December 2016 Photo Contest Winner and Review
WINNER CHOSEN AND REVIEW BY SCUBAVERSE.COM’S UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY EDITORS NICK & CAROLINE ROBERTSON-BROWN
WINNER: Arrow Crab in Spiral Coral by Joel Warburton
PHOTOLINK: http://www.scubaverse.com/contestants/arrow-crab-spiral-coral/
When judging any underwater photography competition, the first thing we do is ask of each image: Is it in focus? The main subject has to be pin sharp. Is it exposed correctly?
We then look at lighting (photography is all about light) and composition. Backscatter, hot spots of light, messy backgrounds all might see your image lose out.
Then there are other considerations that might get you knocked out of the first round: Was the image taken underwater? After all it is an underwater photography competition! Were any animals distressed or harassed to get the image? Was any environmental damage done to get the shot?
Once we have whittled out the images that do not pass these criteria, it is time to get down to picking a winner. A shot that makes us both go wow – I wish I had taken that!
December 2016
The number of entries was back up again in December, perhaps as people realised this was their last chance to get into the 2016 finals. Soon it will time to pick an overall champion. But first we have to pick the winner and runners up from our final month of the year…
Our favourites
Caroline
In my top selection of images this month are:
Cool Calm Collected by Vanaz Nairn. I love this shot, but would have been tempted to edit out the top two divers.
Anthony Bell by Vanaz Nairn. This is atmospheric and I love the diver giving perspective to the shot.
Alien Fish by John Butland. What a great smile and I love the eyes of this fish, they are so photogenic. To get both eyes, with tremendous colour, in the shot is great.
Spiny by Christian Llewellyn is a great abstract shot. The spines lead the eye down to the wonderful pattern on the urchin. Psychedelic!
Queen Anglefish by Huub van de Ligt is a good close up shot of a queen angelfish.
Swirling Oak Leaves by David Peake is an unusual shot that has been very well executed. I love the movement, colour and the frozen oak leaves in the foreground.
Dancing Tubeworm by Marcia Melton. A lovely simple shot that has been well executed. You get a real feel of this worm gently moving in a gentle current. Nice Bokeh.
Turtlely Awesome by Joel Warburton is great. I love the super close up of the turtle with the diver behind. Great timing!
Arrowcrab in Spiral Coral by Joel Warburton is a particular favourite of mine this month. I love the composition, colour and texture of this image.
Sealed with a Kiss by Sean Chinn is a great behaviour shot showing lovely timing to get the seals “kissing”.
Nick
Spanish Dancer by Malgorzata Baranska – love the impression of motions, and the contrasting colours are suberb.
Batfish Balboac by Christian Llewellyn – Great example of how to use close-up wide angle when the vis is poor. Eye contact with both batfish too.
Cool Calm Collected by Vamaz Nairn – Super angle on the turtle, which is well lit and would make a super shot if the two half divers were removed.
Arrowcrab by Joel Warburton – This macro shot is my favourite. The crab is pin sharp and the environment is still sufficiently in focus to see what is going on. Beautiful.
Sunseeker by Hans Lange – lovely shot with good compositional elements, Backscatter is a shame and careful strobe positioning will eliminate this.
Going North by David Peake – Nicely composed and well lit.
Sealed with a Kiss by Sean Chinn – This is a super behaviour shot with balanced light and reflections. A beautifully captured moment.
Jim Jams by Christian Llewellyn – great use of depth of field with red bokeh in the background. The rhinophores are in focus and the rest of the nudi fall into soft focus.
Manatee Refelction by Joel Warburton – another great shot by Joel which demonstrates that he can do macro and wide angle. Lovely expression and compostition.
Spiny by Christian Llewellyn – Lovely abstract macro shot by a photographer more accustomed to wide angle wreck shots! Lovely.
After much deliberations between our two judges….
As usual our two judges agreed on most of the top images, but there is always some discussion to be had as to who should top the list each month.
Winner: Arrowcrab in Spiral Coral by Joel Warburton
Runner-Up: Sealed with a Kiss by Sean Chinn
3rd Place: Spiny by Christian Llewellyn
Watch out for news of the overall winner for 2016 in the next few weeks, and also for the start of the 2017 Scubaverse Underwater Photography Contest!
