I guess I really can't argue with the results of this year's competition as I voted for Steve, Sam and Alex's portfolios! Congratulations to them. All the images in my portfolio were taken since June with my Nikon D2X in a Subal Housing.

[Alex Mustard is BSoUP's Digital Officer. You can see more of his images at www.amustard.com]

1) Group of ghostpipefish. I think that this image doesn't work so well in a portfolio as the subjects are too small in the frame. I like this image very much, especially when it is big and couldn't resist sticking it in my portfolio. Taken with a Nikon D2X and Nikon 10.5mm FE and a 1.5x teleconverter (to get the magnification of this small subject), in the very rarely (if ever) dived Pisang Islands in West Papua in November 2006. F10 @ 1/15th.

2) I used a very long lens to frame this juvenile Emperor Angelfish against this red sponge. In 35mm terms this lens has an equivalent focal length of 225mm. Taken with a Nikon D2X + Sigma 150mm macro + Canon 500D lens, in Tulamben area of Bali, August 2006. F11 @ 1/250th.

3) This shot of a lionfish is another that I really like, but also probably a bit too detailed for a portfolio. Taken with a Nikon D2X + 10.5mm FE, in Ras Mohammed, Egypt in June 2006. F13 @ 1/125th.

4) This picture was taken for the cover of Simon Rogerson's new book Dive Red Sea, with the intention of showing a classic Egyptian reef scene. Taken with a Nikon D2X + 10.5mm FE, in Strait of Tiran, in June 2006. Model - BSoUP member Denis Antippa. F9 @ 1/80th.

5) Another picture for the same book, the Carnatic with BSoUP life member Peter Rowlands modelling (it is important to balance the number of images or Denis and Peter in ones portfolio or much jealousy ensues). Taken with a Nikon D2X + 10.5mm FE, in Abu Nuhas, in June 2006. F7.1 @ 1/30th.

6) Whip coral and a school of fish (which again are a bit too small to see in the portfolio). This image was taken at the most beautiful and rich coral reef I have ever dived. Taken with a Nikon D2X + 10.5mm FE at Fiabacet, Misool, West Papua in November 2006. F8 @ 1/80th.