Underwater Photo Contest - Adds Digital

Reprinted from the uw-photo list:

Beneath the Sea 2003 proudly announces its 27th annual photo/video competition.

 

New this year is a special digital catagory in addition to the David Doubilet Award for excellence in underwater and the Stan Waterman Award for excellence in underwater videography. Two digital catagories will be judged:

 

Open Digital: The only adjustments allowed are those that can also be done in a darkroom. Only minimal sharpening, color correction, brightness adjustment, contrast adjustment, dodging, burning and cropping is allowed. The subjective opinion of the judges as to whether an image exceeds these guidelines is final. No combined images are allowed.

 

Creative Digital: These images must have a basic underwater theme incorporating divers, wrecks, reefs, fish and/or marine life. Other than that anything goes. You may combine multiple images and also do major manipulation, adjustment and distortion.

 

Come one - Come all - to the Beneath the Sea 2003 Photo/Video

Competition.  The contest deadline is December 31st, 2002.

 

For contest rules and entry blank visit Beneath the Sea's web site:  http://www.BeneaththeSea.org/

 

There you can see the images of previous winners, get a set of rule and regulations, and download an application form.  

I find their rules especially interesting. My local UPS - www.hups.org just started a digital contest in November. I helped draft the rules.

I wonder if the beneath the sea contest will allow scanned slides? I hope not.

Cheers

James

James

I don't know whether this is a step forward or a step back. Notice that the best of show excludes digital. That eliminates the best prize - the digital prizes are listed under "and..." The "and..." link won't work for me, but I would think the prizes are mediocre.

Oddly, it seems like digital video has been embraced by all agencies. Seems to me that DV has a much clearer advantage over analog, than still digitography has over slides. For obvious reasons, slides still have some advantages, so why not take our word for an unmanipulated image and let us compete. Better yet, why not scan slides and evaluate all images with the same standard - with or without manipulation. Scanning slides subjects them to some of the same problems - lack of sharpness and white balance issues- as shooting digital cameras.

Personally, I won't be putting together and editing my best images to win a mask strap.

Kasey

That's OK. The videos have to be submitted in VHS. Must have a title and a theme. Of course, the theme will almost always be "I did a dive and this is what I saw" but we can all still pretend. I'd like to see some past winners but there aren't any posted.

People with experience in a darkroom will have an advantage since only they will know the exact rules!

Hi Guys,

1st. Scanning slides still gives them the advantage over digital - I use a 13 mp 42bit 4000 dpi scanner (almost drum scanner quality). If the image is sharp and the colour etc is ok on the original it appears on the PC almost as good. I rarely have to scan above 600 dpi to produce a top class true colour A3 print.

Even my portable 1800 dpi 42 bit scanner produces superb results.

BTW most of the tools in PS7 will not work with 14 bits per channel so adjustment is a no go unless the process is dropped to just 8 bits.

I looked at this competition with interest and I was disappointed that I am no longer eligable to enter as I would have like to have submitted entries in the Close Focus WA and the Blue water wreck catagories... I shall attend the competition though to see some old friends - Maybe new ones too.

The prizes are SUBSTANTIAL!

Below are the rules off the site.

2003 CONTEST RULES

Contest Telephone Hot Line: 1(718) 409-0240

Please call between 7 pm and 8 pm Eastern time.

The Beneath The Sea 2003 Photography Competition is open to amateur photographers living anywhere in the United States, Canada or their possessions. Not eligible are professional photographers (including those promoting themselves as pro or semi-pro), underwater photo instructors, and persons who have been paid for publication of more than six photos during 2000-2003. Also not eligible are photos that have been published (or accepted for publication). The work submitted must have been taken by the person submitting and signing the entry form.

All entries must be exposed underwater (no aquarium, pool or surface shots) by the person submitting the entry. Photos cannot show any disrespect for the environment.

Judging will be by a panel of professional photographers chosen by Beneath the Sea. Decisions of the judges will be final and will be based on composition, technique, exposure and general interest.

No substitutions can be offered for prize awards.

The right to reproduce the entry as promotion for Beneath The Sea is assumed if proper photographic credit is given. The ownership and rights remain with the photographer. Beneath the Sea, Inc. may show the competition entries continuously during the weekend.

A completed entry form and entry fee must accompany all submissions. Additional Forms may be duplicated, downloaded from our internet site: www.BeneathTheSea.org. Or more may be obtained by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to:

BENEATH THE SEA Photo

495 New Rochelle Road, Suite 2A

Bronxville, NY 10708

or email a request to Photo@BeneathTheSea.Org

Entry deadline, postmarked before December 31, 2002

The 27th Annual Beneath The Sea Dive Exposition will take place March 28, 29, 30 2003 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center, Secaucus, New Jersey - 10 minutes from Manhattan. Further information can be found on Beneath The Sea’s internet web site: www.BeneathTheSea.org or call (914) 664-4310.

SPECIFIC CONDITIONS

1. An individual may submit up to six 35mm color slides and/or one video and/or up to 6 digital images. There is an entry fee of $7 US per slide or video and $5 US per digital image. Make the check or money order payable to "BTS." Do not send cash! If too many slides, videos and/or digital images or the incorrect entry fee are sent, your entry will not be accepted.

2. Digital images are not eligible for Best In Show.

3. The same image cannot be entered in both the Film and Digital divisions.

4. Awards will be given in the following categories:

Video: Only one video may be entered. It must be in VHS format, no more than six minutes long, have a title and theme, and carry a narrative and/or music track. At least 65 percent of the video must have been shot underwater. Both tape and slipcase must be labeled with the entrant's name and the title of the tape.

Slides: A maximum of six slides may be entered. These slides can be in the same or different categories. No more than three may be in any one category. Each individual slide may be entered in only one category. If a slide might be considered in more than one category, the choice is up to the entrant. No digital computer manipulation is allowed. Slides of existing prints will be rejected.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Please submit duplicates, not originals, if possible. Slides must be marked with entrant’s name, photo title, and category entered. Please print carefully and legibly. Beneath The Sea will not be responsible for loss or damage to original slides.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Place a large dot on the lower left-hand corner of the mount when viewed correctly on a light table. No gummed labels or glass mounts. If a slide is incorrectly labeled or mounted, it will not be accepted.

1. Slide Categories Are as Follows:

A. General: Wide or medium shots of divers, wrecks, reef environments, etc.

B. Marine Life: Wide or medium shots of fish or any other vertebrates or invertebrates.

C. Macro: The subject must be 1:3 (approximately 4"x3") or smaller.

D. Closeup: The subject must be in the range of approximately 6"x4" to 12"x 8".

E. Northeast Cold Water: Salt water subjects taken in the waters of the east coasts of Canada and the U.S. from Maryland and north.

F. West Coast Cold Water: Salt water subjects taken in the waters of the west coasts of Canada and the U.S.

G. Cold Water Wreck Diving: Photos must be taken on shipwrecks in salt (ocean) or fresh (lake) waters of the continental US or Canada, San Diego and north on the West Coast, Maryland and north on the East Coast. Subject may be wreck interiors or exteriors, artifacts, divers or marine life on wrecks, etc. It must be obvious that the photo was taken on a shipwreck.

H. Blue Water Wreck Diving: Photos must be taken on shipwrecks anywhere in the world. Subject may be wreck interiors or exteriors, artifacts, divers or marine life on wrecks, etc. It must be obvious that the photo was taken on a shipwreck.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Digital: Images must be submitted on a CD. All digital images must be on the same CD. CD's must be marked with entrant's name, photo titles, and categories entered. Please print carefully and legibly.

Entries may be submitted as Tiff or Jpeg but Tiff is preferred. All entries submitted in the Jpeg format will be converted into the Tiff format before judging.

Images must be RGB. No CMYK will be accepted.

All images must be 1500-2100 pixels in the long dimension.

2. Digital Categories Are as Follows:

A. Open Digital: The only adjustments allowed are those that can also be done in a darkroom. Only minimal sharpening, color correction, brightness adjustment, contrast adjustment, dodging, burning and cropping is allowed. The subjective opinion of the judges as to whether an image exceeds these guidelines is final. No combined images are allowed.

B. Creative Digital: These images must have a basic underwater theme incorporating divers, wrecks, reefs, fish and/or marine life. Other than that anything goes. You may combine multiple images and also do major manipulation, adjustment and distortion.

3. Entry Submission:

Entries must be mailed prepaid. For best protection, pack slides for shipment with stiffeners; mark the envelope "Photos - Do Not Bend" Beneath The Sea will not be responsible for damaged entries.

Slide and Video entries will be returned only if a self-addressed return mailer with sufficient postage attached is included with the submission. Digital images will not be returned. Canadian entrants must use International Reply Coupons sufficient for return postage. Canadian winners may be responsible for import taxes and freight on prizes.

Entries will be returned 6-8 weeks after the Beneath The Sea show. All entrants will receive a list of the winners.

All entries must be received by December 31, 2002. Winners will be notified on or before March 1, 2003. Winning entries’ prints will be on display in the lobby of the exhibition hall; slides will be presented at Beneath The Sea’s Saturday Evening Film Festival on March 23, 2003.

4. Any Entry That Does Not Meet the Rules or Conditions Will Not Be Eligible.

Download 2003 Beneath The Sea Photo / Video Competition Entry Form

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Contest Hotline (718) 409-0240 · Photo@BeneathTheSea.org

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Yeah, but the 42 bits only refers to colour I think!

Touchet!

I rarely have to scan above 600 dpi to produce a top class true colour A3 print.

Even my portable 1800 dpi 42 bit scanner produces superb results.

BTW most of the tools in PS7 will not work with 14 bits per channel so adjustment is a no go unless the process is dropped to just 8 bits.

This I find very interesting - I am currently reworking how I do digital by purchasing and F80 and a Sea and Sea housing with the intention of 1)scanning my slides 2) tarting them up in PS7 3) using them on the web.

Does this mean all I need is 600 DPI 8 bit scanner to get excellent results?? or is it best to scan the image as a high quality image and then reduce the quality in PS7 before tarting up the image??

Thanks

With a scanner colour depth is important as is resolution to get the best from the slide without having to start making OTT refinements.

As Craig stated "crap in - crap out"

One of the best scanners for the money presently is the Minolta Dimage II or the newer III. The write ups are very good so check out the Minolta website for your area. Both units are small & light weight using an external power supply. The CCD chip is 11 & 12 mb respectively and 12 & 14 bits per channel.

The higher the scan resolution the more the detail and colouration will be but generally 600 is fine. The image size and mode can be adjusted in PS or on the scanner software twain interface.

For optimum results scan at high res - size of file depending on your RAM capability, then reduce as required in 'Image' menu after any work needs doing. As I mentioned; to use many of the tools you will have to drop to 8 bits in the 'Image' mode selection. Most publishers only require scans of 300 or 450 dpi but these scans have to be done in CMYK mode and not RGB (4-colour lithography).

If you are using them for the web 'Image ready 7' will sort out the file sizes to suit offering varying degrees of quality or you can do it yourself in the PS image sizing menu.

Hi Guys,

 

1st. Scanning slides still gives them the advantage over digital - I use a 13 mp 42bit 4000 dpi scanner (almost drum scanner quality). If the image is sharp and the colour etc is ok on the original it appears on the PC almost as good. I rarely have to scan above 600 dpi to produce a top class true colour A3 print.

Even my portable 1800 dpi 42 bit scanner produces superb results.

BTW most of the tools in PS7 will not work with 14 bits per channel so adjustment is a no go unless the process is dropped to just 8 bits.

 

I looked at this competition with interest and I was disappointed that I am no longer eligable to enter as I would have like to have submitted entries in the Close Focus WA and the Blue water wreck catagories... I shall attend the competition though to see some old friends - Maybe new ones too.

 

The prizes are SUBSTANTIAL!

 

Below are the rules off the site.

 

 

2003 CONTEST RULES

 

Contest Telephone Hot Line: 1(718) 409-0240

Please call between 7 pm and 8 pm Eastern time.

 

 

 

The Beneath The Sea 2003 Photography Competition is open to amateur photographers living anywhere in the United States, Canada or their possessions. Not eligible are professional photographers (including those promoting themselves as pro or semi-pro), underwater photo instructors, and persons who have been paid for publication of more than six photos during 2000-2003. Also not eligible are photos that have been published (or accepted for publication). The work submitted must have been taken by the person submitting and signing the entry form.

 

 

All entries must be exposed underwater (no aquarium, pool or surface shots) by the person submitting the entry. Photos cannot show any disrespect for the environment.

 

 

Judging will be by a panel of professional photographers chosen by Beneath the Sea. Decisions of the judges will be final and will be based on composition, technique, exposure and general interest.

 

 

No substitutions can be offered for prize awards.

 

 

The right to reproduce the entry as promotion for Beneath The Sea is assumed if proper photographic credit is given. The ownership and rights remain with the photographer. Beneath the Sea, Inc. may show the competition entries continuously during the weekend.

 

 

A completed entry form and entry fee must accompany all submissions. Additional Forms may be duplicated, downloaded from our internet site: www.BeneathTheSea.org. Or more may be obtained by sending a stamped, self-addressed envelope to:

 

BENEATH THE SEA Photo

495 New Rochelle Road, Suite 2A

Bronxville, NY 10708

 

or email a request to Photo@BeneathTheSea.Org

Entry deadline, postmarked before December 31, 2002

 

 

The 27th Annual Beneath The Sea Dive Exposition will take place March 28, 29, 30 2003 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center, Secaucus, New Jersey - 10 minutes from Manhattan. Further information can be found on Beneath The Sea’s internet web site: www.BeneathTheSea.org or call (914) 664-4310.

 

 

SPECIFIC CONDITIONS

1. An individual may submit up to six 35mm color slides and/or one video and/or up to 6 digital images. There is an entry fee of $7 US per slide or video and $5 US per digital image. Make the check or money order payable to "BTS." Do not send cash! If too many slides, videos and/or digital images or the incorrect entry fee are sent, your entry will not be accepted.

 

 

2. Digital images are not eligible for Best In Show.

 

 

3. The same image cannot be entered in both the Film and Digital divisions.

 

 

4. Awards will be given in the following categories:

 

 

Video: Only one video may be entered. It must be in VHS format, no more than six minutes long, have a title and theme, and carry a narrative and/or music track. At least 65 percent of the video must have been shot underwater. Both tape and slipcase must be labeled with the entrant's name and the title of the tape.

 

Slides: A maximum of six slides may be entered. These slides can be in the same or different categories. No more than three may be in any one category. Each individual slide may be entered in only one category. If a slide might be considered in more than one category, the choice is up to the entrant. No digital computer manipulation is allowed. Slides of existing prints will be rejected.

 

 

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

 

Please submit duplicates, not originals, if possible. Slides must be marked with entrant’s name, photo title, and category entered. Please print carefully and legibly. Beneath The Sea will not be responsible for loss or damage to original slides.

 

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Place a large dot on the lower left-hand corner of the mount when viewed correctly on a light table. No gummed labels or glass mounts. If a slide is incorrectly labeled or mounted, it will not be accepted.

 

 

 

1. Slide Categories Are as Follows:

 

 

A. General: Wide or medium shots of divers, wrecks, reef environments, etc.

 

 

B. Marine Life: Wide or medium shots of fish or any other vertebrates or invertebrates.

 

 

C. Macro: The subject must be 1:3 (approximately 4"x3") or smaller.

 

 

D. Closeup: The subject must be in the range of approximately 6"x4" to 12"x 8".

 

 

E. Northeast Cold Water: Salt water subjects taken in the waters of the east coasts of Canada and the U.S. from Maryland and north.

 

 

F. West Coast Cold Water: Salt water subjects taken in the waters of the west coasts of Canada and the U.S.

 

 

G. Cold Water Wreck Diving: Photos must be taken on shipwrecks in salt (ocean) or fresh (lake) waters of the continental US or Canada, San Diego and north on the West Coast, Maryland and north on the East Coast. Subject may be wreck interiors or exteriors, artifacts, divers or marine life on wrecks, etc. It must be obvious that the photo was taken on a shipwreck.

 

 

H. Blue Water Wreck Diving: Photos must be taken on shipwrecks anywhere in the world. Subject may be wreck interiors or exteriors, artifacts, divers or marine life on wrecks, etc. It must be obvious that the photo was taken on a shipwreck.

 

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Digital: Images must be submitted on a CD. All digital images must be on the same CD. CD's must be marked with entrant's name, photo titles, and categories entered. Please print carefully and legibly.

 

 

Entries may be submitted as Tiff or Jpeg but Tiff is preferred. All entries submitted in the Jpeg format will be converted into the Tiff format before judging.

 

 

Images must be RGB. No CMYK will be accepted.

 

 

All images must be 1500-2100 pixels in the long dimension.

 

 

 

2. Digital Categories Are as Follows:

 

 

A. Open Digital: The only adjustments allowed are those that can also be done in a darkroom. Only minimal sharpening, color correction, brightness adjustment, contrast adjustment, dodging, burning and cropping is allowed. The subjective opinion of the judges as to whether an image exceeds these guidelines is final. No combined images are allowed.

 

 

B. Creative Digital: These images must have a basic underwater theme incorporating divers, wrecks, reefs, fish and/or marine life. Other than that anything goes. You may combine multiple images and also do major manipulation, adjustment and distortion.

 

 

 

3. Entry Submission:

 

 

Entries must be mailed prepaid. For best protection, pack slides for shipment with stiffeners; mark the envelope "Photos - Do Not Bend" Beneath The Sea will not be responsible for damaged entries.

 

 

Slide and Video entries will be returned only if a self-addressed return mailer with sufficient postage attached is included with the submission. Digital images will not be returned. Canadian entrants must use International Reply Coupons sufficient for return postage. Canadian winners may be responsible for import taxes and freight on prizes.

 

 

Entries will be returned 6-8 weeks after the Beneath The Sea show. All entrants will receive a list of the winners.

 

 

All entries must be received by December 31, 2002. Winners will be notified on or before March 1, 2003. Winning entries’ prints will be on display in the lobby of the exhibition hall; slides will be presented at Beneath The Sea’s Saturday Evening Film Festival on March 23, 2003.

 

 

 

4. Any Entry That Does Not Meet the Rules or Conditions Will Not Be Eligible.

 

 

 

 

Download 2003 Beneath The Sea Photo / Video Competition Entry Form  

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Contest Hotline (718) 409-0240 · Photo@BeneathTheSea.org

 

 

 

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

The contest limits the resolution of submitted images, so you wouldn't be able to submit a 13MP image anyway.

 

Where are the substantial prizes. I think there is only 1 trip and digital is excluded. I can't access the "and..." link.

Photo & Video COMPETITION

March 28, 29, and 30th

Each year, Beneath the Sea is pleased to give amateur underwater photographers and videographers a chance to compete with their peers from across the United States and Canada.

Best-In-Show Prize (video): The Stan Waterman Award for Excellence in Underwater Videography, and a one week Live-Aboard dive trip on one of the Explorer Ventures Live-Aboards, to be posted on this site shortly

Best-In-Show Prize (slides): The David Doubilet Award for Excellence in Underwater Photography, and one week Live-Aboard dive trip on Peter Hughes' Stardancer in Papua New Guinea.

And . . many other prizes will be awarded, including equipment from premier manufacturers. So start looking through your slides and tapes and find your best work to enter! But don't wait too long - the deadline of December 31, 2002 is closer than you think!