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BSoUP's
Splash-in Competition 1984
by
Brian Pitkin
Reproduced
from in focus 4 (June
1984)
Participants
in the 'On the Day' section of our Annual Underwater Photographic
Competition at Fort Bovisand were taken by surprise this year.
Instead of the usual poor to appalling conditions, the sky
was blue, the sea flat calm and the visibility in excess of
10m.
A
record fifty-nine underwater Photographers collected a roll
of 64 or 200A.SA Ektachrome from the reception area in the
morning and set off either by boat or fin to dive on sites
as far away as the Eddystone Lighthouse or the James Eagan
Lane or just plopped over the harbour wall. Once on site they
set about taking some hopefully winning shots for projection
and judging that evening.
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Above:
Humphead wrasse by David George, which won the Black &
White prints section. |
Above:
Yolande by David George, which came second in the Black &
White prints section. |
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Whilst
the Plymouth waters resounded with .he clicking of shutters,
the entries for the black & white and colour sections
were on display for the general public to admire and, if they
chose to, vote for their favourite three in each section.
The choice, particularly amongst the colour was difficult,
as the overall standard was very high.
The
unusually good visibility had encouraged many participants
to try something completely different in order to win the
award for the Best Contrived / Humorous / Novelty shot. I
saw everything from chests of gold, to swords, microchips
and sunglasses hauled furtively out of cars and into dive
bags to be taken surreptitiously beneath the mirror surface
of the sea to play the star role in some photographers fantasy.
The more serious minded concentrated on scenery or the wealth
of marine life, such as jellyfish, wrasse, sea hares, ton
riot blennies or crabs which had turned un for the competition
right on cue.
At
the end of the afternoon all but three of the exposed films
had been handed back for processing and people dispersed to
sunbathe, eat and drink whilst the volunteers in the dark
room worked flat out. |
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Above:
Snorkeller by David George, which came third in the Black
& White prints category. |
Above: David George receiving
the Ocean Optics Trophy for the best Black & White Print
from Ian Irvine, BS-AC Chairman |
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The
processed films, comprising nearly 2,000 images, were returned
to their respective owners along with two slide mounts each,
in which to mount their best shots. and what shots they were!
Eighty-two slides with subjects as diverse as wrecks, seascapes
and close-ups of marine life were submitted for projection
in hope of winning the coveted BSoUP Trophy for the Best 'On
the Day' slide. The audience present, some 150 people, were
invited to vote for their favourite three slides and the slide
they considered to be the Best Contrived. Whilst the votes
were counted the bar filled up and did some very brisk business.
The
new BSAC Chairman, IAN IRVINE who took part in the competition
(as MIKE GLOVER's buddy and model) volunteered to present
the prizes to the winners. |
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Above:
Seascape by Linda Pitkin. The original won the Colour Prints
category |
Above:
Moray eel by Jimmy Wilmot, which came second in the Colour
Prints category. |
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Each
competitor in the black & white and colour print sections
had been allowed a maxim, of three prints per section. DAVID
GEORGE's black & white entries took first, second and
third place! The winning shot (Front cover) was a Humphead
Wrasse. The wreck of the Yolande and a diver over soft coral
against a sunlit sea were the subjects of David's other two
winners (also reproduced in this issue). David won the Ocean
Optics Trophy plus a five-day holiday at Fort Bovisand, a
close up lens and a Nikonos service, a year's subscription
to Sub Aqua Scene and a BSoUP Sweat Shirt. |
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Above: Blue spotted ray and
grouper by George Ristich, which came third in the Colour
Prints category. |
Above: Ian Irvine presents a
medal to George Ristich for his Colour Print, which came third. |
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In
the colour print section LINDA PITKIN won with an almost surreal
seascape and was presented with the Greenway & Morris
Trophy and a Sunpak Marine 32 Flashgun. Second place went
to JIMMY WILMOT with a very smart Moray Eel, which won him
a Mini C Lite and holder and a BSoUP Sweat Shirt. Third place
went to GEORGE RISTICH for his shot of a Blue spotted Ray
and a Grouper. Mention should also be made of MICHAEL PITTS
and KEVIN CULLIMORE who were only a point or two behind George,
who won a year's subscription to Sub Aqua Scene. |
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Above: Urchins by Bill Hewitt.
The original colour slide won the Aquamatic Trophy for the
best Contrived shot 'On the Day' |
Above: Bill Hewitt receiving
the Aquamatic Trophy for the Best Contrived shot 'On the Day'
from Ian Irvine. |
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The
Best Contrived shot taken on the day was by WILLIAM HEWITT
who's Sea Urchin in sunglasses, seemingly addressing urchins
of lesser rank. William won the Aquamatic Trophy, a BSoUP
Sweat Shirt and a Fuji Professional Film Voucher.
The
Society is grateful to all those who helped on the day including
STEVE BIRCHALL, PAUL BLANFORD, PAUL CLARK, JOAN FUNNELL, DAVID
& JENNY GEORGE, CHARLES HOOD, PAUL LANGLEY, DAVID NARDINI,
KEN (The Washer) PATRICK, BRIAN & LINDA PITKIN, PETER
ROWLANDS and PETER SIENIEWICZ. |
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Above: Les Kemp, winner 'On
the Day' receiving the BSoUP Trophy from Ian Irvine, BS-AC
Chairman. |
Above:
Diver by Les Kemp. The original colour slide was winner 'On
the Day' |
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We
are also very grateful to all our sponsors - Fujimex, Greenaway
Marine, Kodak Ltd, Macdonald & Co (Publishers) Ltd, Ocean
Optics Ltd, Ocean Publications Ltd, Plymouth Ocean Projects
Ltd, Sea & Sea Ltd, Spirotechnique (UK) Ltd and C.Z.Scientific
(Intruments) Ltd and especially to Ian Irvine for presenting
the prizes and Alan Bax and all the staff at Fort Bovisand
for making us all so welcome once again. Thanks also to all
those who came along and supported the event. See you all
next year!
BSoUP
SPLASH-IN WINNERS |
