UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY - BSoUP Splash-in 2002

Reports filtered in of basking sharks at Hillsea Point Rock; sun fish and dolphins on the way back from Hands Deep; and huge jellyfish, Rhizostoma, at the east Tinker and the James Eagan Lane. Had anyone been lucky enough to be in the right place with film still unexposed in their camera? By 4.30 p.m. most of the films had been returned and the task of processing them began in earnest in Cabin 3 under the direction of Peter Ladell. At the same time, prints submitted in the British & Open categories were put on display by Gill and several volunteers in the Waterside Room for all to admire and cast their votes. And a very impressive display they made!

A new range of BSoUP T-shirts, sweat shirts, polo shirts, and jackets were available for members to purchase at the event, thanks to Martha Tressler. And many members were sporting the Society's colours (blue on white or white on navy) that evening.

Once the films had been processed, dried and sleeved they were returned to their respective photographers with two slide mounts per category. Light boxes, lenses and scissors appeared and practically every suitable surface in the Waterside Room and reception area at the Centre became the focus of attention of one or more photographer as he or she scanned each frame and either smiled, nodded or frowned depending on how successful they had been. Finally all of the slides were ready for projection and the huge crowd sat in rapt silence as each of them was projected for judging.

The evening concluded with the announcement of the winners and presentation of Trophies.

WIlliam Hewiit came first in the 'On the Day' Fish category, with a ling taken near the James Eagan Layne with a Nikon F801S in a Subal housing with a Nikon 28 to 85mm zoom lens and a +2 close up lens set to about 50mm. Lit by a Nikon SB25 flash in a home made housing on Fuji 100 asa film. Autofocus, aperture priory set to F8.

David Stephens came second and third in the 'On the Day' Fish category, with a shot of a male cuckoo wrasse and a gold sinny wrasse both taken on the Mew Stone ledges using a Nikon F90x in a Sea and Sea housing with a 105 mm lens and a Nikon 105 strobe and Sea and Sea YS90 strobe on Fuji Sensia 100.

David is from Newport in South Wales and has recently started a new career as Hygiene Manager for Unilever Bestfoods based at Crumlin, where the infamous Pot Noodles are produced!! David has been diving for 8 years and is a PADI divemaster and member of Bristol Underwater photography Group and of course BSoUP. This year David has put together his own web site www.underwater-photography.co.uk

Len Deeley won the 'On the Day Wide-angle category with a shot of a diver, taken at Hands Deep using a Nikon F90x with Nikon 16mm lens in Aquatica housing, flash - Nikon SB26 and SB28 in 'Kevin Cullimore Housings' on manual. Film used was Sensia 100.

Len started diving in early 70's with a BSAC army special branch (TA) but started diving seriously in 1980 and bought my first camera in about 1981.Len oined BSoUP in early 80's. Two years ago he gave up working in the City after 30 years with American bank to concentrate on photography and diving.

Len produces audio visuals, give shows regularly to photographic clubs etc and has achieved Associateship with RPS (Applied category with underwater slides) and Distinction with PAGB (for a/v). Len has his own website at www.imagine-photography.co.uk. He is the founder member of Photosub Underwater Photography Club, which is now in its 12th year; a Member of RPS Digital Group and Audio Visual Group; a Member of Mid-Thames Audio Visual Group; and Secretarymof Godalming Photographic Club.

Alan James came second in the Wide-angle category with a shot of a Rhizostoma jellyfich and diver, Taken off of the bow of the James Eagan Layne. An unplanned opportunity taken at f5.6 at a 60th using an Nikon F5 fitted witha 16mm Fisheye lens in a Sea & Sea NX5 Housing . Flash Lighting was provided by a Sea & Sea YS300 Flashgun using TTL and minus 0.7 exposure compensation

Alan has been a dedicated Underwater Photographer for over 20 years. and has been a member of BSoUP and the Bristol Underwater Photography Group throughout this time. Alan also works in the business at his Specialist Retail Underwater Photography Shop in Bristol.

Peter Hewitt came third in the 'On the Day' Wide-angle category with a picture of his brother Bill on the James Eagan Layne, taken with a Nikon F801s in a Subal housing, dome port. Sigma 24-70 zoom lens set to 24mm. Nikon SB25 flash in a home made housing. Fuji 100 asa film. Autofocus, aperture priory set to F5.6.

Sea horse by Tony white. Second in the Open Prints category.

BSoUP extends its grateful thanks to Gill McDonald for all her hard work in preparing all of the necessary entry forms, voting slips, posters; for registering the 'On the Day' entries; for sorting and collating all of the print entries; and supervising their display; for counting votes and collating the results. Without Gill, the event would not have been the huge success that it turned out to be.

Thanks are also due to Lesley Maw, Annie Hirst, Tony Sullivan, Sarah Banks, Liz Wood-Walker & Jan Maloney who helped Gill in so many ways.

And of course the event would not have been possible without Peter Ladell, who masterminded the E6 processing, ably assisted in the darkroom by Guy Middleton, Andy Clark and Ken Sullivan and by Dave Peake who transported BSoUP's processing equipment to the new venue. Many thanks!