NEWSLETTER OCTOBER 2009
FORTHCOMING PROGRAMME
NOV 10th: Monthly Competition - Open
British Portfolio Review and Portfolio Tutorial - Arthur Kingdon & Trevor Rees
Presentation - Introduction to Lightroom - Jim Drake
Foto Forum - TBA
FORTHCOMING EVENTS
Nov 10th: Monthly Meeting
The Meeting (start time 2000hrs) will be at our normal 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.
The monthly competition theme is 'Open'. This competition allows for entries taken in swimming pools etc - as long as the camera was underwater. Also, the normal time limit of two years does not apply. Send your digital files to Bob (anthonyrez30@tiscali.co.uk ) and please include BUPG on the subject line. Unsure about entering? Even if you don't feel you have any winners, send some in to benefit from the audience feedback - it's an ideal way to learn. Please note the early call for entries - in by midnight Saturday 30th October.
It's portfolio season and we will take the opportunity to review the entries into our Best of British competition and also the BSoUP Best of British competition. Trevor Rees will talk about how he put together his winning entries. There will also be a tutorial which will assist those who wish to enter the Open portfolio competitions in December
Adobe Lightroom is an alternative to the ubiquitous Photoshop but not many of our members have tried it. One member who has is Jim Drake and he will give a presentation on what Lightroom can offer the underwater photographer.
RECENT EVENTS
October Meeting
There was a very good turnout for this Meeting and amongst the audience we were privileged to have Dr Alex Mustard. Alex had been out in Canada at the same time as several of our members and he was keen to see the Canada Presentation. Although not taking part in the Presentation, he was on hand to offer helpful advice throughout the evening and his company was enjoyed by all.
Monthly Theme - Available light
This proved a popular subject and there were thirty three entries. However, with the very busy programme tonight, this was reduced by limiting entries to two per person resulting in a total of twenty four entries.
| In First Place with six vote was Anna James with this image of a free diver in the Red Sea |
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Close behind with five votes was Jan Davies with this jellyfish and surface detail image from Nuweiba. Captured on a compact camera. |
| In Third Place with four votes was Rob Kemp with an image of soft coral highlighted by a shaft of light |
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In Fourth Place with three votes was Jon Priddle with a juvenile shark in the mangroves |
| In Fifth place with two votes was Tamsin Eyles with an image from Malta given the monochrome treatment |
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Several images picked up one vote each including another by Tamsin Eyles |
| And another by Jan Davies |
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Wreck interior by Pam Murphy |
| Oceanic white tip by Helen Wehner |
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Monochrome videographer by Rick Ayrton |
Annual Portfolio Competition - Best of British
There were ten entries this year, one fewer than last year but the standard of entries continues to improve
| In First Place was Trevor Rees with 39 points |  |
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In Second Place was Rob Bailey with 36 points |
| In Third Place was Arthur Kingdon with 33 points |  |
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In Fourth Place was Rick Ayrton with 18 points |
| In Fifth Place was David Stephens with 16 points |  |
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In Sixth Place was Cathy Lewis with 8 points |
Presentation - The Best Diving in the Known Universe - Rob Bailey (plus supporting cast).
Rob Bailey gave an excellent presentation of both land and underwater photographs covering a recent trip he had organised to Vancouver Island. Several other members of BUPG were also on the trip, along with a very friendly group from Leamington & Warwick Sub Aqua Club. Diving was mainly carried out at the northern tip of the island around the Browning Pass area, staying at the Hideaway. A couple of days were also spent diving with Ogden Point Dive Centre, Victoria.
A stunning selection of images gave a glimpse of the incredible amount of colour and marine life that can be found in these nutrient-rich waters. Some of the marine life is similar to that found in the UK but usually on a larger scale. This area can rightly can claim to offer the diving in the known universe - and it wasn't too cold!. A small selection of Rob's images below:
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Glove sponge, soft corals, and plumose on Browning Wall with Paula Bailey modeling. Nikon D200, Tokina 10-17mm, twin Inon Z240 strobes. |
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The bull kelp offered plenty of photo opportunities - this image from Hunt Rock Nikon D200, Tokina 10-17mm, twin Inon Z240 strobes |
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Giant Pacific octopus were occasionally seen. Nikon D200, Tokina 10-17mm, twin Inon Z240 strobes |
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Related to our wolf fish, this wolf eel was at least eight foot long. Photographed at Ogden Point Breakwater, Victoria Nikon D200, Tokina 10-17mm, twin Inon Z240 strobes |
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There were jellyfish everywhere, this one a red eyed medusa Nikon D200, Nikon 60mm, twin Inon Z240 strobes |
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Opalescent nudibranchs, around 75-100mm long, were abundant Nikon D200, Nikon 60mm, twin Inon Z240 strobes |
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Candy striped shrimp on anemone Nikon D200, Nikon 60mm, twin Inon Z240 strobes |
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There were a variety of rock fish, this one a china rockfish Nikon D200, Nikon 60mm, twin Inon Z240 strobes |
The other BUPG members on the trip, showed several images to complement the main presentation. One image from each is shown below:
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Bob Anthony's images included this red Irish lord Nikon D200, Nikon 60mm, twin Inon Z240 strobes |
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Cathy Lewis' images included this hooded nudibranch. Nikon D200, Nikon 60mm, twin Sea & Sea strobes
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A huge Puget Sound king crab, some 500mm across, by Trevor Rees Nikon D90, Tokina 10-17mm, twin Sea & Sea YS110 strobes |
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Steller sea lions, Eumetopias jubatus, can grow to eleven feet and weigh as much as 2,500 lbs. They are rather intimidating and trickier to photograph than our seals. This one was photographed by Arthur Kingdon off Race Rocks Nikon D200, Tokina 10-17mm, twin Inon Z240 strobes
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A great trip and a great presentation, thoroughly enjoyed by all - thanks Rob.
MISCELLANEOUS
A very good past few weeks for BUPG members:
Epson Red Sea Challenge
Rob Bailey has emerged victorious and will represent UK and Ireland on an all expenses paid trip to Eilat in November. We wish him great success in the competition in Eilat. Trevor Rees was Runner Up. See the results.
BSoUP Best of British Portfolio
This was pretty much a BUPG invasion - five BUPG members entered this competition and proceeded to win the top five slots:
1st - Trevor Rees
2nd - Rick Ayrton
3rd - Arthur Kingdon
4th - Rob Bailey
5th - David Stephens
Well done to all who entered and particularly well done to Trevor for winning this for the third year in succession.
See the portfolios on the BSoUP website
Members' Websites
Cathy Lewis is the latest member to publish a website http://www.cathylewisphotography.com/
Keep bubbling,
Arthur