September 2021 Photo Contest Winner and Review
WINNER CHOSEN AND REVIEW BY SCUBAVERSE.COM’S UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR NICK ROBERTSON-BROWN
WINNER: Under the sun by Claude Lespagne
Another month filled with incredible images, both macro and wide angle, from all around the world. So many great images to go through!
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:
Manta Rays’ dance in the blue of the Indian Ocean by Oksana Maksymova: What a gorgeous image and moment to capture. The movement of the mantas, with one flipped over onto its back, the surface ripples… just lovely!
Don’t Stop by StefanoC: The blue and yellow really compliment each other and I like the feel of motion you get as the fish swim by.
Come fly with me by Giacomo Antonio Rossi: You rarely see these aggregations of mobular swimming towards the photographer. This is really lovely to see and the images makes me feel like I was there – I wish I had been!
Ghosts in the darkness by Jacob Guy: The black background and the pin shark focus on the eye make this image stand out from the crowd.
Death trap by Nuno Rodrigues: A sad image but one that tells an important story and we should all be on the look out for images that will help people understand the plight of marine life.
前鰭吻鮋(Rhinopias frondosa) by Cheng wu chung: An eye-catching image of a stunning subject.
Her Majesty by Marianne Paz Labrador: I love the four sponges supporting the scorpionfish, one at each corner. A good head-on portrait.
Under Jetty by Khairom Mustaqim: A dream-like quality to this image with the fish swirling around the pier leg with dappled light at the surface. I would have cropped a little of the dark, unlit bit of the bottom of the image I think.
Algae-fest by Suli: This is a really striking shot of a marine igauna eating. I love that the spines on its back stand out against the blue background of the water. The fact it is facing in the photographers direction is a real bonus too.
Trigger Happy by MichaelG: Of ever there was an image that made you back away slowly from your screen this is it! This is a wonderful portrait of a Titan Triggerfish. Bravo!
Goniobranchus fidelis x2 by divejackdive: Super composition with both subjects in close proximity but facing in opposite directions. The subjects have been well isolated using a black background.
Octocoral Color Explosion by Bill Passmore: The colours on this jump out at the viewer. A simple subject but stunning one the less.
Cowfish in the dark by Daniel Halmi: A beautiful portrait of a cowfish. Stunning lighting makes this jump out.
Under the sun by claude lespagne: Well done in getting all the aspects of this image to work. The fish is looking right at you and we can see both eyes, the sun on the surface of the water is gorgeous and the lighting on the anemone is just right. Made me smile.
After much deliberation by our judge….
The results
Winner: Under the sun by Claude Lespagne
Runner-up: Algae-fest by Suli
Third Place: Come fly with me by Giacomo Antonio Rossi
Highly Commended: Trigger Happy by MichaelG and Manta Rays’ dance in the blue of the Indian Ocean by Oksana Maksymova
Congratulations to those who were placed – there were a number of excellent images, and well done to all those that entered.
Scubaverse.com’s October 2021 Underwater Photo Contest is now open! Enter as many as three of your underwater photos here.
