NEWSLETTER DECEMBER 2006

FORTHCOMING PROGRAMME

JAN 9th:      Red Sea Liveaboard - Ian Lightfoot

                      Photo Clinic     

FEB 13th:   Alex Mustard   - title TBA

COMPETITION PROGRAMME

JAN 9th:       Open

FORTHCOMING EVENTS

JAN 9th 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 evening will include a presentation by Ian Lightfoot on his recent trip to the Red Sea. This was Ian's first liveaboard trip and was a workshop run by Charles Hood.

There will also be a Photo Clinic. We all have images that we would like some advice on - is it good, bad or indifferent? Where did I go wrong? How do I improve this shot? Which version works best? This is your opportunity to hear from your peers, and everyone can learn something. However, it only works if you support it and send in your images - don't rely on the others - send yours. Ian Lightfoot and Ralph Mortimore will be running this, so send your images to Ian on  ian.lightfoot@btinternet.com   Get in touch with them if you have any queries.

The monthly competition theme is 'Open' so you all have something suitable. Send your digital files to Trevor Rees  cjhowell@gotadsl.co.uk (Bob is on holiday) or bring your slides on the night (let Trevor know if you will require a slide projector).

RECENT EVENTS

December Meeting

Canon 5D - First Impressions by Tamsin Eyles

Tamsin has recently upgraded from a Canon 300D to a Canon 5D and has only managed to do one trip since, so this presentation was very much a first look. The 5D is often compared with the Nikon D200 and Tamsin provided a great deal of information as to the specifications of each of these cameras. However, the one thing that really sets them apart is that the 5D has a full frame sensor. This means that there is no magnification factor to be applied to the lens focal length or, more correctly, there is no reduction in field of view  - a distinct advantage for UW photographers wishing to shoot wide angle images. The larger sensor has larger pixels which need less processing so, in theory, the camera should perform very well at higher ISO settings. Tamsin showed some land shots taken at 1600 ISO and there was very little noise visible.

Tamsin had shot macro on her first outing with the camera and showed some excellent images:

All images were taken using a Canon 100mm macro lens and were shot around Bequia in the Grenadines.

Tamsin is relatively new to serious underwater photography but she is not new to photography per se, having studied the subject at university and graduated with a degree in Photographic Arts. Her creativity was apparent in much of her work and I look forward to seeing more of her images.

Tamsin will be shooting some wide angle on her next trip and the results will be very interesting. There is a suggestion that the 5D may have an improved dynamic range over the Nikon products so we look forward to the follow-up presentation - many thanks Tamsin.

Annual Portfolio Competition

There was a healthy response to the Portfolio Competition and the standard of entries was high. A paper vote was used and Arthur Kingdon emerged as the clear winner:

In Second Place with a portfolio of Newfoundland wreck images was Bob Anthony:

Cathy Lewis took Third Place with this attractive portfolio:

Monthly Competition - Symbiosis

The interpretation of our competition themes has usually been taken fairly lightly but the theme of 'Symbiosis' provided for some unusually lively debate. Issues raised included whether both parties needed to benefit (or only one providing it wasn't a parasite) and there were even questions such as 'what does the anemone get out of it?' The voting proved just as difficult and three images had equal votes after the first round. Following a re-vote, Arthur Kingdon emerged as the winner with this feisty clownfish:

Bob Anthony took Second Place with a red skirted anemone and clownfish:

Cathy Lewis, with a crab perfectly matched to its host, took Third Place:

MISCELLANEOUS

Maldives Trip

Anyone interested in a Maldives trip next March (3 -17) may wish to get in touch with Bath33 DO Peter Plume (peter.plume@btinternet.com). It's aboard the well respected MV Sea Queen and should be a great trip. There are currently two places available following a cancellation.

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

New Website for Underwater Photographers

A new website, full of good stuff for underwater photographers, can be found at http://www.divephotoguide.com Check it out - it requires registration but is very useful.

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