Every year, the Underwater Photography Guide invites underwater photographers to send in their best pictures. The results of the 10th annual Ocean Art competition were announced earlier this week, and showed a wide variety of marine life.
Idiomysis shrimp at Makadi Bay in Egypt. This photo by Kathrin Landgraf-Kluge was first place winner … [+]
Kathrin Landgraf-Kluge / Ocean Art
In the compact macro category, first place went to Kathrin Landgraf-Kluge, who photographed a large group of Idiomysis shrimp in Egypt. These tiny crustaceans have a tendency to school together, and that’s exactly what she saw. When sharing the story of the photo, Landgraf-Kluge commented “I had seen solitary Idiomysis shrimps before but I had never seen anything comparable to this.” She mentioned how she was already on her way out of the water when another diver showed her the shrimp. Luckily, she had her camera with her, but it was not an easy photo to take. “The biggest challenge in taking this photo was to get them into focus because they were supertiny with a size of less than 3mm each, and they were moving together like a small swarm of bees.”
The subjects of the winning photos covered different marine species from around the world. Steven Kovacs took home several prizes in the blackwater category, including an honorable mention for a photo taken off the coast of Kona, Hawaii. The image shows a larval lobster holding four larval acorn worms – probably snacks for later. “These lobsters are always a delight to watch,” Kovacs said of his photo, “as they twist and turn in every direction while swimming and drifting out in the open ocean during their larval stage.”
Larval lobster holding four larval acorn worms, photographed at Kona, Hawaii. This photo by Steven … [+]
Steven Kovacs / Ocean Art
Such underwater photos are particularly challenging for several reasons. Not only do the photographers have to rely on their photography and diving skills, but they also need to use all the tricks in their wheelhouse to get their subjects to cooperate.
When Matteo Visconti photographed a peacock mantis shrimp in the Philippines, he had a hard time getting her to come out of her hiding place. “I had spent all my air waiting and making her comfortable with my equipment,” Visconti says in his photo statement. “When she came outside her hole, I was ready to catch the moment.” The final shot of the mantis shrimp with eggs landed him an honorable mention in the macro category.
Peacock mantis shrimp with eggs, photographed in the Philippines. This photo by Matteo Visconti … [+]
Matteo Visconti / Ocean Art
All winning photos across different categories, including Luc Rooman’s Best of Show photo of two sparring pike, can be seen on the Underwater Photography Guide website.
