May 2021 Photo Contest Winner and Review

WINNER CHOSEN AND REVIEW BY SCUBAVERSE.COM’S UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR NICK ROBERTSON-BROWN

WINNER: Tubes in Black and White by Bill Passmore

Another month filled with incredible images, both macro and wide angle, from all around the world. This was the hardest month in 2021 to judge so far!

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:

Orcas encounter by Giacomo Antonio Rossi: Wow! What an experience! I wish I had been there in the water with you as this is one of my dreams… the image is lovely with both a side on orca and one looking right at the camera. The image has a dream-like quality.

Pike in the Sky by Matej Miskovic: What a lovely image. Beautiful pattern on the pike and the view of the trees through Snell’s Window makes the image look like a water-colour painting.

Looking Glass by Charlotte Elliott: The reflection really makes this images and you have done it perfectly. Super shark shot – well done.

Black NudiBranch by Nakita Willemse: You can almost feel how velvet-like this nudibranch would feel (not that I am suggesting you should stroke it). A nice pose and vibrant background.

Grace by Suliman A: A striking black and white shot of a turtle. It is always difficult shooting into the sun and getting a good result.

Under the Pier by Raffaele: I love diving and snorkeling piers, there is always so much life to be seen, usually in shallow water. This image really shows that off, and with a sun-burst through the structure too.

Look in to your camera by Raffaele: I love the expression on this fish’s face! This must have been difficult to capture, but you have nailed the focus on the eyes of your subject just as it turned to look at the camera – well done.

Morwong Portrait by MichaelG: What I like about this fish portrait is the catch-lighting in the eye. The black background makes the subject really jump out of the shot and the super-close positioning of the subject works too.

Caribbean Reef Octopus by MichaelG: What a striking image of an octopus. I am not sure I have seen one like it. Great use of black and white as it makes the details of the pattern stand out. Have you tried spinning it through 180 degrees?

I`ve got my eyes on you! by Daniel Halmi: Lovely eye-contact. It is always hard to get the eyes of these pipefish in focus and you have done just that. Great use of Depth of Field to blur the background.

Anemone Shrimp by Peg Mosch: The detail in this image if wonderful. Very sharp.

Alien by Sylvain Corbel: This image really jumps out at the viewer. The eyes of the subject are incredible to look at. The lighting is very well done indeed. I love this.

The new generation of anemone fish by Oksana Maksymova: Ha – they look like Minions! What a brilliant macro shot this is. Silvery subjects can be hard to light well, but you have done so perfectly.

Trinchesia sp. by Oksana Maksymova: This is a beautiful image of a nudibranch. The depth of field is perfect to get the subject in focus and the background blurred. The detail on the substrate is stunning. The subtle colours are simply lovely. Bravo.

Shimmer by Max Gillespie: Normally I would want the subject to be swimming towards the camera, but the sun rays, sea grass and blue water with the movement of the shark swimming through really works.

Cyerce bourbonica by Moby Duarte: Super detail on this nudibranch image. What makes it stand out though is the curving line of the grass blade it is on and the fact it is just dangling over the edge. The lighting and black background are extremely well done.

Hanging around by D. Loll: Love the pose this turtle is making, right in front of the camera. I also like that you can see the surface ripples in the top of the image.

Tubes in Black and White by Bill Passmore: We have had a few black and white entries this month, but this is my favourite of them. Subtle and beautiful, this just shows that getting the lighting right and working on a simple subject can provide stunning results.

Seahorse by Jan Leya: A simple but lovely seahorse portrait. The yellow against a dark blue background is very pleasing.

Dugong by Severin Pöhlmann. What I like about this shot is the movement of the sand disturbed by the Dugong as it swims up towards the surface. Everyone who looks at this image will realize how great it would be to be there in that moment.

3’s a crowd by Matthew Pearson: It is always special to capture a specific behaviour in an image. The display pose by the central cuttlefish makes this shot.

Fluorescent Spider Crab by Alasdair O’Dell: Wow! I had no idea that spider crabs reacted like this under UV lights. Stunning image and unusual as well. It really helps that the crab is looking right into the camera lens too. Well done.

Mother’s love by SanghoonLee: Super image of an octopus looking after eggs. The framing of the image is perfect.

After much deliberation by our judge….

The results

Winner: Tubes in Black and White by Bill Passmore

Runner-up: Orcas encounter by Giacomo Antonio Rossi

Third Place: The new generation of anemone fish by Oksana Maksymova

Highly Commended: Alien by Sylvain Corbel and Pike in the Sky by Matej Miskovic

Congratulations to those who were placed – there were a number of excellent images, and well done to all those that entered.

Scubaverse.com’s June 2021 Underwater Photo Contest is now open! Enter as many as three of your underwater photos here.