The ocean is as beautiful as it is dangerous and unpredictable. Have a look at these pictures from the Underwater Photography Of The Year 2019 competition.
The best photos were chosen from almost 5,000 applications from photographers from all over the world.
Photographers showed the unique beauty of the underwater world and their unexpected finds via their snaps.
Winner of the Underwater Photographer of the Year contest 2019 British photographer Richard Barnden with a picture “The Gauntlet”.
As the sun sets on Fakarava South Pass, the estimated 700 sharks that are patrolling the mouth of the channel by day, begins to hunt at night. The gauntlet is about to unfold. Descending into the darkness I can feel my heart beating a little faster than normal as hundreds of sharks are now covering the bottom. This unlucky parrotfish dodged in and out of the patch coral heads looking for somewhere to hide as swarms of sharks followed in hot pursuit. One grey reef shark suddenly grabbed the parrotfish by its head as the another twisted underneath it to get a better grip. In desperation it hurtled straight towards me as I snapped a few passing shots and curled up into a ball as the frenzy of sharks shot past, leaving only but a few falling parrotfish scales behind.
As the sun sets on Fakarava South Pass, the estimated 700 sharks that are patrolling the mouth of the channel by day, begins to hunt at night. The gauntlet is about to unfold. Descending into the darkness I can feel my heart beating a little faster than normal as hundreds of sharks are now covering the bottom. This unlucky parrotfish dodged in and out of the patch coral heads looking for somewhere to hide as swarms of sharks followed in hot pursuit. One grey reef shark suddenly grabbed the parrotfish by its head as the another twisted underneath it to get a better grip. In desperation it hurtled straight towards me as I snapped a few passing shots and curled up into a ball as the frenzy of sharks shot past, leaving only but a few falling parrotfish scales behind.
Photo “Paradise” by Korean photographer Taeyup Kim, who won the Up & Coming category of the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2019 contest.
Overwater: beautiful resorts and palm trees in a super clear sky. Underwater: nearly 1m depth, colourful and untouched hard corals with some reef fishes. For the first dive here, I was running out of time for preparing ascent. And I request only diving this specific area for the nice split shots. I worked for about 30 minutes. I met 2 difficult points. Surface was not that calm because of the surrounding boat which made waves. Secondly my posture was really unstable in super shallow depth, surrounding hard corals for lifting my dome and getting right composition. Frankly, I was waiting gray reef shark and black-tip reef shark near here coming into this composition. I failed but I like this paradise.
Overwater: beautiful resorts and palm trees in a super clear sky. Underwater: nearly 1m depth, colourful and untouched hard corals with some reef fishes. For the first dive here, I was running out of time for preparing ascent. And I request only diving this specific area for the nice split shots. I worked for about 30 minutes. I met 2 difficult points. Surface was not that calm because of the surrounding boat which made waves. Secondly my posture was really unstable in super shallow depth, surrounding hard corals for lifting my dome and getting right composition. Frankly, I was waiting gray reef shark and black-tip reef shark near here coming into this composition. I failed but I like this paradise.
Photo “Caretta caretta turtle” by Spanish photographer Acevedo, who won the Marine Conservation category of the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2019.
The Caretta caretta turtles spend much of their life in the open ocean. They come to the Canary Island after crossing the Atlantic Ocean from the Caribbean beaches. In this trip of many years they often have to avoid many dangerous traps like plastics, ropes, fishing nets etc. In this particular case it got trapped in a net and it was practically impossible to escape from it... but this day it was very lucky and could escape thanks to the help of two underwater photographers who were sailing near her.
The Caretta caretta turtles spend much of their life in the open ocean. They come to the Canary Island after crossing the Atlantic Ocean from the Caribbean beaches. In this trip of many years they often have to avoid many dangerous traps like plastics, ropes, fishing nets etc. In this particular case it got trapped in a net and it was practically impossible to escape from it... but this day it was very lucky and could escape thanks to the help of two underwater photographers who were sailing near her.
Photo “Marine Compass” by Malcolm Nimmo, awarded with the Highly Commended award in the British Waters Wide Angle category of the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2019.
Being a passionate diver and snorkeler, I spend much of my spare time in UK waters particularly around Plymouth Sound, Torbay and the Isles of Scilly. All are beautiful and diverse marine environments.
Towards the end of July, you may be lucky enough to encounter a compass jellyfish, pulsating gently through the surface waters. Not only are they fascinating creatures but they make potentially beautiful photographic subjects.
This photograph was taken whilst snorkelling in the Isles of Scilly in only a few metres of water, shooting directly upwards to capture the surface features and a partial Snell’s windows. Maintaining both the surface features and subject illumination requires high strobe power settings and hence careful strobe positioning. Hopefully this image highlights the beautiful marine environments we are lucky to have around the UK.
Being a passionate diver and snorkeler, I spend much of my spare time in UK waters particularly around Plymouth Sound, Torbay and the Isles of Scilly. All are beautiful and diverse marine environments.
Towards the end of July, you may be lucky enough to encounter a compass jellyfish, pulsating gently through the surface waters. Not only are they fascinating creatures but they make potentially beautiful photographic subjects.
This photograph was taken whilst snorkelling in the Isles of Scilly in only a few metres of water, shooting directly upwards to capture the surface features and a partial Snell’s windows. Maintaining both the surface features and subject illumination requires high strobe power settings and hence careful strobe positioning. Hopefully this image highlights the beautiful marine environments we are lucky to have around the UK.
Photo “Gentle Giants” by François Baelen, winner of the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2019 Wide Angle category.
At the very end of the day, this humpback whale was resting 15 meters down and allowed me to free dive centimetres away from her tail. I told my friend I wanted him to be part of the shot, but didn't need to ask the playful calf : he was very curious.
From down there, the scene looked unreal and I'm glad that this photograph has captured this moment. Humpback whales are amazing and peaceful animals and I still can't believe they are still being hunted by mankind today.
At the very end of the day, this humpback whale was resting 15 meters down and allowed me to free dive centimetres away from her tail. I told my friend I wanted him to be part of the shot, but didn't need to ask the playful calf : he was very curious.
From down there, the scene looked unreal and I'm glad that this photograph has captured this moment. Humpback whales are amazing and peaceful animals and I still can't believe they are still being hunted by mankind today.
Photo “Curios bear's cubs” by Russian photographer Mike Korostelev, awarded in the Wide Angle category of the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2019 contest.
For this image I used a camera with a remote control. I put the camera in shallow water and waited nearby for the moment. One day a mother bear came close and started fishing. Her 4 cubs 1.5 years old were bored. They started to play with each other and suddenly found a camera under the water and started to explore it.
For this image I used a camera with a remote control. I put the camera in shallow water and waited nearby for the moment. One day a mother bear came close and started fishing. Her 4 cubs 1.5 years old were bored. They started to play with each other and suddenly found a camera under the water and started to explore it.
Photo “Under cover of night” by Russian photographer Egor Nikiforov, awarded with the Highly Commended award in the Wide Angle category of the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2019 contest.
The underwater life of the Northern seas is very diverse. Many of the organisms living here are much larger and brighter than their southern counterparts. But if life itself in the seas is well studied, the organisms living on the boundary between the sea and land, we rarely notice. But on the littoral and in the littoral baths you can find many interesting organisms that deserve our attention. One of these organisms in front of you-a small almost transparent actinium size of only a few centimeters inhabits the littoral and withstands the monstrous force of the surf wave and strong hypothermia during low tide. The photo is made by a single frame. To shoot this project took a month of work and a lot of luck.
The underwater life of the Northern seas is very diverse. Many of the organisms living here are much larger and brighter than their southern counterparts. But if life itself in the seas is well studied, the organisms living on the boundary between the sea and land, we rarely notice. But on the littoral and in the littoral baths you can find many interesting organisms that deserve our attention. One of these organisms in front of you-a small almost transparent actinium size of only a few centimeters inhabits the littoral and withstands the monstrous force of the surf wave and strong hypothermia during low tide. The photo is made by a single frame. To shoot this project took a month of work and a lot of luck.
Photo “Fly high and smile” by Greek photographer Nicholas Samaras, who won in the Portrait category of the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2019 contest.
Abandoned by swimmers and divers for many years because of the gold mine just on the edge of the gulf, Stratoni is a well kept secret for scuba divers and macro photographers.
I visited Stratoni three times in August 2018 for a photo project dedicated to the seahorse colony that managed to survive there. On my third and last visit I was planning to create a specific group photo of seahorses, before the sunset using natural light.
Just on time of the big finale, a small ray came into the scene! Hidden in the sand a few centimetres from my camera, took off swimming in the shallows. I managed to swim with him and place my camera underneath to capture a portrait of his belly with the mouth and nose looking like a smiling happy angel’s face, with the sun beams on the background softening the colour to emerald.
Abandoned by swimmers and divers for many years because of the gold mine just on the edge of the gulf, Stratoni is a well kept secret for scuba divers and macro photographers.
I visited Stratoni three times in August 2018 for a photo project dedicated to the seahorse colony that managed to survive there. On my third and last visit I was planning to create a specific group photo of seahorses, before the sunset using natural light.
Just on time of the big finale, a small ray came into the scene! Hidden in the sand a few centimetres from my camera, took off swimming in the shallows. I managed to swim with him and place my camera underneath to capture a portrait of his belly with the mouth and nose looking like a smiling happy angel’s face, with the sun beams on the background softening the colour to emerald.
Photo “Family portrait” by Russian photographer Mike Korostelev, awarded with a Commended award in the Behaviour category of the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2019 contest.
For about a month I went out to the ocean in search of sperm whales. There were many different encounters. But this day was the most memorable! Seven sperm whales actively communicated among each other and did not pay any attention to me. I spent about 20 minutes very close to the group until the dolphins came and scared off this family.
For about a month I went out to the ocean in search of sperm whales. There were many different encounters. But this day was the most memorable! Seven sperm whales actively communicated among each other and did not pay any attention to me. I spent about 20 minutes very close to the group until the dolphins came and scared off this family.
Photo “Sinister Pygmy” by British photographer Sinister Pygmy, awarded in the Portrait category of the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2019 contest.
Scuba Seraya house reef, Bali, is home to the most friendly Bargibanti pygmy seahorses, that I have encountered. Uplighting using a single strobe from below gives an unusual and sinister portrait of these normally cute critters. A fast shutter speed was used to create a black background and I didn't have to wait very long for the pregnant, little dude to turn and face me, to get my shot.
Scuba Seraya house reef, Bali, is home to the most friendly Bargibanti pygmy seahorses, that I have encountered. Uplighting using a single strobe from below gives an unusual and sinister portrait of these normally cute critters. A fast shutter speed was used to create a black background and I didn't have to wait very long for the pregnant, little dude to turn and face me, to get my shot.
Photo “Big Guns” by Danish photographer René B. Andersen, who won the Wrecks category of the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2019 contest.
My inspiration for this picture is Leigh Bishop’s black and white image of the HMS Audacious turret.
The HMS Audacious, which is laying on 64 meters in Malin Head, Ireland, was a dreadnought battleship which struck a mine in 1914. After she capsized, the shells magazine exploded and she sank.
I used a tripod and 3 Big Blue video lights to illuminate the turret with the majestic 13.5” guns and myself as the model. There was a small current so it wasn't easy to lay still during this long exposure shot. It took some time before achieving this shot and at 64 meters, the clock is ticking fast. That is the challenge with deep wreck photography. When I used the tripod with me as a model, there was a risk that something would go wrong as I am far from the camera so I had to cross my fingers every single shot.
My inspiration for this picture is Leigh Bishop’s black and white image of the HMS Audacious turret.
The HMS Audacious, which is laying on 64 meters in Malin Head, Ireland, was a dreadnought battleship which struck a mine in 1914. After she capsized, the shells magazine exploded and she sank.
I used a tripod and 3 Big Blue video lights to illuminate the turret with the majestic 13.5” guns and myself as the model. There was a small current so it wasn't easy to lay still during this long exposure shot. It took some time before achieving this shot and at 64 meters, the clock is ticking fast. That is the challenge with deep wreck photography. When I used the tripod with me as a model, there was a risk that something would go wrong as I am far from the camera so I had to cross my fingers every single shot.
Photo “Switch” by Chinese photographer Ping Sun, awarded with Highly Commended in the Marine Conservation category of the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2019 contest.
Marine mammals need to breathe like us. How would we feel if we are the one who is trapped and entangled in fishing nets under the sea? I had had this idea for a long time, but as this shot involves nets and the real danger of entanglement, finding safety divers and especially the right model who can hold her breath for long enough and not panicking with nets all over her is not easy. Dry runs had to be done on land and in water without the nets to ensure safety, and finally after much effort, the shot is finally created.
Marine mammals need to breathe like us. How would we feel if we are the one who is trapped and entangled in fishing nets under the sea? I had had this idea for a long time, but as this shot involves nets and the real danger of entanglement, finding safety divers and especially the right model who can hold her breath for long enough and not panicking with nets all over her is not easy. Dry runs had to be done on land and in water without the nets to ensure safety, and finally after much effort, the shot is finally created.
Photo “ Window cleaner's nightmare” by Polish photographer Michal Bazala, awarded with the Highly Commended award in the Up & Coming category of the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2019 contest.
The idea during this dive, that inspired me and my diving partner Lukasz Wrona, was to look for some comic behaviour of a diver underwater. We had couple of opportunities: the Zakrzowek quarry bottom is full of plane and car wrecks, submerged intentionally for divers. I was inside the AN-2 plane wreck and asked Lukasz to do one of his theatrical expressions without his regulator. The only broken window seemed to be the perfect frame for this setup. Diatoms covering the glass made the colour, and I overexposed a bit the background to lit them up with the available light. The wreck lies at 12 m depth, however in these cold waters the light is already dim. For that reason, I used one strobe to fill the cockpit with light.
The idea during this dive, that inspired me and my diving partner Lukasz Wrona, was to look for some comic behaviour of a diver underwater. We had couple of opportunities: the Zakrzowek quarry bottom is full of plane and car wrecks, submerged intentionally for divers. I was inside the AN-2 plane wreck and asked Lukasz to do one of his theatrical expressions without his regulator. The only broken window seemed to be the perfect frame for this setup. Diatoms covering the glass made the colour, and I overexposed a bit the background to lit them up with the available light. The wreck lies at 12 m depth, however in these cold waters the light is already dim. For that reason, I used one strobe to fill the cockpit with light.
Photo “Fast cuttlefish” by Italian photographer Fabio Iardino, who won the Macro category of the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2019 Macro contest.
"In the first three months of the year I often go to the Gulf of Trieste in the north-east of Italy where I do night dives to take pictures of small cuttlefishes, more precisely of the species "Sepiola sp." The hope, given the period, is to find the cuttlefish during the mating phase. During the research I found this Sepiola that moved about a half meter from the bottom. Looking at his way of moving, I was reminded of the idea of trying to make a panning shot and to photograph the effect of the movement to give dynamism to the image.
Using the slow sync flash technique, after some unsuccessful attempts and after changing the parameters of my camera, I managed to capture an image that represents the movement and good visual impact. (actually they move in the opposite direction... but that's another story).
"In the first three months of the year I often go to the Gulf of Trieste in the north-east of Italy where I do night dives to take pictures of small cuttlefishes, more precisely of the species "Sepiola sp." The hope, given the period, is to find the cuttlefish during the mating phase. During the research I found this Sepiola that moved about a half meter from the bottom. Looking at his way of moving, I was reminded of the idea of trying to make a panning shot and to photograph the effect of the movement to give dynamism to the image.
Using the slow sync flash technique, after some unsuccessful attempts and after changing the parameters of my camera, I managed to capture an image that represents the movement and good visual impact. (actually they move in the opposite direction... but that's another story).
Photo “Between Two Worlds” by Filipino photographer Henley Spiers, who won in the Black & White category of the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2019 contest.
10 metres down, I found myself hovering between two worlds. Below, an enormous school of fish covered the bottom as far as I could see. Above, a single Cormorant patrolled the surface, catching its breath and peering down at a potential underwater feast. The cormorant, better designed for swimming than flying, would dive down at speed, aggressively pursuing the fish. The school would move in unison to escape the bird’s sharp beak, making it difficult to isolate a single target. More often than not, the bird returned to the surface empty handed and peace would momentarily be restored. I would squint up at the sunny surface, trying to keep track of the predator and anticipate the next underwater raid. This image captures the hostile, black silhouette of the cormorant as it dives down onto its prey, who for a brief moment, remain unaware of the danger above.
10 metres down, I found myself hovering between two worlds. Below, an enormous school of fish covered the bottom as far as I could see. Above, a single Cormorant patrolled the surface, catching its breath and peering down at a potential underwater feast. The cormorant, better designed for swimming than flying, would dive down at speed, aggressively pursuing the fish. The school would move in unison to escape the bird’s sharp beak, making it difficult to isolate a single target. More often than not, the bird returned to the surface empty handed and peace would momentarily be restored. I would squint up at the sunny surface, trying to keep track of the predator and anticipate the next underwater raid. This image captures the hostile, black silhouette of the cormorant as it dives down onto its prey, who for a brief moment, remain unaware of the danger above.
Photo “Hairy in the Sunrise” by German photographer Enrico Somogyi, who won Compact category in the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2019 contest.
I woke up early in the morning to get a half and half shoot with a fisher boat and the Sunrise. This was the first picture. The second picture with the Hairy Frogfish I take on Laha 1. Here I was using a Inon S2000 with a Snoot for the Hairy. For the blue backlighting I used a colored Fiberoptic Snoot on a Inon Z240. To get the two Pictures together I was using the double Exposure Setting in the camera.
I woke up early in the morning to get a half and half shoot with a fisher boat and the Sunrise. This was the first picture. The second picture with the Hairy Frogfish I take on Laha 1. Here I was using a Inon S2000 with a Snoot for the Hairy. For the blue backlighting I used a colored Fiberoptic Snoot on a Inon Z240. To get the two Pictures together I was using the double Exposure Setting in the camera.
Photo “Playtime?” by British photographer Martin Edser, who won the British Waters Compact category of the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2019 contest.
If ever there was an invitation to play this was it! I love diving with and photographing seals, and have dived with them round the UK but this was my first trip to The Farne Islands and what a 'Sealfest' I was treated to. The younger pups especially were very curious of us, the lumbering black bubble monsters. This is great for us as photographers as we can wait for them to become increasingly inquisitive. This adorable seal pirouetted and arabesqued around me before sliding in and flicking sand over itself in a final attempt to get me to play - and it nearly worked! Using the ambient light and managing the aperture and shutter speed I have tried to focus and lock on the face but also capture a sense of movement, but the irresistible pose and eyes though are all this seal's own work.
If ever there was an invitation to play this was it! I love diving with and photographing seals, and have dived with them round the UK but this was my first trip to The Farne Islands and what a 'Sealfest' I was treated to. The younger pups especially were very curious of us, the lumbering black bubble monsters. This is great for us as photographers as we can wait for them to become increasingly inquisitive. This adorable seal pirouetted and arabesqued around me before sliding in and flicking sand over itself in a final attempt to get me to play - and it nearly worked! Using the ambient light and managing the aperture and shutter speed I have tried to focus and lock on the face but also capture a sense of movement, but the irresistible pose and eyes though are all this seal's own work.
Photo “Evening Stroll with Friends” by American photographer Ken Kiefer, awarded with the Highly Commended award in the Wrecks category of the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2019 contest.
This shot took place on a trip to Stuart Cove's in Nassau, Bahamas. It was my first opportunity to shoot a model at depth with diver supplied air. The amount of teamwork that it takes for something like this is astounding. From communication and timing, to the complete coordination of safety divers and positioning it's important to have a group of experienced divers on the same page. It was a bit of a stormy day and the backdrop of the shipwreck and sharks just had a Pirates of the Caribbean moody vibe that we were able to capture.
This shot took place on a trip to Stuart Cove's in Nassau, Bahamas. It was my first opportunity to shoot a model at depth with diver supplied air. The amount of teamwork that it takes for something like this is astounding. From communication and timing, to the complete coordination of safety divers and positioning it's important to have a group of experienced divers on the same page. It was a bit of a stormy day and the backdrop of the shipwreck and sharks just had a Pirates of the Caribbean moody vibe that we were able to capture.
