The 5th Anilao Underwater Shootout has been a success that elevate Philippines as the new capital of underwater diving and photography.
The event has been organized by the Department of Tourism with the huge partnership of Philippines Airlines.
“I hope the Anilao Underwater Shootout will be another strong avenue to showcase the country’s dive market development to the rest of the world,” said Department of Tourism Secretary Wanda Corazon Tulfo-Teo. “This event will also help generate employment in the coastal communities, while also promoting the conservation of marine ecosystem.”
A total of 173 underwater photographers from Asia, Europe, and North America joined the photography competition. All of the entries were taken in the waters of Anilao, Batangas from November 28 to December 2.
The five categories in the competition were: Macro/Supermacro, Marine Behavior, Nudibranch, Fish Portrait, and Cephalopod. The contestants based their shots according to these themes.
These categories were each divided into two classes, the compact class and open class.
The panel of judges was outstanding: National Geographic wildlife photojournalist duo David Doubilet (Lennart Nilsson Award winner) and Jennifer Hayes (aquatic biologist); Palme D’or winner and photographer Scott “Gutsy” Tuason; Singapore-based veteran diver and underwater photographer William Tan; Tobias Friedrich, diver and award-winning photographer from Germany; and Yoshi Hirata, Philippines-based Japanese marine biologist and talented underwater photographer.
After 3 days of shooting, photographers had to choose the best shot for each category from the thousands of shots taken during their dives and then the jury has begun its work. Two preselection for each category to arrive at the final round (10 finalist photos in each category) and to the final rankings.
Congratulations to Lilian Koh and PJ Aristorenas for their grand prize winning images and to all the participants that produced the amazing imagery that is among the placings.
And here all the others winning pictures and categories rankings.
