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Incredible ​Winners​ ​of​ Scuba​ ​Diving​ ​Magazine’s​ Underwater ​Photo​ Contest 2018


3rd Place Conceptual by Christian Vizl / Scuba Diving Magazine.
“The model is a champion freediver from Chile; the way she moves underwater is mesmerizing. This image was taken at midday, when the sun rays at the Pit cenote are best. There were many challenges — the first was to get the angle of the rays to create the illusion of entering a magical world. Then the model had to approach the surface very slowly (and I had to hold my breath) so we did not disturb the mirror effect. I used a relatively high shutter speed to capture the fine details of the rays.”

The winners of the annual Through​ ​Your​ ​Lens​ Underwater ​Photo​ Contest have just been announced, revealing extraordinary moments from ocean life. Developed​ ​and​ ​produced​ ​by Scuba Diving Magazine, the competition is now in it’s 14th year, and drew more than 2,100 incredible entries from across the globe. The 2018 winners were chosen from four categories—Wide-Angle, Macro, Conceptual, and Compact Camera, collectively showcasing a wide variety of underwater photography skills and styles.

The overall Grand Prize Winner went to Rodney Bursie for his spectacular image of a giant whale leaping across the ocean surface. The photographer reveals, “I hope the image shares with others my take on the mystical world I find myself in each time I dip below the surface.” Bursie won $1,000 in cash and a liveaboard trip with Aggressor.

In the Compact Camera category, Jamie Hall won 1st place for his up-close and personal shot of a terrifying moray eel lurking in a dark lagoon. For 1st prize in the Conceptual category, photographer Conor Culver created a new “home” for a posing coconut octopus, while Cai Songda won 1st prize in the Macro category with an incredible image of a vibrant blanket octopus. And finally, the Wide Angle top spot was awarded to Alex Dawson for his image of a submerged M42 Duster anti-aircraft tank that sunk in 1999 close to shore just north of Tala Bay, Jordan.

Entries for next year’s underwater photography contest can be submitted from November 1st, 2018 until May 31st, 2019. All skill levels are encouraged to enter, so why not grab your camera and diving gear, and delve beneath the big blue?

The winners of the Scuba Diving Magazine​ Underwater ​Photo​ Contest have just been announced.

Underwater ​Photography Contest 2018 Winners Scuba​ ​Diving​ ​Magazine

Grand Prize Winner by Rodney Bursie / Scuba Diving Magazine.
“After spending an entire day searching for whales, our boat was gifted with a magical encounter with a curious and interactive mother and calf. As the mother hovered at 30 feet, her inquisitive calf would make its way to the surface to breathe, coming in close to inspect each of us. Some of my favorite photos of marine life are shot from behind; here I attempted to create a unique perspective by flipping the image upside down so the whale appears to be floating just above the surface in full breach. Storytelling isn’t always about the reality of what was seen — I hope the image shares with others my take on the mystical world I find myself in each time I dip below the surface.”

The spectacular images reveal extraordinary moments from ocean life.

Underwater ​Photography Contest 2018 Winners Scuba​ ​Diving​ ​Magazine

1st Place Compact Camera by Jamie Hall / Scuba Diving Magazine.
“At a dive site called South Lagoon, I noticed a rock-and-coral formation in a sandy area. As I peered into a hole in the middle, I saw one of the largest and most ­curious giant moray eels (Gymnothorax javanicus) I had ever come across. I moved in cautiously; as I did, the moray stared straight into my lens, not breaking contact for a moment. I was anxious not to stress the animal, so I took time to slowly draw closer. I clicked a few shots as the eel continued to stare and was over the moon when I viewed the image.”

Underwater ​Photography Contest 2018 Winners Scuba​ ​Diving​ ​Magazine

1st Place Macro by Cai Songda / Scuba Diving Magazine.
“This shot reminds me how a ­seemingly boring night dive became one of my most memorable ones. Ascending from nearly 100 feet with nothing to show, I was doing my safety stop when I spotted this ­blanket octopus. At the time, it amazed me that all the necessary elements for a wonderful shot seemed to come together: Colors were vibrant, the reflections alluring, and the octopus very cooperative, as if striking a pose.”

Underwater ​Photography Contest 2018 Winners Scuba​ ​Diving​ ​Magazine

1st Place Conceptual by Conor Culver / Scuba Diving Magazine.
“I came across this coconut octopus while muck diving; the creature perfectly posed, turning deep red and wrapping its tentacles up symmetrically. Ultimately I would create a “home” for it with a small bottle I found diving the USS Baja California off Naples, Florida, to reference how these creatures are often seen: in our disregarded trash.”

Underwater ​Photography Contest 2018 Winners Scuba​ ​Diving​ ​Magazine

1st Place Wide Angle by Alex Dawson / Scuba Diving Magazine.
“In 1999, the Jordanian Royal Ecological Society sank an M42 Duster anti-aircraft tank close to shore just north of Tala Bay, a perfect snorkel and dive attraction. The wreck became home to many inhabitants of the reef shortly after its sinking — maximum depth at high tide is only 20 feet. I always work with off-camera lighting because I think it gives a better depth to images than using on-camera strobes.”

Underwater ​Photography Contest 2018 Winners Scuba​ ​Diving​ ​Magazine

2nd Place Conceptual by Lucie Drlikova/ Scuba Diving Magazine.
“This was photographed in Prague in a 26-foot-deep swimming pool covered by a very big piece of gray fabric. The image is titled “What Matters Most Is How You See Yourself.” It does not matter what other people think; most important is what you think, how you see yourself. I used the water’s surface as a mirror for the reflection, and turned the image by 90 degrees to create the effect of a woman in front of a mirror.”

Underwater ​Photography Contest 2018 Winners Scuba​ ​Diving​ ​Magazine

2nd Place Macro by Christian Bachmann / Scuba Diving Magazine.
“The area around Bunaken Island, off North Sulawesi, Indonesia, is famous for its spectacular wall dives. It was at the end of one of these dives, on a deco stop, that I discovered this maroon clownfish. With its fins fluttering at a rapid pace, ­initially it was difficult for me to get my camera to focus, especially on the fine details. With patience and a little luck, I was able to get this shot, showing its distinctive gleaming white bar, and giving the impression that the fish is actually flying.”

Underwater ​Photography Contest 2018 Winners Scuba​ ​Diving​ ​Magazine

2nd Place Wide Angle by Karen Smith / Scuba Diving Magazine.
“Near Tulum lie numerous underwater cave systems known as cenotes. The Pit is the deepest of these and is sought out by divers because of its beautiful rock formations and filtered light. Our dive started with the sun directly above. We descended into a hydrogen sulfide layer of decomposing trees at 100 feet, which can be seen below, and then up through a shallow halocline. As I ascended, I noticed freedivers practicing; within 15 seconds and three shots, the two lined up perfectly.”

Underwater ​Photography Contest 2018 Winners Scuba​ ​Diving​ ​Magazine

3rd Place Macro by Rafael Fernandez Caballero / Scuba Diving Magazine.
“Due to its tiny size and shy nature, photographing a clingfish is complicated. After finding a clingfish with eggs, I waited for weeks until I could see the eyes inside — being careful not to wait too long. When the time was right, I took my best macro lens and ­greatest-­magnification wet lens, and tried to capture the essence of a mother taking care of her descendants.”

Underwater ​Photography Contest 2018 Winners Scuba​ ​Diving​ ​Magazine

3rd Place Wide Angle by Tom St.George / Scuba Diving Magazine.
“Occasionally, following heavy rainfall, tannic runoff stained by decaying leaf ­litter enters Cenote Carwash, turning it a vibrant reddish-orange. This tannic water blocks much of the daylight, and the cenote becomes darker than normal — it feels a bit like diving on Mars. Shot with ambient light only, this image required pushing the camera quite hard — shooting almost wide open, dragging the shutter, and pushing the ISO to 6400. The low-light settings also help accentuate the beam from the diver’s torch.”

Underwater ​Photography Contest 2018 Winners Scuba​ ​Diving​ ​Magazine

2nd Place Compact Camera by Yap Katumbal / Scuba Diving Magazine.
“I was diving at a site called TK3 in Lembeh Strait when I spotted this beautiful juvenile coconut octopus at around 40 feet — the tiniest coconut octopus I had ever seen, about 2 inches long. It was hiding in a glass tube that was lying on the bottom, and it looked like it was just waiting to be photographed. I decided to use my dive light in combination with an 8+ macro lens. I put the light on the right side of the tube, and the effect was great, with only the baby octopus and the tube in focus.”

Underwater ​Photography Contest 2018 Winners Scuba​ ​Diving​ ​Magazine

3rd Place Compact Camera by Ferenc Lőrincz / Scuba Diving Magazine.
“This grouper was waiting with its mouth open for the cleaner fish at a ­cleaning station. I lit the fish from both sides with my flashes, allowing only a little bit of light in the back to create a black background.”

Scuba Diving Magazine: Website | Instagram | Facebook | Twitter | Pinterest

My Modern Met granted permission to use photos by Scuba​ ​Diving​ ​Magazine.​

Related Articles:

Amazing​ ​Winners​ ​of​ Scuba​ ​Diving​ ​Magazine’s​ Underwater ​Photo​ Contest 2017

Interview: Underwater Photography Captures Dreamlike Moments Deep in the Ocean

Artistic Underwater Photos Capture the Mystery of the Sea

Interview: Breathtaking Images of Underwater Life Captured by Freediving Photographers

The post Incredible ​Winners​ ​of​ Scuba​ ​Diving​ ​Magazine’s​ Underwater ​Photo​ Contest 2018 appeared first on My Modern Met.





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