January 3rd Meeting
The Texas Gulf & Caribbean

By Chuck Jensen

With the end of a fantastic 2004 we are starting the New Year off with a bang!  The Bureks will be doing two digital programs for the HUPS January 3rd 2005 meeting.  The first is "The Flower Garden’s – A Taste of Texas."  The program explores the marine life of Stetson Bank, East & West Bank of the Flower Gardens and the oil platform located in the Marine Sanctuary.  The second program is on Honduras.  This is typical Caribbean diving and will highlight its unusual creatures.  Joyce and Frank Burek are marine life photographers.  They record and document with photographs the underwater environment.  This differs significantly from the typical vacationing "shooter" or "impact" photographer.  They have pursued their craft since being certified in 1980.  Since then, they have logged almost 2,000 photographic dives and shot over 4,000 rolls of film.  Originally photographing with Nikonos and housed film systems, they now shoot digital with Fuji S-2 camera systems and dual Ikelite A-100 strobes.

The Bureks joined HUPS in May of 1983.  Both have won the HUPS Member and Photographer of the Year awards.  Frank has been President of HUPS 5 times and both of them have served on the HUPS Board of Directors.  Frank is on the current HUPS Board.  Joyce served several years as HUPS Membership Chairperson and our newsletter editor.  Frank has served several times on the HUC and SEASPACE Boards of Directors.

continued top of next column

January Meeting from previous column

They have also been active for years in the TGCC.  They were the SEASPACE Photographic Competition Chairpersons from 1993 through 1998.  Prior to turning professional both have won 1st place awards at SEASPACE.

Their photos have appeared in calendars, brochures, books, magazines and posters with numerous publishers including Audubon Society, National Geographic Society and the National Wildlife Federation.  In 2000 NOAA recognized them for their photographic work for the Flower Garden Banks National Marine Sanctuary (FGNMS) with the Environmental Hero Award.  Their work is featured in the current FGNMS brochure.

They are the authors and publishers of three (3) computer based marine identification CD-ROM products - the Marine Life of the Flower Garden Banks NMS, the Marine Life of the Bay Islands of Honduras and the Marine Life of Indonesia.

We are very privileged to have Frank and Joyce as part of our family and this is a program you sure don't want to miss!  See you there!  May your 2005 be a blessed as well as a dive filled image making year!

As usual the meeting will be at the Bayland Community Center starting at 7:00 PM.  A map and directions are at the end of this newsletter.

Happy Diving and Happy Holidays,
Leonard Cichowski

Photo by Joyce & Frank Burek ©2005

President's Message
Looking Back and Moving Forward

Somehow, we managed to bump and grind through 2004, coming out the other side still looking good and smelling nice. However, it didn’t happen that way without a lot of help from HUPS members that volunteered their time and talents to make it a success. To be honest, it was a year full of challenges met and mostly overcome. Take a good look at this newsletter if you want to see what I mean. It’s not just David Lenderman, the editor, who makes it a great publication, it’s all of the people contributing articles and images and everyone that anticipated getting it in their mail box and reads every word. The fact that David was selected as HUPS Member of the Year is so appropriate and some would say, overdue. It’s unfortunate that we can’t award more than one such award since people like James Wiseman (also nominated) have contributed enormously to HUPS. I want to personally thank every member that pitched in this year making it such a success.

We obviously had another strong showing at SEASPACE and gained some well-deserved accolades for the beautiful job we did as a group. The booth looked great and it was surrounded for two solid days with members and soon-to-become members enjoying the experience. It was good to have had the opportunity to help LAUPS set up and run the photo display and I think that we made some very good friends in the process. As we saw in 2003, the raffle was an excellent way to present HUPS and also make some money for Henry to stuff into our treasury. SEASPACE 2005 has the makings of an even more significant opportunity for HUPS to make an impact on the diving community. Once again, we will be asked to put forth our best effort to make SEASPACE a great event to attend. It’s early but we’re already in the early planning stages. Let’s just say that if we deliver on the things that are being proposed, you’ll just have to come see it for yourself. It will be awesome!

2004 was a year of transition. We saw the much anticipated migration from film to digital move into high gear. Digital contests held every other month were populated by stunning images from all types of members from novices to pros. It’s fair to say that this is probably the most exciting thing to happen to HUPS in years. Next year, we are moving to a monthly contest format for digital and slides. This is great but it doesn’t come without a price tag. Contests, as much good as they do us all, take time to organize and run. In 2005, Paul Levy and James Wiseman will be running the slide and digital contests but we will have trained backups available to step in when needed to make sure things run smoothly. The extra time required will mean that we will be getting meetings kicked off promptly at 7 pm and we will need to be more efficient with the utilization of our time.

continued top of next column

 
President's Message from previous column

The social aspect of HUPS is such a big draw for us all that you might want to arrive 15 minutes earlier than normal to get there in time to talk with your friends and meet our new members.  Of course, we can always use the help setting up the chairs and stuff.

We’re still in transition on finding a replacement for Joe Nicklo as our Director of Education.  He’ll certainly be a hard act to follow but I know that there are people out there that have the talent and initiative to make this very popular venue as strong as it has been over the past two years.  I think that anyone that attended one of the workshops last year can honestly say that it is an outstanding way to learn the finer points of becoming a better underwater photographer.  So, we’re definitely looking for someone to step forward and take over for Joe.  If you are interested, please look up Joe Nicklo, Chuck Jensen, or myself and let us know.

Last year saw us move further south than ever before for the annual HUPS Shootout.  The trip to Bonaire took a record 24 members all the way to the top of South America for some absolutely great diving.  Leonard did such a great job last year that he has volunteered to lead us again, this time back to Cozumel.  Early returns say that this trip may be even more popular than the Bonaire trip.  Anyone that has enjoyed staying and diving with Scuba Club Cozumel will know what a special opportunity this will be for us all.  They do a thoroughly outstanding job and the diving is about as good as anywhere in this part of the world.  Interested?  Go talk to Leonard and sign up.

More than all of the above, it’s about the people and the relationships.  As with any organization, we see people leave and people arrive.  Over the past few years, a lot more have joined than have left.  What I also find myself smiling about are the people that move away but still stay in touch and continue to be active members and friends and the people that join HUPS from places other than Houston to share in our activities.  I look at all of this as a good indication that HUPS is a healthy, growing, dynamic organization that gives a lot more to its members than it takes from them.  Share the experience.  Get involved and stay involved.

Dennis

Christmas Party Big Fun

We had an image and food packed ending to 2004.  Our annual Christmas Party was a success thanks to everyone that contributed.  Special thanks to John and Kathy Ringrose for organizing the event.  Results of our Best of HUPS Photo Contest can be found on page five of this newsletter.

Congrats to Jesse Cancelmo
By Ken Knezick

Congratulations to long time HUPS member Jesse Cancelmo for having his photo printed full page as the parting shot in the January/February 2005 issue of "Scuba Diving" Magazine.  You'll find Jesse's excellent photograph of "Striped Catfish" from Indonesia on page 104.  Great work Jesse!!

 

Quick Tip

Learn from a pro.  If you have the opportunity to dive with a really good, experienced underwater photographer, learn from them.  You don’t have to quiz them on f-stops and shutter speeds, just watch them underwater.  See how their camera and strobes are set up, see how they approach subjects, and notice how they position their camera and strobes for various subjects.  Watching a pro at work underwater can teach you things that you can’t learn in any book.  Try to incorporate some of their techniques into your photography.  Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery.

TGCC Banquet

The TGCC Annual Awards Banquet is Saturday February 5, 2005 at the Monument Inn, Pasadena, Texas.  There will be a cash bar from 6 to 7 PM and dinner starting at 7:00 PM.  The price is $25.00 per person purchased at the HUPS January meeting.  $35.00 at the door.

Attendees will choose from a menu this year rather than a general buffet.  Menu selections are

(1) Fisherman’s Platter
(2) Broiled Redfish Ponchatrain
(3) Teriyaki Chicken
(4) Rib eye Steak Dinner

HUPS will award its Photographer of the Year and Member of the Year awards at this banquet.  All HUPS members are encouraged to attend and socialize.  This is a great chance to spend some quality time with your fellow HUPS members and eat some good food.  For the past several years we have had about twenty HUPS members enjoy this evening together.  For more information please contact the HUPS TGCC Representative Frank Burek.

UpComing Meetings & Events

January 3, 2005 - HUPS Meeting
  Joyce & Frank Burek - Flower Gardens & Caribbean
February 7, 2005 - HUPS Meeting
  Anne Millioud & Chuck Roberts - Raja Ampat
March 7, 2005 - HUPS Meeting
April 4, 2005 - HUPS Meeting
May 2, 2005 - HUPS Meeting
  Jeff Penn - Nikon Representative
April 25 - May 11, 2005 - HUPS Irian Jaya trip
  Contact Dennis Deavenport
June 4 & 5, 2005 - SEASPACE
June 6, 2005 - HUPS Meeting - Post-SEASPACE
  Photographer Norbert Wu
July 16-23, 2005 - HUPS Shootout
  Scuba Club, Cozumel

FOR SALE Two Ikelite SubStrobe 200 (orange) with batteries, quick charger and 2 diffusers -- $750. All work great and one just serviced by Ikelite. Photos of these items are viewable at http://www.seabelow.com/uwphoto4sale.  All prices OR BEST OFFER.  Contact Dave Van Rooy at dvanrooy@seabelow.com.

Photos of Wet Supermodels

I thought that may get your attention.  The supermodels I am referring to here are fish.  The January HUPS photo contest topic is Fish Portraits.  So, if you have some favorite shots of a fishy supermodel be sure to enter them in the contest.  Remember that you can’t win if you don’t enter.

Each HUPS monthly contest will include slide and digital competitions.  If you are entering the slide competitions just bring your images to the meeting.  If you plan to enter the digital competition please read the article to the right titled: "New Mailbox for Digital Photo Entries" to learn how to submit your digital entries. Read the complete contest rules. Good Luck.

 

You Can Be the DEA

We are looking for someone to fill the big, empty shoes left by our former Director of Educational Activities (DEA), Joe Nicklo.  After two successful years in that position, Joe has decided to step aside and let someone else assume the position.  There is no experience required as on the job training is offered.  As the Director of Educational Activities you will be in charge of selecting HUPS workshop topics, lining up workshop instructors, scheduling and promoting the workshops.  If you have attended a HUPS workshop in the past you know how valuable they can be.  This is a great opportunity to become more involved with HUPS and get to know your fellow members.  Just Dive In!  For more information or to volunteer contact Dennis Deavenport or Chuck Jensen.

The DEA wants YOU

Membership Renewal Time
By Chuck Jensen

2005 dues are now due.  Please bring them to the January meeting.  Dues are $30.00 for an individual membership and $35.00 for a family membership.  Please make checks payable to HUPS.  It seems that year after year we are collecting dues for months into the New Year.  Please, let’s try to get them paid before the New Year as it makes things easier on everyone.  You all should have been emailed an updated info sheet.  Please update your info and staple your dues check to it.  I will be collecting them at the January meeting.

The e-mail address to send your digital entries for the HUPS Digital Photo Contest is finally ready for action!  Use it starting with the December Best of HUPS Digital contest.  We had to set up a special e-mail account on the HUPS web server, because receiving a lot of image files can fill up a regular e-mail Inbox very quickly.  To make sure the photo contest coordinator gets your picture okay, please observe the following:

1. You can enter up to three images in the contest.  The image files need to be JPEG/JPGs, and the size of each file should be less than 500 KB.  The resolution of the projector is 1,024 pixels horizontally by 768 pixels vertically, so images must be no larger than that.  Horizontal images with a 4:3 aspect ratio fit can be sized to 1,024 by 768 pixels exactly.  Vertical images with a 3:4 aspect ratio can be no larger than 576 by 768 pixels -- a vertical format image can be wider than 576 pixels, but no taller than 768 pixels.  I.e., your image must be no wider than 1,024 pixels, and no taller than 768 pixels.  See the complete rules for the digital contest on the web site.

One thing about digital is you don't have to stick to regular aspect ratios.  For example, a horizontal format image with a 5:4 aspect ratio could be 960 pixels wide by 768 pixels tall, and a 5:3 aspect could be 1,024 by 614 pixels.  A vertical format image with a 4:5 aspect ratio could be 614 pixels wide by 768 pixels tall, and a 3:5 aspect could be 461 by 768 pixels.  Or you can have any oddball aspect ratio; for example, you could have a horizontal image that's 1,024 pixels wide by 700 pixels tall, and a vertical image could be 700 pixels wide by 768 pixels tall.  The point is that the width of your image must be no more than 1,024 pixels, and the height must be no more than 768 pixels, whether it's vertical, horizontal or even square.

2. Open a new e-mail message, and address it to photocontest@hups.org.  Attach your image file(s).  Check documentation for your e-mail application on how to attach files to messages.

3. Please note, if you are using Microsoft Outlook as your e-mail application, you must Format the message as Plain Text.  Click "Format" on the menu bar, and then select "Plain Text".  If the message isn't sent as Plain Text, Outlook could send a file called Winmail.dat that Microsoft designed to hold the message's format and fonts, and it also contains attached image file(s).  Our mail application can't read Microsoft's Winmail.dat file.  So send your message as Plain Text.  This is the only "gotcha" I know about and I hope there aren't any others, but it's not possible to test every e-mail application that anybody might have.

4. Send the message to photocontest@hups.org, and good luck with the contest!

HUPS Shootout 2005

Once again it is time to think about setting your sights for our annual shootout.  This coming year, the event will take place in Cozumel.  So, here are the details:

DATES of TRAVEL:  Saturday, July 16 through Saturday, July 23, 2005

LODGING:  Scuba Club Cozumel.  $840.00 per person, based on double occupancy.  This pricing represents $750 + 12% tax = $840.  Package includes 7 nights lodging, 6 days of 2-tank boat diving, one boat night dive, unlimited shore diving, all meals and hotel taxes.

TRANSFERS:  Round-trip meet and greet and taxi transfer is $18 per person

PACKAGE COST:  $429.75 + $840.00 + $18.00 = $1,287.75

I will be checking on costs for non-divers.  I will be taking deposits for $100/person.  At present, there are 24 slots.  Since this should be a sellout, I will take deposits only by mail.  Order on the list and waiting list will be determined by two things: 1) active membership and 2) postmark on the envelope.  Make checks payable to HUPS.  Contact Leonard Cichowski.

Ken Knezick and Island Dreams have worked hard to put together this wonderful package.  Updates will be forthcoming.

Best of HUPS Winners

Once again, HUPS members showed up with their slides and digital images for the annual Best of HUPS contest.  Because of problems getting all of the ballots counted before we had to vacate Bayland, we weren’t able to announce and show the winners for the slide portion of the contest.  We will try to work in some time in January to show the winning slides.

Luckily, we were able to get the digital contest completed and the votes tallied in time to announce and show the winning images.

Standard Rules		Creative Digital Images
1st	Terry Moore	1st	Christa Loustalot
2nd	Christa Loustalot	2nd	Terry Moore
3rd	Frank Burek	3rd	John Van Atta

Monthly Contest Winners
November 2004 - Stars - Digital

The results of the rescheduled November digital Night of Stars topic are as follows:

1st	James Wiseman
2nd Tie	Ken Knezick x2, James Wiseman
3rd Tie	Mary Lou Reid, Craig Ruax

Best of HUPS Digital 2nd Place – Christa Loustalot ©2004

November Digital 3rd Place – Craig Ruax ©2004

The Houston Underwater Photographic Society (HUPS) meets the first Monday of every month at 7:00PM at the Bayland Community Center, 6400 Bissonet, near Hillcroft.

Social time begins at 7:00PM for members and visitors to get acquainted. Visitors are always welcome to join us. So, stop by and see what we are all about!