WINNER CHOSEN AND REVIEW BY SCUBAVERSE.COM’S UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR NICK ROBERTSON-BROWN

WINNER: Basket star in the pure darkness by Arnaud Guillebert

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!

Three squid by Min seok Jeon: I love squid and this shot with three against a black background really stands out. I love the colours and shapes they create as they stretch across the frame.

Hippocampus guttulatus (Cuvier, 1829) by Marco Spoto: What a lovely scene. Great that you did not disturb the worm on taking this shot. I would have liked to have seen the subject isolated more though, losing the backscatter and seabed which can distact the eye.

Turtle in its coral garden by Claude Lespagne: What I like about this image is the snorkeler at the surface looking down on the scene. It shows that you do not have to be a diver to enjoy a stunning Red Sea scene like this one.

Ghost Goby by MichaelG: I love the colours, the expression on the goby’s face and most of all the texture of the coral. Lovely use of depth of field.

Hedgehog by Sofia Tenggrono: Great use of a snoot. You have lit up just enough of the environment to show us where this nudibranch lives, but still have highlighted the subject really well. The complimentary colours are lovely.

yellow cutie by Cedric Peneau: Lovely framing of a really cute little fish. The colours jump out from my screen.

REFLET by DIDIER PASQUINI: I like the motion in the tail and the reflection in this image of the biggest fish in the sea. I always like a bit more space in front of a fish when possible – but I know this will have been hard with a big Whale Shark.

Basket star in the pure darkness by arnaud.guillebert: This is more like a fine art image than the usual underwater imagery you see. Lovely lighting showing off the texture of this basket star.

After much deliberation by our judge….

The results

Winner: Basket star in the pure darkness by arnaud.guillebert

Runner-Up: yellow cutie by Cedric Peneau

Third: Ghost Goby by MichaelG

Highly Commended: Three squid by Min seok Jeon

Congratulations to those who were placed – there were a number of excellent images, and well done to all those that entered.

Scubaverse.com’s January 2023 Underwater Photo Contest is now open! Enter as many as three of your underwater photos here.

WINNER CHOSEN AND REVIEW BY SCUBAVERSE.COM’S UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY EDITOR NICK ROBERTSON-BROWN

WINNER: Odontaspis ferox by Claude Lespagne

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!

We are family! by Cedric Peneau: A wonderful image of a group of Sperm Whales at the surface. There is so much going on, with the calf looking to feed and the surface of the water rippling above this incredible scene. This is a shot that really makes me wish I had been there.

Pseudoceros bifurcus (10mm) by arnaud.guillebert: This jumps out from the screen when looking at the competition images this month. The texture of the coral, simple subject and use of depth of field, as well as the blue against a dull brown – there is lots to like. I am just not 100% sure the subject is in sharp focus.

Odontaspis ferox by Claude Lespagne: A lovely portrait of this shark. A toothy grin gives it character. Just really stands out.

Tongue Tied by Sofia Tenggrono: It is always a bit sad to see these parasites on the tongue of a charismatic clownfish. This is a lovely example though with some really engaging lighting to highlight the subject.

Guarding the Future by Sofia Tenggrono: An excellent portrait. The use of a snoot really isolates the subject and then we have the added bonus of the parenting behaviour as it guards it eggs. Super eye contact. Lovely image.

Fairy Dust by Bill Passmore: Lovely colourful portrait of this beautiful fish. Pin shark – which is not easy with the rapid subjects!  The colours really stand out against the black background. I just wish you had got separation and space between the tail and the reef.

WILD MARINE ENCOUNTERS by DIDIER PASQUINI: What a lovely moment to capture. I love the one of the group as turned to take a look at you before swimming off with the pod into the blue.

After much deliberation by our judge….

The results

Winner: Odontaspis ferox by Claude Lespagne

Runner-Up: We are family! by Cedric Peneau

Third: Guarding the Future 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 November 2022 Underwater Photo Contest is now open! Enter as many as three of your underwater photos here.