Photo / Video News & Reviews
Olympus announce collaboration with SEA LIFE Trust to launch new TG-6 camera
With the Tough TG-6, Olympus announces collaboration with SEA LIFE Trust as their official imaging partner.
The Tough products are known for their reliability in all weather conditions, underwater use, drop shocks and crushing weights.
To promote underwater photography and family friendly features Olympus visited SEA LIFE Brighton to announce the partnership and some exciting news.
Little Grey and Little White
Sea Life Trust is a global charity dedicated to protecting the world’s oceans and marine life. They own and operate marine animal sanctuaries, run conservation campaigns and fund projects and education programs.
Little Grey and Little White are two beluga whales that embarked on a journey of over 6000 miles from Shanghai to the world’s first beluga whale sanctuary in Iceland this spring.
To document this momentous feat, Olympus wildlife Ambassador, Tesni Ward followed their journey capturing images of the pair to share with the world.
Andy Bool, Head of SEA LIFE Trust, said: “We are delighted that Olympus continues to be our official photographic partner on this groundbreaking project to create the world’s first Beluga whale sanctuary. Capturing such an important and historic moment like this is critical to our charity but also raising global awareness for the wider issue of Cetaceans in captivity. The photos that Tesni Ward (the Olympus Ambassador) has been taking will play a huge part in us sharing Little Grey and Little Whites story to the world. We’d like to thank Olympus for their continued generosity as every purchase of the new Olympus TG-6 camera will see £5 going directly back to the SEA LIFE Trust, helping us ensure we can provide the very best future for Little Grey and Little White in their new sea-water sanctuary home.”
Olympus will launch an exhibition of the project at their central London gallery (After Nyne) from 11 – 20 December 2019. Further details of exhibitions and events are available via www.olympus-imagespace.co.uk.
‘We hope that Tesni’s photographic project tells this unique and emotional story so that others can experience the journey with them. We are thrilled that Little Grey and Little White are settling well into their new home and hope that the exhibition will continue to raise awareness of the fantastic work of the Sea Life Trust. Everyone is welcome to see the exhibition which will also feature a sculpture by Val Hunt made from plastic waste collected during the global beach clean’. Georgina Pavelin, Olympus Marketing Manager
Global Beach Clean
SEA LIFE launched a 24-hour beach clean, on 8th June 2019, which started at sunrise in New Zealand and ended at sunset in California and hosted more than 33 different SEA LIFE attractions from Sydney, Scheveningen through to Scarborough.
Participants were asked to document items collected to raise awareness of the waste that is damaging our waters and beaches. Photos were posted on social media with #24HourGlobalBeachClean and Olympus awarded the winner with a TG-6.
These pictures will be used as a great reference point for what waste is found where, documenting these issues is vital in spreading the word, we are at a critical point and it is imperative that we all take responsibility and act now to protect our oceans.
Photography can help in so many ways, from underwater documentation of marine conditions and wildlife, to telling a visual story of the result of plastic pollution – all the way through to the positive actions people can take to help make the change.
It is estimated that 8 million tons of plastic waste enter the world’s oceans each year and that by 2050, the oceans could have more plastic than fish.
It’s not too late to get involved, individually or gather a group and enjoy a beach walk collecting and disposing of rubbish along the way. For further information about what you can do contact help@sealifetrust.com
Kids go free at Sea Life
The Tough range is ideal for families and encouraging youngsters to capture photography without the worry of damage to the camera. Drop proof, crush proof, freeze proof and waterproof; users can get creative in all elements, whether a family beach holiday or playing in the snow.
For full details of the kids go free offer visit: https://www.visitsealife.com/olympus/
Tough TG-6
The Tough TG-6 was designed to be a handy, reliable partner that is ready for the rougher parts of photographic life: It is waterproof to a depth of 15m, dustproof, shockproof to 2.1m, crushproof up to 100kg, freezeproof to -10°C, and features a dual-pane protective glass construction for excellent anti-fogging performance. Combined with the PT-059 underwater casing images and videos can be captured up to depths of 45 metres below the surface. The renowned Olympus field sensor system makes it possible to record log data such as location, altitude/depth as well as air/water temperature while capturing still images or movies.
For more information please visit the tough website by clicking here.
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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