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BSoUP's Splash-in Competition 1994

by Brian Pitkin

Reproduced from in focus 52 (August 1994)

Each year the British Society of Underwater Photographers organises a national on-the-day competition at Fort Bovisand Underwater Centre, Plymouth. This year's event, sponsored in part by AGFA who supplied film and processing chemicals at 50% of normal retail price, took place on Saturday 5 June and attracted 42 underwater photographers.

At 9.00 in the morning each competitor was issued with a roll of Agfachrome 36 exposure 35 mm RS50 PLUS or RS100 PLUS slide film to expose in Plymouth waters before 4.30 in the afternoon. Returned films were then processed in the Fort's darkroom by BSoUP member PETER ROWLANDS, assisted by DEBBIE PERRIN, and subsequently returned to the competitors to make a selection of their best slides for projection and judging during the evening.

Additionally, prior to the day, photographers had been invited to submit up to three prints, to a maximum A4 size, taken underwater anywhere in the world. A total of 54 prints were received and these were put on display during the evening for those present to choose their favourite three. As usual the entries were of a high standard and en masse were a very fine sight.

Unfortunately for those competing on-the-day, the weather was appalling, with gale force winds raging across Plymouth harbour and whipping the sea into a frenzy, reducing visibility inshore to virtually nothing. Despite this a few competitors did find a quiet and reasonably clear patch of water, although the majority of competition entries were macro or extreme close-up shots, as dictated by the very poor visibility.

During the evening about a hundred people gathered for the projection and judging. All of the slides were projected twice and the audience invited to vote for their favourite three in each of two categories - straight and humorous. Third place overall went to ALAN JAMES from Bristol for his macro photograph of a cup coral. The runner-up was CHARLES HOOD from Wimbledon, London with a wide-angle shot of seaweed. The winner, with a macro photograph of a strawberry anemone, was DAVE PEAKE from Yelverton, Devon. Dave was presented with the BSoUP trophy and a gold medal by the Society's Chairman, Brian Pitkin. Second and third placed photographers, Charles and Alan, were presented with silver and bronze medals respectively.

The winner of the humour category was MARTIN PARKER from Redruth, Cornwall, with a photograph of diver seemingly taking a dog(fish) on a leash for a walk. Martin was presented with the Aquamatic Trophy and a gold medal.

Third in the British prints category was WYN ROBERTS from Llangollen, Clwyd, with a close-up photograph of a scorpion fish. The runner-up was GREG CASSAR from Hartfield, Sussex with a close-up photograph of a pipe-fish. The winner, with a portrait of a seal, was CHARLES HOOD, also runner-up on-the-day. Charles was presented with the Ocean Optics trophy and a gold medal. Silver and bronze medals were presented to Greg and Wyn.

Third and second in the Open prints category was PETER ROWLANDS from Hammersmith, London, with wide-angle photographs of a shipwreck and a coral silhouette. Peter was presented with silver and gold medals. The winner, with a photograph of a diver admiring lion fish amongst a shoal of glass fish, was KEVIN CULLIMORE from Chingford, Essex. Kevin, who retreated to London on seeing the water and weather conditions, won the Greenaway-Marine trophy and a gold medal.

After the event, Brian Pitkin commented that "despite the appalling conditions the event proved to be extremely successful and was enjoyed by all who attended. This is due, in no small way to the hard work of several members, particularly the film processors, to whom the Society is extremely grateful. We are also indebted to Alan Bax and all his staff at Fort Bovisand for use of facilities and to Pierre Muller at AGFA for discounted film and processing chemicals. Next year, however, we shall hold the competition in July, rather than June, in the hope of better conditions."

BSoUP's Splash-in Competition Winners