September 2022 Photo Contest Winner and Review
WINNER CHOSEN AND REVIEW BY SCUBAVERSE.COM’S UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR NICK ROBERTSON-BROWN
WINNER: A Nightmare on Elm Street by Sofia Tenggrono
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!
Squid by Min seok Jeon: Wonderful creatures that make for an excellent photographic subject. I like the small secion of reef included to give it context.
Follow me! by Matej Miskovic: This image has a lovely feel of motion with the fish following the ray in midwater. I like that you have caught the ray from an angle that shows off both the top and underside.
Cousins by Cedric Peneau: It must have taken a bit of patience to get this shot of both the scorpionfish and lionfish perfectly positioned. Well done.
Grouper under the sun! by Claude Lespagne: What a lovely portrait of the grumpy fish that are full of character. You handling of your lighting is to be applauded.
Sea Flower by DIDIER PASQUINI: This image really caught my eye. The orange against the black really pops. The lighting is lovely and the anemone looks like it is glowing.
Paparazzi by Charly Clerisse: A lovely moment to capture, as another photographer takes photos of this rare turtle. The main subject is perfectly in focus and has lovely eye contact.
Yellow tripterygium striking a pose by Bruno Labins: A lovely portrait. I like the pose your fish is holding and I especially like that the viewer gets a feel for the environment too.
A Nightmare on Elm Street by Sofia Tenggrono: Super lighting on this charismatic subject. Your use of a snoot means that the subject pops out and what might have been a messy background has been isolated. Full of character in the face of the subject too.
Murènes Leopard by Faure Marie: These eels make perfect subjects to shoot in black and white. Amazing patterns, great eye contact and an open mouth all help this stand out.
After much deliberation by our judge….
The results
Winner: A Nightmare on Elm Street by Sofia Tenggrono
Runner-Up: Sea Flower by DIDIER PASQUINI
Third: Paparazzi by Charly Clerisse
Highly Commended: Grouper under the sun! by Claude Lespagne
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 2022 Underwater Photo Contest is now open! Enter as many as three of your underwater photos here.
