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NUPG – Best of 2018 competition results

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This January for our monthly meeting we had invited talented photographer and multiple competition winning photographer Kirsty Andrews to judge our “Best of 2018” Competition. She had travelled from Bristol to see us and we warmed her up upon her arrival with a curry. I also think she finished the evening with some more warming coffee and whisky courtesy of Alex and Mich!

The competition had closed the previous week to give Kirsty time to judge the entries. She had done more than that as she had got a presentation together of her top 10 including her 1st, 2nd and 3rd choices in each of the categories along with her reasoning of why she liked particular photographs.

Kirsty mentioned the importance of composition and how she chose some shots as they showed good behaviour even if there was the odd thing that was not quite spot on with the image whilst other photographs were chosen as they were nicely lit and/or more technically difficult to achieve. She also advised on what could have been improved with some entries such as the removal of some stray bubbles or increasing or decreasing the contrast or saturation of particular colours.

Like the previous year there were a lot of entries and she said it was really difficult to choose from many excellent underwater photographs.

At the end of Kirsty’s’ presentation those present voted for their overall winner from the winner of each category chosen by Kirsty.

Overseas Macro and Overall Best of 2018 Winner by Caroline Robertson-Brown

Huge congratulations go to Caroline Robertson-Brown and her fantastic “Capturing the Moment” shot of Mandarin fish mating. This image was voted the Best of 2018 on the night as well as being the overall winner of the Overseas Close-Up Category. Runner Up and 3rd in this category were Justin Beevor with his image of a Scorpionfish in tunicates and Maggie Russell with her super-macro image of a pair of minuscule “Shaun the Sheep”.

Overseas Macro Runner-Up by Justin Beevor

Overseas Macro Third Place by Maggie Russell

Scottish Lochs featured prominently in the Open British Close-Up Category. The winner was John Spencer with this lovely shot of a hermit crab and brittlestars taken in a Scottish Loch with 2nd and 3rd places going to Caroline Robertson-Brown and her close-up shot of a fireworks anemone and Yo-Han Cha with a photo of a tiny scorpionfish on a sponge.

British Macro Winner by John Spencer

British Macro Runner-Up by Caroline Robertson-Brown

British Macro Third Place by Yo-Han Cha

There were a lot of seals in the British Wide-Angle Category but the winning shot was that taken by Paul Ansell with his great image of trout and a diver taken in a quarry using a mirrorless system whilst 2nd place went to Nick Robertson-Brown and his fantastically lit image of a diver in a plane fuselage, the thing about this shot that made it stand out was the non-classic pose of the diver, everyone loved the hands. Third place went to Alex Tasker and another nicely lit shot of a very tidy diver by the davits of a wreck.

British Wide Angle Winner by Paul Ansell

British Wide Angle Runner-Up by Nick Robertson-Brown

British Wide Angle Third Place by Alex Tasker

Nick Robertson-Brown took both the winning and runner-up shot in the Overseas Wide Angle Category with his shot of swirling baitfish taken in the Philippines and a great shot of a American Saltwater crocodile in Cuba respectively. This last shot was taken with an 8mm fish-eye lens, he was close to those teeth! Third place went to Justin Beevor and his lovely portrait of an Oceanic Whitetip taken in The Red Sea.

Overseas Wide Angle Winner by Nick Robertson-Brown

Overseas Wide Angle Runner-Up by Nick Robertson-Brown

Overseas Wide Angle Third Place by Justin Beevor

Once again congratulations to all our winners and thank you to everyone who entered, there were some great images.

If these pictures have inspired you then come along to our next meeting which is being held on the 2nd Monday of the month, the 11th February where we be welcoming Caroline and Nick Robertson-Brown who will be giving a presentation entitled “Telling Stories – Never let the truth get in the way of a good story!” Further details of this talk and this month’s competition theme “Front Cover” will be found on our website at www.nupg.org.uk shortly. Please come along and join us. Everyone welcome.

Nick and Caroline (Frogfish Photography) are a married couple of conservation driven underwater photo-journalists and authors. Both have honours degrees from Manchester University, in Environmental Biology and Biology respectively, with Nick being a Fellow of the Royal Photographic Society, a former high school science teacher with a DipEd in Teaching Studies. Caroline has an MSc in Animal Behaviour specializing in Caribbean Ecology. They are multiple award-winning photographers and along with 4 published books, feature regularly in the diving, wildlife and international press They are the Underwater Photography and Deputy Editors at Scubaverse and Dive Travel Adventures. Winners of the Caribbean Tourism Organization Photo-journalist of the Year for a feature on Shark Diving in The Bahamas, and they have been placed in every year they have entered.Nick and Caroline regularly use their free time to visit schools, both in the UK and on their travels, to discuss the important issues of marine conservation, sharks and plastic pollution. They are ambassadors for Sharks4Kids and founders of SeaStraw. They are Dive Ambassadors for The Islands of The Bahamas and are supported by Mares, Paralenz, Nauticam and Olympus. To find out more visit www.frogfishphotography.com

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Aggressor Adventures Announces Major Savings on 2025 Philippines Charters

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philippines aggressor

Dive Into Paradise for Less – Save Up to $2,000 on Upcoming Adventures!

Aggressor Adventures® is excited to unveil major limited-time savings for divers planning their dream escape to the Philippines. From now until June 30, 2025, guests can take advantage of up to $2,000 in savings on select Philippines Aggressor and Philippines Aggressor II itineraries.

These deep discounts span across both 7-night, 10-night and 11-night trips, giving adventurers greater flexibility and value while exploring some of the most biodiverse waters on the planet.

SAVE $2,000 – PHILIPPINES AGGRESSOR II

Celebrate with a $2,000 savings!

Booking Window: Now through June 30, 2025

Eligible Trip:

  • October 4 – 14, 2025

SAVE $1,500 – PHILIPPINES AGGRESSOR

On select charter dates:

Booking Window: Now through June 30, 2025

Eligible Trips:

  • June 29 – July 10, 2025 (11-night Transition trip)
  • November 8 – 18, 2025 (10-night)

SAVE $1,000 – PHILIPPINES AGGRESSOR

On select 7-night charters:

Booking Window: Now through June 30, 2025

Eligible Trips:

  • November 1 – 8, 2025
  • December 6 – 13, 2025

“Aggressor’s Philippines itineraries are among the most vibrant and diverse in the world,” says Wayne Brown, CEO of Aggressor Adventures. “These new specials give more travelers the opportunity to explore thriving coral reefs, pelagic encounters, and spectacular macro life at a fraction of the cost.”

Guests will enjoy Aggressor’s signature five-star service, spacious staterooms, world-class diving amenities, chef-prepared meals, and much more. These special offers are only available for a limited time and are expected to fill quickly.


About Aggressor Adventures

Since 1984, Aggressor Adventures® has offered travelers live-aboard scuba and snorkeling charters, luxury river cruises and exotic wildlife and cultural safaris. To learn more, visit Aggressor’s Media Hub, listen to its podcast series, view videos on Aggressor.TV and browse the new catalog. Worldwide locations are Bahamas, Belize, Cayman Islands, Cocos Island, Costa Rica, Cuba, Dominican Republic, Egypt, Galapagos, Komodo, Indonesia, Maldives, Palau, Philippines, Raja Ampat, Indonesia, Red Sea, Roatan, Honduras, Sri Lanka, Thailand and Turks & Caicos. Reservations can be made online at aggressor.com, or by calling 800-348-2628 or +1-706-993-2531.

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Explorer Ventures Launches Hot Summer / Cool Prices Sale

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Explorer Ventures

Save up to $1100 on select liveaboard dive trips from June through October 2025

Explorer Ventures Fleet is turning up the heat with its new Hot Summer / Cool Prices sale. For a limited time, divers can save $1000 or more on select liveaboard departures from June through October 2025.

Whether you’re ready to dive into crystal-clear summer waters or planning a cool fall escape, this promotion offers major savings on world-class dive adventures in the Galápagos, Turks & Caicos, and the Caribbean.

Hot Summer / Cool Prices – For the Summer Dive Traveler:

From June through August, take advantage of deep discounts on summer getaways. Enjoy up to $1100 off select trips aboard the Humboldt Explorer in the Galápagos or save $1000 on select summer departures aboard Turks & Caicos Explorer Il and Caribbean Explorer II, exploring magic of Saba and St. Kitts.

Cool Fall / Hot Prices – For Travel in the Fall:

Leave the cool weather and falling leaves behind — fall is the perfect time to head south and save. Take $1000 off select departures from September through October aboard Turks & Caicos Explorer II and Caribbean Explorer II.

See all details and departure dates: www.explorerventures.com/discounts-and-specials

Space is limited – and once the trips are full, the savings are gone. Book now to secure your spot!

Looking for other dates or destinations? There are more savings available across the fleet, including liveaboard diving holidays in Indonesia, the Maldives, the Red Sea, and Palau. Explore all current deals here: https://www.explorerventures.com/year-of-savings-dive-liveaboard-specials/

Contact:

info@explorerventures.com

1.800.322.3577 (US/Canada) | +1.307.235.0683

www.explorerventures.com

About Explorer Ventures Liveaboard Fleet

Since 1987, Explorer Ventures Liveaboard Fleet has been delivering world-class liveaboard diving, blending authentic experiences with a commitment to safety and sustainability. Operating in some of the world’s most breathtaking underwater destinations, their fleet of well-appointed vessels ensures every guest enjoys the highest level of comfort and care.

Explorer Ventures is proud to be the first liveaboard company to collaborate with Green Fins, earning certifications on four vessels: Caribbean Explorer II, Turks & Caicos Explorer II, Tiburon Explorer, and Humboldt Explorer. Notably, Tiburon Explorer and Humboldt Explorer are the only PADI Eco Centers designated in the Galápagos, underscoring their dedication to sustainable and responsible diving practices. With exceptional destinations, a global array of itineraries, and diver-focused design across the fleet, every voyage is crafted for comfort, convenience, and adventure—both above and below the surface.

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