Saeed Rashid wins UW category of 2017 Outdoor Photographer of the Year competition
Well-known UK underwater photographer Saeed Rashid has won the Under Exposed category of the 2017 Outdoor Photographer of the Year competition. The Under Exposed category is designed to celebrate the breathtaking photographic work that is going on underwater. From seas and oceans to rivers and lakes, the winner is the image chosen by the judges that best showcases the remarkable world beneath the surface.
The Outdoor Photographer of the Year competition is now in its seventh year. Hotly contested and packed with high-quality imagery, it is one of the world’s foremost photography competitions in this genre. Its aim is to reveal and celebrate the outstanding work of the most highly talented image makers out there and offer up a powerful insight into the landscapes, wildlife and nature of the planet, and the adventures to be found on it.
Under Exposed: Saeed Rashid (United Kingdom) – Sohal surgeonfish, Fury Shoals, Red Sea, Egypt
In the summer months, sohal surgeonfish tend to mate and lay eggs on the top of the reefs in the Red Sea. They fiercely defend their egg patch and rush upon anything that invades that area. They will often swipe their tail, which has a bony protrusion sticking out from it that can be as sharp as a surgeon’s scalpel, towards the intruder. Because of this you need to make sure that you don’t get too close as a photographer’s hands make a very easy target and often get cut.
The competition has partnered with legendary outdoor gear manufacturer Fjällräven, and the lucky Overall Winner will have the opportunity to assemble – with expert assistance – their dream collection of Fjällräven kit. He or she will receive a £3,000 Fjällräven Award to get equipment, garments and accessories to enhance their outdoor photography experience. The Runner-Up will receive a £1,000 Fjällräven Award and the Category Winners have all won £200 plus a superb Fjällräven Kaipak 38 daypack, worth £170.
The Overall Winner and Runner-Up of the competition – chosen from the category winners – will be announced live on stage at The Photography Show at the NEC, Birmingham on Saturday 17th March 2018 at 2.50pm. Photography fans can find out more and see the rest of the winners at www.opoty.co.uk.
The book Outdoor Photographer of the Year: Portfolio III will collect over 150 photos entered into the competition and be published by Ammonite Press in March, RRP £25.
