Winners - Underwater Photography Contests
June 2019 Photo Contest Winner and Review
WINNER CHOSEN AND REVIEW BY SCUBAVERSE.COM’S UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR NICK ROBERTSON-BROWN
WINNER: The Rider by Alex Permiakov
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!
June 2019
We had a lots of entries with a great range of both macro and wide angle subjects this month, here are the ones I have picked out for comment:
Fucher with a Beard by Jaud Manfred: this is an excellent example of how to use the subject’s surroundings. The lighting is spot-on (literally) and I love the grumpy face of the ambush predator.
Flying Turtle by Frank K82: This is a lovely capture of a turtle using ambient lighting. It does feel as though the subject is watching the photographer.
My Home is my Castle by Frank Michels: This is a great macro shot of a blenny hiding in, what looks like, a bottle. The small depth of field works really well in making the subject pop out.
Twins by Claudio Ceresi: This is an, almost, delicate capture of a cleaner shrimp at work on a snake eel. I love the moody lighting and dark background which throws the subject at the person viewing.
Yellow in the Black by Claudio Ceresi: This is another shot by Claudio shot in black water of one of several animals that seem to appear only at night. I love the lighting on the face, which I presume is from a constant source rather than a strobe.
Pink Goby by Jorge Ida: This shot used a really small depth of field to make the eyes the centre of the image, everything else just blurring into bokeh.
Flying Spaceships by Billy Leung: I love the motion and perspective of this image. Just enough light in the black to pick out the other sharks, this composition works well. I would have liked a greater depth of field so that the eyes of the subject were in focus too.
Moray by David: is a truly interesting composition with contrasting colours and two interesting individuals. As the title is Moray, I would have tried to et the subject bang on in focus rather than the “supporting” acanthaster.
Nudi Flame by Alex Permiakov: This is a beautifully lit, close up abstract of a colourful nudibranch. Shot against a black background, it really does draw the eye.
The Rider by Alex Permiakov: This is a striking shot. I love the composition, lighting and contrast of colours.
Deb and Friendly Goliath Grouper by Jim Garber: This is a cute example of how a wide angle lens can change the perspective of reality. I like the angle of the grouper and how it is turning and the diver behind adds to the story being portrayed.
Arrow Squid by Jim Garber: Jim has managed to capture a squid “inking” and the light on the subject shows off its colours really well. We have to hope this squid was not under duress.
Eye Contact by Marc Eekhaut: This is a super shot of two of the most beautiful fish in the sea. Anyone who was tried to photograph these fish will appreciate how hard it can be. I like the cast that the background shows their environment yet does not detract from the subject.
Straddle by Marc Eekhaut: This is a gorgeous close focus wide angle shot of a frogfish in classic pose. The yellow of the foreground provides contrast to the blue background.
Flames by Jacques-Yves Phelipot: This image has captured a Flamboyant Cuttlefish from a great angle. The depth of field enhances the image and the colours against a black background looks amazing.
Fishing by Jack Pokoj: This is a lovely capture of a frogfish waiting to lure its prey. The snoot-like lighting in this behaviour shot really works well.
After much deliberation by our judge….
There were so many great shots to select from this month it made judging very tough indeed. Well done to all those that entered and sorry I could not comment on every image.
The results
Winner: The Rider by Alex Permiakov
Runner-up: Flames by Jacques-Yves Phelipot
3rd place: Straddle by Marc Eekhaut:
It is with sadness that I need to announce that last month’s winner has been disqualified. It has been revealed that the subject in the winning shot of a “skeleton” nudibranch had been moved by the dive guide to make the background more attractive for the shot. The photographer openingly admitted this was the case and as our rules clearly state that subject manipulation is not permitted, we have had to take this action. The winning shot for May is now Male Leafy Seadragon by Daryll Rivett.
Congratulations to the those who were placed – some really nice, mostly macro, images here, and well done to all those that entered. I cannot wait to see what July has to offer.
Scubaverse.com’s July 2019 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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