January 2022 Photo Contest Winner and Review
WINNER CHOSEN AND REVIEW BY SCUBAVERSE.COM’S UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR NICK ROBERTSON-BROWN
WINNER: Green Moray Coming Out of the Deep by Patricia Dusman
What a start to 2022. It is going to be another incredible year for stunning 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!
Thresher Shark by MichaelG: I love these sharks! What a great expression on it’s face as it takes a side on look at the photographer. Great that you go it all in shot to show off that amazing tail.
Tompot Portrait by MichaelG: What a lovely portrait of this charismatic fish. Wonderful detail. The catch light in the eye really sets it off.
Lion by Christian Horras: An innovative image of a well photographed subject. The magic tube really works on this image. Subtle colours and good eye contact.
Fencing Arrow Crabs in Their Cave by Patricia Dusman: I love the interaction between the two arrow crabs in this image, showing them going about their daily lives in their natural environment.
Green Moray Coming Out of the Deep by Patricia Dusman: Wonderful engagement with the green moray. The blue eyes set against the green body and the black background make this jump out from my screen. Super shot.
French Kiss? by Celyn Yong: Ha! Love the timing of this shot with the Flambouyant Cuttlefish “sticking its tongue out”
Garibaldi by Jack Der: This is a lovely image. It takes me back to some wonderful dives in California. The orange of the Garibaldi perfectly complimented by the green kelp. The sun rays really made this image stand out.
White tip reef shark by Jack Der: Lovely shark portrait. You got down onto the same level as the shark and the detail is great.
Mantis in a Swirl by Klaus Stiefel: I love the feeling of movement with the swirl of the shell. Good use of depth of field. Great to have the eyes of the mantis shrimp peeking out.
Leopard´s symmetry by Maria Rodriguez-Salinas: Lovely image of the two sharks. They look like they are performing a dance for you. This image really shows off their pattern well. Just a shame you did not get the full tail in shot of both sharks.
Eye of a Pike by Matej Miskovic: A striking pike portrait with a love depth of field so that eye stands out.
Golden mom by Miguel Ramirez: So much detail in this image. You can keep looking at it and find more and more to see. The lighting is very well done. To catch the highlights of the pattern, along with the eggs inside. The eyes are pin sharp.
tiburones by carlos javier maraver albenca: I like the angle and the shape these two sharks make in the monochrome image.
Duo ! by claude lespagne: What strange companions to be free swimming like this. It is an eye-catching image.
Jellyfish, Bali by Juergen H. Gangoly: What made me pick out this shot were the fish swimming around the edge of the jellyfish. Great behaviour shot. Nice backlighting too.
La triplettes by Yannick Rondeau: This looks great in black and white. It almost looks more like a painting than a photograph. The patterns really stand out. Bravo.
The World of Lilies by Suliman A.: This image really works. The water lilies from below looking up out of Snell’s Window. A miniature world.
Free Dolphins by Giacomo Antonio Rossi: I love what you said in the description and I could not agree more – dolphins should be wild and free. and what an image of your encounter this is, with the three all in different positions, but all clearly wanting to interact with you. Lovely.
After much deliberation by our judge….
The results
Winner: Green Moray Coming Out of the Deep by Patricia Dusman
Joint Runner-up: Tompot Portrait by MichaelG & La triplettes by Yannick Rondeau
Highly Commended: Free Dolphins by Giacomo Antonio Rossi & Golden mom by Miguel Ramirez
Congratulations to those who were placed – there were a number of excellent images, and well done to all those that entered.
Scubaverse.com’s February 2022 Underwater Photo Contest is now open! Enter as many as three of your underwater photos here.
