Winners - Underwater Photography Contests
November 2017 Photo Contest Winner and Review
WINNER CHOSEN AND REVIEW BY SCUBAVERSE.COM’S UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY EDITORS NICK & CAROLINE ROBERTSON-BROWN
WINNER: A mother’s love by Donna P Lim
PHOTOLINK: https://www.scubaverse.com/contestants/a-mothers-love/
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!
November 2017
November saw an increase in photos entered which was great to see, and there were plenty for us to comment on and try to pick out the very best images to discuss.
Our Favourites
Caroline
Orange by Diogo Sayanda – Really nice complementary colours with the orange and green standing out on the black background. Lovely details.
Emerald by Diogo Sayanda – Another lovely macro shot here, simplicity is the key. Lovely colours.
Goddess of the Deep by Simon Morley – I love the position of the fish in this shot. Good control of the lighting too.
Play with me by James Harris – Lovely behaviour shot with the sea lion blowing bubbles just as you took the shot.
Mouth Brooding Giant by James Harris – Another lovely behaviour shot, which makes the image far more engaging. Lovely eye contact too.
Tiny little critters by Matthias Graeub – Such a difficult shot, as these are tiny critters indeed. Love that you have a purple and white amphipod on shot.
Glowing in the dark by Matthias Greaub – Nice nudi shot with a really shallow depth of field. This image really stands out.
A mother’s Love by Donna P Lim – Fabulous shot of the eggs and adult anemone fish. Incredible detail in the eggs – which are the focus of the shot.
The Mexican Dream by William Hemberg – Lovely lighting in an incredible dive site. Makes me want to go!
Curious Blenny by Marc Eeckhaut – There is something about this shot I love. I think it is the expression on the blenny’s face and the composition of the shot, but for me it works well.
Stairway to Heaven by Christian Llewellyn – Smashing shot of the staircase of the Karwela wreck in Gozo. Lovely lighting and mood.
Windswept by Christian Llewellyn – Lovely colours and composition of this nudibranch image. Gorgeous bokeh!
Nick
Orange by Diogo Sayanda – Lovely composition and contrasting colours set against a black background.
Mouth Brooding Giant by James Harris – Lovely snoot style lighting capturing this shot of a giant jawfish with eggs.
Tiny little critters by Matthias Graeub – Lovely super-macro shot of these minute amphipods on a hydroid. The purple really pops.
Glowing in the Dark by Matthias Graeub – Love the depth of field, good title too.
A mother’s Love by Donna P Lim – Lovely macro shot with a tiny depth of field. Love all those eyes!
Jelly in Pink by Paul Hewart – The lilac jellyfish against a black background is a simple but beautiful shot. Well done.
Waiting by Laura Tesla – Nice composition taken in a place I really want to go!
Razorfish by Marc Eeckhaut – I really like the diagonals & lighting in this shot.
Stairway to Heaven by Christian Llewellyn – This is a really good shot taken on the most photographed stairway under the sea. Great lighting and angle. Personally, I think a diver with a light coming through the left doorway would have made it even better – even if it is a cliché!
After much deliberations between our two judges….
There were lots of good shots this month and it was hard to find that outstanding image that leapt out as a winner. It took discussion and deliberation, but the two behaviour shots of the fish looking after their eggs take the top two positions. Here are the full results:
Winner: A mother’s Love by Donna P Lim
Runner-Up: Mouth Brooding Giant by James Harris
Third Place: Stairway to Heaven by Christian Llewellyn
Congratulations to those who were placed – some really nice images here, and well done to all those who entered. Keep the images coming and we look forward to seeing more in December. And don’t forget, December will be your last chance to be in with a chance of winning the grand prize!
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Scubaverse.com’s December 2017 Underwater Photo Contest is now open! Enter as many as three of your underwater photos here.
WINNER CHOSEN AND REVIEW BY SCUBAVERSE.COM’S UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR NICK ROBERTSON-BROWN
WINNER: Basket star in the pure darkness by Arnaud Guillebert
Another great month full of wonderful underwater images!
When judging any underwater photography competition, the first thing I do is ask of each image: Is it in focus? The main subject has to be pin sharp. Is it exposed correctly?
I 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 I 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 me go wow – I wish I had taken that!
Three squid by Min seok Jeon: I love squid and this shot with three against a black background really stands out. I love the colours and shapes they create as they stretch across the frame.
Hippocampus guttulatus (Cuvier, 1829) by Marco Spoto: What a lovely scene. Great that you did not disturb the worm on taking this shot. I would have liked to have seen the subject isolated more though, losing the backscatter and seabed which can distact the eye.
Turtle in its coral garden by Claude Lespagne: What I like about this image is the snorkeler at the surface looking down on the scene. It shows that you do not have to be a diver to enjoy a stunning Red Sea scene like this one.
Ghost Goby by MichaelG: I love the colours, the expression on the goby’s face and most of all the texture of the coral. Lovely use of depth of field.
Hedgehog by Sofia Tenggrono: Great use of a snoot. You have lit up just enough of the environment to show us where this nudibranch lives, but still have highlighted the subject really well. The complimentary colours are lovely.
yellow cutie by Cedric Peneau: Lovely framing of a really cute little fish. The colours jump out from my screen.
REFLET by DIDIER PASQUINI: I like the motion in the tail and the reflection in this image of the biggest fish in the sea. I always like a bit more space in front of a fish when possible – but I know this will have been hard with a big Whale Shark.
Basket star in the pure darkness by arnaud.guillebert: This is more like a fine art image than the usual underwater imagery you see. Lovely lighting showing off the texture of this basket star.
After much deliberation by our judge….
The results
Winner: Basket star in the pure darkness by arnaud.guillebert
Runner-Up: yellow cutie by Cedric Peneau
Third: Ghost Goby by MichaelG
Highly Commended: Three squid by Min seok Jeon
Congratulations to those who were placed – there were a number of excellent images, and well done to all those that entered.
Scubaverse.com’s January 2023 Underwater Photo Contest is now open! Enter as many as three of your underwater photos here.
WINNER CHOSEN AND REVIEW BY SCUBAVERSE.COM’S UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR NICK ROBERTSON-BROWN
WINNER: The Herd by Cedric Peneau
Another great month full of wonderful underwater images!
When judging any underwater photography competition, the first thing I do is ask of each image: Is it in focus? The main subject has to be pin sharp. Is it exposed correctly?
I 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 I 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 me go wow – I wish I had taken that!
Longimanus by night by Claude Lespagne: Of the three wonderful Oceanic Whitetip Shark images you entered this month, this is my favourite. The reflection on the surface is sublime and I love the way the pilot fish really catch the eye against a dark night sea.
Underwater doughnut shop? by Bill Passmore: The detail in this simple shot of a coral head is super. I love the title too!
Little frogfish, big pollution by Cedric Peneau: I always worry about images like this one. Who put that battery there? Was it a diver in order to get a shot? I hope not. What it does to well is show how tiny this beautiful frogfish is.
The Herd by Cedric Peneau: Wow! I love this shot, there is so much going on and yet the subject is still really strong in the frame.
Twinkle Twinkle Little Star by Sofia Tenggrono: This image really caught my eye. The focus is not what we would usually expect, but because the body and the glittering edges are the subject, it still works.
GREAT ENCOUNTER by DIDIER PASQUINI: Lovely shot that tells a story. You can imagine being this snorkeler and have an encounter of a lifetime with the biggest fish in the sea. You can imagine this image in a brochure.
Below the surface by arnaud.guillebert: These shots are so difficult to get right. This is another shot that tells a story and could grace a diving magazine. Initially you see the main shark subject, but as you spend more time, you see all the other sharks in the background.
After much deliberation by our judge….
The results
Winner: The Herd by Cedric Peneau
Runner-Up: Twinkle Twinkle Little Star by Sofia Tenggrono
Third: Longimanus by night by Claude Lespagne
Highly Commended: Below the surface by arnaud.guillebert
Congratulations to those who were placed – there were a number of excellent images, and well done to all those that entered.
Scubaverse.com’s December 2022 Underwater Photo Contest is now open! Enter as many as three of your underwater photos here.
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