12 minute read
CELEBRATING THE ART OF UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY
THE OCEAN IS A WORLD OF WONDER - vibrant, mysterious, and teeming with life Yet, for many, its depths remain unseen and unappreciated. Thanks to the passion and talent of underwater photographers, we are given the rare opportunity to explore this hidden realm through breathtaking images that inspire curiosity, awe, and a deeper appreciation for marine life.
The Durban Undersea Club (DUC), in collaboration with DAN Southern Africa, has created a remarkable platform for photographers to showcase their work through a series of underwater photography competitions. With the opportunity to feature in the DAN Southern Africa Alert Diver magazine and win fantastic prizes, the competition has drawn an incredible range of entries each capturing the raw beauty of South Africa’s underwater world. As the competition draws to a close, we take a moment to express our deepest gratitude to both the photographers and the dedicated organisers who made it all possible.
HONOURING THE PHOTOGRAPHERS: CAPTURING THE BEAUTY BENEATH THE WAVES
To every photographer who submitted their work thank you Underwater photography is an art form that demands more than just technical skill; it requires patience, creativity, and an adventurous spirit. The challenges of working in an unpredictable environment, from managing lighting conditions to capturing fast-moving marine life, make your stunning achievements all the more commendable.
Your images do more than simply impress; they educate, inspire, and create a sense of connection to the underwater world. Whether it was a striking cover shot that demands attention or a thought-provoking parting shot that tells a unique story, each photograph has contributed to a broader narrative one that showcases the diversity, fragility, and splendour of marine ecosystems.
Particular recognition must go to the winning and highly commended entries, which stood out for their exceptional composition, creativity, and storytelling impact. The “Great” left a lasting impression with its striking imagery, while the “Playful Seals” captivated audiences with its compelling subject matter Every submission has played a role in inspiring others to explore, appreciate, and ultimately protect the marine world
APPRECIATING THE ORGANISERS: THE VISIONARIES BEHIND THE COMPETITION
Behind the success of this competition is a dedicated team of organisers whose efforts have created an inspiring and rewarding experience for participants. The Durban Undersea Club (DUC), working alongside DAN Southern Africa, has done a phenomenal job in providing a platform for photographers to share their work, gain recognition, and contribute to the greater diving community.
From curating competition categories to coordinating judging processes, the organisers have worked tirelessly to ensure a smooth and engaging experience. Their commitment has given photographers a meaningful opportunity to showcase their talent, while also promoting the values of ocean conservation and storytelling through imagery.
Special thanks must go to Bryan Hart for his leadership and vision.
LOOKING AHEAD: INSPIRING THE NEXT WAVE OF UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHERS
As this quarter’s competition comes to a close, we reflect not only on the incredible talent on display but also on the larger impact of underwater photography. These images are more than just beautiful photographs; they serve as a powerful reminder of what is at stake in our oceans. By showcasing the wonders of marine life, they encourage people to become more involved in conservation efforts and responsible diving practices.
To all the photographers keep capturing the extraordinary moments beneath the waves. Your work does more than inspire; it educates and ignites a passion for the underwater world. To the organisers your dedication does not go unnoticed, and we eagerly anticipate future competitions that will continue to celebrate this incredible art form.
Thank you for making this competition such a resounding success. Here’s to many more years of celebrating underwater photography, storytelling, and marine conservation.
CELEBRATING THE WINNERS OF THE ALERT DIVER MAGAZINE PHOTO COMPETITION!
We are thrilled to announce the winners of the Alert Diver Magazine cover and parting shot image competitions! The entries this year showcased an extraordinary level of talent, creativity, and technical excellence, making the selection process both inspiring and challenging.
Cover Image Competition Winners
First Place: Linda Ness – A breathtaking image of a great white shark, capturing the raw power and elegance of this apex predator.
Second Place: Robin Scott – A mesmerising macro shot of an amphipod on a nudibranch, highlighting the beauty of the ocean’s tiniest creatures.
Third Place: Adrian Pearton – A striking image of a purple frogfish, perfectly blending into its underwater world.
Parting Shot Competition Winners
First Place: Linda Ness – An enchanting shot of playful seals, brimming with energy and personality.
Second Place: Linda Ness – A captivating image of dolphins, elegantly gliding through the water.
Third Place: Don Hunter – A dynamic and dramatic composition featuring a ray and squid in perfect harmony.
We extend our heartfelt congratulations to our winners! Your images stood out amongst an array of outstanding submissions, each telling a unique and compelling underwater story.
A sincere thank you to all participants for sharing your incredible talent and passion for underwater photography. The calibre of entries was truly remarkable, and we encourage all underwater photographers to take part in our future competitions for a chance to be featured as our next winners.
Happy diving, and keep capturing the magic beneath the waves!
REFLECTIONS ON THE COVER SHOT COMPETITION – FEEDBACK FROM BRYAN HART
Composition, lighting, storytelling, and creativity these are the fundamental pillars of any truly remarkable image. Capturing a compelling underwater photograph is no easy feat. The preparation, the dive itself, unpredictable ocean conditions, and the sheer uncertainty of marine life encounters make this a challenging yet deeply rewarding art form.
One of the most common mistakes aspiring underwater photographers make when selecting images for competitions is allowing emotion to dictate their choice. A photographer often recalls the immense effort involved in capturing a particular shot the meticulous planning, the challenging conditions, and the exhilaration of the moment. However, this emotional attachment can sometimes cloud judgment, leading to an oversight of the storytelling, creativity, or ‘wow factor’ that makes an image truly stand out.
The first in a series of underwater photographic competitions for DUC photographers pushed participants out of their comfort zones The challenge? To select and submit the best image they had ever captured, with the ultimate goal of having it chosen for a magazine cover
To ensure inclusivity, we introduced a secondary category called ‘Parting Shot’ designed to showcase the most interesting image, even if it wasn't necessarily the most technically perfect.
As an online competition, the public was invited to vote for their favourite image within a specified timeframe. Once the votes were tallied, the final decision rested with the magazine’s editor, who had the last word in selecting the winning photograph.
Top Tip: Research Your Subject
Understanding the marine life you are photographing can elevate your storytelling. Knowing what makes a particular species unique allows you to capture its essence more effectively. Consider these scenarios:
A lone clownfish drifting away from its anemone versus one nestled within it (Advanced challenge: How would you highlight the way it moves within the anemone?)
A cleaner wrasse on its own versus one engaged in its natural behaviour cleaning an eel’s mouth
A lionfish with its pectoral fins closed versus one fully extended, surrounded by shimmering silver fish
The more knowledge you have about the ocean and the behaviour of its inhabitants, the greater your ability to capture truly breathtaking images. With research and practice, you’ll soon be adding more ‘wow factor’ shots to your portfolio!
THE POWER OF UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHY
Underwater photography serves as the primary window into the world beneath the waves. While anyone can visit a game reserve and appreciate terrestrial wildlife, only a privileged few have the opportunity to experience the ocean’s wonders firsthand. As a result, there is often a disconnect between the general public and marine conservation. People tend to care about what they can see land animals and habitats are widely documented, understood, and protected. The ocean, however, remains largely out of sight, and sadly, out of mind.
This is where underwater photography plays a vital role. It provides a glimpse into an unseen world, inspiring a sense of wonder and responsibility for marine life. Through striking imagery, we can create awareness about issues such as pollution, overfishing, and habitat destruction helping to bridge the gap between the ocean and those who may never experience it firsthand.
CREATING AN ACCESSIBLE COMPETITION
For this competition, we aimed to make participation as simple and inclusive as possible no restrictions on when the image was taken, no entry fee, and only a few basic guidelines designed to help entrants make their best selections.
To add an element of fun and engagement, we structured the competition as a social media-driven popularity contest. The public primarily Facebook followers of DUC were the judges, voting for their favourite images. Once submissions closed, we curated two separate galleries: one for Cover Shot entries and another for Parting Shots. Participants had a week to gather votes, after which the likes were tallied and winners selected.
The main objective of this competition was to encourage photographers to step out of their comfort zones and critically reflect on their portfolios. The Cover Shot category was designed for A-grade, publication-worthy images colourful, striking, technically precise, and well-composed. The Parting Shot category, on the other hand, was open to anyone who had captured a cool or interesting underwater moment, regardless of technical perfection.
OBSERVATIONS AND FEEDBACK
General Reflections
Overall, we were pleased with the standard of entries. In the Cover Shot category, subject matter played a significant role in attracting votes. However, in many cases, we felt that the storytelling aspect was missing photographers often relied on the uniqueness of their subjects rather than using composition and lighting to convey a compelling narrative.
INDIVIDUAL IMAGE REVIEWS
The Frogfish
A challenging subject to locate but relatively easy to photograph, as the frogfish remains still. To elevate this image, a diver shining a torch onto the frogfish could have visually highlighted its elusive nature, adding a storytelling element. Since frogfish are sessile and do not flee when approached, there’s a great opportunity to experiment with creative lighting techniques backlighting or coloured lighting could have enhanced the wow factor.
Overall: Exceptional image quality, with exposure and focus executed perfectly!
The Nudibranch and Amphipod
This was a definite WOW image. The colours and contrast were simply stunning. However, something about the composition felt slightly disruptive perhaps a different crop or rotation would have improved the visual flow. While we couldn’t quite pinpoint the issue, we believe a slight adjustment in framing could have made this the competition’s standout winner.
Overall: An extraordinary shot with minor compositional tweaks that could elevate it even further!
THE GREAT WHITE SHARK
As this was a popularity-driven contest, it’s no surprise that an image of a Great White captured the public’s imagination. The image was an excellent interpretation of the competition theme and a very clever choice for submission.
From a technical standpoint, it was flawless exposure and focus were spot on. However, we felt that a closer shot from underneath, or a more dramatic upward angle, could have further accentuated the shark’s grandeur and power. That said, we acknowledge that achieving this composition is far easier said than done!
Overall: A well-deserved win, both in terms of public appeal and technical execution!
FINAL THOUGHTS
Looking back, we believe this competition successfully achieved its goal not only did we select a stunning cover for Alert Diver Magazine, but we also encouraged photographers to reflect on their craft and think critically about their imagery.
To all who participated, thank you for sharing your incredible work and passion for underwater photography. Congratulations to our winners! We look forward to seeing even more breathtaking images in the future. Keep pushing boundaries, telling stories, and capturing the magic of the underwater world!
