Ocean In Focus Contest Winners Announcement

 

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Click on the info icon at the top left of each photo to learn details.

Congratulations to Terry Goss of San Francisco, California, the Grand-Prize winner of the Ocean in Focus Conservation Photo Contest for his image of a blue shark taken off the coast of Rhode Island with a rusted hook protruding from its lower jaw. The shark in this image was caught by a longline fishing vessel, a method of fishing that historically resulted in bycatch of non-target species such as sharks, turtles and seabirds. While the introduction in recent years of circle hooks has reduced bycatch, particularly of turtles, there is more work to be done. Read the interview with Terry Goss>>

For submitting the photograph depicting his personal encounter with one of nature’s most beautiful, but threatened, predators, SeaWeb and Lindblad Expeditions are sending Goss and a friend on a 10-day adventure aboard the National Geographic Endeavor to the Galapagos Islands! Lindblad Expeditions voyages the world in alliance with the National Geographic Society to inspire people to explore and care about the planet.

First Prize goes to Peri Paleracio of Quezon City, the Philippines, for his picture of a boat in the Philippines with plastic and trash pollution suspended in the water. This over-under shot illustrates the often-unseen view of the impact of littering on the ocean. Paleracio will celebrate his win in Fiji with a dive vacation from Matava, Fiji’s Premier Eco-Adventure resort.

George Stoyle and Frank Baensch have both been awarded honorable mentions for their photographs. Stoyle submitted a powerful image of frozen tuna being transferred from a fishing vessel to a carrier vessel. Baensch's image shows the danger posed by abandoned gill nets to coral reef ecosystems and how the nets continue to fish long after the fishermen have left the location. Green Fins Association, Thailand, won the honorable mention prize for the "Most Hopeful" photograph, which demonstrates the infectious power of community-based beach cleanups and how local children can play a role in environmental stewardship.

The Marine Photobank would like to thank the prize donors and supporters, and all the contest participants for submitting compelling photos illustrating human impacts on marine ecosystems, and ones that inspire hope for ocean health. We hope that both of the top prize winners will keep up with the Marine Photobank and tell us all about their travels through photos and stories.

Learn About the Incredible Prizes
Read the Interview with Grand Prize Winner, Terry Goss
View Contest Submissions Gallery
For More Information About the Contest

Thank You to Our Prize Donors! Please learn more about these amazing and generous companies by clicking on the logos and links below.

Lindblad Expeditions
Matava Eco-Resort	Backscatter Underwater Video & Photo
NativeEnergy	Bob Talbot Productions
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Ocean In Focus Contest Winners Announcement

International underwater photography grand prix, World ShootOut , will take place worldwide in August 2011

World ShootOut Registration, Participation and Submission throughout the whole month of August, 2011!

Due to an increasing demand for flexibility in World ShootOut dates, we are happy to announce that competition registration, participation and image submission can be carried out throughout the whole month of August, 2011.

Yes, you can register to the competition, capture competition images and submit them to the competition website throughout the whole month of August!

Since it's the first year that the WorldShoot Out takes place, the producer announced a special introductory bonus -

A free set of images in  each category a participant registers to!

Final deadline for competition registration and images submission  is  August 31st, 2011.  It is  recommended, however, to register  ahead in order to avoid any last-minute problems. 

The World ShootOut will take place in August, 2011, in any natural water resource found around the world, including seas, oceans, lakes, rivers, under the ice and more. 

• 7 creative categories
•         21 lucky winners
•         Incredible cash, holiday and equipment prizes
•         Complete  freedom to choose your own diving destination  

      
More about new rules & regulations, competition time table and further information can be found on the competition website .

Good luck!


World ShootOut Team

www.worldshootout.org

DRT Show Underwater Photo Competition 2011

DRT Show 2011 will feature the largest underwater photo competition in northern Asian region. If you have great underwater photo, please submit your underwater images online to join our competition, you will got the chance to win over US$30,000 in world class prizes. This event supported by Scubapro, Aqualung, Akona, Sherwood, 10Bar, UK, Scuba Formula, Aggressor Fleet, Minahasa Lagoon Resort, Hans Christian Andersen Cruise and many more...

Event Hosted by: DRT Show, EZDIVE Magazine Categories

1. Animal Behavior
2. Reefscapes
3. Marine Conservation

Deadline for submissions 18 June 2011

* Winners will be announced on 8 July online.
* Display in the DRT Show Exhibition Hall.
* Published by our media partners worldwide. Promotional Events



By: Stephen Wong & Takako Uno
Venue: GuangDong Vocational Institute Of Sport
Date: 16 April 2011

By: Takaji Ochi
Venue: San Want Hotel
Date: 17 April 2011

Sponsor Partners and Prizes


Scubapro MK25 A700 x1
Scubapro Bella BCD – Medium Size x1
Titanium Watch Mechanical Movement – Limited Edition x1


Aqualung 'Flight' regulator x1
Aqualung 'Zuma' BCD x1


Sherwood SR1 Regulator x1


Akona AKB149 Elite Roller Bag x1
(with fins pocket and large enough for 2 sets of full gears)


UK AquaSun eLED x1
(with rechargeabel battery + charger)


Mesh Bag x10
Mini Gauges x20


Cleaning Set x300
10Bar Housing x1


10 Nights Papua New Guinea Trip aboard M/Y Star Dancer.
Double Occupancy / Shared Stateroom Accommodations For 10 Nights. Airport transfers, Up to 5 dives daily, All meals and snacks, Beverages (including alcohol) while on board.


5 Days 4 Nights Dive Package at Minahasa Lagoon Resort, Manado.
Return Airport Transfers ex Manado Airport. 4 nights accomadation in Garden View Cottage + Fullboard. 6 guided day boat dives withing vicinity of the resort, tank & weights only.


8 Days 7 Nights live aboard trip to Southern route on Hans Christian Andersen.


Seashell Universal Waterproof Digital Camera Case x2


BARE wetsuit x1
(Winner can get his own fix body Size wetsuit)


First Stage UNIDIVE regulator x4
Second Stage UNIDIVE regulator x4


One Year EZDIVE Magazine Subscription x30
10 prizes to Animal Behavior Category.
10 prizes to Reefscapes Category.
10 prizes to Marine Conservation Category. DRT Show Underwater

Competition Judges

Tim Rock

Based in Guam, Rock runs Double Blue Images photo agency, and continues to produce underwater documentaries and TV shows. He has also authored books on Micronesia's treasures beneath the waves.

Stephen Wong

A full time marine photojournalist, Mr Stephen Wong's works have published in over 20 countries and 100 individual publications, including BBC Wildlife, GEO & Ocean Realm. His images have been in more than 30 photo exhibitions, including 4 solo ones with his wife, Takako Uno.

Takako Uno

A full time marine photojournalist, Takako has co-authored "An Ocean Odyssey" and "Gorontalo Hidden Paradise". Her images have also appeared in dozens of books and photo exhibitions (incl. "BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year" at the Natural History Museum, "Ocean Views" at Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History & "Secret Lives of Seahorses" at Monterey Bay Aquarium).

William Tan

A violinist with the Singapore Symphony Orchestra, William earned his scuba diving certification in 1994. Thereafter, without his prized antique Italian violin, he travels extensively between concert seasons throughout the Pacific region photographing marine life for tourism organizations, dive magazines and resorts.

Takaji Ochi

Award winning photographer of Japan newspaper associations and Tokyo photojournalist associations. worked in major Japanese News paper company as sport, news, and entertainment photographer. Worked as a main photographer of MIVA (Marshall Islands visitors authority) until 2000, and Japanese representative Yap Visitors Bureau since 2009.

Matt Weiss

Matt is the editor of DPG. He has been magaing editorial duties since 2007 and is most likely the only full time underwater photography media editor in the world. Matt graduated from Skidmore College with a degree in marine biology in 2008. He also is a web designer and the official website manager for the New York Underwater Photographic Society (NYUPS.org).

David Hsiung

Mr David Hsiung is a professional and very senior underwater photographer in Hong Kong. He has been skin diving since the 1950s. David Hsiung always provide underwater photography skills to young generation divers, he was also one of the judges for many underwater photo competition and having his photo exhibition regularly in Hong Kong.

Michael Aw

Mr Michael AW saturated colour imageries have earn him 57 international awards; his work have been featured in BBC Wildlife, National Geographic, the Smithsonian, GEO, Ocean Geographic, Asian Geographic, Action Asia, Nature Focus etc. His most glorious achievement is a Palme D’or for “Philippines- Heart of the Ocean”, won at the World Underwater Pictures Festival, France 2009.

For more information, please visit:
http://www.diveguide.com/diving_resort_travel_expo.htm

Underwater Photography Seminar at Matava in August 2011

You’re a pretty good underwater photographer, but not a pro. You want to step up your game by sharpening your eye, honing your photo trigger finger and getting your lighting down. If you just had one week, you’re thinking, you could get it done. And if you had a patient instructor, minus the intimidating resume and overinflated ego, who’s willing to spend as much time with you as you need, you’d be all set.

Wait! Did you hear that knocking at your door? It’s opportunity. Scuba Travel Ventures is now proud to offer divers the chance to spend a week luxuriating in a Pacific paradise while elevating their underwater photography skills. Noted underwater photographer Dr. Andre Smith is leading a seminar on the subject from Thursday, August 11 to Saturday, August 20 at Matava – Fiji’s leading eco-adventure resort, on the island of Kadavu – for shooters of all levels of skill and experience.

“We’re taking all comers, aiming to make sure that everyone gets the right level of attention,” says Smith, an anesthesiologist by profession who originally hails from South Africa but now calls British Columbia home. “Some resorts and live-aboards offer courses, but they forget that people are on holiday and want to have fun. The diving will be fun and easy and not pressurized.”

The diving goes down in the Great Astrolabe Reef, one of the Pacific’s most radiant dive jewels, located on Kadavu’s southern shore. With an area of about 75 miles, the reef is the world’s fourth largest and features encounters with graceful manta rays, curious reef sharks, a rainbow palette of tropical fish, spectacularly colorful hard and soft corals, walls and mesmerizing passages. Some of the sexiest sites include a handful in the immaculate Naiqoro Marine Reserve, the aptly named Manta Reef, the richly colored Japanese Gardens and Coral Wonderland. It’s all yours to photograph.

Smith says the course – which also features instruction by shooter and trip leader Randy Osgerby – will involve daily classroom sessions, with two days devoted to macro, three to wide-angle and the final day devoted to a diver’s choice, with a slide show at the end of the trip. The majority of the work Smith says he’ll do with his new students will be underwater and after dives to check out the results.

“There’s lots of multitasking on dives and I’m hoping to simplify things for divers so the photography part becomes second nature,” Smith says. “I’m not looking for shooters to compete with each other. But by the end of the week, we’re hoping to turn out confident photographers.”

To check out more of Dr. Andre Smith’s fabulous underwater photography click this link or visit his website: http://andresmith.speedalbum.com/home.htm.

Dive Package $2899

August 11 - 20, 2011

This package includes Round trip airfare from LAX, 7 nights Ocean View Bure accommodations, taxes and airport transfers, all meals, 5 days unlimited seminar boat dives, 5 days underwater digital photography and unlimited shore diving, prizes and give-aways, Traditional Lovo Feast and Kava Ceremony.

Call 1-800-298-9009

Scuba Travel Ventures - Underwater Photography Seminar at Matava in Fiji

Contribute to the Ocean in Focus Conservation Photography Contest

Your Chance to Submit Photos
Will Be Gone in a Flash

Contribute to the Ocean in Focus Conservation Photography Contest
       

                       

 
SeaWeb's Marine Photobank and Project AWARE Foundation 
encourage you to submit your compelling ocean photos to the
Ocean in Focus Conservation Photography Contest.
 
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Submit your photos that engage viewers
in pressing marine issues and solutions
that address the rapid decline of our ocean's health.
 
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Submissions must be received by August 27th, 2009.
 
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Grand prize package includes:

    · Seven nights ocean-view accommodations at MATAVA, a premier eco-adventure resort in Fiji. Package includes five days, two-tank diving for two and six days unlimited shore diving for two as well as round-trip airport transfers.
    · A DVD copy of A Sea Change.
    · 16 tons of Carbon Offsets through NativeEnergy for your home and car for one year, plus carbon offsets for one round-trip air flight.

 
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Photo Contest Home page >>

Forward e-mail

    Contest Sponsored by:

                                                        

           

  

     Prize Donors Include:

                                                                    

                         

                                      

     

 

              

Project Aware  |   Marine Photobank  |  SeaWeb  |   PADI

Photos: Left: Laysan Albatross, Midway Atoll, HI. Jennifer O'Leary. 
Right: Laysan Albatross Chick, Kure Atoll, HI. Claire Fackler, NOAA National Marine Sanctuaries