Photo / Video News & Reviews
NUPG September 2018 Monthly Meeting Report
This month we had the pleasure in welcoming Robert Bailey multi award winning photographer who has been taking stunning photographs both underwater and topside for over 25 years. Qualifying as an NAUI scuba instructor up to training director level at the University of Calgary from 1993-1999 he is a diver of consummate skill. Now living in England he is still an avid diver, diving throughout the year in UK waters. He never dives without his camera and is an active member of many photographic clubs and societies. His mission is to show everyone the beauty of our underwater world and just how colourful life in UK waters is.
Whilst he has witnessed and embraced the revolution of many new photographic techniques his talk emphasised that you do not need the state of the art equipment for spectacular shots but you will always need to address the basics of underwater photography including planning, understanding your subject, composition, lighting and not forgetting the most important skill when taking a photograph underwater, excellent buoyancy control. He is also an advocate of revisiting a site many times so you know it and the life that it holds intimately. A knowledge of marine biology is always good as this allows you to understand the behaviour of what you are trying to photograph.
He then gave us an insight into his thoughts about entering underwater competitions, apart from the positive attribute of considered feedback and the feelings of achievement when your efforts are recognised entering competitions has created many opportunities for him to get his images and articles published in a variety of magazines including DIVE and SCUBA as well as the non-diving press such as Wildlife Magazine, The Times and Sunday Times, Outdoor Photographer and Practical Photographer to name but a few.
His presentation went on to show us why he loves UK diving so much and that despite the wind, waves, tides and weather are often against you, combined with practicalities of taking so much dive kit, to remote areas of Scotland and Britain when it works, it works! The colour and life in UK waters is stunning and often the sites are less photographed, there are big and small critters, you can dive the sea, rivers and inland sites throughout the year. The water column can range from blues to greens to browns. The above water landscape of the British Isles is also stunning.
He described some of his favourite dive sites from the Lochs of Scotland to the East Coast of St. Abbs, the west coast of Britain and Wales down to South and beyond to The Scilly Isles. The variety is amazing, be it large creatures such as whale sharks and dolphins, diving birds such as gannets and razorbills, a massive variety of colourful fish such as John Dory and Corkwing Wrasse to the pike, trout and other freshwater life found in many of our rivers, lakes and quarries. The topography and macro life of coral covered walls and the vast number of wrecks. He emphasised the amount of colour that there is and also how he prefers to dive in fairly shallow waters as that is where the light is. He also emphasised the importance of not ignoring common subjects, a great picture of a nudibranch or sea urchin feeding can be a lot more impressive than an out of focus blue shark.
Robert went on to explain his love of seals the “dogs” of sea and how anthropomorphic shots of these creatures can be very sellable. His lecture was well illustrated with a large number of fantastic photographs along with the odd video. The presentation was interspersed with many hints and tips on composition, layering your photos, experimenting with strobes and knowing when to visit areas to get the best photographic opportunities. He finished his presentation with a few words about working with models and the importance of SCUM! (The Society for the Care of Underwater Models).
A great talk that finished in a busy question and answer session and a well-deserved round of applause.
To find out more about Robert Bailey please visit his website by clicking here.
This month’s image competition theme was “Squidge” and it was obvious that everyone’s idea of Squidge was very eclectic! A mention to John Spencer has to be given here for the most entertaining shots of Squid(ge)! We had reverted to 2 images each this and there were 32 entries. Following the results a quick resume of all the images was undertaken.
The Robertson-Browns dominated the Open Competition with Nick Robertson-Brown being joint runner-up with his images of a “Shaun the Sheep” nudibranch, a tiny critter of about 2mm taken in The Philippines and then a picture of jellyfish taken at Monterey Bay Aquarium, California. The winner was Caroline Robertson-Brown with a great shot of a cuttlefish whilst going to take wide angle shots of sardines at Magic Island Cebu in The Philippines.
The compact category resulted in a three way split so a vote off was taken. Alex Tasker was declared the winner with his image of mating Sea Hares in Argyll and Bute.
Congratulations once again to all.
The meeting ended with announcements of a forthcoming talk by Nick and Caroline Robertson-Brown on 10th October 2018 Simple Steps to Creating Better Underwater Images
Our next meeting will be on Monday October 8th when we look forward to welcoming Martyn Guess.
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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