NEWSLETTER JANUARY 2007
FORTHCOMING PROGRAMME
FEB 13th: Alex Mustard - title TBA
COMPETITION PROGRAMME
FEB13th: Close Up
Alex Mustard - Image of the Year Judging
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
FEB 13th Meeting
The Meeting (start time 2000hrs) will be at our normal venue (click here for how to find us).
Please try and be on time as we have to keep the main doors locked while we are using the building. However, there is an intercom entry system so you should be able to get in if you are running late.
The main event of the evening will be a presentation by Dr Alex Mustard. The subject has yet to be confirmed but, as with all presentations by Alex, you can guarantee it will be highly informative and accompanied by excellent images. Alex will also be giving his verdict on our 2006 Monthly Theme winners to decide the Image of the Year competition. If you are new to UW photography and have not looked at Alex's website, check it out www.amustard.com
The monthly competition theme is 'Close Up' so you all have something suitable - no excuses. Send your digital files to Bob Anthony anthonyrez30@tiscali.co.uk or bring your slides on the night (let Bob know if you will require a slide projector).
RECENT EVENTS
January Meeting
With all three members of the Committee unable to attend this meeting, volunteers were asked for and Ian Lightfoot, Ralph Mortimore and Trevor Rees stepped in to organise and run the evening. Despite many members being away and the worst weather of the winter, there was still a decent turnout.
Red Sea Liveaboard - Ian Lightfoot
The main event of the evening was a presentation by Ian Lightfoot on his recent trip aboard MV Whirlwind, a Tony Backhurst liveaboard. This was Ian's first liveaboard and he certainly chose well: he was full of praise for the boat (new in 2006) and her crew. The trip was organised for photographers and headed up by Charles Hood. Charles is a journalist and photographer and is Senior Correspondant for Dive magazine. During the week, his own approach to underwater photography was expanded - that "pictures should tell a story" and demonstrated picture effects, to expand his point of view. Focusing on: composure and what works, shooting mostly wide angle, frequently without strobes, natural lighting, white balance adjusting, the use and methods of 'magic' filters. He also demonstrated how an HID spotlight can be used to highlight a key feature in a photograph, to give both focus and depth.
Ian's own aim on the trip was to make better use of his Nikon 10.5mm lens, expand his use of it and to develop the techniques required. During the presentation a good number of images were shown to demonstrate where some techniques had worked whilst others had not.
Shots of the stern of the Dunraven show the different effects obtained depending on the position of the sun. Ian's D70 has handled the sunburst rather well.
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Charles Hood brought a HID torch for the week and this shot of a diver with the torch, seen through the stern of the Kingston, gives an idea of the potential offered by such a powerful beam. Pretty soft coral and sponges make for an attractive image of the Carnatic.
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Ian showed a couple of images of a napoleon wrasse with divers in the shot to give some sense of scale. However, in this shot, Ian got closer to the fish but there are no divers and in Ian's words "the picture says nothing". This was a reflection of Charles' philosophy where he feels that "every picture should tell a story".
Shots showing divers engaged in underwater activities were recommended by Charles and here we see our very own Ralph Mortimore in the wreck of the Ghiannis D.
Ian had been experimenting with black & white effects in Photoshop (Elements 4) and this image of the Ghiannis D was achieved via desaturation.
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Quite a number of images were obtained using available light and this surface reflection is particularly effective although Ian pointed out that keeping the camera fairly level, to avoid too much distortion, can result in a reduction of the reflection.
Another first for Ian was working with a model and this image makes the most of the model's long hair. Ian pointed out that it is much easier to illuminate inside the mask if it is clear silicone rather than black as in this case.
Ian gained a great deal from his first liveaboard and is keen to get back in the water to practice the techniques that he learned. His presentation was very well received and must have struck a chord with the audience as it generated lots of questions. Well done Ian.
Photo Clinic
A Photo Clinic had been planned although it was always realised that this depended on a response from the members. In the event, only our three volunteers submitted images. So, because of the limited response and as Ian's presentation and subsequent questions took up more time than expected, it was decided not to run the clinic. If you feel that this is worth doing at sometime in the future then let me know and we can give it another try.
Monthly Competition
The theme was 'Open' and attracted 24 entries. However, there was no clear favourite and the votes were very widely spread. A second vote was not taken so three images tied for First Place (with two votes each):
A shot by Trevor Rees of a shoal of glassfish, taken with a 10.5mm lens in Nuweiba:
A shot by Pam Murphy of a lionfish with a very attractive background:
A shot by Arthur Kingdon of a male anthias, taken in Nuweiba using a D200 and a 60mm lens, with twin Inon Z240 flashguns:
No less than six images received one vote apiece, including all three of Martin Bailey's entries, plus images by Tamsin Eyles, Arthur Kingdon, and Trevor Rees . Martin's close up encounter with a trumpetfish is shown here:
MISCELLANEOUS
Fake Memory Cards
Two friends of mine have been caught out in an eBay scam where memory cards have turned out to be fakes. It is a big enough problem for eBay to have put out a warning. Click here for link.
Bovisand Diving
Sally Sharrock (who insists she is not on commission!) tells me that Bovisand is now open for diving seven days a week with air, shop, cafe etc and the rib shuttle is running. Shore diving is no problem and parking is £5 per day but that includes a free air fill (sounds a bargain to me). There is also B&B available in the accommodation block. See www.discoverydivers.co.uk
BSoUP Competitions
There is no excuse now for not entering the BSoUP competitions as they are now accepting entries via email. Also, our monthly competition programme mirrors and precedes that of BSoUP, so you can try out your images the month before. We have a great deal of talent within the group so why not give it a go? Let's show the London lot what we can do in the provinces! Check out www.bsoup.org for further details.
Arthur