DIVE’S BIG SHOT | PHILIPPINES IN PLAY

Big Shot | Philippines in Play 

As you would expect, a lot of macro shots made the final cut in our Big Shot photo competition focusing on the Philippines. But this well-executed split shot of a green turtle grazing of the rocks along Apo Island shoreline was the firm favourite of our judges Douglas David Seifert, Steve Jones and Graeme Gourlay. They all agreed it delivered a vivid sense of place. 

The judges also decided to highly commend a further five images and included 13 others in their selection from the 260 entries. Wayne MacWilliams, of Jupiter, Florida, wins a week’s trip on the new Philippines Aggressor liveaboard, and the other finalists receive a digital subscription to DIVE.

One point that judges wanted to emphasise is that photographs of marine life in unnatural or bizarre settings will not be considered. ‘We were surprised that a number of obviously unnatural images were entered,’ said Douglas Seifert. ‘We want to see beautiful images of marine life doing what it does. We certainly don’t want to see images of crustaceans tossed high in the water column to make a striking shot.’

Our next Big Shot competition will be on a theme rather than a place. The best ‘Seascape’ image entered before 31 October 2020 will win a week-long trip aboard an Aggressor Adventures liveaboard.

Tag your best shots which capture a dramatic underwater vista with #DIVEsBigShotSeacape, post them on social media and then enter the competition on our website.

Winner

MUNCHTIME
by Wayne MacWilliams, United States

Green turtle grazing along Apo Island shoreline, Dumaguete. 
Nikon D7000 in Nauticam housing, Sea&Sea D2 strobes 
Nikon 17-35mm lens at 17mm, f10, 1/160s, ISO 200

HIGHLY COMMENDED

RUSH
by Jenny Stock, Australia

‘A gargantuan school of bigeye trevally whooshed past me in incredible numbers at high speed. What a rush!’
South Atoll, Tubbataha Reefs Natural Park, Palawan. Canon 5D Mark II, Sigma fisheye, Subal housing

ON GUARD
by Enrico Somogyi,
Germany

A pair of gobies protecting their eggs, Anilao.
Olympus E-PL6 in 10Bar housing, Meyer Optik Görlitz Trioplan 50mm F2.9 manual lens,
Archon V10 light with DIY snoot for the gobies and two green gel coloured Archon V10 lights for the background, f2.9, 1/320s, ISO 200

CLOWN
by Jenny Stock

‘Icons of the sea, clownfish are both colourful and graphic. Although it is a common subject I’m always happy to spend time with these characterful subjects.’
Puerto Galera, Calamian Islands. Canon 5D Mark IV in Nauticam housing, 100mm lens

MOUTH FULL
by Enrico Somogyi

A mouth-brooding cardinalfish, Anilao.
Sony RX100VI in a Fantasea housing, Backscatter Mini Flash with an optical snoot and Retra flash with blue gel on
DIY fibre optic snoot, f9, 1/1000s, ISO 100

ALERT
by Enrico Somogyi

A goby perched on a feather star, Anilao.
Sony RX100 VI and Fantasea housing, Backscatter Mini Flash with an optical snoot and
Retra flash with blue gel on DIY fibre optic snoot, f11, 1/500s, ISO 125

 STARRY SEAHORSE

by Catherine Holmes, United Kingdom
 Thorny seahorse (Hippocampus histrix) double exposure.
Shot in Dumaguete. Olympus E-M1 MKII and Nauticam housing, Olympus 60mm 2.8 macro lens and Inon Z-330 strobes.
Backlit with a small Weefine torch, f22, 1/640s, ISO 200

POISED
by Catherine Holmes

 The sea pen is an octocoral. The sea pen goby (Lobulogobius morrigu) shelters among its polyps for protection.
Olympus EM1 MKII, Nauticam housing, Olympus 60mm 2.8 macro lens and Inon Z330 strobes, f11, 1/80s, ISO 200

LOVE IS IN THE SEA
by Kristijan Maurovic

‘Two large whip gobies, looking as if they are kissing!’
Taken in Mabini. Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mk II, Nauticam housing, Olympus 60mm 2.8 macro lens and Sea&Sea YS-D1 flashes

THE MOUTH BREEDER
by Kristijan Maurovic

 A ring-tailed cardinalfish with eggs in its mouth.
Taken at Matu Point in Mabini, a known haunt of the species.
Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mk II, Nauticam housing, Olympus 60mm 2.8 macro lens and Sea&Sea YS-D1 flashes

FLEETING MOMENT 
by Kristijan Maurovic, Germany

 ‘Taken during a blackwater dive, the mantis shrimp larva is only 20mm long and was hard to photograph because it moved very quickly when caught in my lights.’
Taken in Mabini, the Philippines. Olympus OM-D E-M1 Mk II, Nauticam housing, Olympus 60mm 2.8 macro lens and Sea&Sea YS-D1 

GRUMPY 
by Mark Chivers, United Kingdom

Lemon goby looking miserable. Sogod Bay.
Nikon D500 in Nauticam housing, Nikon 105mm macro lens, Sea&Sea YS-D2 strobe with Retra LSD snoot

WHIPPED UP
by Wayne MacWilliams

Dwarf goby on whip coral in Bohol.
Nikon D7000 in Nauticam housing, Sea&Sea D2 strobes, Nikon 60mm macro lens, f18, 1/80s, ISO 100

NEON POSTER
by Wayne MacWilliams

Fluorescent image of anemone. Puerto Galera.
Nikon D7000 in Nauticam housing, Sea&Sea D2 strobes, Nikon 60mm macro lens, f13, 1/60s, ISO 200

I SEA YOU
by Wayne MacWilliams

‘Seahorse watching my every move, without moving its body.’
Anilao. Nikon D7000 in Nauticam housing, Sea&Sea D2 strobes, Nikon 105mm macro lens, f16, 1/250s, ISO 100

PSYCHEDELIA
by Wayne MacWilliams

Fluorescent mushroom coral, Anilao.
‘Besides the fluorescent lighting and filters, I also used a Bigblue red light.’ 
Nikon D7000 in Nauticam housing, Sea&Sea D2 strobes, Nikon 60mm macro lens, f16, 1/160s, ISO 100

CHILLIN’
by Wayne MacWilliams

A beautiful green turtle having a remora head massage. Apo Island, Dumaguete.
Nikon D7000 in Nauticam housing, Sea&Sea D2 strobes, Tokina 10-17 plus 1.4 tele at 20mm, f13, 1/50s, ISO 200

LOCKED ON
by Wayne MacWilliams

 ‘Sea snake on a mission (looking for lunch) and coming in my direction.’
Apo Island, Dumaguete. Nikon D7000 in Nauticam housing, Sea&Sea D2 strobes, Tokina 10-17 plus 1.4 tele at 19mm, f13, 1/160s, ISO 200