NEWSLETTER APRIL 2007

FORTHCOMING PROGRAMME

May 8th:     Dive Ascension - Bob Anthony
                     Photoshop Tutorial - Tamsin Eyles

June 12th: Maldives Magic - Jim Drake, Pam Bowden, Fiona Bowles, Ian Blair

COMPETITION PROGRAMME

May 8th:      Monthly Theme: - Divers

May 12/13:   BUPG Splash In - Babbacombe

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

May 8th 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.

Bob Anthony will give a presentation about Ascension Island diving . If you don't know where it is, have look at an atlas and look for a tiny speck between Brazil and Africa. A bit off the beaten track....

A Photoshop tutorial by Tamsin Eyles will continue our efforts of having a technical talk in addition to a location talk. Aimed more towards the beginner but there will be something for the more experienced.

The monthly competition theme is 'Divers', so not too tricky - distant or close up, you must have something. Send your digital files to Bob anthonyrez30@tiscali.co.uk or bring your slides on the night (let Bob know if you will require a slide projector).

BUPG Splash In 12/13 May

Our own Splash In will be held at Babbacombe over the weekend of 12/13th May. There are neap tides that weekend and, with high tide at 1401 GMT on the 12th, it should be diveable for much of the day. We are avoiding the Bank Holidays that weekend. Check out our rules here.

I have just come across the website run by Dan Bolt who lives in the Babbacombe area. It's full of useful stuff for South Devon (and further afield), give it a look: http://www.underwaterpics.co.uk/UWP2/index.php

BSoUP Splash In 7 July

Our boat is booked for the weekend of 7/8 July and entry forms for the Splash In will be available at our Monthly Meetings (or can be downloaded from the BSoUP website). Check out the details here http://www.bsoup.org/Splash/2007/intro.php  Please note that entries for the Print Competition have to be in by 23rd May.

RECENT EVENTS

April Meeting

Monthly Theme Competition - Abstract

The theme of 'Abstract' has not been too popular in our previous competitions but this time there was a good number of entries and the standard was high. There were, of course, some differences in interpretation of the theme but we don't worry too much about that, do we?. Some images made good use of Photoshop whilst others were pretty much as shot.

The result was very much a whitewash for Anna James whose three entries took the first three places! I don't think this has been done before (perhaps Dad knows better?) - well done Anna.

A simple shot of coral polyps, but a most effective result. This took first place:

An anemone mouth, given the monochrome treatment plus a hint of sepia took equal first place.

A crown of thorns close up was the third most liked.

Of the other entries, several were worthy contenders:

This 'artists palette' patch of algae by Martyn Bailey really suited the theme - how many of us have swum past similar photo opportunities without spotting the potential?

Jim Drake took the monochrome route and added some blur to give this lionfish a different look.

A peacock flounder, also given the monochrome treatment but with a bit of colour put back in, proved a very attractive entry by Tamsin Eyles.

South East Asia Anna James

Anna has recently returned from a six-week trip to Thailand, Burma, and Borneo. She managed to fit in a fair amount of diving and, armed with a Nikon D70 in a Sea & Sea housing, she obtained some stunning images.

In Thailand, Anna dived the Similan and Surin Islands, plus Richelieu Rock from a liveaboard based in Khao Lak. Anna had hoped to dive whilst in Burma but that did not happen.

Anna covered the southern Thailand dive sites from a base in Koh Lanta and came across some of the rarer creatures such as this rhinopias, as well as pipefish and some unusual nudibranchs

Moving on to Borneo to dive Mabul and Sipadan, Anna continued to find some very attractive subjects.

It was noticeable that Anna was not afraid to experiment with cropping and composition -  with some excellent results.

Great legs!

The schooling jacks were out in force at Sipadan providing wide angle and close-up opportunities. The trips to Sipadan are strictly controlled and on a rota system. However, Anna said that, of the two sites, she had preferred the diving at Mabul.

This was an enjoyable, informative presentation with lots of great shots, of which the above is only a small sample - many thanks Anna.

Flash Synchronisation - Arthur Kingdon

This presentation covered how flash synchronisation works (including different shutter types), a close look at synch speeds, and how to use front or rear curtain synch. With diagrams of leaf shutters and focal plane shutters it was fairly easy to understand the principles involved.

Arthur went on to show the results of his own tests on synch speeds with his D200, pointing out that the manufacturer's max synch speed of 1/250th could be exceeded and he encouraged the audience to carry out a similar test with their cameras. Note: this only works with DSLRs and when linked (via the housing) to non-dedicated flashguns

He explained how it would be possible to exploit the characteristics of the synchronisation and use speeds up to 1/500th to gain up to one stop advantage.

The shot above would benefit from a bit more underexposure of the blue water and this could be achieved by selecting 1/500th sec shutter speed and orienting the camera to suit the shutter curtain position. The area needing flash illumination would be unaffected but the blue water would be darker - perhaps also less backscatter? This is work in progress for Arthur so expect to see more results from his next trip.

Front curtain and rear curtain synch were explained and the creative possibilities using slow shutter speeds with moving subjects were discussed. Front curtain tends to result in a sharp subject with a blur in front, whereas rear curtain gives a sharp subject with the blur behind and looks more natural. This has meant that many photographers would choose rear curtain. However, Alex Mustard in his presentation to the Group in February had said that he preferred front curtain as it was easier to control composition, rather than having the viewfinder black out and then the flash firing as happens with rear curtain. To avoid the blur being in front of the subject, giving an impression of the subject moving backwards, Alex suggested panning the camera faster than the subject. Now there's something to try......

MISCELLANEOUS

Cape Wrath Liveaboard

Several of our group, along with other Bristol divers, are visiting Cape Wrath and the Western Isles over the period 18 - 25 August. This promises to be a great trip and anyone wishing to go on it should contact Roger White on 01179 771 779.

Baltimore (Ireland) Trip

If you fancy a trip to the west coast of Ireland, flying out of Bristol, then get in touch with Fiona Bowles. The trip dates are June 2 - 9.

Maldives Manta & Whaleshark Safari

Ocean Optics and Maveriks Diving are organising a rather special trip to the Maldives in late October 2007. Read all about it on their website (tell them you saw it here if contacting them) http://www.mavericksdiving.co.uk/events/20071027maldives.html

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

Arthur