A sacred shark dance “Best in Show”
Photographer Eduardo Labat won Best in Show with his photograph Dancing White Tips, taken in Roca Partida, Mexico. This hypnotic black and white shows white tip sharks swimming in synchronization, forming an elegant spiral. Labat says he observed this scene during a dive at dusk, about 8 meters deep. “The light was dim, and the sharks seemed to be dancing in a circle. I chose black and white to accentuate the contrasts and the geometry of their movement. » This photo also won the Black and White category, praised for its careful composition.
The 14 categories: from macro to conservation
The Ocean Art 2024 competition, organized by the Underwater Photography Guide, welcomed participants from 90 countries. The 14 categories offer an overview of the technical and artistic challenges faced by underwater photography. Here are some examples:
Marine behavior : Yoichi Sato captured a rare scene in Japan with Born from Mouth, where a male cardinal releases a swarm of larvae after their incubation.
Conservation sous-marine : Kimber Greenwood made an impression with Drowning in Plastic, showing a swimmer surrounded by hundreds of bottles, to raise awareness about plastic pollution in Florida.
Grand angle : In Light, Hwanhee Kim magnified a Mexican cenote, where the light piercing the murky water creates a dreamlike atmosphere.
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Blackwater : Kyungshin Kim surprised with Hunting, immortalizing a squid in full predation of a smaller specimen, a scene as rare as it is impressive.
Images to protect the oceans
Nirupam Nigam, president of Bluewater Photo and organizer of the competition, explains that these photos go well beyond aesthetics: “They are a reminder of how important preserving the oceans is. Each photo tells a story that can touch millions of people across the world. »
Winners shared more than $60,000 in prizesincluding diving trips to legendary places like the Galapagos, and high-end photo equipment. But the objective of the competition remains clear: to inspire concrete actions to protect marine biodiversity. To discover all of the winning photos, visit the Underwater Photography Guide website.
Take the opportunity to also discover our latest publications with other equally impressive photos: the most beautiful panoramic photos of 2024, the funniest animal photos of 2024 and the most beautiful architecture photos 2024, and the most beautiful dog photos.
