BSoUP's Splash-in Competition 1995
by Brian Pitkin
Reproduced from in focus 55 (September 1995)
BSoUP's annual Splash-in this year was held one
month later than usual on 7 July in an attempt to avoid the poor
conditions that have prevailed in recent years. The move proved to be
a good one, as the weather was excellent and visibility, although not
as good as that experienced at Plymouth four weeks earlier, was
reasonable.
The event was sponsored this year by the Plymouth
Development Corporation who generously provided film and processing
chemicals. A total of 44 members and non-members participated in the
"On the Day" and "Humour" categories, collecting a numbered roll of
36 exposure Fuji Velvia or Provia film from the reception area at
Fort Bovisand Underwater Centre for exposure in Plymouth waters
before tea time. BRIAN and LINDA PITKIN, JAN MALONEY and FLEUR
FILLINGHAM registered participants, collected entry fees and issued
film.
Each competitor was asked to expose the first frame
by taking their own picture or one of the harbour at Bovisand. This
done they were free to take the remaining 35 frames underwater of
subject they chose. Some photographers took advantage of the Bovisand
shuttle, others went off in small groups either by RIB or inflatable
or on chartered boats to dive further afield, whilst those without
transport shore dived. Several dived out at Eddystone where
visibility was a little better than inshore.
By 4.30 only 41 of the 44 films had been returned,
at least one having been lost in an unfortunate camera flood! The
unenviable task of processing the films began in earnest under the
direction of DAVID NARDINI who was assisted by CHARLES HOOD, LES KEMP
and MIKE MALONEY. The Society has its own 25 litre deep tanks and
sufficient stainless steel spirals to process three lots of 36 films.
The three bath PhotoSpeed E6 chemicals had been mixed late the
previous evening by BRIAN PITKIN and had been left overnight to warm
up gradually to 38'C ready for the day. Once the first 36 films had
been wound onto spirals processing started, whilst the remaining
films were loaded ready for processing. Three hours later all films
had been processed and were hung up to dry.
The BSoUP display stand, transported to the Fort by
DEREK BIGINTON was erected on Friday evening. Prints submitted for
the "British" and "Open" categories were put on display at tea time
on the Saturday by JAN MALONEY and FLEUR FILLINGHAM. Members, their
guests and other visitors to the Fort were then invited to vote for
their favourites. The impressive display included a total of 70
photographs, mostly at the maximum allowable size of 10" x 8", taken
prior to the event.
As the weather was so good the barbecue planned for 6.30 p.m. did not
have to be cancelled as had happened on previous occasions. A very
good spread was provided by Fort Bovisand, assisted by our FLEUR
FILLINGHAM, on the roof of the centre adjacent to the bar! This
proved popular, nearly sixty participants and their guests
participating whilst the films dried.
By 8.30 p.m. the films were dry and sleeved ready
for return to the photographers, who were then given an hour to
select their best two serious photographs and one humorous shot for
judging. A total of 85 slides were each projected twice and the
audience present invited to vote, a task made more difficult by the
high standard achieved in the better conditions experienced.
Third place in the "Humour" category went to KEN
SULLIVAN for his "Man eating shark". Second place went to GREG CASSAR
for a shot of a diver watering an artificial plant. The winner of the
"Humour" category was MARTIN PARKER for his shot of a diver looking
for a socket to plug in her "Buhlman Trimix Computer". Martin was
awarded the Aquamatic Trophy.
Third place "On the Day" went to PETER LADELL for
his macro photograph of a mate cuckoo wrasse. Peter, who lives in
Luton, took his third place shot with a Pentax LX with a 50 mm macro
lens in a housing. Peter also came second with a wide-angle shot of a
male cuckoo wrasse among kelp. This shot was also taken with a Pentax
LX, but with a 17 mm wide-angle lens. Both shots were taken at
Eddystone lighthouse. The winner "On the Day" was DAVID NARDINI with
a wide-angle shot of an anchored inflatable with his buddy holding a
torch just about to descend. David was awarded the BSoUP Trophy for
the winning shot, taken with a Nikon F801 with a full frame fish-eye
lens in a housing fitted with a Warren Williams wideangle dome
port.
In the British Prints category, third place went to
ALAN JAMES for his sea] portrait. Second place went to WYN ROBERTS
for his close-up of an angler fish. The winner of the British
category was MARK WEBSTER for his wide-angle photograph of a lump
sucker swimming over kelp. Mark was awarded the Ocean Optics
Trophy.
The rules allow "Brifish Prints" to also compete in
the Open category. This year third place in the "Open Prints"
category went to WYN ROBERTS for his angler fish. Second place went
to KEN SULLIVAN for his close-up of a sweet lips with a cleaner fish
in its open mouth. The winner was MARK WEBSTER with his lump sucker.
Mark was awarded the Greenaway Marine Trophy. Suzanne Webster
accepted the Trophies on Mark's behalf.
The event was a great success and thanks are due to
all those who made it possible - Plymouth Development Corporation for
providing film and chemicals, Fort Bovisand Underwater Centre and
their staff for facilities and assistance, BSoU`P members Greg
Cassar, Fleur Fillinghain, Charlie Hood, Les Kemp, Jan and Mike
Maloney, David Nardini and Brian and Linda Pitkin for help on the
day, and to Derek Biginton for transporting the BSoUP display stand
to and from Fort Bovisand.
RESULTS |
|
|
ON THE
DAY |
|
|
Position |
Points |
Photographer |
Subject |
|
|
|
|
1 |
56 |
David Nardini |
Diver and inflatable boat |
2 |
54 |
Peter Ladell |
Male cuckoo wrasse |
3 |
39 |
Peter Ladell |
Male cuckoo wrasse |
HUMOROUS
SLIDES |
|
|
Position |
Points |
Photographer |
Subject |
|
|
|
|
1 |
125 |
Martin Parker |
Diver and dive computer |
2 |
82 |
Greg Cassar |
Watering can |
3 |
42 |
Ken Sullivan |
Man eating shark |
BRITISH
PRINTS |
|
|
Position |
Points |
Photographer |
Subject |
|
|
|
|
1 |
50 |
Mark Webster |
Lump sucker |
2 |
23 |
Wyn Roberts |
Angler fish |
3 |
20 |
Alan James |
Seal |
OVERSEAS
PRINTS |
|
|
Position |
Points |
Photographer |
Subject |
|
|
|
|
1 |
50 |
Mark Webster |
Lump sucker |
2 |
26 |
Ken Sullivan |
Cleaner/Sweet lips |
3 |
23 |
Wyn Roberts |
Angler fish |
|