April 2021 Photo Contest Winner and Review
WINNER CHOSEN AND REVIEW BY SCUBAVERSE.COM’S UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR NICK ROBERTSON-BROWN
WINNER: Sturgeon in the overflight by Markus Schmidt
Wow! A record breaking month with loads of incredible images, both macro and wide angle, from all around the world.
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!
Alas I cannot discuss each and every image but here are a few that caught my eye and why:
Waiting for my next client by Wendy Biscette: Lovely shallow depth of field in this image helps the subjects stand out.
Underwater couple by Cor Kuyvenhoven: Lovely atmospheric image of two underwater models shot in the temperate waters of the Netherlands. The lighting makes it.
Ghost Diving lost fishing nets by Cor Kuyvenhoven: I love this image because it sows the great work that many divers are involved in – trying to clean up discarded fishing nets that continue to kill long after they have been abandonded.
Mating mandarin fish by Donna Lim: This image has a dream-like quality. The fish seem to glow! I know just how hard capturing this moment can be – well done.
Cardinal fish with eggs by Donna Lim: Super portrait of a Cardinalfish mouth brooding. Capturing a behaviour like this is a real bonus and the head on shot is just super.
Wave by Nicolai Posininsky: A super image clearly demonstrating the power of the ocean.
🙂 by Nicolai Posininsky: Lovely light on this shoaling fish. I can just imagine being there (and really wish I was right now!)
Pike in a bavarian lake by Matej Miskovic: Loveoly shot – I like the fact you can see both the bottom of the lake and the surface. The subject is turning and is nicely lit.
Home Sweet Home by Shinto K Anto: Lovely blur effect around the bottle and its inhabitant. The yellow really stands out and the focus is perfect.
Sunk Ecosystem by Christian Llewellyn: Love the fact the so many fish make this old wreck their home. Lovely natural light coming through the structure.
The Dart by Brandon Hannan: Love the diagonal orientation of this beautiful but deadly octopus. The black background make the warning colouration really stand out.
Sunburst by Brandon Hannan: A really super silhouette image of a turtle. The sunburst is amazing.
Flying flatworm by Sutheera Mora. The ripples in the sand behind the subject really make this shot.
How Ornate by Matthew Pearson: A fantastic shot of an Ornate Ghost Pipefish. Love the position of the subject with the blue of the cave opening behind it.
Through the rays by Giacomo Antonio Rossi: What an amazing sight! Sun rays and Devil Rays in perfect harmony.
Beards by Aldo Galante: A stunning portrait showing the battle scars left behind on this poor clownfish. Bravo!
Underwater Eight legged freak by Dixon Cogal: Striking image of a common subject. The delicate lighting really makes it stand out from the crowd.
Lights in the dark by Maria Bereozka: Love this image. The beautiful pattern of the eagle ray and the hint of the shape of the ray swimming away, all in black and white, make this stand out.
The Magical Melibe Leonina by Alison Smith: I would love to see one of these! Such a bizarre creature, well positioned on a frond of kelp with the green water behind.
Sturgeon in the overflight by Markus Schmidt: I love the clouds in the background of this image, visible through Snell’s Window. The divers adds to the image too and the angle, from below, of the sturgeon is really striking.
Gray sea puppy by Brian Weber: Adorable portrait of this young seal that works really well in black and white. Lovely eye-contact and a mass of whiskers.
Down the rabbit hole by Gustavo Padillla: This image really makes the viewer feel like they are right behind the diver enjoying exploring the cenotes.
Mollusk Without A Shell by Lloyd Bond: Lovely nudibranch portrait. Clean, with a black background, beautifully lit, really jumps out.
Flamingo tongue by Jan Leya: I love the blue background and the lighting – it gives the shot of a quite simple subject a really atmospheric feel. Super depth of field with the subject and the section of the gorgonian in perfect focus.
Hawksbill Portrait by MichaelG: A really imposing turtle portrait! Amazing detail and lovely eye-contact.
Happy shark by Tony Roberto Reed: A story telling shot – showing the shark, its environment and a diver taking a look. Lovely.
What are you thinking about ? by Miguel Ramirez: What a cute fish! Who could not love those huge eyes and such a grumpy face.
Black and white beauty by Miguel Ramirez: Stunning image of a moray! It fills the frame and the pattern is mesmerizing. Love this.
Freshwater shrimp in german lake by D. Loll: Really unusual image. Shrimp everywhere! Lovely focus and lighting.
Dolphins in Love by Cedric Peneau: Love the expression on the main subjects face! This must have been a great experience and the image really takes you there.
Redhead Stylophora Goby (Paragobiodon echinocephalus) by Oksana Maksymova: Super portrait of the characterful fish. Delicate lighting and great use of bokeh.
EYE see you! by Bill Passmore: This is a really stand-out image. The tones, lighting and use of depth of field are all perfect. The Catch lighting in the eye is an added bonus. Bravo!
Christmas in Ambon by Niels Prinssen: The detail in this shot is super, so much to look at and then you see the tiny fish in its hide out.
En pleine tempête / In a storm by Sylvain Corbel: Stunning nudibranch portrait. The colours are so vibrant against the black background. The motion of the water current evident. Just lovely.
Live Life in Full Bloom by Sofia Tenggrono: Perfect focus on a tiny subject. To have it isolated against the black background is amazing. To have enough of the coral in shot to give the viewer a good idea of where it was and what it was like – very impressive.
After much deliberation by our judge….
The results
Winner: Sturgeon in the overflight by Markus Schmidt
Runner-up: Flamingo tongue by Jan Leya
Third Place: EYE see you! by Bill Passmore
Highly Commended: Cardinal fish with eggs by Donna Lim & Sunburst by Brandon Hannan
Congratulations to those who were placed – there were a number of excellent images, and well done to all those that entered.
Scubaverse.com’s May 2021 Underwater Photo Contest is now open! Enter as many as three of your underwater photos here.
