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Anne d’Oliveira - Judge Convener
I held a camera in my hand for the first time when I was about eight years old.
My grandmother had a box-brownie which she gave me as I had shown an interest in
taking photographs. Well I photographed anything and everything from family to friends
to the family pets and when on holiday took lots and lots of photographs. For my
17th birthday my dad bought me my first 35mm camera. It was a DIAX. Not many people
have ever heard of this make and I suspect that its source has some dark and devious
background for I found out years later it was purchased on the black market. But
it did take very nice photographs.
There was no autofocus and no light meter like the modern cameras and at that stage
I did not even know what the F-stops on the camera were. By "playing " around with
the F-stops I found I was getting different results to my photographs and it took
some while to work out the process. I had no formal photographic training and as
there were no avid photographers in our family or circle of friends I had no help
on the subject. When I started earning my own salary one of the first things I did
was to go out and buy a photography book for beginners and so my keen interest in
photography began. Up to then the family thought that I took great pictures (but
maybe they were just all being very polite and encouraging).
Later I bought my first SLR, a Minolta with Sigma lenses - 28mm to 110mm and 70mm
to 300mm. By now my photography had started to improve dramatically and I found
that I was getting much joy out of photography as a hobby. I traded the Minolta
for Canon equipment with Canon lenses. First the EOS 1N and then the EOS1V. Then
I joined the Camera Club of Johannesburg and realised the difference between taking
really good snap shots or record shots to engaging in the art of photography, as
there is a great distinction between the two. It put me onto a totally different
plane. I have just recently bought the Canon 30D and moved into the next stage of
technology. Since joining the camera club I have progressed from 2 to 5 Star and
have also judged at a number of photographic clubs in the Gauteng area. I am currently
the President, Chairperson Slide/Digital Section and Secretary of CCJ and presently
the Regional Director of PSSA (Photographic Society of Southern Africa) for the
Central Gauteng Region.
I am not unfamiliar with the underwater world as I did scuba diving for about 10
years, although that was quite a way back. Nowadays I snorkel whenever I am in one
of the more exotic locations. In the past five years I have been dabbling in another
"under" world hobby - searching for and exploring wild caves. Both underwater and
underground are very unique realms |
Andrew Woodburn is one
of South Africa’s leading underwater photographers having won the Sodwana shootout
overall trophy twice in a row, as well as being crowned the 2004 World Champion
by www.underwaterphotogrpahy.com . He was instrumental in the establishment of GUPS
as a founding committee member and has been the staff - travel, topside and underwater
photographer for Divestyle Magazine for over 7 years. Andrew built two underwater
photographic businesses Wild Woodburn photography “ www.wildwoodburn.com ” and Liquipix.
www.woodburnphoto.co.za is a show case
of underwater photography, wildlife photography, extreme photos and some exciting
off the wall ideas. Andrew Woodburn has been published in a range of publications
including titles such as Africa Geographic, GQ, Men’s Health as well as books and
online publications. Andrew Woodburn seeks innovation within composition and high
technical standards of image delivery inclusive of realistic photoshopping rather
than over post processing. In creative approaches to underwater imagery anything
goes from traditional photographic treatments to futuristic creativity. Andrew leads
international underwater photographic tours and Southern African based workshops.
Visit
www.woodburnphoto.co.za
for details. |
Mark Smith is a businessman
from Durban and does photography as a recreational activity. In the last few years
he has won prizes in the magazines Getaway, Divestyle, PIX and Countrylife. In 2003,
2005 and 2007 he was Durban Undersea Club photographer of the year. In 2005 he was
awarded photographer of the year at the Durban Camera Club, in 2006 he was the first
prize winner of the Natal Witness newspaper 'Clint Zasman Photographic Competition'.
In 2007 he was first overall and first in open traditional macro at the Sodwana
shootout. He was a contributing photographer to the coffee table book Wild Heritage
Kwazulu-Natal by the Van den Bergs and contributing photographer to the 2007 encyclopaedia
of brands and branding in SA. Mark enjoys creating images on slide film predominantly
of underwater macro and starscapes. His message to the 2008 participants is to enjoy
the event and preserve the environment.
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For seven years in the Bahamas, Pro UW photographer
Claudia Pellarini-Joubert could be found working underwater,
photographing on a daily basis in the midst of a swirling mass of sharks. Claudia
took on the digital learning curve with a vengeance, turning a small underwater
photo and video centre in the Bahamas into a highly profitable, fully digital centre,
which Stephen Frink described as “arguably the most progressive of its kind in the
diving world”. For years Claudia honed her skills alongside the world’s top underwater
photographers and cinematographers, the likes of Brian Skerry, Marty Snyderman,
David Fleetham, Tom Campbell, Sigurd Tesche, Pete Zuccarini and Pete Romano, working
on and co-ordinating a constant flow of underwater film and still productions. Both
Claudia and husband Leon Joubert, played host to, trained and photographed several
movie stars and famous personalities, amongst them Salma Hayek and The Mythbusters.
Bittenbysharks’ underwater imagery has been hailed as ‘art’ and their talent has
been highly acclaimed and much admired by the master himself, veteran in the field,
David Doubilet. Their work continues to be published in a variety of media around
the globe, including major international diving magazines, marine guides and books
on underwater photography. Their underwater footage continues to be broadcast in
many different applications on several major international networks including amongst
others National Geographic, Discovery Channel, MTV and the BBC. Currently based
back in South Africa, they now combine decades of professional travel experience
with their intense years of underwater imaging and diving experience, offering top-notch
workshops and photographic expeditions for all levels of aspiring underwater photographers
& videographers. They shoot with Nikon D2X in Seacam, and yes! – they have indeed
been ‘bitten by sharks’ – but that’s another story!
www.bittenbysharks.co.za |
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