November 2021 Photo Contest Winner and Review
WINNER CHOSEN AND REVIEW BY SCUBAVERSE.COM’S UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR NICK ROBERTSON-BROWN
WINNER: New Generation by sagi maayan
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:
A future life by Raffaele: Simple yet stunning. This mermaids purse stands out against the deep blue background and is beautifully framed by the purple coral.
The nightrider by Raffaele: Another stunning image, this time from a black water dive. Pin sharp eye, great subject, super depth of field and really well framed. Bravo.
Reflection by Giacomo Antonio Rossi: Great Eye contact and the bonus of a reflection of this gorgeous creature too.
hunting Feast! by Giacomo Antonio Rossi: Wow! I have never seen a scene like this with so many marlin in shot – and in such clear water. The image makes me feel like I was there and I wish I was!
new generation by sagi maayan: The portrait with the eggs in the mouth is wonderful and then the unusual technique to get this image just adds to the overall effect. The orange against the black background really makes this image pop.
Catch me if you can ! by Pascal Aubry: I like the head on view of the anemonefish looking straight at the camera and the fact that the anemone is covering half of the subject’s face works well.
silent deep by Christian Zink: Of the three model images entered this is my favourite because it has real atmosphere too. You can feel the drama.
freshwater sponge by Hans Joachim Kruger: I love that you can see the forest above through Snell’s Window. The sunlight rays add to the atmosphere of this shot.
Spanish Shawl by Jack Der: An almost abstract image of a gorgeous nudibranch. The colours look great against the black background.
Salp by FATES Yacine: Really nice image of Salp. I think the composition is just right, curling out from the bottom left corner.
Scorpion Eyes by Juan Leon: While the subject is quite a simple portrait shot, what really makes this image stand out is the environment which is captured perfectly.
Working in the coral nursery by Patric Lengacher: a good story-telling image of a conservationist at work.
Sunny Balcony by Leo Lorenzo: A lovely double exposure image of a blenny looking up at the dappled sunlight.
Under the kitchen by Girerd: I wish at least one of the sharks had been heading more towards the camera, but I just love the surface of the water in this shot.
Nudis by David Garcia Padin: Super patterns in the shot both from the nudibranch and the bryazoan it is feeding on.
Yin and Yang by Teva: Lovely composition and position of the sharks. I am just not sure black and white suits this image as the black tips of the sharks get lost in the black background.
Face of the Ocean by Ross McLaren: I love that this Firework Anemone has a face. I dive Loch Long quite regularly and have never seen one like this. Made me smile.
Summer lamb by ming hui chen: Stunning detail in this image of what is a tiny subject.
Bryozoan goby (Sueviota bryozophila) by Oksana Maksymova: This is just stunning. Bravo with the post-processing that makes this stand out from the crowd.
After much deliberation by our judge….
The results
Winner: New Generation by sagi maayan
Runner-up: Sunny Balcony by Leo Lorenzo
Third Place: Silent Deep by Christian Zink
Highly Commended: Bryozoan goby (Sueviota bryozophila) by Oksana Maksymova and The nightrider by Raffaele
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 2021 Underwater Photo Contest is now open! Enter as many as three of your underwater photos here.
