Dive Photo Guide is very pleased to announce the winners and finalists of the Eighth Annual United Nations World Oceans Day Photo Competition, jointly organized by the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea Office of Legal Affairs, Oceanic Global, Blancpain and DPG. The judges were tasked with selecting 1st, 2nd and 3rd place images from hundreds of entries in six categories.
Congratulations to the category winners, Renee Capozzola (“The Ocean: Life & Livelihoods”), Pawel Zygmunt (“Above Water Seascapes”), Nur Tucker (“Underwater Seascapes”), Francisco Sedano (“Digital Ocean Photo Art”), Sayaka Ichinoseki (“Faces of the Sea”), and Tom St George (“Oceanic Discoveries”); and to all the runners-up.
The winners were announced by the judges during UN World Oceans Day 2021 Virtual Event. Finalists’ images will be further featured in a UN virtual exhibit, and physical exhibits are also planned as part of the UN’s awareness-raising activities.
The contest partners would like to thank competition curator Ellen Cuylaerts and this year’s judges—Jennifer Hayes, Julian Lennon, Joakim Odelberg, Ipah Uid Lynn, and Michel Strogoff. The organizers congratulate all of the winners again and would like to thank everyone who participated. Thank you for sharing your work, and helping us convey the beauty, fragility and value of the oceans.
The Ocean: Life & Livelihoods
Location: Adonara Island, Flores, Indonesia
Caption: Two local Indonesian fishermen paddle in a traditional canoe along a shallow coral reef looking for a good place to put down their lines. These fishermen are practicing handline fishing, a type of sustainable fishing without poles or nets.
Above Water Seascapes
Location: Kallur, Kalsoy Island, Faroe Islands
Caption: Visiting epic Kallur cliff on Kalsoy Island is always a great experience. This time, I had a bit of snow on the hills and the weather was very challenging. On the way up, I was bombed by a hailstorm and pushed around by the strong wind. I was lucky to get to the lighthouse on time and hide behind it. I wasn’t sure if I’d be able to fully experience this place but the wind dropped a bit and I was more or less safe. I took a few shots from the usual spots and then flew my drone, which wasn’t easy in the wind and to be honest a bit risky. I managed to capture Kalsoy Island from a slightly different perspective. In the background are the islands of Kunoy and Vidoy.
Underwater Seascapes
Location: Los Islotes, La Paz, Mexico
Caption: I spent a week in Los Islotes photographing lively and playful sea lions. This shot, which is taken in natural light, shows is a pup playing in a cave.
Digital Ocean Photo Art
Location: Mediterranean Sea
Caption: In the famous Disney movie Aladdin, the Cave of Wonders is a hidden cavern filled with all sort of riches and magical artifacts that are guarded by a lion’s head. This work is similar, but the cave is guarded by a moray eel and filled with precious species. The capacity of underwater caves to harbor rich communities has granted them an important status as biodiversity reservoirs. This has been recognized by the European Union, which considers marine caves as priority habitats requiring protection. The work is a composite of three images that were taken in the Mediterranean Sea.
Faces of the Sea
Location: Hokkaido, Japan
Caption: A two-square-meter veil of eggs, each about 2mm in size, just prior to hatching. The eggs were very tiny and immature, so I can’t say for sure, but they are most likely yellow goosefish eggs. The babies rotated inside the eggs as the veil rippled in the current.
Oceanic Discoveries
Location: Sistema Aktun Hu, Tulum, Mexico
Caption: A cave-diver glides effortlessly through a beautifully decorated underground chamber. The underwater cave systems of the Yucatán Peninsula are renowned for their incredible beauty and crystal-clear waters. These underground rivers that wind their way to the ocean are facing increasing pressure from pollution and the over-extraction of water.
View all the winners images here Underwater Photography & Video: DivePhotoGuide.com
