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BSoUP's Splash-in Competition 1998

by Brian Pitkin

The Annual BSoUP Splash-in took place on Saturday 4 July at Fort Bovisand Underwater Centre, Plymouth, Devon. All underwater photographers were invited to participate, whether they were BSoUP members or not, but non-members paid higher entry fees.

There were two classes - Slides taken 'On the Day and Prints taken prior to the event. The slide class included two categories, one for serious underwater photographs and one for humour. In this unique competition, entrants were provided with a roll of 36 x 35 mm film in the morning and had until tea time to expose it in Plymouth waters.

ON THE DAY

Tompot blenny by Pat Morrissey - Winner 'On the Day'

Tompot blenny by Linda Pitkin -Runner-up 'On the Day'

Cuttlefish by Peter Ladell - Third 'On the Day'

The winner in the "On the Day" category was PAT MORRISSEY with a photograph of a tompot blenny. Pat, who manages a small building firm in Essex, dives with no particular club but relies heavily on his buddy Diane Harper whom he praises as "an enthusiastic model and keen-eyed spotter".

A member of BSoUP for three years, he has been diving since 1991 and has been serious about his underwater photography since a disastrous trip to Cuba, after which he enrolled as a Martin Edge student. The winning shot was taken in the wreck of the Glenstrathallen, where this blenny had taken up residence in the large boiler which stands proud of the seabed. Pat opted for his Nikon f4 and Subal housing, with a 105 mm lens and an Ikelite Ai strobe, shooting at 1/60th @ f1l on Fuji Velvia. His favourite British dive sites are Plymouth, Littlehampton and Swanage. Pat was awarded the BSoUP Trophy and a gold medal.

The runner-up "On the Day" was LINDA PITKIN also with a photograph of a tompot blenny. Linda has been taking underwater photographs for 18 years, and still appreciates the delights of British waters despite many trips to the tropics. She uses a Nikonos camera and a housed Pentax LX Her tompot picture was taken with the housed Pentax, a macro lens and a Sunpack Marine 32 flashgun. Linda was awarded a silver medal.

Third place "On the Day" went to PETER LADELL with a photograph of a cuttlefish. Peter, a goldsmith by profession, is a B5oUP Committee member as well as belonging to Photosub, Challney Camera Club and 35PC.

Peter has been diving for 15 years and taking underwater photographs for 14 years. He took his winning photograph with a Nikon F90 and a 60mm lens in his own custom built housing lit by twin SB25 strobes. Peter's favourite British dive sites are the Farne Islands and St Abbs. Peter was awarded a bronze medal.

HUMOUR

The winner in the humour category was also PETER LADELL with a photograph of a boat on the surface pursued by 'Jaws'. Peter was awarded the AP-Valves Trophy and agold medal.

The runner-up in the humour category was STEPHEN LEE with a photograph entitled Table tennis batfish. Third place went to DAVE PEAKE with a photograph entitled Titanic.

BRITISH PRINTS

Basking shark by Alan James - Winner British Prints

The winner in the British Prints category was ALAN JAMES with a photograph of a basking shark. Alan works totally in underwater photography at Alan James Photography, Bristol. He is a member of 85oUP, BUP& (Bristol Underwater Photographic Group) and is a Royal Photographic Society Associate (ARPS). He has been diving for 15 years, 14 of which have been dedicated to underwater photography. Alan took his winning photograph of a feeding basking shark with a Nikonos IVA, a 15 mm Nikonos lens using natural light, manual control and an aperture of f5.6. His favourite UK dive sites include Land's End and Lundy Island. Alan was awarded the Ocean Optics Trophy and a gold medal.

The runner-up in the British Prints category was DAVE PEAKE with a photograph of a 'diver in wreck'. Dave, a retired Police Diver is now a self-employed diver/underwater photographer working mainly at Fort Bovisand Underwater Centre. His photograph was taken on a training structure near the Breakwater in Plymouth Sound . Dave used a Nikonos V with a 12mm Sea & Sea fish eye lens in natural light. The camera was set to auto and held steady at 1/30th second and M, the film was Fuji Velvia. Dave was awarded a silver medal.

Third place in the British Prints category was CHARLES HOOD with a photograph of a seal. Charles, an IT Account Manager, is a RSoUP member and belongs to EXUL (ex University of London branch). He has been diving for 18 years and taking underwater photographs for 17 years. He took his seal photograph with a Nikon 8015 with a 20mm lens in a Subal housing lit by twin sea & Sea Y550 flashguns at 1/1251h @ f8 in the Farne Islands. Charles' favourite British dive sites are Land's End, Cornwall and the Forne Islands and he was awarded a bronze medal.

OVERSEAS PRINTS

Diver on wreck by Dave Peake - Runner-up, British Prints

Blenny by Malcolm Hey - Winner, Overseas Prints

The winner of the Overseas Print category was MALCOLM HEY with a photograph of a blenny looking out of a hole in the coral. Malcolm, a retired business executive, now regards underwater photography as a . retirement career'. He has been diving for 20 years and took up underwater photography eight years ago. A member of BSoUP, Photosub and Viewfinders of Romsey Camera Club, Malcolm is a former British Gas Wildlife Photographer of the Year prize-winner, and last year's BSoUP Open Portfolio winner. He took his winning photograph at Moses Rock, Eilat using a Nikon 801 camera with a 105 mm lens in a Subal housing and lit by dual Sea & Sea YS 50 flashguns.

MALCOLM was also runner-up with a photograph of a Pygmy seahorse taken in the Lembeh Strait, North Sulawesi. He used a Nikon F90 and a 105 mm lens fitted with a +4 diopter in a Subal housing lit by Sea
Sea Y5120 and Y550 flashguns. Malcolm, whose current favourite dive location is North Sulawesi, was awarded the Greenaway Marine Trophy and gold and silver medals.

Third place in the Overseas Prints category was PAT MORRISSEY for his photograph of a diver and wreck. Pat took his photograph using a Nikon f4 with a 16mm fish eye lens in a Subal housing and a Y550 flashqun for the balanced fill-in flash. Pat received a bronze medal.

Pygmy seahorse by Malcolm Hey - Runner-up, Overseas Prints

BSoUP SPLASH-IN WINNERS