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."
RESULTS |
|
|
ON THE
DAY |
|
|
Position |
Points |
Photographer |
Subject |
1 |
52 |
Charles Hood |
Strawberry anemone |
2 |
33 |
Alan James |
Seaweed |
3 |
23 |
Greg Cassar |
Cup coral |
HUMOROUS SLIDES |
|
|
Position |
Points |
Photographer |
Subject |
|
|
|
|
1 |
28 |
Martin Parker |
Diver and dogfish on lead |
2 |
12 |
Charles Hood |
Untitled |
3 |
6 |
Tony Rood |
Speedo swimmer |
BRITISH
PRINTS |
|
|
Position |
Points |
Photographer |
Subject |
1 |
17 |
Charles Hood |
Seal portrait |
2 |
16 |
Greg Cassar |
Pipefish |
3 |
13 |
Wyn Roberts |
Scorpion fish |
OVERSEAS
PRINTS |
|
|
Position |
Points |
Photographer |
Subject |
|
|
|
|
1 |
48 |
Kevin Cullimore |
Sweepers and diver |
2 |
47 |
Peter Rowlands |
Coral silhouette |
3 |
19 |
Peter Rowlands |
Wreck and diver |
|