NEWSLETTER MARCH 2008

FORTHCOMING PROGRAMME
        
Apr 8th:     Monthly Theme Competition - Wrecks
                    Presentation - Underwater Photography - the AJs  (Alan & Anna James) 
                    Photo Forum - Close Up - Alan James

May 13th:  Monthly Theme Competition - Close Up
                    Photo Forum - Wide Angle - Alan James

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

Apr 8th: Monthly Meeting

Please note that the Meeting (start time 2000hrs) will be at our new  venue - The Casson Centre, Rodway Road, Patchway, BS34 5DQ (map)  It is  easiest to access it via Durban Road, off Highwood Road - you can turn right at the traffic lights if coming from the Gloucester Road direction. The Casson Centre is the left hand part of the Patchway Community Centre, immediately next door to the Patchway Town Council Offices. There is off road parking adjacent to the Centre and further spaces along Rodway Road, near to the local Spa shop.

Our main speaker is Alan James and he will give a presentation covering a variety of aspects. It may be a double act with Anna joining him in a joint presentation. Final details are still coming in - watch this space.

The Photo Forum will be led by Alan James and the theme is 'Close Up'. Expect to see some great images from Alan, to hear how he achieved them and to discuss what makes or breaks an image that would be described as a  'close up'.

The monthly competition theme is 'Wrecks'.  Even if you don't feel you have any winners, send some in to benefit from the audience feedback.  Send your digital files to our Competitions Member - Kathryn Rosling (kathryn.rosling@blueyonder.co.uk) and also send a copy to Arthur Kingdon(akdiver48@hotmail.com). A word of caution - Kathryn's email box can fill up, so do not leave your submission to the very last minute.

BUPG Splash In

Nothing planned yet - traditionally in May, at Babbacombe but the last couple of years have been blown out by the weather. What do you want this year? Another venue? Later in the year? Bin it?

I noticed Photosub are calling their Splash In 'End to End' and that covers Lands End to Southend. You can go anywhere in that area, over both days of the weekend and furthermore, you can manipulate to your hearts content. I'm not sure it is the spirit of a Splash In but it is worthy of consideration, have a look at http://www.photosub.co.uk/competitions.php#splash

BSoUP Splash In

The BSoUP Splash In takes place on Saturday 12th July at Plymouth. We have a boat booked for the 12th and 13th, and at the moment there is one slot remaining for both days. If you would like this slot or wish to go on the Reserve list, please let me know.

Important Note: Entries to the Print Competition have to be in by May 21st.

See http://www.bsoup.org/Splash/2008/intro.php for all the details.

St Abbs Splash In

The St Abbs Splash In takes place on Saturday 23rd August. We have a boat booked for the Fri/Sat/Sun and at the moment there may be a couple of spaces. If you would like a space, then please let me know but note that accommodation up there is in short supply.

RECENT EVENTS

March Meeting

Monthly Competition - Fish

Entries for this Competition got off to a slow start with very few being received by Sunday night. However, Kathryn was able to extend the deadline and the entries came flooding in - 38 in total.

In First Place, with seven votes, was this dramatic monochrome image of a Nassau grouper by Tamsin Eyles

In Second Place, with five votes, was this image of mating mandarin fish by Arthur Kingdon

The only British entry, a tompot blenny by Arthur Kingdon was in Third Place with three votes.

Fresh from his latest trip to the Maldives was this snapper shoal by Jim Drake, which picked up two votes and Fourth Place.

Five images gained one vote apiece: A stargazer by Arthur Kingdon

A lionfish by new member Steve Wakley (Canon Compact)

A spadefish by Anna James

A batfish, one of a pair resident on the Pipeline dive site at Nuweiba, by Ian Lightfoot

Presentation - Alex Mustard

Once again we were treated to stunning images and great technical advice from Alex. He's been a busy man of late and has completed trips to Australia, Socorro, Grand Cayman, and Florida in the past few months.

Alex opened with an image of a manta from Socorro:

This was followed by a manatee from Florida:

Both images were taken with the Tokina 10-17mm fisheye and Alex endorsed this lens for underwater photographers. It has become a firm favourite for him, especially when photographing the bigger stuff such as sharks and you're unsure as to how close you are going to be able to get. However, he is also using it extensively as a close up lens for the smaller stuff - by utilising a four inch port, he sacrifices some corner sharpness but can get the strobes positioned to light a small subject that may be right on the dome. The 17mm end allows for frame-filling portraits without too much curvature at the edges.

Alex has also been experimenting with sunbursts and trying to achieve results more akin to film than digital. This sea lion from South Australia was my favourite of the night:

Some Sigma lenses now feature in Alex's arsenal: the 17-70mm gives a useful range and focuses close. Used behind a dome port it is restricted from zooming too far and is more of a 18-20mm behind the small dome (a bit of felt on the end of the lens can prevent damage to the inside of the dome). The Sigma 150mm f2.8 has proved useful and is capable of achieving shots with a difference. It gives that extra working distance making some fish more co-operative. However, it needs to be stable so no good in a current or any surge, and it needs clear water. Teemed with the Canon 500D dioptre, it gives a very good working range and flattens perspective.

Alex has also been experimenting with filters for black & white photography:

Using an orange filter (Wratten no.21 or no 22) any blue will be darkened and this can enhance contrast and separate the subject from the background - divers bubbles look particularly good. The darker orange (no.22) gives a very dark image in the viewfinder. All done to achieve as much in camera, rather than in post processing - similar results can be achieved but usually with more noise.

Alex concluded his presentation by introducing the subject of strobe colour temperature. He is keen on rich, saturated blue water backgrounds and feels that this can be achieved better with warmer strobes:

The image on the left was taken with a strobe with a warm colour temperature and that on the right with a cooler strobe. The camera has used its auto white balance and given both foregrounds a similar colour but in doing so, it has warmed the colour of the blue background (the ambient light) and made it look rather muddy. The latter could be altered in Photoshop but, if done globally, the colour of the foreground would also change - not so much a problem on a sponge but very noticeable on something of a known colour eg skin tone. The reverse works in green water where Alex prefers the water colour from the cooler strobe. All this is subject to personal taste and is still 'work in progress' for Alex.

The summary above does little justice to the excellence of the presentation which was enjoyed by all. Many thanks Alex - come back soon.

Image of the Year - Results

In addition to giving a presentation, Alex announced the results of our 2007 Image of the Year competition. A total of eighteen images came either First or Equal First in our monthly competitions during 2007and these were sent to Alex several weeks before this Meeting. Alex was asked to pick the top six and this was the result:

Equal Sixth Trevor Rees

Equal sixth Arthur Kingdon

A good result for Arthur who was presented with the Image of the Year trophy by Alex:

British Underwater Image Festival

Several of our members made it to the final fifty prints which were displayed at the NEC as part of the Outdoors Show. Anna James had one print, Tamsin Eyles had two and Trevor Rees had at least four. This was a great achievement considering that there were more than one thousand entries from all over the world. See all the results here http://www.divemagazine.co.uk/news/article.asp?uan=4323 Trevor went on to get two prints 'Commended' and another gained Third Place in the Padi Digital Underwater Photography Award - an image of a hermit crab taken with a Canon compact camera:

BSoUP Theme Portfolio

Once again, one of our members has had success in a BSoUP portfolio competition - Arthur Kingdon won First Place in the annual Theme Portfolio Competition with six images of lionfish (all shot at Nuweiba).

See all the results here http://www.bsoup.org/Theme_Portfolios/2008/TP2008_1.php

Miscellaneous