As the dive season is well under way, it is timely to remind you of FOUR exciting photo competition for the underwater photographer.

An Taisce’s “Love Your Coast
Currently running until August 28th is An Taisce’s “Love Your Coast” photography competition. For the past couple of years underwater pictures have placed very highly in this national event. Even last year’s overall winning picture, had diver Dave McCormack, wading ashore in his scuba gear.
This year, the CFT Underwater Photography Group is delighted to announce that we have our own category in the event.
Not only can we enter into the other categories, but we now have a section that guarantees that a diver or snorkeller will win a prize.
You can enter any photograph you’ve taken in Ireland, in the last two years into the any of the following five categories:
“Underwater”
“Coastal Heritage”
“Coastal Landscape”
“People & the Coast”
“Wildlife & the Coast”

This competition is not about the best camera or user. It’s about a bit of luck to capture a image that catches the judge’s eye. It’s free to enter, so there should be nothing stopping you entering before the deadline of August 28th. More details here: http://cleancoasts.org/our-initiatives/love-your-coast-photography/

Vincent O’ Brien memorial photography competition
On July 4/5, the south east dive rally is holding the Vincent O’ Brien memorial photography competition. This competition is open to all divers/snorkelers/non divers who attend the rally. We have four categories: Wide Angle, Macro, Video and Marine Landscape.
There is a first and runner up prize in each category.
We are also offering a Canon G7x and housing to the shooter with the best portfolio of macro and wide angle images. The prize will go to a upcoming compact shooter and the aim is to help them take their photography to the next level.
This prize retails at €900, so it is definitely worth trying to win and we thank Canon Ireland for their wonderful generosity.
Up for grabs are the winners plaques themselves, vouchers from Oceanaddicts, John Collins photography, Sam McCauleys, Hore’s Stores, Martin Jewellers and the Dive Rally team.

All you have to do is register for the rally (€10) and then snap away and make sure to get the pictures to Ivan before Sunday evening.

To keep your children busy, we have a Youth category, which is open to all the under eighteens who come along to the weekend. This one is free of charge and the pictures can be taken on land showcasing the dive rally event.

British and Irish Underwater Photography Championships
All these free competitions will tune us up nicely for the one with the entry fee. £15 gets you entry into the British and Irish Underwater Photography Championships.
While at the dive show, Paul Colley of BSoUP explains “This competition seeks to engage the British and Irish underwater photography community to capture the beauty of our underwater world in a one day competition. Photographers will compete for five new awards and associated prizes, foremost being a trophy in memory of one of BSoUP’s co-founders, the late Peter Scoones, and the title British & Irish Underwater Photography Champion 2015 (imagine the mileage you’d get out of having that title to your name for a year – Ivan) Images can be taken and submitted electronically from anywhere within the championship geographic boundary from 10pm Friday 4th September to 10pm Saturday 5th September 2015. The competition is open to all underwater photographers of all nations, with contestants demonstrating the underwater photographic and post-production skills to produce high impact British and Irish images within this limited time frame. Images can be from any body of salt or fresh water in the seas, rivers, streams and lakes of our islands. BSoUP will convene a panel of three expert judges during the week following the competition. The results will be announced at an event on Saturday 19th September. There are super prizes including dive trips, cameras, regs, vouchers. The closing date to register to enter this competition is Friday 28th of August. Register here: http://www.biupc.org/registration

What a challenge! To dive and have the images uploaded before the deadline will make for a busy day. Night dive, dawn dive, day dive, dusk dive.
To make the challenge easier, you could consider diving with Oceanaddicts in Kinsale who are organising a PHOTO SPLASH IN on the 5th of September. Owner, Anne Ferguson told us that they are inviting all underwater photographers, to visit their centre and enter the BIUPC on 5th September. The weekend before, on the 29th & 30th of August, Oceanaddicts in association with John Collins will be hosting a work-up weekend. John will be on hand to offer advice and tips to those interested. John will be giving Seminars of various underwater photography topics over the weekend. There will be lots of opportunity to talk cameras, compare images and of course dive and take photos. The CFT Underwater exhibition will be in Kinsale over the two weekends and will be displayed in the Trident Hotel. There will be a small charge on the door for John’s seminars to cover the cost of the room with any excess going to the RNLI. More info’ at http://oceanaddicts.ie/
In October, Scubadive West are hosting their annual photo rally. It will run from Friday 16th to Sunday 18th October. Breffni Gray told us “It’s about inclusive fun, encouraging beginners to enter as well as experienced amateur photographers. Our latest blog article is published now at http://blog.scubadivewest.com/ The link to our dedicated competitions website is below. http://competitionssdw.com/index.php These links will keep you and everyone that receives your e-zine up to date. Daragh Muldowney will be on the judging panel. He is currently loading up the Killary Flyer yacht, to set sail for Greenland on his 3 month expedition ‘Into The Blue,’ photographing icebergs underwater. He will give a talk on the Saturday evening of the Photo Rally. More information about Daragh’s expedition on his blog at http://dulraphotography.com/blog/

Finally, the group would like to say a huge thank you to Brian Stone for organising this year’s photo exhibition and also the purchase of, and re-payment of display stands for CFT. Have a look to see if the exhibition is coming to an area near you soon.
Contact Location From To
Ivan Donoghue Wexford County Hall 15 June 26 June
Ivan Donoghue South East Dive Rally 3 July 5 July
Ivan Donoghue Kilmore Quay Seafood festival 11 July 12 July
Curragh Committee Curragh SAC Sandycove, Dublin 18 July 19 July
Dalkey SAC (Dublin Dive rally) 21 August 23 August
Ann Ferguson Oceanaddicts, Kinsale 29 August 30 August
Ann Ferguson Oceanaddicts, Kinsale 5 September 6 September
Brian Stone Dun Laoghaire Library October
Brian Stone DCU Library October
Richard Thorn Science Week Sligo IT 8 November 15th November