Winners - Underwater Photography Contests
August 2021 Photo Contest Winner and Review
WINNER CHOSEN AND REVIEW BY SCUBAVERSE.COM’S UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR NICK ROBERTSON-BROWN
WINNER: Striped Marlin by Giacomo Antonio Rossi
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:
River by Miroslav Behúň: What a lovely scene! Perfect focus & exposure both above and below the water.
Beach Party by Elaine Brett: I love these shots of anemonefish eggs and the title is perfect. Lovely bokeh.
Transfixed by the beauty of the cave by Tom St George: Stunning! What an amazing place and the image, with the backlit diver, transports the viewer there. Perfect lighting.
Gigantic Encounter by Claudia Weber-Gebert: There is something about the huge whaleshark tails and the de-saturated image that makes this stand out from the crowd.
The Fisherman and the Mermaid by Claudia Weber-Gebert: Really unusual and eye-catching image. Split shot can be challenging but in this image the focus and lighting both above and below are spot-on. I love the story behind the image too.
Nudibranch by Claude Lespagne: Lovely colours and texture in this nudibranch image.
Orange bubble anemone by Claude Lespagne: Simple yet striking image of this anemone.
Teeth by Giacomo Antonio Rossi: Well done lighting this so well. It is hard with so many silvery fish to get this right and your main subject stands out perfectly without being over-exposed.
Striped Marlin by Giacomo Antonio Rossi: Stunning image. The light is epic and the moment captured simply breath-taking.
Sargassumfish Reflection by MichaelG: Great subject, super reflection, bravo!
Spinecheek by MichaelG: Lovely eye-contact, the lighting on the anemone is just right.
The Muppet by Raffaele: Such a difficult subject to photograph in challenging conditions – so well done. The eyes are perfectly in focus and the detail is incredible.
Cowrie (Diminovula margarita) by Oksana Maksymova: Simple yet stunning. Sometimes it is all about nailing the subject before you and Oksana has done this here with the lighting and depth of field.
Anemone with inhabitant by Jan Leya: The two anemonefish looking out over the reef from the safety of their host anemone, with the surface sparking above them – just stunning!
Crystal! by divejackdive: Beautiful subject, along with a few surprise guests. Black background makes them really stand out.
These eyes …….. by Bill Passmore: Lovely portrait shot. It is always great if you can get down to the same level as your subject, but this can be hard to do on sand dwelling critters. Great eye-contact.
Diver in the Water lilies by Markus Schmidt: Another super split-shot with interest both above and below the water.
Pike in the Water lilies by Markus Schmidt: This is lovely. Super to see the fish in its environment and to get the lighting right here, waiting for this fish to move into the right position shows the skill of the photographer.
After much deliberation by our judge….
The results
Winner: Striped Marlin by Giacomo Antonio Rossi
Runner-up: The Fisherman and the Mermaid by Claudia Weber-Gebert
Third Place: Transfixed by the beauty of the cave by Tom St George
Highly Commended: Sargassumfish Reflection by MichaelG, Teeth by Giacomo Antonio Rossi & Pike in the Water lilies by Markus Schmidt
Congratulations to those who were placed – there were a number of excellent images, and well done to all those that entered.
Scubaverse.com’s September 2021 Underwater Photo Contest is now open! Enter as many as three of your underwater photos here.
Winners - Underwater Photography Contests
December 2022 Photo Contest Winner and Review
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.
Winners - Underwater Photography Contests
November 2022 Photo Contest Winner and Review
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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