |
Digital Underwater
Photography Course
Blue Planet
Aquarium near Ellesmere Port, are offering a discount on their
Digital Underwater Photography Course. If you book before 28th
February 2009, the normal price of the course is reduced from £225 to
£180
Maximum group size 9
divers
Book all 9 places and only pay
for 8
Lunch and refreshments provided
through out the day
Certification of Level
One
This course will teach you the
basic use of a digital camera in underwater conditions. The day
culminates with a half hour dive session where you will be able to
use your new skills to capture some amazing photographs in the
Caribbean Reef Exhibit.
For further details please
contact Rachael
Ward.
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Bristol Underwater
Photography Group - February meeting
The next meeting of the Bristol
Underwater Photography Group (BUPG) takes place on Tuesday
17th February at 20.00 hrs at The Casson Centre, Rodway
Road, Patchway, BS34 5DQ (map).
Monthly Competition -
Divers
Foto Forum - Fish
Annual Print
Competition
Presentation - Alor Islands -
Cathy Lewis
The BUPG Splash In
images will be judged at this Meeting. Further details: BUPG January
Newsletter
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 Bristol
Underwater Photography Group |
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 Deeper Blue |
Underwater photo and
freediving course
May 9-10, 2009 in
Submarine Escape Training Tank, Gosport, UK
DeeperBlue has teamed
with London's Ocean Optics to offer a first-of-its-kind underwater photography and freediving course. The
two-day class takes place on May 9-10, 2009 in the 30m Submarine
Escape Training Tank in Gosport, UK, which is maintained at a
comfortable 34°C/94°F temperature.
Ocean Optics will be providing
camera equipment for participants to try out throughout the four tank
practical sessions, intermixed with two freediving and two
photography theory sessions. The course is open to all skill levels,
but is limited to 10 individuals, so spaces will fill quickly!
Continue reading for all the details, and to find a link to a short
trailer on YouTube of the experience.
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Underwater
Photography.com BSoUP winners 2008
Congratulations to
BSoUP Member Ross Gudgeon who won the silver medal
in the Wide-angle Marine life category. Ross learnt to dive in
December 1979 and got his first underwater camera (Nikonos III) only
a few months after that. After a few film SLRs and a Nikon Coolpix
5000 he graduated to a dSLR in 2005 and currently uses a Canon 40D in
a Subal housing. Ross' favourite dive site is Ningaloo Reef, Western
Australia, where he lives.
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 Ross
Gudgeon's silver medal image |
 Maria Munn's bronze
medal image |
Congratulations to
BSoUP Member Maria Munn who won a bronze medal in
the Wide-angle Natural Light category Underwater Photography.com
Competition 2008 with an image taken in Nuweiba with Emperor Divers
in Egypt. Mari's image was taken with a Fuji Finepix F31D compact
camera and an Inon Wide Angle lens on the Underwater Setting whilst
doing a headstand to fit it all in!
Maria runs underwater
photography courses in England and trips abroad for divers with
compact cameras. It was Maria's dream to take wildlife photos after
an accident left her with 15 fractures and unable to walk for three
years. She fell in love with the ocean and has been taking underwater
photographs since 2001 with a variety of compact cameras. Maria has
seen a lot of places, but says 'it is hard to beat the Red Sea for
diversity of wrecks together with beautifully coloured reefs as well
as our favourite sharky friends although I love diving in challenging
green water colder conditions like the Mexican Pacific as
well'.
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Congratulations to BSoUP member
Gareth Millson who won a bronze medal in the Wrecks category of the
Underwater Photography.com Competition 2008 with an image of a
motorcycle in the hold of the S. S. Thistlegorm.
Gareth's, who has been taking
underwater photographs for five years, currently uses a Canon 20D
with an Ikelite housing and two Ikelite DS125 Strobes. His favourite
lenses are the Canon 100mm USM Macro and Canon 10-22 wide
angle.
For further details please visit
www.underwaterphotography.com/
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 Gareth
Millson's bronze medal image |
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 African Diver # 3 |
African Diver - latest
issue
The latest version of the FREE
African Diver is now available for downloading.
Issue 3 includes African news,
Tagging whale sharks in Kenya by Ninu Njonjo, Diving inBenin by Mike
Markovina, Battle at Badgat. Freediving by Trevor Hutton,
AfricanDiver team takes a breath, Natal Sharks Board by Cormac
McCreesh, Blood on the Reef by Cormac McCreesh and Breakbone
fever.
To download you copy, please
visit http://www.africandiver.com/index.html
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Website of the Week -
Arun "Izzy" Madisetti
Each week we are highlighting a
BSoUP member's website. This weeks' choice is Images
Dominica' the website of Arun "Izzy" Madisetti and Simon
Walsh.
Izzy qualified as a marine
biologist and has spent a lot of his life doing marine research. He
first began taking photos to document the life he was seeing and
gradually moved to taking photos to promote the underwater
environment to non divers. To view Izzy's website please go to
www.imagesdominica.com
If you are a
BSoUP member and your website is not included on the
BSoUP member's websites page or you
have changed your web address, please send the URL of your site to
the BSoUP Membership Secretary, Mike Russell.
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 Arun 'Izzy' Madisetti's Home
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 Background image Giannis-D
by Brian Pitkin |
BSoUP / DIVER Print Competition at LIDS 2009
Win BSoUP trophies and
some great prizes including a Red Sea holiday courtesy of
Oonasdivers.
Deadline: 23 February
2009
The British Society of
Underwater Photographers (BSoUP) and
DIVER magazine have joined forces to
organise a print competition to be judged by the visiting public at
the London International Dive Show (LIDS) over the
weekend of 28th/29th March 2009 at ExCel in London. This will replace
the Print Competition previously held in conjunction with our annual
Splash-in.
All Underwater Photographers
will be invited to submit prints, A4 in size, to compete for
BSoUP trophies and some great prizes. There are four
categories: British and Irish, Overseas, Advanced British and Irish
and Advanced Overseas.
Dive show visitors will be
invited to vote for their favourites to chose the winner in each
category, and a panel of judges will select the overall best of show
to receive the special grand prize of a week's
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holiday at the Southern
Eco-Villages - Marsa Nakari to include flights, transfers, 7 nights
full board and 5 days unlimited shore diving kindly donated by
Oonasdivers
Following LIDS 2009 a selection
of the best prints will be on display at the London Aquarium for
several weeks. Results will be announced in DIVER
magazine and on the DIVERNET and
BSoUP websites.
Further details at www.bsoup.org
/prints.php
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11th International
Festival Underwater Picture
"PELAGOS 2009"
Deadline: 7th February
2009
Rome 27th February - 2nd March
2009
The competition is open to all
underwater photographers and entrance is free, there is no set theme
and the competition is divided into the following
categories
Environment
Macro Photography
Digital Editing
Further details at http://www.pelagos.tv/concorsi_eng.htm
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 pelagos.tv
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Shipwreck Conference
The 27th International Shipwreck Conference will be
held at the University of Plymouth on Saturday 7th
February.
A host of wreck experts will speak at the show,
including International Maritime Archaeology and Shipwreck Society
chairman Neville Oldham, archaeological diver Bob Peacock and BSAC
technical chief examiner Mike Rowley.
Tickets cost £15. For more information, please
visit www.shipwreckconference.org
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In Deep - The Northern
Dive Show
Competition deadline:
31st December 2008
Sunday 22nd February
2009
Park Hall in
Charnock Richard, Lancashire.
With new ideas and equipment for
you to try and buy, there is no better opportunity for you to browse,
try on the latest gear on display and to buy diving equipment,
leisure wear, books and accessories. Meet likeminded people with an
interest in diving from all the major diving organisations. Expert
advice will be available to answer your questions. Throughout the day
you will have the choice to listen speakers on a wide range of dive
related topics.
Enter our free photographic
competition and win up to £1500 of photographic
equipment.
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 In
Deep The Northern Dive Show |