Each month we feature a selection of your letters
We ’ re still looking for a new prize for a Star Letter , so please bear with us for a while longer . It ’ s a difficult time for the diving industry , so sponsorships are a tricky proposition at the moment .
ChatSend your letters to simon @ scubamagazine . co . uk
LUNESDALE DIVERS AND KENDAL & Lakes Sub Aqua Club combined resources at Capernwray to enable a two-day photographic workshop run by Roisin Maddison , ably assisted by SCUBA columnist , Yo-Han Cha .
We started by going back to basics , putting all the cameras into manual mode and exploring shutter speeds , apertures and ISO ratings , interspersed with practical
Zebra mussels by Jordan Alston
Get close , get closer !
sessions to try out the effects on depth of field and exposure . Because of the variety of different cameras brought by participants , we were all encouraged to read instruction manuals before attending . Some carried out this task better than others !
Sessions on composition came next and then Yo-Han gave a presentation on lighting , especially for wide angle and macro . By the time the afternoon practical session started , phrases like , ‘ get close ’, get closer ’ and ‘ shoot upwards ’ were ringing in our ears .
The late afternoon session was to get everyone in the water putting the theory into practice . Diving was ably recorded by Jordan Alston of Lunesdale . Roisin and Yo-Han managed to locate all the groups underwater to offer further tips , ( most often with the ‘ get closer ’ sign ).
Sunday started with a results and critique session , followed by a session on simple cataloguing and editing using lightroom and photoshop amongst other apps .
What did we get out of it ?
John Caruthers : The main thing for me was being pushed into doing all those things I knew I should have done ages ago - playing with settings . I feel like I have come a step further towards being in control of the camera and strobe rather than the other way round ! Jordan Alston : The course was incredibly informative and I can ’ t wait to put these skills into practice . Debbie Davis : It was a great opportunity to gain knowledge and refresh skills .
Roisin and Yo-Han were lovely and very knowledgeable . JOHN ADAMS , Lunesdale Divers
Dudley ’ s relay day
MEMBERS OF DUDLEY DOLPHINS COMPLETED A 24 hour relay dive in our local reservoir for Children in Need on 15-16 October . With Pudsey Bear accompanying them throughout the 24 hours underwater [ he had his own dive timer to prove it ] we had divers aged 14-65 among 35 members who took part in the event . The scuba dive started at 6pm on the 15th and finished on the 16 at 6pm at Netherton reservoir ( known locally as the ‘ Rezza ’). The rules were simple – there had to be at least two divers in the water at all times for 24 hours . We had Pudsey on a clip that we carried around with us and used it as a baton when new divers entered the water .
It was a big team effort . In addition to the two divers in the water , we had to have another buddy pair ready and waiting to get in , on the off chance something went wrong . We also had an observer watching from the shore ; a trained basic dive medic ; someone trained on the boat in case divers needed collecting , and someone to fill the scuba tanks . So , at all times we needed up to seven people . JOHN LUNN , Chair , Dudley Dolphins
31