News
Outdoor Photographer of the Year Book Review
The Outdoor Photographer of the Year competition is now in its 6th year and the OPOTY Portfolio II book is a celebration of some of the best photography from around the world. From more than 17,000 entries into the competition, this beautiful book holds the best 160 images from eight different categories, including a category dedicated to underwater images.
We have to admit some slight bias in this review up front – as when we opened up the parcel, our attention was drawn to the fact that one of Nick’s shots of two sharks in South Africa had made the back cover and, of course, was also reproduced in the “Under Exposed” chapter dedicated to underwater photography. He is very proud to have an image featured alongside all the other stunning imagery in the book.
The Outdoor Photographer of the Year book is a hardback that has focussed on reproducing 160 gorgeous images on quality paper and is something that you will be happy to pick up over and over again. Each time, you will find a new image that will hold your attention and read the caption along with the equipment and setting details. Each image is given plenty of room, taking up a whole page, or even running across two.
The underwater category was won by Johan Sundelin from Sweden with a lovely shot of Californian Sea Lions taken in The Galapagos Islands whilst snorkelling. It is a touching shot of these enigmatic creatures with beautiful soft light. We will have an interview with Johan on Scubaverse in the near future to tell us more about this shot and his photography.
The other underwater images show off the amazing diversity of the world that divers have special access too. There are vivid reef scenes, sharks, dolphins, crocodiles, octopus, schooling fish, caves, jellyfish, seahorses and divers. The images are from all around the world, taken in tropical waters and temperate waters. There is really something for everyone.
This book will hopefully inspire you to pick up your camera and take images both above and below the waves.
For more on the competition visit: www.opoty.co.uk #OPOTY
Title: Outdoor Photographer of the Year: Portfolio II | Author: Ammonite Press | ISBN: 9781781453049 | Price: £25 | Publisher: Ammonite Press | Pub Date: March 2017
Blogs
TRAVEL BLOG: Jeff Goodman Dives SOMABAY, Part 3
Today we are diving one of the outer reefs from an inflatable. As we reach the bottom, a reef octopus eases its way into the cover of a small crack in the coral while displaying it’s incredible ability to change colour. They are arguably one of the most charismatic of reef dwellers and it is always exciting for me to simply hover and watch. I would have spent longer and waited for it to come and investigate me, but as dive time is limited we wanted to move on and find a turtle.
The waters around Somabay are well protected and hold a rich variety of marine life. The reef edges are thriving colonies of coral and shoaling fish, while nearer the sea bed plenty of wildlife is still to be found.
Then we located the turtles. They are very used to divers and so show little concern when slowly approached. In fact occasionally one will come over to see what you are doing. There is always huge excitement when diving with a turtle. The shear thrill of sharing a moment with another species.
What a fantastic way to finish a wonderful few days diving and I would like to thank SOMABAY, ORCA DIVING and THE BREAKERS for making my stay such a good one.
I had a great time, with diving everyday either on the house reef or on one of the offshore reefs by inflatable or larger day boat. Orca diving provided high quality equipment and facilities while the staff were all very friendly and welcoming. The Breakers was right on the coast with nice rooms, good food and once again friendly staff making the whole trip a real pleasure.
Soma Bay covers an entire peninsula and is home to several resorts as well as residential compounds.
As well as scuba diving, Somabay caters for many other sports and activities, and so is perfect for families as well as individuals and/or groups. And of course there is always time to lay peacefully on the beach under the Egyptian sun.
Book your next Red Sea dive adventure with SOMABAY! For more information, visit www.somabay.com.
Stay at the Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge when you visit! For more information, visit www.thebreakers-somabay.com.
Find out more about ORCA Dive Clubs at SOMABAY at www.orca-diveclubs.com/en/soma-bay-en.
Blogs
TRAVEL BLOG: Jeff Goodman Dives SOMABAY, Part 2
Day three of my trip to Somabay and we were spending the day on the Lady Christina and diving on the wreck of the Salem Express.
Diving wrecks for me is always one of mixed emotions. The excitement of diving a wreck is more than often tempered by the thought of loss of life when she sank. The Salem Express was a passenger ship and a roll-on/roll-off ferry travelling from Jeddah, Saudi Arabia to Safaga, Egypt. Most passengers were of poor class travelling home from their holidays while around 150 people were returning home from their pilgrimage to Mecca.
The ship struck a reef and sank within 20 minutes. Passengers were trapped below deck and the ship was filled with fear and panic.
The wreck area is strewn with personal belongings from the crew and passengers such as a transistor radio and a flat iron for clothes. A diver at sometime has put them in a prominent place to be seen.
Tragically only one life boat was launched while the others went down with the ship. More than 600 men, women and children lost their lives here.
It’s a stark reminder that the sea can be unforgiving and so when we dive on such wrecks we should do so with humble regard.
Returning to the surface, shoals of fish are gathered under our boat and seem to be welcoming us back into the light.
Back at the Breakers I sat in the dining area with a beer and a very good meal while my thoughts still remained with the day’s dive on the Salem Express.
Check in for part 3 tomorrow for Jeff’s last day of diving with Somabay on the off-shore reefs looking for turtles.
Book your next Red Sea dive adventure with SOMABAY! For more information, visit www.somabay.com.
Stay at the Breakers Diving & Surfing Lodge when you visit! For more information, visit www.thebreakers-somabay.com.
Find out more about ORCA Dive Clubs at SOMABAY at www.orca-diveclubs.com/en/soma-bay-en.
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