News
The NUPG / GNDS Underwater Photography Print Competition Results
The Northern Underwater Photography Group held their second annual print competition at The Great Northern Dive Show held at Event City in Manchester over the weekend of the 8th & 9th April 2017. It was another successful year, with high quality images being displayed for the public to select their favourites in four categories: British & Irish Macro; British & Irish Wide Angle; Overseas Macro & Overseas Wide Angle.
An Imperial Stormtrooper casting his vote
Over the 2 days of the show, over 300 show attendees cast their votes, including a few Stormtroopers and Princess Leia! The voting was tough, with many excellent images on show in each category. There were images of marine life from tiny shrimps to large sharks, wrecks, reef scenes, divers & caves. Members of the NUPG were on hand all weekend to help those voting and to chat about the club which meets in Manchester each month to discuss all things underwater photography.
In addition to the public vote, representatives of the competition sponsors, Fleet Dive and Safari Diving Lanzarote, also had to select their favourite images to award the Overall Category Winners. Gary from Fleet Dive selected his favourite image from the two British & Irish categories. Fleet Dive, based in the Costa Brava, have kindly awarded the winner a diving & accommodation package to enjoy some of the best diving this area has to offer. The Overall Overseas winner was selected by Wendy from Safari Diving Lanzarote who has also donated a diving package prize for the winner. Photo pro, Paul “Duxy” Duxfield kindly assisted both Gary and Wendy as they made their final decisions on who should take away the main prizes.
Simon Temple’s highly commended UK Macro shot
Each category winner will receive a shark sponsorship pack from The Shark Trust, donated by the NUPG. The winners can select to support Great White Sharks, Basking Sharks, Whaleshark or a No Limits? Shark.
So here are the results:
British Macro
Winner – Trevor Rees, nudibranch (coryphella lineata) grazing on hydroids, Loch Carron May 16, Nikon D600 + Nikon 60mm
Runner-Up – John Spencer, pair of hermit crabs, Loch Sunart, Nikon D7000 + 60mm
Highly Commended – Simon Temple, snakelocks anemone shrimp, Babbacombe Devon, Nikon D90
Trevor Rees’ winning UK Macro shot
British Wide Angle
Winner – Caroline Robertson-Brown, Grey Seal Nose, Farne Islands, Nikon D7100, Tokina 10-17mm lens
Runner-Up – Trevor Rees, Blue Shark, 10 miles off shore from Penzance, Oct 16, Nikon D600 + Sigma 15mm
Highly Commended – Simon Temple, Snorkelling with a young grey seal, Eastern Isles, Isles of Scilly, Nikon D90
Trevor Rees’ runner-up shot in the British Wide Angle category
Overseas Macro
Winner – John Spencer, Anemonefish, night dive, Lembeh Indonesia, D7000 + 60mm
Runner-Up – Lisa Collins, Beauty and the Beast, hairy goby and porcelain crab, Anilao, Philippines, Canon EOS6D + 100mm + x2 teleconverter
Highly Commended – John Spencer, Anemonefish, Lembeh Indonesia, D7000 + 60mm
Lisa Collins’ runner-up shot in the Overseas Macro category
Overseas Wide Angle
Caroline Robertson-Brown’s winning shot in the Overall Overseas Winner category
Winner – Justin Beevor Snapper v Snappers, Bohar Snapper at Ras Mohammed, Sony a6300 + 16mm with fisheye converter
Runner-Up – Justin Beevor Wreck of the Giannis D, Sha’ab Abu Nuhas, Sony a6300 + 16mm with fisheye converter
Highly Commended – Lisa Collins, Reaching for the Sun, diver in Chasmal Cenote Tulum, Canon EOS6D + 8-15mm
Overall British & Irish Champion is John Spencer with his shot of a pair of hermit crabs from Loch Sunart, who wins the diving package with Fleet Dive.
Overall Overseas Champion is Caroline Robertson-Brown with her shot of a playful Cape Fur Seal taken in South Africa who wins the diving package with Safari Diving Lanzarote.
John Spencer’s winning shot in the Overall British and Irish Category (this shot was also Runner-Up in the UK Macro category)
The NUPG would like to thank all those who entered the competition, all those who voted, everyone who helped out over the weekend and to our sponsors, Fleet Dive and Safari Diving Lanzarote. It is always a pleasure to share the beauty of our underwater world with a wider public, including loads of children, at this event.
Wendy from Safari Diving Lanzarote awarding Caroline as the Overall Overseas Champion
Last Thursday, Oyster Diving transformed Mercers Lake into a hauntingly unforgettable underwater realm for their inaugural Halloween Scuba Party. Approximately 20 intrepid divers plunged into the darkness, weaving through a mesmerising scene of spectral decorations, glow sticks, and eerie underwater pumpkins.
After the thrilling night dive, participants gathered to feast on a ghoulish spread of pumpkin soup, chilli con carne, and decadent fudge brownies, perfect fuel for the frightful festivities.
With a resounding success, Oyster Diving is excited to announce plans for this event to become an annual tradition. Next year, look forward to a fully licensed bar and live music, promising an even spookier celebration under the moonlit waters.
Join us next Halloween for an experience that promises to be a haunting delight!
Find out more about Oyster Diving at oysterdiving.com.
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.
-
- Bigeye Thresher Shark by Janina Rossiter
-
- Carcharodon carcharias by Jimmy Higgs
-
- Croc VR 2030 by Tom Mead
-
- Oceanic Whitetip by ATM
-
- 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
-
Blogs3 months agoGozo: An Underwater Treasure Trove in the Heart of the Mediterranean
-
News3 weeks agoIconic SS United States to become the World’s Largest Artificial Reef
-
Blogs2 months agoNovoScuba’s Game-Changing Approach for Dive Store Owners: WE PAY YOU!
-
News1 month agoBook Review – 52 Assignments: Underwater Photography
-
Marine Life & Conservation3 months agoBook Review: Sharkpedia
-
Gear News1 month agoDYNAMICNORD – New German diving brand enters the British market
-
News1 month agoExploring Cenote El Pit: A Diver’s Dream
-
Blogs3 months agoFreediver Christian Redl Sets His 13th World Record at Lake Neufeld