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BSoUP's Splash-in Competition 1991

by Brian Pitkin

Reproduced from in focus 41 (August 1991)

Shrimp by Kevin Cullimore. The original colour slide was winner 'On the Day'

Roach by Kevin Cullimore. The original colour print was second in the British Prints category.

Diver reading 'in focus' by Les Kemp. The original colour slide was winner in the Humour/Creative category

Midas blenny by Linda Pitkin. The original colour print came second in the Open Prints category.

As in previous years the variety of photographic subjects was extensive. although there were no jellyfish. Despite the coldness of the water and the apparent lateness of the season many different species of seaslug and wrasse featured among the entries. Other small creatures such as shrimps, crabs, a flatworm, pipe fish, blennies, shannies, scorpion fish and jewel, plumose and dahlia anemones were also sought out and immortalised on film. The wide-angle photographers descended on the James Eagan Layne and among the rocks and gullies in Plymouth Sound for diver shots, many incorporating a hand held torch in their model's hand.

Over sixty print entries were displayed throughout the evening to be admired and judged by those present prior to the projection of slides. A few problems loading processing spirals in the darkroom caused the timetable to be abandoned and it wasn't until after midnight that the winners were announced and the trophies and medals presented.

The Ocean Optics Trophy and a gold medal for the best British print went to Ray Breach for his photograph of a diver and grey seal. Kevin Cullimore won a silver medal for his study of a perch and Jim Greenfield and John Lee each received a bronze medal for their wolf fish feeding and a tom pot blenny respectively.

The Greenaway Marine Trophy and a gold medal for the best Overseas print went to Martin Edge for his beautiful natural light shot of three dolphins which he took whilst snorkelling during a diving photographic expedition to the Red Sea. A silver medal was presented to Linda Pitkin for her portrait of a small blenny taken in the Maldives. Pam Kemp received a bronze medal for her macro photo of a cowrie taken in the Seychelles.

The Aquamatic Trophy and a gold medal were presented to Mark Webster for the best humorous shot taken 'On the Day', a diver seen from inside a shark's mouth.

The winner of the BSoUP trophy and a gold medal for the best photograph taken on the day was Kevin Cullimore, who also received a bronze medal for his other entry. Kevin used a Pentax LX in his own custom-built housing to take double exposures of a shrimp and jewel anemones. Runner-up and winner of a silver medal was Nigel Hancock, who took a double exposure shot of dead man's fingers. Nigel used a Nikonos V with 15 mm and 28 mm close-up lenses for the two elements of his shot, his second attempt at double exposures.

Once again the Splash-in had been a success and even those who didn't walk away with a medal had had an enjoyable day. Our sincere thanks go to AGFA (UK) Ltd for providing film and processing chemicals for the event and to Alan Bax and all the staff at Fort Bovisand for their hospitality over the weekend. Our thanks also go to Viv Pearson who courageously masterminded the processing with assistance from Les Kemp (who also projected the slides), Mark Webster, Phil Lockley, Brian Humphries, Ian Turner, Kevin Cullimore, Peter Ladell and Paul Fowler. Fleur Fillingham, Linda Pitkin, Bill Bunting, Steve Page, Peter Tatton and many others helped in all sorts of ways. Our thanks to them all

If you would like further information about BSoUP and its activities, please send a stamped self-addressed A5 envelope to Steve Prentice, 55 Bull Stag Green, Hatfield, Herts, AL10 8SW.

BSoUP's Splash-in Competition Winners