February 2018 Photo Contest Winner and Review

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

WINNER: Home is where the heart is by Katie Osborne

PHOTOLINK: http://www.scubaverse.com/contestants/home-is-where-the-heart-is/

When judging any underwater photography competition, the first thing we do is ask of each image: Is it in focus? The main subject has to be pin sharp. Is it exposed correctly?

We 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 we 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 us both go wow – I wish I had taken that!

February 2018

The shortest month of the year turned out to have a whole load of great images! The February competition saw some lovely macro images and some really creative shots. Well done to all those who entered. As always, we cannot comment on every image entered, but will do our best to pick out those we like, found interesting or just wanted to talk about.

Our Favourites

Caroline

Shaun the Sheep by Jeen Snidvongs: I love these nudibranchs! They are tiny and very hard to even catch in a shot. I love the curve, the black background, the “eye” contact. My only comment is that the subject is just a bit too central in the shot.

Seashell eyes in the darkness by Raffaele Livornese: Lovely macro shot! Simple and yet very effective. The eyes can really be the key to photography, and it is so hard to show character in these molluscs. I love the texture and colour of the shell. Gorgeous.

Pygmy Pregnant by Nadia Chiesi: A lovely portrait of the diminutive pygmy seahorse. Nice depth of field. Just a shame it is not just a little turned to get both eyes looking at the camera (something I know from experience is very difficult) and the shadow is a little heavy on the right hand side. But a super pin-sharp shot.

Hairy Hunter by Pete McGee: Lovely backlit hairy frogfish. These frogfish are just about the perfect subject for back-lighting, as it really accentuates the hairs. I just wish the extended “fishing rod” had also been in focus.

Mirroring by Michal Černý: Lovely black-background shot, with the added bonus of getting a smashing reflection at the surface. To get such calm water, on a night dive, and to get this shot is fantastic.

Fresh Water Jellyfish by Michal Černý: I also really like this shot. I like the depth of field selection to have one of the jellyfish in focus and one out.

Cleaning by Walter Bassi: A super behaviour shot of an eel being cleaned by a shrimp. Lovely lighting.

Dancing Fang Blenny by Hailey Elizabeth: Smashing shot Hailey! Great black-background. Lovely eye contact.

Celestial Being by Pete McGee: Lovely shot! The sun-beams are fantastic and to catch a cuttlefish in this light is a real treat. Perhaps a bit more strobe light on the top of the cuttlefish might have worked better?

Swedish Nudi by Marie Sand: Really nice shot of a nudibranch with a black background.

Home is where the heart is by Katie Osborne: This shot tells a sad story, but with a happy twist. It is sad to see any litter in the ocean, but some things do make homes for marine life. Great behaviour shot.

Nick

Serpiola’s Eye by Diogo Sayanda: Nicely lit close-up of the critter’s eye. Black background helps to focus your view on the eye.

Freediver at the wreck by Pavol Ivanov: This image has a nice composition with apposing diagonals and a school of small fish swooping around the stern. A shame that the subject is touching the wreck and his weight belt is untidy.

Trucks by Raffaele Livornese: The subjects are well lit, albeit a bit dark in the centre, and I personally, like the fish-eye effect on the ship’s spars. Could do with a clear subject to draw the eye in.

Jump by Raffaele Livornese: This is a well thought out snooted close-up. The colours, against a black background, really stand out. The depth of field is really small and I am not sure the focus is quite on the right spot.

Crab by Rajiv Bhambri: I was really drawn to the image by the eye looking straight at the camera. The depth of field is perfect for this shot and the black background isolates the subject.

Juvenile Trunkfish by Rajiv Bhambri: This displays an alternative style of isolating the subject – by using bokeh for the background. The green eyes appear to be glowing.

Red Passion by Errico Gaetano: This is beautifully lit & composed. I can almost feel the movement of the small fish as they swoop down through the image.

Mirroring by Michal Černý: This is a lovely reflection shot on a night dive. The reflection of the colours and shape of the needlefish is wonderful.

Fresh Water Jellyfish by Michal Černý: This is a beautiful macro shot of tiny freshwater jellyfish in blackwater. The one in the background in bokeh and the overall effect is very appealing.

Cleaning by Walter Bassi: Lovely behaviour shot of a cleaner shrimp attending the dentistry of this moray. Lovely eye contact too.

Sweet Dad by Walter Bassi: This is also a lovely behaviour shot showing the male of the species mouth brooding. The depth of field is very small and whilst the eggs are all sharp, the eye of the adult looks a bit soft.

Glass Wall by Walter Bassi: Trying to capture this scene is harder than it looks. It truly looks like a wall of fish just before they turn and swoop away.

Celestial Being by Pete McGee: Great shot of a cuttlefish lit by the photographer and shards of sunlight against the blue background. From a purist point of view, the subject is a little “bullseye” (in the centre) but it is still a lovely shot.

Nudibranch by Andrea Serri: Interesting, almost abstract, take on a nudibranch. The background is all a bit messy however, and is a distraction.

Swedish Nudi by Marie Sand: I really like the angle and setting of this nudibranch. It looks like it is covered in dreadlocks and it really stands out against the black. I might have moved the camera to the left (if it was possible) so the head was not right in the centre.

Shaun the Sheep by Anne-Laure Rucquoi: This has a nice angle on “Shaun” and is a pleasing shot. It is also a tough shot, as these nudibranchs are tiny. However, with all the space in front of it, did you need to clip is rear?

Home is where the heart is by Katie Osborne: When you are diving with a macro lens and you come across a subject like this, you know you are going to get some super shots. I love the diagonal moving away from the lens which gives a 3D effect to the octopus.

Baby Seahorse by Katie Osborne: I love the way the seahorse has been isolated and yet its environment is still obvious. Lovely detail on the subject too.

After much deliberations between our two judges….

There were lots of interesting shots entered into February’s contest; we picked out many different shots from each other. Most of the shots this month seemed to be macro, too. We deliberated for quite a while! Here are the results:

Winner: Home is where the heart is by Katie Osborne

Joint Runner-Up: Mirroring by Michal Černý & Fresh Water Jellyfish by Michal Černý – as we could not decide between us which one of his shots we liked best!

Third Place: Celestial Being by Pete McGee

Congratulations to those who were placed – some really nice images here, and well done to all those that entered. We cannot wait to see what March has to offer.

Scubaverse.com’s March 2018 Underwater Photo Contest is now open! Enter as many as three of your underwater photos here.