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BSoUP's Splash-in Competition 2003

The Mount Batten Centre, Plymouth, Devon, Saturday 5th July

by Brian Pitkin

The British Society of Underwater Photographers (BSoUP) founded in 1967, is dedicated to encouraging and developing underwater photography in all its aspects, from slides to cine and video. Its members vary from divers who have just started to take underwater photographs to eminent professionals who lead the world.

Every year since its formation BSoUP has organised an underwater photographic competition or 'Splash-in' at Plymouth, Devon, which has set a standard for similar events elsewhere in Britain and around the world. This year's event took place on Saturday 5th July at the The Mount Batten Centre. All underwater photographers were invited to participate either by entering prints taken prior to the event or slides taken on the day to compete for the seven trophies and sixteen personal awards.

Cuttlefish
Alan James
1st British Prints

More than 50 prints were submitted in advance in the British and Open categories and a total of 37 underwater photographers participated in the 'on the day' competition. For the first time ever, films were issued to participants the Friday evening so that all could make an early start on Saturday morning. This added to the excitement and filled the bar where registration took place.

Following breakfast on Saturday, where there was a second opportunity to register, particpants set off in small groups, either by car to shore dive from one of the many excellent sites around Plymouth or by boat, many of the later opting to head south to the Eddystone Lighthouse, some 12 miles offshore where the visibility promised to be better, or west to the wreck of the James Egan Layne or east to Hillsea Point Rock. Sea conditions were smooth to very slight and the weather warm, but overcast for much of the day.

By tea-time, 35 exposed films were returned to for processing in one of the Centre's cabins, blacked out for the occasion. The prints were put on display in the Waterside Room for all to admire. A barbeque was held on the patio alongside the Waterside Room and 50 photographers and their friends sat down to eat and swap tales of their recent exploits and the one that got away. By nine, the films were dry and returned to their respective photographers to make a selection of their best two macro, wide-angle or fish photographs for projection. The assembled audience were then invited to vote for their favourite thee in each category. Once all votes had been counted the results were announced.

Diver
Dave Peake
1st On the Day - Wide-angle

Wreck
Peter Ladell
3rd On the Day - Wide-angle

Diver
Dave Peake
2nd On the Day - Wide-angle

Alan James was a clear winner in the British Prints category taking first, second and third place with stunning images of cuttlefish, basking shark and cuckoo wrasse. Len Deeley won the Open Prints category with an exceptionally well-executed photograph of an anemone fish, beating Bob Soames' seasnake and Ken Sullivan's horse mackerel. The macro event was won by David Stevens with a group of anemones, beating Anthony Holley's second place seahare and Peter Tatton's third place anemones. Dave Peake took first and second place in the Wide-angle category with two very different but equally splendid shots of divers, beating Peter Ladell's study of the bow of the James Eagn Layne, who took thrid place. Peter Hewitt's Tom-pot blenny took first place in the Fish category beating Mike John's Ballan wrasse, which came second, and Tom Cowan's John Dory, which came third. Len Deeley took the most humourous shot on the day.

Tom pot blenny
Peter Hewitt
1st On the Day - Fish

Trophies were awarded to the winners and personal awards to the first, second and third in each category by the Society's President, Brian Pitkin. The Society is grateful to all those members and their guests who helped to make the event such a success. BSoUP extends its thanks to Alan James Photography, AP Valves, Greenaway Marine, Ocean Optics Ltd, and The Image Centre who each provided a trophy for the BSoUP's annual Splash-in competition.

BSoUP SPLASH-IN WINNERS