News
Alex Mustard talks to NUPG (Watch Video)
The May NUPG meeting saw the first virtual guest speaker take to the “stage” and what a talk to kick off this new style of meeting. Alex Mustard joined members online to give a completely new talk: Appreciating our audience in underwater photography.
Alex opened with some positives about being able to offer talks online, pointing out that they could be watched over again, and could be watched by a much wider audience. However, they also posed a couple of difficulties, like not being able to gauge the audience reaction and interact as easily, but the main grumble for not coming to talk in person in Manchester was missing out on the fabulous curries on offer at the usual meeting place of the Gurkha Grill in West Didsbury!
The talk combined an autobiographical element, focusing on the start of his career, along with the importance of considering the audience that he was shooting for. It was packed with amazing underwater images that inspired the audience, as well as making them all wish they could get back into the water and start taking photos again! You can watch the talk here:
The NUPG usually charge non-members £4 to attend NUPG meetings, and suggest online viewers consider donating an equivalent amount to an ocean related charity of their choice.
To finish off the May meeting the competition results were announced. The theme was “Sharks & Rays” and the voting had been completed online earlier in the day. The winner was Ken Byrne with his lovely shot of a manta feeding at night.
There were joint runners-up from Caroline Robertson-Brown and Alex Tasker. Caroline’s shot featured a Caribbean Reef Shark swimming away from the camera, taken in The Bahamas.
Alex’s shot was of some resting whitetip sharks from Roca Partida taken on a liveaboard trip to Socorro.
The NUPG would like to thank Alex Mustard for his engaging talk and for allowing them to share the talk far and wide. They would also like to thank BSoUP for letting them use their GoToMeeting software to host the meeting.
For more information about the NUPG and details of up-coming meetings, please visit their website by clicking here.
After a two-year tour of UK art galleries, community spaces and aquariums, the Shark Trust’s acclaimed Oceanic31 exhibition takes its final bow at the Royal Geographical Society later this month. And the unique collection of artwork, depicting 31 species of oceanic sharks and rays, donated by 31 artists, is now open for bids from art lovers and shark enthusiasts. The online auction, launched today, will close on the 7th December at 8pm (BST). The money raised will support the Shark Trust Oceanics Programme.
People can now bid on 27 of the artworks by visiting this website:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
It is a chance to own a beautiful piece of original art and to support the Shark Trust. The timing of the auction also means that these would make a very special Christmas gift for any shark-lover.
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- Bigeye Thresher Shark by Janina Rossiter
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- Carcharodon carcharias by Jimmy Higgs
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- Croc VR 2030 by Tom Mead
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- Oceanic Whitetip by ATM
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- Silky Street by ScapaJoe
The diversity of pieces mirrors that of the sharks and rays they represent. You can bid on paintings, digital creations, sculptures, mixed media and more. You can pick your favourite artist or species of shark. Or you can select the perfect artwork to make a statement in your home or office. Whichever you choose, you will be supporting the work to protect these amazing animals.
One of the pieces of art has been selected to be auctioned live by Steve Backshall at the For the Love of Sharks event at the Royal Geographical Society in London on the 29th November. In addition to this, two further pieces will be raffled at this event, giving people a chance to win an incredible piece of shark art. For the Love of Sharks is the Shark Trust’s flagship evening. A night to celebrate sharks. Steve Backshall is the headline speaker at this event that will see other prominent shark advocates join him on stage.
Tickets for the event can be snapped up here:
https://thesharktrust.org.uk/Event/flos24
Those that would like to see the Oceanic 31 exhibition have one final chance. It is being displayed at the Pavilion at the Royal Geographic Society from 26th November until the 7th December. Entry is free.
Find out more here:
https://www.rgs.org/events/upcoming-events/oceanic-31
Paul Cox, Shark Trust CEO, Said “This exhibition has given us the opportunity to reach out to a new audience. And inspire more people with the wonderful sharks and rays on which our Big Shark Pledge campaign is based. We are immensely grateful to the 31 artists who have worked so hard to create these works.”
Bid for your favourite Oceanic 31 artwork here:
https://superstars-auctions.com/sharktrustauction
Banner Image: Smooth Hammerhead by Alicia Hayden
Cozy and warm in cold water.
It’s drysuit season all year round. With the new RS series premium drysuits from DYNAMICNORD, divers are perfectly equipped for all cold waters.
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DYNAMICNORD – Your Outdoor Companion.
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