Winner Chosen by our panel of experts:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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This year, Scubaverse.com’s underwater photography editors Nick and Caroline Robertson-Brown are joined by UK-based tour operator Scuba Travel’s resident underwater photo pro Mario Vitalini to choose a winner of our Photo of the Year award. Nick, Caroline and Mario had a tough job on their hands to pick an overall champion for 2017; the winners of the monthly contest provided 12 fantastic images to select from, including marine life big and small, wrecks, images using advanced photo techniques, and examples of animal behaviour. But after much deliberation, and in reverse order….

3^rd Place

October’s winner: Snack by ifj. Lőrincz Ferenc

PHOTOLINK: https://www.scubaverse.com/contestants/snack/

Judges Comments

Nick

Every photographer has shots of turtles, but this one gives an entirely new perspective to a much-loved sea creature. The shot has the subject isolated so that it really stands out, yet it is still shown in its environment and eating its usual food. I also love the cloud of sand beneath it, giving the whole image a sense of motion.

Caroline

This shot really stands out from the crowd because it is shot at the eye level of this gorgeous turtle. I love the greenery hanging out of it’s mouth and the puff of sand giving motion to the scene. Lovely blue background too. Well done.

Mario

I’ve shot these beasties many a time, and getting a picture in such a low angle while the animal is feeding without having sand particles all over the place is always a challenge. The only thing I would like to see is a tiny bit of additional space on the left to get a better-balanced image.

2^nd Place

January’s winner: Striped Catfish by Jack McKee

PHOTOLINK: https://www.scubaverse.com/contestants/striped-catfish/

Judges Comments

Nick

This group of striped catfish stand out beautifully against the black background and the lighting on their faces is just about perfect. It is almost as if they are all vying to be the centre of attention.

Caroline

The lighting is wonderful in this shot. The whiskers jump out and I love all the eyes looking at the camera. It is a shot you can keep coming back to and enjoy a little more each time.

Mario

Great composition and very sharp image. Love the detail of the mouth on the top fish, however the shot was slightly let down by the barb of the first catfish crossing the eye of the third one.

1^st Place

September’s winner: Little Octopus by Chun Zhou

PHOTOLINK: https://www.scubaverse.com/contestants/little-octopus-blackwater/

Judges Comments

Nick

This image is truly stunning and I wish that it was mine! The lighting is superb and captures the translucence of this immature octopus beautifully. It is a great “black-water” image and was a unanimous choice as first place from all three judges.

Caroline

This is a wonderful shot, of a subject I have not encountered before. This larval, see-through octopus is incredible and the lighting is perfect. Engaging eye contact. Striking black background. Wonderful!

Mario

A great striking shot beautifully lit. I love the transparency and the little isotope next to the tentacle ads a behavioural touch to the image.

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Congratulations from all of the Scubaverse team to our winner and runners-up. Thank you to everyone that entered in 2017. We hope to see plenty more of your images in 2018!

Chun will receive a wonderful prize of Mares diving equipment, as well as a voucher from Scuba Travel (full details of the prize can be found here).

For your chance to win the 2018 title, you simple need to enter your images each month here:

www.scubaverse.com/current-contest-photo

Good Luck!

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Scubaverse.com would like to say a big thank you to Photo of the Year’s sponsors, Mares and Scuba Travel.