August 2022 Photo Contest Winner and Review
WINNER CHOSEN AND REVIEW BY SCUBAVERSE.COM’S UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR NICK ROBERTSON-BROWN
WINNER: Blue world by Miguel Ramirez
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!
Blue world by Miguel Ramirez: This is lovely. The unusual blue bubble anemone shot so that the whole environment is is in frame with the subject nemo making a lovely turn. Really striking.
2 seahorses by Min seok Jeon: A lovely portrait of two seahorses. Their eyes perfectly in focus and standing out due to the black background.
California Kelp by Jack Der: Lovely image. Artistic, simple yet stunning composition. Just gorgeous.
La famille ( canal d’hossegor ) by Yannick Rondeau: This image really suits a conversion into black and white. Lovely eye contact with the central subject. You can feel the movement and drama.
Night South Fakarava by arnaud.guillebert: Super night dive scene. I love the position and turn of the main shark on the reef. The additional sharks in the background are a real bonus too.
Waving Hello by Bill Passmore: Lovely simple composition of these feather worms. But this image stands out and shows off the beauty of sometimes overlooked underwater subjects.
Something is in my hair by Jack Der: Wonderful colours and texture in this image, then the tiny isopod as the main subject makes this a stand out image. Love it.
Waterfall of Light by Christian Horras: Wonderful wide angle scene with dramatic cathedral lighting and a diver to give scale. Bravo!
Living in a Bed of Roses by Sofia Tenggrono: Really sumptuous portrait of a pigmy seahorse. Great focus and lighting.
After much deliberation by our judge….
The results
Winner: Blue world by Miguel Ramirez
Runner-Up: Something is in my hair by Jack Der
Third: Night South Fakarava by arnaud.guillebert
Highly Commended: California Kelp by Jack Der; La famille ( canal d’hossegor ) by Yannick Rondeau; Living in a Bed of Roses by Sofia Tenggrono
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 2022 Underwater Photo Contest is now open! Enter as many as three of your underwater photos here.
