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 2005/06 |
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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 2005/06 World Champion is...
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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)
A calm day at Carrie Bow Key, Belize Barrier Reef.
Location:
Silver Medal Winner
Over/Under (shots half topside, half U/W)
the monster of Gaber el Bint
Location:
Bronze Medal Winner
Over/Under (shots half topside, half U/W)
The splash. Nikon D100, 16mmm, no strobo .Lankayan 2005
Location:
Runner Ups
Over/Under (shots half topside, half U/W)
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)
Spearfishing in Crete, Greece
Location:
Silver Medal Winner
Wide Angle - Natural Light (no strobe)
Take 20 This is an experience of a lifetime. Shot in Tonga (wide angle w/ ambient light) Mom is so exhausted from birth and feedings she literally takes 20 minute shut eye naps with her baby! Nice eye lashes!! WOW!
Location:
Bronze Medal Winner
Wide Angle - Natural Light (no strobe)
Anchor Bay Cave, Malta
Location:
Runner Ups
Wide Angle - Natural Light (no strobe)
Wide Angle - Wrecks
anything man-made that is sunk including cars, tanks, planes etc. - oh and ships!
Gold Medal Winner
Wide Angle - Wrecks
Zero Altitude.
Japenese Zero found about 5 years ago in Kimbe Bay, New Britain, PNG.
Location:
Silver Medal Winner
Wide Angle - Wrecks
Affaire is a 112 years old wreck, still nicely preserved in the Baltic Sea. The depth was 42 meters, so I used a 1600 ISO B/W film to capture the dim light. There is only a slight touch of strobe light on the diver. Everything else is ambient light.
Location:
Bronze Medal Winner
Wide Angle - Wrecks
Giannis D.
Location: Egypt
Runner Ups
Wide Angle - Wrecks
Wide Angle - Divers
Divers doing what divers do - underwater or on the surface
Gold Medal Winner
Wide Angle - Divers
diver photographing a school of barrcuda at malpelo island, colombia
Location:
Silver Medal Winner
Wide Angle - Divers
Dirk and perch.
Capernwray, Lancashire.
F90X,20mm.
Location:
Bronze Medal Winner
Wide Angle - Divers
Halocline in Vaca Ha
Location:
Runner Ups
Wide Angle - Divers
Wide Angle - Marine Life
wide angle shots with no divers in frame
Gold Medal Winner
Wide Angle - Marine Life
Oceanic White tip with Pilot Fish. Taken at Daedelus Reef, Egyptian Red Sea in November 2004. Image taken while snorkelling as the shark circled the diveboat.
Location:
Silver Medal Winner
Wide Angle - Marine Life
Alligator in Santa Fe River/Ginnie Springs. Photo taken while free diving.
Location:
Bronze Medal Winner
Wide Angle - Marine Life
Nothing quite like a great white coming straight towards you and then he moves at the last minute. The look in his eye.
Isla Guadaloupe September 2005
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)
Gold Medal Winner
Macro - not swimming
Nudi. Cannon 10d Lembeh. on the beatiful wreck
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Silver Medal Winner
Macro - not swimming
Pygmy seahorse. Kapalai,sabah,borneo.
Location:
Bronze Medal Winner
Macro - not swimming
Wolk eel from British Columbia Canada. The males such as this one always seem to look like one of the old guys from the muppets.
Location:
Runner Ups
Macro - not swimming
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
Bats at night
The picture was taken in Papua New Guinea during a night dive.
Location:
Silver Medal Winner
Macro - swimming
Jelly Fish in Panama City Florida taken with a Canon 20D 100mm lens and dual strobes.
Location:
Bronze Medal Winner
Macro - swimming
GPF shot in Manado/Betlehem with UCL macro 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)
Does the light not always shine on Beauty? The mermaid off sunset house GC.
Location:
Silver Medal Winner
Creative - Manipulated (Photoshopped)
My best uw art fashion image. Model Sabina.
Location: Czech Republic
Bronze Medal Winner
Creative - Manipulated (Photoshopped)
Runner Ups
Creative - Manipulated (Photoshopped)
Topside (above water but marine related)
shots above the surface. Can be on land but with relevance to the marine environment
Gold Medal Winner
Topside (above water but marine related)
So what do you do when you can’t go diving? Take photo’s of the big surf.
Location:
Silver Medal Winner
Topside (above water but marine related)
The old shiny sunglasses trick. A dive buddy on the deck of Faded Glory. Madang, Papua New Guinea.
Location:
Bronze Medal Winner
Topside (above water but marine related)
Roatan, Bay Islands.
Location:
Runner Ups
Topside (above water but marine related)