February 2014 – UW Photo Contest Winners

A monthly hotshot is an entry that was shortlisted by 2 or more judges. The monthly winners (1st, 2nd, 3rd and Runner Ups) are chosen from this short list by our editor (no medals, just your name in the lights for a month!). They are chosen according to the number of judges votes with some reference to the peoples votes and the editor’s choice. It is no coincidence that many of the Hotshots end up in the annual awards!
To get a chance to feature your photo in next month’s winners, enter your best underwater photo here.

The monthly winners for February have been announced. Thank you all for entering and Congratulations to the winners and runners up!

Check out February’s well deserved winners:

1st Place:

A Spanish Dancer treating me to its graceful dance.

Editor’s Comment:

Wow, one of my favorites. Your second Orange over Blue shot, maybe I have a weakness for this color combination. Very well taken.

In Category: Macro – Nudibranchia | Taken in: South Africa

Valda Fraser
I live on the south coast of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa and started diving in 1988. I spend lots of time in the water and on almost every dive find something to feel excited about. A word of thanks to my buddy Mike as his patience is regularly stretched to the limit while I try to get the right shot. I have a Nikon D300 and my favourite lenses are the Nikon 60 and 10.5 lenses, as well as the Tokina 10 – 17 fisheye. Most of our diving takes place close to home, but we like to visit Sodwana and Mozambique several times a year.
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2nd Place:

Freediver in his natural element

Editor’s Comment:

Wow, very artistic and perfectly composed

In Category: Wide Angle – Divers | Taken in: Cayman islands

Ellen Cuylaerts
From Belgium, living in Grand Cayman since 2009.
Traveler, adventurer, in awe of nature’s beauty.
Recently started diving (June 2011) and can’t get enough: Master Scuba diver and very eager underwater photographer since August 2011. There’s no way back:-).
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3rd Place:

OMG…my water just broke!!!

Editor’s Comment:

One of my favorites of the month.

In Category: Macro – not swimming | Taken in: Australia

Gaetano Gargiulo
Preferred dive sites:
Australia: Kurnell (NSW)
Italy: Spiaggia Caterina Sant’Agnello (Naples)

I make my own illumination systems and I like to take IR and UV (underwater) pictures!!!
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Runner Up:

Circles

Editor’s Comment:

Another one that stands out from this series, great work Marco.

In Category: Wide Angle – Close Focus | Taken in: Italy

Marco Gargiulo
I use a Nikon D800 with Isotta Housing, 2 x INon Z240 optical wired, all lenses Nikon: 16 mm, 18/55 mm, 60 mm micro, 105 mm micro.
I was born in 1968, start to dive since 1974, first scuba photo with Nikonos III during 1979. I’m the 2011 Italian FIPSAS Champion of Digital Reflex Underwater Photography.
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Runner Up:

A Perfect Sunset

Editor’s Comment:

The sun, the fin, the shark.. Everything comes together to a great shot which is very hard to take.

In Category: Sharks | Taken in: South Africa

Allen Walker
Equipment:
Canon 5D Mark 11 with Hugyfot Housing & Inon Strobes
Canon 7D with Hugyfot Housing & Inon Strobes

Favorite South African Dive Sites: Aliwal Shoal – Umkomaas, Shark Park – Rocky Bay, Mellow Yellow – Sodwana Bay,

Favorite Dive Events: Port St. Johns – Sardine Run; Tiger Season – Rocky Bay; Vast masses of Juvenile fish – Pomene/Morrengulo.

Favorite Operators: www.bluewilderness.co.za; www.amoraydiving.com; Offshore Africa Port St.Johns
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Runner Up:

7 Carcharhinus perezi

Editor’s Comment:

A bit too dark but a very impressive shot.

In Category: Sharks | Taken in: Cuba

Mathieu Foulquié
favorite dive sites ; from murky ponds to 100m viz of Silfra
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Tal Mor
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Tal Mor

Tal Mor

I am 36 years old, diving since I was 15 and shooting underwater in the last 10 years. I am the Co-Founder of Mozaik Underwater Cameras , one of the leading underwater photography stores in the world. I am originally a web developer and programmer and specialize in Internet marketing. In the past 20 years, I dived in many places: Red Sea, Mediterranean, Thailand, The Maldives, Florida, Bahamas, Turks and Caicos and others.. I was lucky enough to dive with all the latest equipment, that includes high end compacts, Mirrorless, DSLR's, almost every strobe in the market and many different lenses and accessories. I helped and advised thousands of underwater photographers from beginners to the most professional.

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