Underwater photographers from around the world explored the deep blue seas and all its mysteries for the 7th annual Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition. The high caliber of photographs entered across 16 categories made this the most competitive year ever. In the end, photographer Duncan Murrell came away with the top prize for his magical photo of three devil rays frolicking in Honda Bay in the Philippines.
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Murrell framed these rarely observed animals in soft, ambient light as they carried out a courtship ritual, with two males pursuing one female. Murrell’s was just one of many incredible images awarded in categories like Marine Behavior, Reefscapes, Portrait, Wide Angle, and Macro. Over $80,000 in prizes were awarded to winning photographers, including a trip to the Solomon Islands and diving packages in Indonesia.
“This year’s outstanding underwater images in the Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition continue to raise the bar for underwater photographers,” says Bluewater Photo and Travel owner and Underwater Photography Guide publisher, Scott Gietler. “Myself and the other three judges were honored to be viewing such amazing results of the dedication and drive of the human spirit.”
As the competition continues to push the boundaries of underwater photography, a new category highlighted underwater fine art photography—Underwater Art. This a new category for the 2018 competition allowed photographers to challenge themselves even further in how they depict underwater imagery.
From colorful reefscapes to insightful photographs of marine behavior, the winners of the 2018 Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition are incredible reminders of the submerged world that we risk losing if conservation efforts aren’t successful. By pushing themselves to document life underwater, these photographers are doing a service to a public that may not be fully aware of the rich and complex world that lies below.
The winners of the 2018 Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition capture the rich complexity of life underwater.
Over $80,000 in prizes were awarded to winners of the contest, now in its 7th year.
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Source: mymodernmet.com