Grand Prize
Morning Rays, Grand Cayman Island | Matthew Potenski
Marine biologist Matthew Petenski says great shots take timing. He should know, he's taken 10,000 stingray shots in his life. He got this one by going out to Stingray Sandbar before the usual tourist boats arrived. "If you go early, the water's not too rough, there's lots of sunlight, you're alone in the water with 60-90 stingrays..." Self-taught, Matthew's hobby is now an addiction. He loves those perfect moments and a bit of science, too.
Morning Rays, Grand Cayman Island | Matthew Potenski
Marine biologist Matthew Petenski says great shots take timing. He should know, he's taken 10,000 stingray shots in his life. He got this one by going out to Stingray Sandbar before the usual tourist boats arrived. "If you go early, the water's not too rough, there's lots of sunlight, you're alone in the water with 60-90 stingrays..." Self-taught, Matthew's hobby is now an addiction. He loves those perfect moments and a bit of science, too.
Second Place
Here's Looking at You, Kid, Española Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador | Glory L. Moore
You'd never know Glory Moore has no formal training in photography. She snapped this booby while in the Galápagos celebrating a major birthday. "He may be looking at his reflection in the lens, or just checking me out, but he had no fear." She advises letting wildlife come to you: "I put my camera up. He leaned in with that quizzical look." And, we're glad he did.
Here's Looking at You, Kid, Española Island, Galápagos Islands, Ecuador | Glory L. Moore
You'd never know Glory Moore has no formal training in photography. She snapped this booby while in the Galápagos celebrating a major birthday. "He may be looking at his reflection in the lens, or just checking me out, but he had no fear." She advises letting wildlife come to you: "I put my camera up. He leaned in with that quizzical look." And, we're glad he did.
Third Place
In the Kelp Cathedral, Monterey Bay, California | Ethan Daniels
"Kelp forests are really magical places," says Ethan Daniels, a biologist and author. "Good visibility and beautiful sunlight with calm conditions is rare. This day was perfect, the kelp was so gorgeous." He enjoys the challenge of capturing wide-angle views. "It is an excellent way to depict an ecosystem, and a challenge technically." Looks like he's mastered both.
In the Kelp Cathedral, Monterey Bay, California | Ethan Daniels
"Kelp forests are really magical places," says Ethan Daniels, a biologist and author. "Good visibility and beautiful sunlight with calm conditions is rare. This day was perfect, the kelp was so gorgeous." He enjoys the challenge of capturing wide-angle views. "It is an excellent way to depict an ecosystem, and a challenge technically." Looks like he's mastered both.
Honorable Mention
David Bowie, Silver Bank, Dominican Republic | Jodi Frediani
While photographing humpback whales, Jodi named this calf "David Bowie" because he had markings like eyeliner, and they dubbed the mother "Freckles." Jodi says, "We are respectful of their space, and the whales tend to follow the same rules...We had a mother, a calf, and an escort approach, and the escort kept cruising around over and under us, checking out the line of swimmers."
David Bowie, Silver Bank, Dominican Republic | Jodi Frediani
While photographing humpback whales, Jodi named this calf "David Bowie" because he had markings like eyeliner, and they dubbed the mother "Freckles." Jodi says, "We are respectful of their space, and the whales tend to follow the same rules...We had a mother, a calf, and an escort approach, and the escort kept cruising around over and under us, checking out the line of swimmers."
Honorable Mention
A Moment in Time, Raja Ampat, Indonesia | Liz Harlin
Liz began using an SLR camera and developing her own black-and-white film at age 11. She came to underwater photography in 2006. When she captured these squid, she was visiting Indonesia. "On a night dive, a couple of small reef squid came to investigate our lights. They stayed for a few moments. Then they were gone."
A Moment in Time, Raja Ampat, Indonesia | Liz Harlin
Liz began using an SLR camera and developing her own black-and-white film at age 11. She came to underwater photography in 2006. When she captured these squid, she was visiting Indonesia. "On a night dive, a couple of small reef squid came to investigate our lights. They stayed for a few moments. Then they were gone."
Honorable Mention
Ghost Crab Patrol, Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Virginia | Jay P. Fleming
Jay, who at 23 has been taking pictures since he was 14, has learned early that patience is a virtue when it comes to wildlife photography. On this day, he was out walking along the beach and came across a lot of crabs scurrying about. He set up his camera nearby. "I had to wait in one spot for quite a while 'til he got right perfect with that bush in the background."
Ghost Crab Patrol, Chincoteague National Wildlife Refuge, Virginia | Jay P. Fleming
Jay, who at 23 has been taking pictures since he was 14, has learned early that patience is a virtue when it comes to wildlife photography. On this day, he was out walking along the beach and came across a lot of crabs scurrying about. He set up his camera nearby. "I had to wait in one spot for quite a while 'til he got right perfect with that bush in the background."
Honorable Mention
Hammerheads, Cocos Island, Costa Rica | Naomi Silver
Naomi says it is hard to describe her experience in words: "This massive wall of [hammerheads] came toward us, and then went over our heads. It lasted maybe two minutes, and then they came back over again." Naomi was in Costa Rica with a rescue network, tagging sharks and turtles so they can be tracked and provide key information about their behaviors. A newcomer to underwater photography, this is her first photo contest win.
Hammerheads, Cocos Island, Costa Rica | Naomi Silver
Naomi says it is hard to describe her experience in words: "This massive wall of [hammerheads] came toward us, and then went over our heads. It lasted maybe two minutes, and then they came back over again." Naomi was in Costa Rica with a rescue network, tagging sharks and turtles so they can be tracked and provide key information about their behaviors. A newcomer to underwater photography, this is her first photo contest win.