Winners medal
Winning here (or even just being placed) is Underwater Photography's most coveted accolade because it says you succeeded in the most competitive environment there is, against the top talent of the moment.
Every year a panel of judges select the best images entered in our online photo contest from the previous year. Gold, silver, and bronze medals are awarded for the top three from each category in order of merit.
The judges comprise of industry professionals, previous year's World Champions, our site moderators - anyone we can rope in! They are unpaid, non-affiliated, and (of course) cannot vote for themselves.
You may not agree with the judges. You may think you have 'better shots' at home - prove it! Enter this year's contest.
| World Champion 2004/05 |
|
The judges award the photographer who submits the most consistent and complete portfolio over the year World Champion.
Other photographers of distinction are awarded Grand Master.
 The overall 2004/05 World Champion is...
|
|
|
|
|
Over/Under (shots half topside, half U/W)
shots that cross the surface boundary (so under/overs like Snells Window too)
Gold Medal Winner
Over/Under (shots half topside, half U/W)
Sous glace / Lac Lioson - Suisse
Location:
Bronze Medal Winner
Over/Under (shots half topside, half U/W)
Sipadan Island, Malaysia with 16mm fisheye
Location:
Wide Angle - Natural Light (no strobe)
shots taken using ambient light i.e. unlit by flash or continuous lighting like HID but filters on the lens are allowed if declared
Gold Medal Winner
Wide Angle - Natural Light (no strobe)
Mr Big . Photo taken in Darwin, Galapagos Islands.
Location:
Bronze Medal Winner
Wide Angle - Natural Light (no strobe)
Take your camera in the water every time you get wet, this photo was taken in 3 1/2/ feet of water on a sunny day.
Location:
Wide Angle - Wrecks
anything man-made that is sunk including cars, tanks, planes etc. - oh and ships!
Gold Medal Winner
Wide Angle - Wrecks
End of dive all alone in water. Elba 9/2004
Location:
Bronze Medal Winner
Wide Angle - Wrecks
Abu Galawa, Red Sea. Photo taken with a Nikon F90X in an Underwave Igloo housing
Location:
Runner Ups
Wide Angle - Wrecks
Wide Angle - Divers
Divers doing what divers do - underwater or on the surface
Gold Medal Winner
Wide Angle - Divers
Ustica - Grotta Verde
Location:
Bronze Medal Winner
Wide Angle - Divers
Reflections of Kim, a graceful model among the jellyfish at Jellyfish Lake, Palau. NikV, w/15mm lens & Substrobe 200.
Location:
Wide Angle - Marine Life
wide angle shots with no divers in frame
Gold Medal Winner
Wide Angle - Marine Life
I had just a fraction of a second to pull my hands, holding the camera, back into the cage before this cutie was almost in my face. This is one of those moments in which I miss a motor winder in my Nikonos V. Dyer island, Gansbaai, South Africa.
Location:
Silver Medal Winner
Wide Angle - Marine Life
Anacapa Island, CA. Harbor seals lined the kelp for each of the four December dives, and this one kept a wary eye on us from behind. I like how portrait-like his expression is, even a bit sad...it adds to the distance of the 3/4 shot.
Location:
Runner Ups
Wide Angle - Marine Life
Macro - not swimming
Smaller subjects typically 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.5cm) shot on macro settings or with macro equipment that are NOT MOVING usually on the bottom (i.e. between 1:1 and 1:3)
Silver Medal Winner
Macro - not swimming
Whether this scorpionfish is yawning or yelling, I'm not sure, but the shot was taken in Southern California's Channel Islands, at Ship Rock near Catalina Island. I was using a D100 in and Aquatica housing and 2 Ikelite 200's.
Location:
Macro - swimming
Smaller subjects typically 1 to 3 inches (2.5 to 7.5cm) shot on macro settings or with macro equipment that are in MID WATER not touching anything (i.e. between 1:1 and 1:3)
Gold Medal Winner
Macro - swimming
Tufi Mandarin. D100 in a Titan housing, 105mm lens. Shot on the house reef at Tufi in PNG.
Location:
Silver Medal Winner
Macro - swimming
Southern Stingray, Bahamas (Nikon F4, 105mm Macro, Fuji Velvia)
Location:
Bronze Medal Winner
Macro - swimming
John Dory, Cornwall, D100 & 60mm lens
Location:
Runner Ups
Macro - swimming
Creative - Manipulated (Photoshopped)
Shots that have been digitally edited outside of the camera for creative reasons (not brightness/contrast etc.) in a program like PhotoShop
Gold Medal Winner
Creative - Manipulated (Photoshopped)
solomon islands - COMPOSING > silvertips/bird/surfies - nikon RS
Location:
Bronze Medal Winner
Creative - Manipulated (Photoshopped)
My idea of a fantasy underwater shot
one of my fav subjects
Location:
Topside (above water but marine related)
shots above the surface. Can be on land but with relevance to the marine environment
Silver Medal Winner
Topside (above water but marine related)
Young Grey Seal. Found this little guy at a seal sanctuary. Posed perfectly for the camera!!! Nikon D70
Location:
Bronze Medal Winner
Topside (above water but marine related)
Coral Bay, Ningaloo Reef
Location:
Runner Ups
Topside (above water but marine related)