When uploading a photo to the underwaterphotography contest you can choose from 16 different categories.
To clarify which image belongs where find a summary of the categories below:
Creative – Manipulated (Photoshopped)
Shots that have been digitally edited outside of the camera for creative reasons in a program like Photoshop (excluding standard “darkroom” corrections such as color balance / contrast / shadows / highlights etc.)
Fashion
Underwater Fashion Photography, Trash the Dress, Wedding and Couple shots or any other shot with models underwater.
Humorous
Any shot that predominantly has an amusement factor 🙂
Macro close-up
Shots taken of a subject between 3 inches and 1 foot (7.5 to 30cm) in size (e.g. large fish or diver head) that dominates the frame – any background is incidental and occupies LESS THAN 50% of frame
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)
Macro – Nudibranchia
Sea slugs. A subject popular with macro guys! (means naked gills) Flatworms allowed.
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)
Over/Under (shots half topside, half U/W)
Shots that cross the surface boundary, AKA split shots (under/overs like Snells Window too)
Sharks
Shots where sharks are the predominant subject.
Temperate (cold) waters
Seas with green water well north or south of tropical zones typically cold enough for drysuits!
Topside (Above water but marine related)
Shots above the surface. Can be on land but with relevance to the marine environment.
Wide Angle – Close Focus
Shots taken with a WIDE ANGLE (or fisheye) lens having 1) A well defined close subject (usually strobe-lit) AND 2) A wide angle BACKGROUND with a second subject, usually a diver.
Wide Angle – Divers
Divers doing what divers do – underwater or on the surface
Wide Angle – Marine Life
Wide angle shots with no divers in frame
Wide Angle – Natural Light (no strobe)
Shots taken using ambient light i.e. unlit by flash or continuous lighting. Filters on the lens are allowed if declared.
Wide Angle – Wrecks
Anything man-made that is sunk including cars, tanks, planes etc. – oh and ships!
Need advice on underwater photography gear?
Contact us at Mozaik Underwater Cameras. We also provide an online chat service almost 24/7 to answer almost any question regarding cameras, housings, strobes, lights, accessories and more…
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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- May 2022 – UW Photo Contest Winners - July 22, 2022
