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BIUPC founder scoops top prize with novel composition from the river Test in Hampshire

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1 year ago

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The British Society of Underwater Photographers (BSoUP) are once again pleased to announce results of The British and Irish Underwater Photography Championship (BIUPC) which was held on 26th August 2023.

For Underwater Photographers, a “splash-in” is a competition that takes place on a single nominated day, when photographers jump into the water to compete against each other. Traditionally, these competitions have been restricted to particular locations, but BIUPC is unique in that it has developed a format to allow pictures to be taken anywhere within the coastal or inland waterways of the United Kingdom and the Republic of Ireland. This has hugely increased the richness and variety of pictures submitted for judging, and so truly allows for a snapshot of the underwater environment captured photographically around these shores under time pressure.

There were two categories for competitors this year, mainly because of advances in camera technology:

  • Wide Angle
  • Close Up

Each category has one winner, and the overall Champion is chosen from those two images 2 images.  The ultimate prize is the coveted Peter Scoones memorial Trophy.

There is also a category for:

  • Human Impact on UK and Irish Marine and freshwater Environments (but this isn’t included in Overall Champion).

There were 36 entrants, 33 of whom submitted 75 images.  Results were announced online at the BSoUP monthly meeting held on 19th September 2023.  The top 4 of each category are displayed here and comprise a:

  • Winner
  • Runner up
  • Highly Commended x 2

The judges were Damien McGuirk and Simon Rogerson.  The standard was very high, and the decision about whose image would be Overall Champion (between Paul Colley’s wide angle and Dan Bolt’s close up) proved to be very difficult.

Results for BIUPC 2023 were as follows:

  • Human Impact (Winner) Gina Goodman: ‘Hidden Histories’. The wreck of the Ben As-dale, Maenporth, Cornwall. U.K.

  • Human Impact (Runner up). Sandra Stalker. 'Oyster racks in Fleet nature reserve'. Fleet Lagoon, Dorset. U.K.

  • Human Impact (Highly Commended): Dan Bolt: ‘Life from the rust’, Plymouth, Devon. U.K.

  • Human Impact (Highly Commended): John Bennett: ‘Man vs Lobster”. Big Sovereign Island, Cork, Ireland. RoI

  • Close Up (Winner): Dan Bolt: ‘Fluorescing jewel anemones’, Babbacombe, Devon. U.K.

  • Close Up (Runner Up): Grant McCarry: ‘An inquisitive Conger Eel’. Loch Long, Scotland. U.K.

  • Close Up (Highly Commended): Ryan Stalker: ‘A hiding cephalopod in the seaweed’. Common Cuttlefish (Sepia officinalis), Portland Harbour, Dorset. U.K.

  • Close Up (Highly Commended): James Lynott: ‘Gills of a Sea Lemon nudibranch’. Doris Pseudoargus, Falls of Lora, Loch Etive, Scotland. U.K.

  • Champion & Wide Angle (Winner): Paul Colley. ‘Summer dreams by the River Test’. Whitchurch, Hampshire. U.K.

  • Wide Angle (Runner Up). Gina Goodman: ‘Ocean window’. Jellyfish through Snell’s window, Maenporth, Cornwall. U.K.

  • Wide Angle (Highly Commended): Dan Bolt: ‘Exploring Hilsea Point’. Plymouth, Devon. U.K.

  • Wide Angle (Highly Commended): Derek Bolton: ‘Secret daisy’s’. White striped anemones with dead men’s finger sponges, Sovereign Islands, South of Oysterhaven, Co. Cork. R

Related Topics:

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

Gear News

Gear Review: BARE 7mm OMNIRED Dive Boots

Published

4 hours ago

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January 15, 2025

By

dive boots

In a video produced exclusively for Scubaverse.com, Jeff Goodman reviews the new 7mm OMNIRED Dive Boots from BARE.

Find out more about BARE products at www.baresports.com.

Sea & Sea is the home of BARE and other Huish Outdoors diving brands in the UK.

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Gear News

Love Camouflage with DYNAMICNORD

Published

1 day ago

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January 14, 2025

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freediving camouflage

Whether freediving or diving – everyone cuts a great figure in the new camouflage suits from DYNAMICNORD.

Thanks to the specially designed camouflage pattern in beautiful colours, the new two-piece
SFS-3 and SFS-5 apnea suits are perfect for freediving. The design gives freedivers the chance to observe underwater creatures from a shorter distance.

Due to the robust and high-quality Yamamoto neoprene and high-quality workmanship, the SFS-3 and SFS-5 are also suitable for scuba diving or other water sports.

freediving camouflage

As the names suggest, the suits are available in 3 or 5mm neoprene thickness. A combination of high-quality Yamamoto #39/45 Limestone neoprene is used. This material is characterised by its special lightness and flexibility. The suits are extremely flexible and comfortable to wear while providing maximum thermal insulation. The outer flex lamination supports the ultra 4-way stretch. Thanks to the open cells, the suits fit like a second skin.

The double-clip beaver tail is a convenient system for donning and doffing. Reinforced knees and rear ensure the necessary robustness. The vented hood allows excess air to escape.

The MC-15 freediving mask and SC-10 freediving snorkel with camouflage pattern as well as the AF-70 freediving fins are available in matching colours.

The camouflage SFS-3 and SFS-5 apnea suits are now available from DYNAMICNORD dealers in great colours and unisex sizes.

SFS-3

Recommended sales price: £264.00

Sizes unisex: S-2XL

Colours: camo/blue, camo/green

SFS-5

Recommended sales price: £353.00

Sizes unisex: S-2XL

Colours: camo/blue, camo/green

DYNAMICNORD – Your Outdoor Companion.

www.dynamicnord.com

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