Since the advent of photography, mankind has recorded nearly every important historical event through still frames. When we think of the U.S. Civil War, the Kennedy assassination or the moon landing, we visualize photographs. This is the way the human brain works — even when we think of motion pictures or video, we see individual still frames in our mind’s eye.
Humans are visual creatures. Tens of thousands of years ago people painted pictures on cave walls to record the things they witnessed in their lives and the things that mattered to them. But photography captures a moment — a brief, fleeting scene that would otherwise vanish in an instant. And in the image that remains lies great power. Images have the power to educate, entertain, motivate and inspire. From a single still frame we can evoke emotion. With a solitary photograph we can change the world.
Since the beginning, photography has been used to honor the natural world. Photographers working in far-off, exotic locales or in their own backyards share images in a collective celebration of our planet. They show us things we have never seen before and inspire us to see familiar things in new ways. This year, 2016, marks the centennial of the National Park Service, caretakers and protectors of the U.S. national parks. Called “America’s best idea,” national parks were created in large part because a photographer named William Henry Jackson accompanied the Hayden Geological Survey to America’s West in 1871 and returned with stunning images of places many people had believed were only myths. When Congress saw the images, they took action and created Yellowstone National Park in March 1872.
Although we live on a water planet, the majority of the population is not divers. Thus underwater photography plays a vital role in sharing what we as divers know: Earth’s oceans are magnificent and must be protected. The images we produce bear witness to the fact that this stunning realm exists. Though few will ever experience it personally, what lies beneath the waves matters immensely to all who live on land.
As underwater photographers, we are explorers and ambassadors. We travel to places with a camera in hand and return with images that enlighten. Underwater photographers reveal a netherworld to celebrate sharks and shrimp, dolphins and damselfish and so much more. Underwater photographs speak for those that have no voice and for places that might seem to be mythical.
Photographers holding cameras have before them a limitless palette with which they create. They share through photography that which matters to them — the things about which they are passionate. And passion is contagious. Most of us begin making pictures for no other reason than our personal enjoyment, but inevitably the pictures reach others and effect change. Our friends, family and colleagues are educated, entertained, motivated and inspired. And with that, we change the world.
Grand Prize
Gannets and Dolphins
Port St Johns, South Africa
By Greg Lecoeur
We spent hours looking for action during the sardine migration along the coast of South Africa. The gannets’ frantic sounds became louder, and the birds seemed to accelerate as they shot straight down to pierce the surface of the sea. Before I got into the water I could not imagine the incredible spectacle that I would find below the surface.
(Nikon D7000, Tokina 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 lens, 1/200 sec @ f/9, ISO 200, Ikelite DS160 strobes (2), Nauticam housing; www.greglecoeur.com)
First Place
Soft Coral Goby
Raja Ampat, West Papua, Indonesia
By Adriano Morettin
I was about to end my dive when my attention was drawn to something very small that moved and hid among the branches of a soft coral. I approached to find two tiny gobies jumping from branch to branch. I pointed my camera toward part of one branch that was not covered by polyps and waited patiently until one of the gobies stopped right in this spot.
(Nikon D800E, Nikon 60mm micro f/2.8 lens, 1/160 sec @ f/22, ISO 200, Seacam Seaflash 150 strobes (2), Seacam housing; www.facebook.com/adriano.morettin)
Second Place
Polar Bear Cub
Olgastretet Pack Ice, Spitsbergen, Svalbard, Norway
By Jayanand Govindaraj
We were following this frisky cub and its mother, and the cub would get distracted by everything around it. Suddenly it looked up and saw that its mother was some distance ahead, so it hurried to catch up with her. It took off in this graceful leap when going from one ice floe to another; as soon as I could see its full reflection in the water, I took the shot.
(Nikon D800E, Nikon AF-S Nikkor 200-400mm f/4 ED-IF VR lens @ 400mm, 1/1600 sec @ f/13, ISO 800, Gitzo GT3542LS tripod with a Really Right Stuff BH-55 ballhead and Wimberley Sidekick; gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand)
Third Place
Sockeye Salmon
Adams River, British Columbia, Canada
By Todd Mintz
Sockeye salmon travel from Canada’s west coast more than 300 miles inland to spawn. The salmon surmount waterfalls and battle cold rushing rivers to reach their birthplace, attract a mate, spawn and die. I spent a week exploring this river, hiking and shooting in my drysuit for eight to 10 hours each day. After four straight hours in the river one morning, I was shivering and exhausted but was rewarded with this close approach.
(Canon EOS 50D, Tokina 10-17mm fisheye lens @ 10mm, 1/200 sec @ f/13, ISO 400, Inon Z-220 strobes (2) on Aquatica arms and clamps, Aquatica 50D housing; www.tmintz.ca)
Fourth Place
Humpback Whale Calf
Tonga, South Pacific
By Scott Portelli
Each year between July and October, humpback whales return to the calm, warm waters of the Kingdom of Tonga to mate and give birth. The encounter in this image was special because of the obvious bond between the mother whale and her young calf. The mother would remain vertical for up to 40 minutes at a time, while the calf surfaced every three to five minutes to breathe.
(Canon EOS 5D Mark III, 15mm fisheye lens, 1/320 sec @ f/8, ISO 320, Seacam housing; www.scottportelli.com)
Fifth Place
Gray Seal
Farne Islands, Northumberland, UK
By Ellen Cuylaerts
Though it was dark and rainy as we departed the village of Seahouses for the Farne Islands, we found ourselves in the middle of some very playful and curious seals from the moment we entered the water. The seals were not at all bothered by our presence, taking breaks from their natural behavior of courting each other and resting in the kelp to closely inspect our fins and cameras.
(Nikon D800, Nikon AF Fisheye-Nikkor 16mm lens, 1/200 sec @ f/7.1, ISO 800, Light and Motion Sola Video 3000 lights (2), Subal housing; www.ellencuylaerts.com)
Sixth Place
Red Octopus
San Diego, Calif., USA
By Allison Vitsky Sallmon
I have adored red octopuses ever since I read about the one that went undetected in a well-known aquarium for a year, dining on crabs in its exhibit area until it was discovered crawling across the floor late one night. These creatures are not uncommon, but they can be small, quick and elusive. This tiny, colorful juvenile, however, was very interested in me, and I was able to photograph him in a variety of poses on the kelp.
(Canon EOS 7D, Canon EF-S 60mm f/2.8 lens, 1/200 sec @ f/18, ISO 320, Sea & Sea YS-D1 strobes (2), Sea & Sea housing; www.avitsky.com)
Seventh Place
Pilot Whales
Nice, France
By Greg Lecoeur
While sailing in the Mediterranean with friends, we spotted several big dorsal fins on the horizon. No sooner had we changed course to approach them than they came to us. We stopped the boat, and I put on my mask and fins, grabbed my camera and eased into the water for one of the best underwater encounters I’ve ever had. These whales were very interested in me and swam around me for five long minutes.
(Nikon D7000, Tokina 10-17mm f/3.5-4.5 lens, 1/160 sec @ f/9, ISO 320, Nauticam natural light housing; www.greglecoeur.com)
Eighth Place
Larval Cusk Eel
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii, USA
By Jeff Milisen
We spotted this larval cusk eel on a blackwater dive off Kona. These eels have many adaptations to help them survive to adulthood, including fin spines that increase their surface area to help keep them from sinking into the abyss, a transparent body that makes them harder to see and an external stomach to promote nutrient consumption and enable this little alien to grow as fast as possible. Eventually it will grow to about 18 inches long and live on the slope of the Big Island between 650 and 2,300 feet.
(Canon EOS Rebel T1i, Canon 60mm macro lens, 1/160 sec @ f/10, ISO 200, Ikelite DS51 strobes (2), Light and Motion 2000 lumen video lights (2), Ikelite housing; MilisenPhotography.yolasite.com)
Ninth Place
Giant Manta at Cleaning Station
Revillagigedo Biosphere Reserve (Socorro Islands), Mexico
By Claudio Contreras Koob
This giant manta approached the island and slowed its pace near where I was waiting. Immediately a group of clarion angelfish left the security of the reef, approached the manta and, to my delight, began cleaning it in front of me. Mantas often travel great distances to reach cleaning sites like this one in the middle of the ocean, which is a testament to the importance of cleaning fishes in the health of the system.
(Canon EOS 5D Mark ll, Sigma 15mm f/2.8 EX DG fisheye lens, 1/80 sec @ f/11, ISO 160, Nikonos SB-105 strobes (2), Seacam housing; www.claudiocontreras.com)
Tenth Place
Eye of the Storm Wave
Hapuna Beach, Big Island of Hawaii, USA
By Nick Selway
There is nothing more powerful than being in the water and experiencing huge waves crashing over your head in the Hawaiian Islands. On this particular morning I went to Hapuna Beach, and the waves were breaking with 6- to 8-foot faces. This wave pitched up, sucking in all the sand and foam from the previous waves, and barreled right over me. At the end of the barrel a bit of light came in, giving the image a stormy mood.
(Canon EOS 5D Mark II, Canon 15mm fisheye lens, 1/1600 sec @ f/6.3,
ISO 400, SPL Waterhousing; www.lavalightgalleries.com)
Eleventh Place
Jellyfish with Trevally
Alor Archipelago, Indonesia
By Eric Madeja
I came across this rarely seen jellyfish on a dusk dive in Indonesia’s Alor Archipelago. The trevally was very protective of its companion and bit me on the hand multiple times before retreating to hide within the jellyfish’s mantle. Rough seas made this split-level shot a challenge, but the overcast sky added a dramatic element to the image.
(Nikon D300, Tokina AT-X 107 AF DX 10-17mm fisheye lens @ 10mm, 1/125 sec @ f/18, ISO 400, Sea & Sea YS-250 strobes (2), Sea & Sea MDX-D300 housing; www.ericmadeja.com)
Twelfth Place
Surfing Pygmy Devil Rays
Ixtapa, Mexico
By Carol Brooks Parker
During a trip along Mexico’s Pacific coastline we stopped in Ixtapa, which possesses a beautiful curving beach. The surf rolled in, backlit by the early morning sun, and I was startled to see the rays gliding in the breaking waves. With the sun behind the clear aqua water, the rays appeared suspended as if behind the glass of an aquarium. I was shooting hand held, and I kicked up the shutter speed to freeze the action.
(Nikon D4S, Nikon AF VR Zoom-Nikkor 80-400mm f/4.5-5.6 ED zoom lens
@ 400mm with a circular polarizing filter, 1/1000 sec @ f/5.6, ISO 400,
hand held; www.cbparkerphoto.com)
Highly Honored
Spotted Dolphins
Golfo Dulce, Costa Rica
By Juan José Pucci
I have traversed this gulf many times and always hoped to encounter the pods of spotted dolphins that come here to feed but had not had any luck. While traveling to a nearby hotel for a photography assignment, a pod of dolphins suddenly appeared and played around our boat just long enough for me to take a few shots. That brief moment was magical for me.
(Nikon D810, Nikon AF-S Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 lens, 1/1000 sec @ f/8,
ISO 800, hand held; www.pucci.cr)
Juvenile Elephant Seal and King Penguin
Gold Harbour, South Georgia Island
By Jayanand Govindaraj
While I was on a trip to South Georgia Island in January 2014, Gold Harbour was full of juvenile male elephant seals lying in heaps, moulting and mock fighting. The weather that day was dreary, and a light snow was falling. Neither the seals nor the penguins were afraid of humans and would allow us to get quite close. Before I photographed this seal, I noticed the penguin coming, so I waited until it was in the frame to take the shot.
(Nikon D800E, Nikon AF-S Nikkor 70-200mm f/4G ED VR lens @ 200mm,
1/800 sec @ f/8, ISO 640, hand held; gallery.leica-users.org/v/jayanand)
Caribbean Flamingo Feeding Chick
Ria Lagartos Biosphere Reserve, Yucatán Peninsula, Mexico
By Claudio Contreras Koob
Both Caribbean flamingo parents care for their chicks, which hatch about one month after the egg is laid. Covered with white down for their first week, the chicks are fed a blood-red secretion rich in hemoglobin, and they grow very fast. Flamingo colonies are highly sensitive to human presence, but I was able to get very close to the nests without disturbing the birds by hiding underneath a camouflage throw-over blind and crawling on all fours.
(Canon EOS 5D Mark ll, Canon EF 300mm f/2.8L IS II USM lens with a Canon Extender EF 2x II, 1/500 sec @ f/11, ISO 200, ground pod; www.claudiocontreras.com)
© Alert Diver — Q2 Spring 2016