Photo / Video News & Reviews
NUPG October 2018 Monthly Meeting Report
A very busy scene greeted me this month as I settled down for a pre-talk curry and chat, we welcomed some new people as well as Martyn Guess and his wife Sue to the NUPG.
Martyn has been diving for over 30 years and taking underwater images for over 25 years. He has been very successful in National and International competitions and regularly makes presentations to camera and photography clubs as well as BSOUP. He also leads overseas trips for Scuba Travel having recently returned from teaching underwater photography in Anilao in the Philippines, Bali and the Azores. He writes regularly for Scuba Diver Magazine where his advice on photography appears both in the UK and the Asia Pacific region.
After the social chatter we settled down to listen to his presentation entitled “Hints and Tips on how to take better underwater images”.
He started by highlighting the group of component parts that he personally thinks need to be addressed to make a dynamic image that stands apart from the many underwater photos that are found everywhere these days. He went on to explore these areas in more detail.
Unsurprisingly composition is a key point and one often overlooked, he developed the discussion emphasising the importance of the “rule of thirds” and diagonal lines as well as the importance of eye contact with the subject and the angle of the shot. It is often difficult to remember to try and get low and angle up but it can make a huge difference to a photo if you are able to do this. He also explained the importance of thinking about and using a portrait rather than a landscape aspect for certain types of photograph. When taking shots of pelagics and other large underwater animals try to get close.
The next component was to remember to photograph something interesting going on rather than just fish portrait shots. He illustrated this with an example of a moray eel. There are loads of great photos of this subject but try and get one that is being cleaned by a shrimp and then see if you can catch the detail of this.
He dwelt on the importance of trying to get a striking picture and the use of bright colours, sun balls and natural light. Martyn then went on to describe the importance of trying to catch what he termed “The Peak of The Action”. He illustrated the talk with many fantastic striking images.
Knowing your subject and understanding their behaviour was illustrated and if you are witnessing some great behaviour such as a lionfish actively hunting then fill your boots and try to take lots of photos experimenting with different lighting and camera settings.
Another key component is exposure and reminded us all of remembering the simple rules and the exposure triangle. He gave us examples of his use of Aperture, Speed and ISO settings and his personal starting points for macro and wide angle photography. He also gave insights on how he adjusts his LCD display for reviewing his shots and the importance of understanding and reviewing the histograms of a shot whilst underwater so you can then make adjustments. He described why he likes “back button” focus.
His final part of the presentation went on to deal with that most important component lighting and strobe types and placement as well as other ways of lighting a subject. Once more there were some fine examples and he developed the presentation detailing the use of cross and back lighting to separate and hide messy backgrounds and bring in that all important 3D effect. He talked about back lighting with a torch as well as strobes and the use of snoots and finished his talk with some other strobe options along with the use of filters.
Another great talk that finished in a busy question and answer session and a well-deserved round of applause. I think everyone from the beginners to the experts in underwater photography at the meeting learnt something.
Open Winner: John Spencer
This month’s image competition theme was “Colonies” and there were some great images to judge. Overall winner was John Spencer with a beautiful shot of brittle stars on kelp taken in Loch Fyne Scotland, the diagonal and black background elements being particularly strong in this shot. Glynn Phillips was placed 2nd with a lovely shot of plumose anemones and kelp taken in Eyemouth, UK and showing the rule of thirds. There was a 3 way tie for third price with Nick Robertson Brown and his wide angle photo of a tug boat covered in various soft and hard corals taken in the Caribbean using a remote strobe, Maggie Russell and her macro shot of a plate forming coral in Indonesia and Elaine White with her macro shot of cup corals from a reef in the Azores. The compact category was won by Marcia Melton and her shot of dead mens fingers and brittle stars in St. Abbs, UK again showing a great use of the black background. Congratulations once again to all.
Compact Winner: Marcia Melton
Following the results a quick resume of all the images was undertaken with some discussions on what and what did not work as well as suggestions to improvements that could have been made.
Our next meeting will be on Monday November 12th when we look forward to welcoming Nick More. The competition theme is “Rust”. For more information on the NUPG or you are interested in joining us then please feel free to come to one of our monthly meetings which are held on the 2nd Monday of each month.
For more information about the NUPG visit their website by clicking here.
An emotive photograph showing a freediver examining the aftermath of whaling sees
Alex Dawson from Sweden named Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024. Dawson’s
photograph ‘Whale Bones’ triumphed over 6500 underwater pictures entered by underwater
photographers from around the world.
“Whale Bones was photographed in the toughest conditions,” explains chair of judging
panel Alex Mustard, “as a breath-hold diver descends below the Greenland ice sheet to bear
witness to the carcasses. The composition invites us to consider our impact on the great
creatures of this planet. Since the rise of humans, wild animals have declined by 85%. Today,
just 4% of mammals are wildlife, the remaining 96% are humans and our livestock. Our way
needs to change to find a balance with nature.”
Photo: Rafael
Fernandez Caballero
Whales dominated the winning pictures this year with Spanish photographer Rafael
Fernandez Caballero winning two categories with his revealing photos of these ocean giants:
a close up of a grey whale’s eye and an action shot of a Bryde’s whale engulfing an entire bait
ball, both taken in Magdalena Bay, Baja California, Mexico. Fernandez Caballero took ‘Grey
Whale Connection’ while drifting in a small boat, holding his camera over the side in the water
to photograph the curious whale. ‘The End Of A Baitball’ required Fernandez Caballero to dive
down and be in exactly the right place at the moment the whale lunged. “The photo shows
the high speed attack,” he said, “with the whale engulfing hundreds of kilograms of sardines
in one bite — simply unforgettable to see predation on such a scale.”
Photo: Rafael
Fernandez Caballero
Lisa Stengel from the United States was named Up & Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024 for her image of a mahi-mahi catching a sardine, in Mexico. Stengel used both a very fast shutter speed and her hearing to catch the moment. “If you listen there’s an enormous amount of sound in the ocean,” she explained. “The action was too fast to see, so I honed in on the sound of the attacks with my camera to capture this special moment.”
“It is such an exciting time in underwater photography because photographers are capturing such amazing new images, by visiting new locations and using the latest cameras,”
commented judge Alex Mustard. “Until this year I’d hardly ever see a photo of a mahi mahi,
now Lisa has photographed one hunting, action that plays out in the blink of an eye.”
The Underwater Photographer of the Year contest is based in the UK, and Jenny Stock,
was named as British Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024 for her image “Star
Attraction”, which finds beauty in species of British wildlife that are often overlooked.
Exploring the west coast of Scotland, Stock explained “in the dark green depths my torch
picked out the vivid colours of a living carpet of thousands of brittle stars, each with a
different pattern. I was happily snapping away, when I spotted this purple sea urchin and I
got really excited.”
Photo: Jenny Stock
In the same contest, Portuguese photographer, Nuno Sá, was named ‘Save Our Seas
Foundation’ Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year 2024, with his photo ‘Saving
Goliath’, taken in Portugal. Sá’s photo shows beachgoers trying to save a stranded sperm
whale. The picture gives us hope that people do care and want to help the oceans, but also
warns us that bigger changes are needed. “The whale had been struck by a ship and its fate
was sealed,” explains Sá. “An estimated 20,000 whales are killed every year, and many more
injured, after being struck by ships-and few people even realise that it happens.”
Photo: Nuno Sá
More winning images can be found at www.underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com.
About Underwater Photographer of the Year
Underwater Photographer of the Year is an annual competition, based in the UK, that celebrates photography beneath the surface of the ocean, lakes, rivers and even swimming pools, and attracts entries from all around the world. The contest has 13 categories, testing photographers with themes such as Macro, Wide Angle, Behaviour and Wreck photography, as well as four categories for photos taken specifically in British waters. The winners were announced in an award ceremony in Mayfair, London, hosted by The Crown Estate. This year’s UPY judges were experienced underwater photographers Peter Rowlands, Tobias Friedrich and Dr Alexander Mustard MBE.
Header image: Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024 winner Alex Dawson
The winners of the prestigious World Shootout 2023 underwater photography competition were announced at this year’s BOOT Show, captivating audiences at the world’s largest diving and water sports exhibition in Dusseldorf, Germany. Hundreds of photographers from 54 countries competed across nine categories, pushing the boundaries of creativity and technical skill.
Grand Prize Winners
- Picture of the Year: Spanish photographer Eduardo Acevedo “secured” the top Honor with the prestigious prize the “boot Dusseldorf Director’s Prize, earning an Andromeda statuette and a €2,000 cash prize.
- Best 5 Images Portfolio: Luc Rooman from Belgium triumphed in this category, winning a dream 4-week diving trip for two to Papua New Guinea, valued at $18,900.
- Amateur Photographer: Alexandra Ceurvorst from the USA impressed the judges with her talent, taking home the 1,000 € cash prize award.
Celebrating Diversity and Innovation
This year’s competition saw 11,680 entries from 964 photographers, showcasing a remarkable spectrum of skills and perspectives. From the intricate wonders of Macro photography to the beauty of “Black Water”, the “Underwater Fashion” category added a touch of artistry and innovation, while the ever-important ” Environmental & Conservation” category served as a powerful reminder of the need to protect these fragile ecosystems.
Looking Ahead: AI and Ocean Conservation
World Shootout founder and producer David Pilosof unveiled an exciting addition for the 2024 competition: this year the Environmental category will be focusing on the impact of plastic on our oceans and future.
This category will embrace the potential of AI or other editing software as a tool to amplify the conservation message.
Entrants will submit campaigns of three original underwater photographs dealing with plastic pollution, along with their final AI assistance processing. This innovative approach encourages artistic expression while raising awareness about a critical environmental issue.
Explore the Stunning Collection
Discover the complete album of competition entries by clicking here.
For Low-resolution photos of finalist entries in eight categories, click here.
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