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BSoUP's
Splash-in Competition 1988
by
Brian Pitkin
Reproduced
from in focus 29 (September
1988) The
idea of BSoUP's Splash-In is to bring together as many members
and other underwater photographers as possible for a weekend
of fun where they can compete, converse and collaborate in
a relaxed informal atmosphere. In addition to black and
white and colour print categories, the competition features
an 'On the Day' category, where participants are issued with
a roll of 35 mm film in the morning which they must expose
in Plymouth waters before tea. The exposed films are processed
during tea and returned with two slide mounts per film to
their respective underwater photographers. During the evening
the two selected slides per participant are projected and
the audience present invited to vote for their favourite three
in order of preference. The slides may be either contrived,
novelty, humourous type shots or standard creative shots of
marine life, scenery, divers etc. |
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BSoUP
21st Anniversary cake by Les Kemp. The original colour slide
was the winner in the Contrived / Humorous category and won
the Aquamatic Trophy and Gold Medal. |
Being
the Society's 21st Anniversary, this year's Splash-In was
planned to be extra special and in the event that is just
what it turned out to be. Several members have stated that
it was the most well organised Splash-In they had ever attended.
The
event was staged on Saturday 4th June at the usual venue,
Fort Bovisand in Plymouth. For the third year runnin~ the
Splash-in was sponsored by AGFA, who generously supplied all
the film and processing chemicals.
For
the first time ever a programme was printed and circulated
prior to the event and this undoubtedly helped the day run
as smoothly as it did, although it was a considerable commitment
as nobody_had any idea in advance how many participants would
take part and consequently how many rolls of film would require
processing.. |
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First
thing in the morning, sixty-five eager competitors jostled
good naturedly in the reception area at the Fort for their
rolls of Agfachrome 50 ASA or 200 ASA film, Once in their
hands the film was spirited away to be loaded furtively into
a camera ready for the first dive of the day.
The
96 submitted black and white and colour prints were put
on display in the reception area, and a dazzling sight they
made. Volunteers manned the stand throughout the day and everyone
viewing the prints was encouraged to vote for their favourites. |
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Flat
worm by Peter Rowlands, the winning slide 'On the Day' |
Jellyfish,
by Kevin Cullimore, which came third in the Black and White
Prints category |
| As
I prepared my film the sea conditions were less than ideal and
the sun peered infrequently through the clouds. Nevertheless
I had decided that Shag Rock was where I wanted to be and set
off with three companions to dive. When we reached the Rock
the swell was up to three metres, no chance of a decent picture.
So we headed round the Mewstone, seeking shelter in its lee.
And as luck would have it, conditions were very good. The Mewstone
had taken the bite out the sea and amazingly the visibility
inshore was quite exceptional. We anchored in 10 metres, the
bottom clearly visible below us, Last minute check on equipment
and over the side. Great! The gullies were alive with marine
11fe and although there was a slight occasional swell things
couldn't have been much better. An hour and half later I was
back at the Fort with, I hoped (in common with all the other
competitors), some winning shots.
By
4.30 p.m. the processing chemicals had been brought up to
temperature and the dark room team had already started loading
spirals. A task that was to take quite a time with 62 films
returned for processing. But by 6,30 p.m, all the films had
been processed and were hanging up to dry, prior to sleeving.
A
cold buffet had been arranged for the evening and thanks to
Rhoda Gill and her helpers a splendid meal was enjoyed by
120 members and their guests. Particularly memorable were
the delicious sweets and a magnificent anniversary cake, ceremonially
cut by founder members Peter Scoones and Colin Doeg. |
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Divers
in cave entrance by David George, which tied for first place
in the Black and White Prints category. |
Underwater
photographer viewed through a section of pipe by Warren Williams,
which tied for first place in the Black and White Prints
category. |
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After
everyone had eaten, the processed films were returned to their
expectant owners to be squinted at through lenses, peered
at in viewers or projected in the privacy of someone's room,
in order to select the best two for submission. Simultaneously
volunteers began counting the votes for the prints in preparation
for the awards ceremony. Finally, at the appointed time, projection
began. The Splash-In slide show was on, and over 140 people
crowded into the room to enjoy it and vote for the best slides.
Within half an hour of the end of the slide-show all votes
had been counted and the presentations began.
Mr
Brian Greaves of Agfa presented the trophies, medals and prizes
to the winners. There was a tie for first place in the Black
and White Prints class between DAVID GEORGE with his print
of divers outside a cave and WARREN WILLIAMS with his print
of a diver seen through a large diameter pipe. Both won Gold
Medals and five rolls of Agfachrome film. They will have to
share the Ocean Optics Trophy, six months each. Third place
went to KEVIN CULLIMORE for his print of a Jellyfish. Kevin
was awarded a Bronze Medal and two rolls of film.
The winner of the Colour Prints class was LINDA PITKIN for
her print of a sea-fan, Linda was awarded the Greenaway Marine
Trophy, a Gold Medal and six rolls of Agfachrome, Second place
went to Mike Glover for his print of a Conger Eel. Mike received
a Silver Medal and four rolls of film. Third place went to
DAVID GEORGE, who won a Bronze Medal and two rolls of film
for his print of sweepers shoaling, over the steps of a wreck
in the Red Sea.
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The
Best Contrived/Novelty/Humorous shot 'On the Day' was taken
by LES KEMP and it was a particularly appropriate and well
executed contrived shot showing a diver holding a BSoUP 21st
anniversary cake on a mirror, candles alight and reflected
in the diver's mask. Sparkle was added to the image by using
a starburst filter to great effect, particularly on the candles
and mirror. Les won the Aquamatic Trophy, a Gold Medal and
six rolls of film.
The
winner 'On the Day' was PETER ROWLANDS, who won the BSoUP
Trophy, a Gold Medal and six rolls of Agfachrome for his double
exposure of a flat worm with just a twinkle of sunlight overhead,
Second place went to LINDA PITKIN, who won a Silver Medal
and four rolls of film for her balanced light shot of kelp
against the sunlit surface where a boat lying peacefully at
anchor is silhouetted. Third place went to RON WILLIAMSON,
who won a Bronze Medal and two rolls of film for his picture
of an anemone. |
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Conger
eel, by Mike Glover, which came second in the Colour Prints
category. |
Sweepers
on wreck, by David George, which took third place in the Colour
Prints category. |
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To
celebrate the 21st Anniversary of the Society, Greenaway Marine
staged a lively and colourful grand fireworks display at the
end of the harbour wall. The finale was a goodwill message
which read "Greenaway Marine wishes BSoUP a Happy 21st".
If you were there and photographed it, a E25 prize is being
offered by Greenaway Marine for the best picture. Closing
date is 30th June, 1988. Send your entries to Greenaway Marine,
Post Office Lane, Broad Hinton, Wilts.
It
is a pleasure to record here the Society's thanks to Peter
Rowlands, Peter Scoones, Paul Clark and Viv Pearson for processing
all of the film; to David George for transport and projection;
to Jenny George, Jan Lenart, Liz Wood, Debbie Perrin and Paul
Clark for counting votes; Jan and Mike Maloney, Alice and
Helen Wood, Roma Glover, Linda Reid, Alison Terry, Sylvie
Edge, Jenny and Keith Compton-Bishop and many others who
helped out during the day; and to Steve Greenaway and his
sons for the amazing pyrotechnics. Our thanks also to Alan
Bax and Jim Gill and all the staff at the Fort for the use
of facilities; to Rhoda Gill for organising the very enjoyable
buffet; and last but by no means least to Brian Greaves and
AGFA for their generosity and continued support.
BSoUP
SPLASH-IN WINNERS |
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