2020 Ocean Art Contest Winners

Winning Images from the 9th Annual Ocean Art Underwater Photo Contest
By UWPG News

Although 2020 was anything but a normal year, this year's Ocean Art 2020 Underwater Photo Competition managed to produce some of the best underwater photography that we have seen to date! Underwater explorers around the world took photos in their own backyards or select destinations open to travel, and revisited their archives to bring us some truly eye-catching photography.  These photos showcase the perseverance of underwater artistry amidst the adversity of the times.

Photographers from 80 countries entered images, and over $45,000 in sponsored prizes have been awarded -making the Ocean Art prize value among the highest in the world. This unique assortment of photos could not have been possible without the help of our generous sponsors who have all had to navigate a changing travel and dive industry. Earlier this year, many of these same sponsors helped the Ocean Art competition raise money to donate to the WHO and CDC in their fight against Covid-19.

Winners were asked to rank their prize choices and were awarded one prize based on the total points earned from all their winning photos.

We would also like to extend our gratitude to our world-renowned judges Tony Wu, Mark Stickland, and Marty Snyderman, and Bluewater Photo and Bluewater Travel for their utmost support. Click here to view the judges comments for Ocean Art 2020.

Press Release and Media Contact: http://www.uwphotographyguide.com/ocean-art-2020-press-release

 

Click here to view the Ocean Art 2020 winners at a larger size (best for desktop)

Want to win next year? Join one of our underwater photo workshops

Need help finding the right underwater photo gear? Check out Bluewater Photo!

 


 

Quick Links:

Wide Angle      Macro      Marine Life Behavior      Portrait      Coldwater      Nudibranch

 

Compact Category:

 

List of Winners

 


Best of Show

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 "The Day of the Tentacles"
Best of Show - Gaetano Dario Gargiulo
Shot in New South Wales, Australia

 

 

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Wide-Angle Category

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 "The Day of the Tentacles"
1st Place - Gaetano Dario Gargiulo
Shot in New South Wales, Australia

 

"Bullet"
2nd Place - Gilles Auroux

 

"Mom and Calf"
3rd Place - Qing Lin
Shot in Vavau, Tonga

 

"My New Toy"
4th Place - Celia Kujala
Shot in Hornby, Canada

 

"Reflections 2"
Honorable Mention - Matt Curnock
Shot in Great Barrier Reef, Australia

 

"Waterlily"
Honorable Mention - Flip Staes
Shot in Turnhout, Belgium

 

Macro

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"Seahorse"
1st Place - Galice Hoarau
Shot in Siladen, Indonesia

"Baby Anglerfish"
2nd Place - Sayaka Ichinoseki

"Orange and Hairy"
3rd Place - Ludvic Galko-Rundgren
Shot in Tulamben, Indonesia

"Latest Gossip"
Honorable Mention - Andy Schmid
Shot in Lembeh Strait, Indonesia

"Soulmates"
Honorable Mention - Erika Miura
Shot in Kerama Islands, Okinawa, Japan

 

Marine Life Behavior

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"Mating Crabs"
1st Place - Steven Kovacs
Shot in Palm Beach, Florida, USA

"A Mother's Watchful Eye"
2nd Place - Louise Nott
Shot in Shellharbour, Australia

"Shy and Brave"
3rd Place - Salvatore Ianniello

"New Life Into The World"
4th Place - Mayumi Takeuchi-Ebbins
Shot in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan

"Old Friends"
Honorable Mention - Adam Martin
Shot in Moorea, French Polynesia

"Take Cover"
Honorable Mention - Luke Gordon
Shot in West Yaukuve Levu Island, Fiji Islands


Portrait

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"Anglerfish"
1st Place - Galice Hoarau


"Mardi Gras Blenny"
2nd Place - Jeff Molder
Shot in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

"Harlequin Sweetlips"
3rd Place - Igor Bogachenko
Shot in Tulamben, Indonesia

"The Eyes Have It"
4th Place  - Thomas Gaitley
Shot in Jamestown, Rhode Island, USA

"Never Smile at a Crocodile"
Honorable Mention  - Catherine Holmes

Coldwater

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"Cathedral of Kelp"
1st Place - Jon Anderson
Shot in Monterey, California, USA

"Waiting for the Kiss"
2nd Place - Johan Sundelin
Shot in Halland, Sweden

"The Push"
3rd Place - Matthew Sullivan
Shot in Shetland Port Fidalgo, Alaska, USA

"Jewel of the Kelp Forest"
Honorable Mention - Jon Anderson
Shot in Monterey, California, USA

"Dream Meeting"
Honorable Mention - Celia Kujala
Shot in Coronado Island, Mexico

Nudibranchs

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"Quarantine"
1st Place - Wen Chou Wu

"Queen of Sistiana"
2nd Place - Luca De Pauli
Shot in Sistiana, Italy

"The Sea Slug"
3rd Place - Raffaele Livornese
Shot in Anilao, Batangas, Philippines

"Maculata"
Honorable Mention - Jon Anderson
Shot in Monterey, California, USA

"Diana's Chromodoris"
Honorable Mention - Fred Turoff
 

Blackwater

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"Acanthonus Armatus"
1st Place - Steven Kovacs
Shot in Palm Beach, Florida, USA

"Attitude"
2nd Place - Steven Kovacs 
Shot in Palm Beach, Florida, USA

"Juvenile Sailfish"
3rd Place - Galice Hoarau
Shot in Siladen, Indonesia

"Dinner Time"
Honorable Mention - Steven Kovacs 
Shot in Palm Beach, Florida, USA

"Pretty as a Peacock"
Honorable Mention - Lureen Ferretti
Shot in Palm Beach, Florida, USA

Underwater Conservation

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"French Reviera Corona Mask"
1st Place - Christophe Chellapermal

"Playing with Plastic"
2nd Place - Celia Kujala
Shot in Coronado Island, Mexico

"Cindy vs. Lionfish"
3rd Place - Stephanie Doniger
Shot in Honduras, Roatan

"The Rope"
4th Place - Eduardo Acevedo

"The Last Moments of a Sperm Whale"
Honorable Mention - Rafael Fernandez

"Eco Tourism"
Honorable Mention - Alex Lindbloom

Underwater Art

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"Crocosmile"
1st Place - Jenny Stock
Shot in Gardens of the Queen National Park, Cuba, Caribbean Sea

"Drowning in Plastic"
2nd Place - Justin Lutsky
Shot in California, USA

"Merry Christmas"
3rd Place - Andrey Savin
Shot in Negros Oriental, Philippines

"Andromeda"
Honorable Mention - Michal Štros
Shot in Lembeh, Indonesia

Compact Wide Angle

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"Giant Frogfish"
1st Place - Enrico Somogyi
Shot in Anilao, Batangas, Philippines

"Alone"
2nd Place - Joanna Chen
Shot in New South Wales, Australia

"Ad Astra"
3rd Place - Andrea Michelutti
Shot in Trieste, Italy

"Pardon"
Honorable Mention - Na Mi
Shot in Vava'u Island, Tonga

"The Beast of Koh Tao"
Honorable Mention - Alexandra Vautin
Shot in Koh Tao, Thailand


Compact Macro

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"5 Baby Seahorses"
1st Place - PT Hirschfield
Shot in Blairgowrie Pier, Melbourne, Australia

"My Eggs"
2nd Place - Brian Vaccarella 
 Shot in Lembeh, Indonesia

"Garfish Reflection"
3rd Place - PT Hirschfield
Shot in Blairgowrie Pier, Melbourne, Australia

"The Hedgehog"
Honorable Mention - Daniela Menegon
Shot in Quebec, Canada

"I am shy"
Honorable Mention - Kathrin Landgraf-Kluge
Shot in Tulamben, Indonesia

Compact Behavior

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"Coral Spawning"
1st Place - Chia Chi Chang

"Synchronized"
2nd Place - Jules Casey
Shot in Port Phillip Bay, Australia
 
"Life's Purpose"
3rd Place - Jules Casey
Shot in Port Phillip Bay, Australia

"Barracuda Meets the Goggle Eyes"
Honorable Mention - Stephanie Doniger
Shot in Honduras, Roatan

"Life Begins"
Honorable Mention - Michele Sbrilli
Shot in Taranto, Italy

 


List of Winners

Wide Angle

1st Place:  Gaetano Dario Gargiulo

2nd Place:  Gilles Auroux

3rd Place:  Qing Lin

4th Place  Celia Kujala

Honorable Mention:  Matt Curnock

Honorable Mention:  Filip Staes

 

Macro

1st Place:  Galice Hoarau

2nd Place:  Sayaka Ichinoseki

3rd Place:  Ludovic Galko-Rundgren

Honorable Mention:  Andy Schmid

Honorable Mention:  Erika Miura

 

Marine Life Behavior

1st Place:  Steven Kovacs

2nd Place:  Louise Nott

3rd Place:  Salvatore Lanniello

4th Place  Mayumi Takeuchi-Ebbins

Honorable Mention:  Adam Martin

Honorable Mention:  Luke Gordon

 

Portrait

1st Place:  Galice Hoarau

2nd Place:  Jeff Molder

3rd Place:  Igor Bogachenko

4th Place  Thomas Gaitley

Honorable Mention:  Catherine Holmes

 

Coldwater

1st Place:  Jon Anderson

2nd Place:  Johan Sundelin

3rd Place:  Matthew Sullivan

Honorable Mention:  Jon Anderson

Honorable Mention:  Celia Kujala

 

Nudibranch

1st Place:  Wen Chou Wu

2nd Place:  Luca De Pauli

3rd Place:  Raffaele Livornese

Honorable Mention:  Jon Anderson

Honorable Mention:  Fred Turoff

 

Blackwater

1st Place:  Steven Kovacs

2nd Place:  Steven Kovacs

3rd Place:  Galice Hoarau

Honorable Mention:  Steven Kovacs

Honorable Mention:  Lureen Ferretti

 

Underwater Conservation

1st Place:  Christophe Chellapermal

2nd Place:  Celia Kujala

3rd Place:  Stephanie Doniger

4th Place  Eduardo Acevedo

Honorable Mention:  Rafael Fernanadez

Honorable Mention:  Alex Lindbloom

 

Underwater Art

1st Place:  Jenny Stock

2nd Place:  Justin Lutsky

3rd Place:  Andrey Savin

Honorable Mention:  Michal Štros

 

Compact Wide Angle

1st Place:  Enrico Somogyi

2nd Place:  Joanna Chen

3rd Place:  Andrea Michelutti

Honorable Mention:  Na Mi

Honorable Mention:  Alexandra Vautin

 

Compact Macro

1st Place:  PT Hirschfield

2nd Place:  Brian Vaccarella

3rd Place:  PT Hirschfield

Honorable Mention:  Daniela Menegon

Honorable Mention:  Kathrin Landgraf-Kluge

 

Compact Behavior

1st Place:  Chia Chi Chang

2nd Place:  Jules Casey

3rd Place:  Jules Casey

Honorable Mention:  Stephanie Doniger

Honorable Mention:  Michele Sbrilli

 

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