Photo / Video News & Reviews
Lundy Splash-In to be run on Facebook this year
The famous Lundy underwater photography splash-in competition is to be run as an online competition this year. Instead of a single day where a handful of divers have competed in the waters surrounding this amazing marine reserve, this year, underwater photographers will be able to enter images taken in these waters. This should increase the number of divers competing in the competition and also promote the island better.
Lundy splash-in 2016 Competition
Categories
- Mega to Macro: close-up images of marine species
- Spirit of the Marine Protected Area: portraying the Marine Protected Area and its spectacular underwater scenery, these may include shots with divers in the frame.
- Marine Abstract: be as imaginative as possible!
- Simply marine: images in their original, natural form
Rules
- All shots must be taken within Lundy’s Marine Protected Area and must not have been entered into a previous Lundy Splash In. Both underwater and surface shots are acceptable (but remember, the protected area only extends up to high water mark, so all images must be below high water mark)
- All photos must have been taken by the person entering them into the competition.
- Entries are to be posted into the ‘Lundy Splash In! photography competition 2016’ group either by the entrant or by the organisers on their behalf. For those without a Facebook account please send your images on a disk or usb stick to Warden, Lundy Island, Bideford EX39 2LY. Please do not email them to the Warden due to the limited broadband width on the island.
- The organisers reserve the right to disallow images they believe that they have been overmanipulated. Entries into the Mega to Macro, Marine Abstract and Spirit of the MPA categories can be adjusted in the following ways:
- Limited removal of backscatter – this does not include changing the background or removing elements of the original image
- Minor adjustments to contrast, brightness, saturation, tone, colour balance and temperature.
Please remember that this is a photography competition and whilst some minor manipulation is permitted, this is not a substitute for good photography.
Images for all categories including the ‘Simply marine’ category can be:
- Rotated
- Cropped slightly
- Colour, black & white or sepia
- The judging panel will review all images once all competitors have submitted their images and their decision is final. The popularity of images on the Facebook page will be taken into consideration.
- Whilst entry into the competition is free, donations to The Lundy Fund are always welcome.
A winner from each category will be chosen to go forward to be named the overall winner, who will receive a goody bag of prizes from our sponsors.
Splash In 2016/Competition Rules: In entering Splash-In the entrant accepts that their pictures may be used by The Lundy Company, The Landmark Trust or Natural England in publicity relating to the event and other activities royalty free (although the copyright will remain with the photographer). Winning pictures may be published in dive magazines, on relevant websites and in the Lundy calendar. The organisers would like to thank all sponsors for their kind donations. Please abide by Lundy’s Codes of Conduct and the Underwater Photographers Code of Conduct. Respect, Protect and ENJOY!
GOOD LUCK!
Photos: www.frogfishphotography.com
An emotive photograph showing a freediver examining the aftermath of whaling sees
Alex Dawson from Sweden named Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024. Dawson’s
photograph ‘Whale Bones’ triumphed over 6500 underwater pictures entered by underwater
photographers from around the world.
“Whale Bones was photographed in the toughest conditions,” explains chair of judging
panel Alex Mustard, “as a breath-hold diver descends below the Greenland ice sheet to bear
witness to the carcasses. The composition invites us to consider our impact on the great
creatures of this planet. Since the rise of humans, wild animals have declined by 85%. Today,
just 4% of mammals are wildlife, the remaining 96% are humans and our livestock. Our way
needs to change to find a balance with nature.”
Photo: Rafael
Fernandez Caballero
Whales dominated the winning pictures this year with Spanish photographer Rafael
Fernandez Caballero winning two categories with his revealing photos of these ocean giants:
a close up of a grey whale’s eye and an action shot of a Bryde’s whale engulfing an entire bait
ball, both taken in Magdalena Bay, Baja California, Mexico. Fernandez Caballero took ‘Grey
Whale Connection’ while drifting in a small boat, holding his camera over the side in the water
to photograph the curious whale. ‘The End Of A Baitball’ required Fernandez Caballero to dive
down and be in exactly the right place at the moment the whale lunged. “The photo shows
the high speed attack,” he said, “with the whale engulfing hundreds of kilograms of sardines
in one bite — simply unforgettable to see predation on such a scale.”
Photo: Rafael
Fernandez Caballero
Lisa Stengel from the United States was named Up & Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024 for her image of a mahi-mahi catching a sardine, in Mexico. Stengel used both a very fast shutter speed and her hearing to catch the moment. “If you listen there’s an enormous amount of sound in the ocean,” she explained. “The action was too fast to see, so I honed in on the sound of the attacks with my camera to capture this special moment.”
“It is such an exciting time in underwater photography because photographers are capturing such amazing new images, by visiting new locations and using the latest cameras,”
commented judge Alex Mustard. “Until this year I’d hardly ever see a photo of a mahi mahi,
now Lisa has photographed one hunting, action that plays out in the blink of an eye.”
The Underwater Photographer of the Year contest is based in the UK, and Jenny Stock,
was named as British Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024 for her image “Star
Attraction”, which finds beauty in species of British wildlife that are often overlooked.
Exploring the west coast of Scotland, Stock explained “in the dark green depths my torch
picked out the vivid colours of a living carpet of thousands of brittle stars, each with a
different pattern. I was happily snapping away, when I spotted this purple sea urchin and I
got really excited.”
Photo: Jenny Stock
In the same contest, Portuguese photographer, Nuno Sá, was named ‘Save Our Seas
Foundation’ Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year 2024, with his photo ‘Saving
Goliath’, taken in Portugal. Sá’s photo shows beachgoers trying to save a stranded sperm
whale. The picture gives us hope that people do care and want to help the oceans, but also
warns us that bigger changes are needed. “The whale had been struck by a ship and its fate
was sealed,” explains Sá. “An estimated 20,000 whales are killed every year, and many more
injured, after being struck by ships-and few people even realise that it happens.”
Photo: Nuno Sá
More winning images can be found at www.underwaterphotographeroftheyear.com.
About Underwater Photographer of the Year
Underwater Photographer of the Year is an annual competition, based in the UK, that celebrates photography beneath the surface of the ocean, lakes, rivers and even swimming pools, and attracts entries from all around the world. The contest has 13 categories, testing photographers with themes such as Macro, Wide Angle, Behaviour and Wreck photography, as well as four categories for photos taken specifically in British waters. The winners were announced in an award ceremony in Mayfair, London, hosted by The Crown Estate. This year’s UPY judges were experienced underwater photographers Peter Rowlands, Tobias Friedrich and Dr Alexander Mustard MBE.
Header image: Underwater Photographer of the Year 2024 winner Alex Dawson
The winners of the prestigious World Shootout 2023 underwater photography competition were announced at this year’s BOOT Show, captivating audiences at the world’s largest diving and water sports exhibition in Dusseldorf, Germany. Hundreds of photographers from 54 countries competed across nine categories, pushing the boundaries of creativity and technical skill.
Grand Prize Winners
- Picture of the Year: Spanish photographer Eduardo Acevedo “secured” the top Honor with the prestigious prize the “boot Dusseldorf Director’s Prize, earning an Andromeda statuette and a €2,000 cash prize.
- Best 5 Images Portfolio: Luc Rooman from Belgium triumphed in this category, winning a dream 4-week diving trip for two to Papua New Guinea, valued at $18,900.
- Amateur Photographer: Alexandra Ceurvorst from the USA impressed the judges with her talent, taking home the 1,000 € cash prize award.
Celebrating Diversity and Innovation
This year’s competition saw 11,680 entries from 964 photographers, showcasing a remarkable spectrum of skills and perspectives. From the intricate wonders of Macro photography to the beauty of “Black Water”, the “Underwater Fashion” category added a touch of artistry and innovation, while the ever-important ” Environmental & Conservation” category served as a powerful reminder of the need to protect these fragile ecosystems.
Looking Ahead: AI and Ocean Conservation
World Shootout founder and producer David Pilosof unveiled an exciting addition for the 2024 competition: this year the Environmental category will be focusing on the impact of plastic on our oceans and future.
This category will embrace the potential of AI or other editing software as a tool to amplify the conservation message.
Entrants will submit campaigns of three original underwater photographs dealing with plastic pollution, along with their final AI assistance processing. This innovative approach encourages artistic expression while raising awareness about a critical environmental issue.
Explore the Stunning Collection
Discover the complete album of competition entries by clicking here.
For Low-resolution photos of finalist entries in eight categories, click here.
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