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Everyone loves a good photography contest, right? A selection of stunning photos picked by a talented jury is just the perfect way to find not only entertainment but also inspiration. Underwater Photography Guide just announced the winners of their 2019 Ocean Art Contest. With 16 different categories, such as Wide-Angle, Portrait, and Nudibranchs, the final count of photographs boiled down to a solid hundred, prize winners and honorable mentions included.

Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition offered over $85,000 in prizes and attracted thousands of entries. Underwater Photography Guide describes this particular contest as one of the most prestigious nature photo contests in the world. This year's entries came from 78 countries, a pretty impressive number that guaranteed solid representation from all over the world. The 2019 contest winners were picked out by Tony Wu, Martin Edge, Marty Snyderman, and Scott Gietler. You can read the judges' commentary by clicking here

More info: uwphotographyguide.com

 

#1

Honorable Mention - Enrico Somogyi - Compact Wide Angle Category - "Coconut Octopus"

Honorable Mention - Enrico Somogyi - Compact Wide Angle Category - "Coconut Octopus"

Enrico Somogyi Report

#2

5th Place - Tianhong Wang - Blackwater Category - "Bride"

5th Place - Tianhong Wang - Blackwater Category - "Bride"

Tianhong Wang Report

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glowworm2
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

This is a really pretty photo--even if it clearly is a fish about to become a jellyfish's meal.

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#3

3rd Place - Steven Kovacs - Blackwater Category - "Lionfish"

3rd Place - Steven Kovacs - Blackwater Category - "Lionfish"

Steven Kovacs Report

#4

3rd Place - Dave Johnson - Macro Category - "The Hyponotist"

3rd Place - Dave Johnson - Macro Category - "The Hyponotist"

Dave Johnson Report

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#5

3rd Place - George Kuo-Wei Kao - Novice Macro Category - "Who Is It?"

3rd Place - George Kuo-Wei Kao - Novice Macro Category - "Who Is It?"

George Kuo-Wei Kao Report

#6

1st - Paula Vianna - Marine Life Behavior Category - "A Friendly Ride"

1st - Paula Vianna - Marine Life Behavior Category - "A Friendly Ride"

Paula Vianna Report

#7

2nd Place - Paolo Bausani - Blackwater Category - "Blanket Octopus"

2nd Place - Paolo Bausani - Blackwater Category - "Blanket Octopus"

Paolo Bausani Report

#8

4th Place - Greg Lecoeur - Reefscapes Category - "Biodiversity"

4th Place - Greg Lecoeur - Reefscapes Category - "Biodiversity"

Greg Lecoeur Report

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#9

1st Place - Greg Lecoeur - Coldwater Category - "Crab-Eater Seal"

1st Place - Greg Lecoeur - Coldwater Category - "Crab-Eater Seal"

Greg Lecoeur Report

#10

3rd Place - Fabien Martinazzo - Compact Macro Category - "Telle Une Torpille Pelagia Cherche Sa Proie"

3rd Place - Fabien Martinazzo - Compact Macro Category - "Telle Une Torpille Pelagia Cherche Sa Proie"

Fabien Martinazzo Report

#11

4th Place - Jake Wilton - Novice Wide Angle Category - "Beauty Spots"

4th Place - Jake Wilton - Novice Wide Angle Category - "Beauty Spots"

Jake Wilton Report

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A Water Bottle
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

That’s a really good shot of a zebra shark, no not a leopard shark, a zebra shark

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#12

2nd Place - Andrea Pescarolo - Nudibranchs Category - "The Sheep"

2nd Place - Andrea Pescarolo - Nudibranchs Category - "The Sheep"

Andrea Pescarolo Report

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Dynein
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I love sea slugs! And these look like they are among those who eat pants and digest all but the chloroplasts - instead they store them in their body. It's called kleptoplasty. But it's not really certain what the advantage is, their survival doesn't depend on the photosynthesis. (There's a reason plants are sessile organisms, photosynthesis doesn't produce enough energy unless you're an organism with a HUGE surface-to-volume ratio and very low need for energy (like movement would require))

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#13

Honorable Mention - Naomi Strong - Novice Macro Category - "What Are You Looking At?"

Honorable Mention - Naomi Strong - Novice Macro Category - "What Are You Looking At?"

Naomi Strong Report

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Mia Cardenas
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

the mantis shrimp. Beautiful but feisty as hell. They attack anything in site and pack a powerful punch

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#14

2nd Place - Nicholas More - Reefscapes Category - "Mangrove Soft Coral"

2nd Place - Nicholas More - Reefscapes Category - "Mangrove Soft Coral"

Nicholas More Report

#15

4th Place - Johan Sundelin - Coldwater Category - "Catch"

4th Place - Johan Sundelin - Coldwater Category - "Catch"

Johan Sundelin Report

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#16

1st Place - Virginia Salzedo - Portrait Category - "Gaspare"

1st Place - Virginia Salzedo - Portrait Category - "Gaspare"

Virginia Salzedo Report

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#17

4th Place - Emry Oxford - Portrait Category - "Cuba Croc"

4th Place - Emry Oxford - Portrait Category - "Cuba Croc"

Emry Oxford Report

#18

Honorable Mention - Celia Kujala - Coldwater Category - "Welcoming Committee"

Honorable Mention - Celia Kujala - Coldwater Category - "Welcoming Committee"

Celia Kujala Report

#19

1st Place - Fabien Michenet - Blackwater Category - "Snaketooth Swallower"

1st Place - Fabien Michenet - Blackwater Category - "Snaketooth Swallower"

Fabien Michenet Report

#20

1st Place - Jules Casey - Novice Macro Category - "Seahorse Bus"

1st Place - Jules Casey - Novice Macro Category - "Seahorse Bus"

Jules Casey Report

#21

1st Place - Francisco Sedano - Underwater Art Category - "Psychedelic Seahorse"

1st Place - Francisco Sedano - Underwater Art Category - "Psychedelic Seahorse"

Francisco Sedano Report

#22

Honorable Mention - Aia Mar - Underwater Art Category - "The Air Of Jupiter"

Honorable Mention - Aia Mar - Underwater Art Category - "The Air Of Jupiter"

Aia Mar Report

#23

1st Place - Shane Gross - Conservation Category - "Victim"

1st Place - Shane Gross - Conservation Category - "Victim"

Shane Gross Report

#24

Honorable Mention - Lawrence Wu - Compact Behavior Category - "Fighting For The Female"

Honorable Mention - Lawrence Wu - Compact Behavior Category - "Fighting For The Female"

Lawrence Wu Report

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#25

Honorable Mention - Jay Clue - Marine Life Behavior Category - "Gigantic Aggregation Of Munk Devil Rays In Baja California Sur"

Honorable Mention - Jay Clue - Marine Life Behavior Category - "Gigantic Aggregation Of Munk Devil Rays In Baja California Sur"

Jay Clue Report

#26

Honorable Mention - Jose Antonio Castellano - Wide-Angle Category - "Under The Pier"

Honorable Mention - Jose Antonio Castellano - Wide-Angle Category - "Under The Pier"

Jose Antonio Castellano Report

#27

2nd Place - Tobias Friedrich - Coldwater Category - "Icerock"

2nd Place - Tobias Friedrich - Coldwater Category - "Icerock"

Tobias Friedrich Report

#28

Honorable Mention - Suzan Meldonian - Blackwater Category - "Long Lure Larval Flounder"

Honorable Mention - Suzan Meldonian - Blackwater Category - "Long Lure Larval Flounder"

Suzan Meldonian Report

#29

Honorable Mention - Mirko Zanni - Coldwater Category - "Reflection"

Honorable Mention - Mirko Zanni - Coldwater Category - "Reflection"

Mirko Zanni Report

#30

5th Place - Aldo Costa - Coldwater Category - "Sup On The River"

5th Place - Aldo Costa - Coldwater Category - "Sup On The River"

Aldo Costa Report

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#31

2nd Place - George Kuo-Wei Kao - Novice Wide Angle Category - "The Blue Arch"

2nd Place - George Kuo-Wei Kao - Novice Wide Angle Category - "The Blue Arch"

George Kuo-Wei Kao Report

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#32

2nd Place - Enrico Somogyi - Underwater Art Category - "Hairy At Sunrise"

2nd Place - Enrico Somogyi - Underwater Art Category - "Hairy At Sunrise"

Enrico Somogyi Report

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#33

5th Place - Kierstin Zetterberg - Novice Macro Category - "Chestnut Moray"

5th Place - Kierstin Zetterberg - Novice Macro Category - "Chestnut Moray"

Kierstin Zetterberg Report

#34

4th Place - Hannes Klostermann - Marine Life Behavior Category - "Strange Encounters"

4th Place - Hannes Klostermann - Marine Life Behavior Category - "Strange Encounters"

Hannes Klostermann Report

#35

1st Place - Jenny Stock - Nudibranchs Category - "Treats From Maloolaba River"

1st Place - Jenny Stock - Nudibranchs Category - "Treats From Maloolaba River"

Jenny Stock Report

#36

Honorable Mention Place - Fabien Michenet - Blackwater Category -"Alciopid Worm"

Honorable Mention Place - Fabien Michenet - Blackwater Category -"Alciopid Worm"

Fabien Michenet Report

#37

1st Place - Ferenc Lorincz - Compact Behavior Category - "Open Mouth Grouper"

1st Place - Ferenc Lorincz - Compact Behavior Category - "Open Mouth Grouper"

Ferenc Lorincz Report

#38

4th Place - Fabien Martinazzo - Compact Macro Category - "La Communication Non Verbale"

4th Place - Fabien Martinazzo - Compact Macro Category - "La Communication Non Verbale"

Fabien Martinazzo Report

#39

3rd Place - Benhur Sarinda - Compact Wide Angle Category - "Stretching"

3rd Place - Benhur Sarinda - Compact Wide Angle Category - "Stretching"

Benhur Sarinda Report

#40

Honorable Mention - Paolo Bondaschi - Macro Category - "Rospo Smeraldino"

Honorable Mention - Paolo Bondaschi - Macro Category - "Rospo Smeraldino"

Paolo Bondaschi Report

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#41

Honorable Mention - Pedro Carillo - Marine Life Behavior Category - "The Choir"

Honorable Mention - Pedro Carillo - Marine Life Behavior Category - "The Choir"

Pedro Carillo Report

#43

4th Place - Lureen Ferretti - Blackwater Category - "Mom Keeping An Eye On The Little Ones"

4th Place - Lureen Ferretti - Blackwater Category - "Mom Keeping An Eye On The Little Ones"

Lureen Ferretti Report

#44

Honorable Mention - Steven Kovacs - Marine Life Behavior Category - "Egg Release"

Honorable Mention - Steven Kovacs - Marine Life Behavior Category - "Egg Release"

Steven Kovacs Report

#45

1st Place - Paolo Isgro - Supermacro Category - "Clownfish Eggs"

1st Place - Paolo Isgro - Supermacro Category - "Clownfish Eggs"

Paolo Isgro Report

#46

5th Place - Francis Perez - Conservation Category - "Sea Turtle Trapped"

5th Place - Francis Perez - Conservation Category - "Sea Turtle Trapped"

Francis Perez Report

#47

4th Place - Borut Furlan - Wide-Angle Category - "Anemone City"

4th Place - Borut Furlan - Wide-Angle Category - "Anemone City"

Borut Furlan Report

#48

Honorable Mention - Alesso Tinti - Compact Macro Category - "Reflection"

Honorable Mention - Alesso Tinti - Compact Macro Category - "Reflection"

Alesso Tinti Report

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#49

1st Place - Stephano Cerbai - Macro Category - "Radiography"

1st Place - Stephano Cerbai - Macro Category - "Radiography"

Stephano Cerbai Report

#50

4th Place - Mel Wu - Novice Macro Category - "Cuttlefish And Friends"

4th Place - Mel Wu - Novice Macro Category - "Cuttlefish And Friends"

Mel Wu Report

#51

1st Place - George Kuo-Wei Kao - Novice Wide Angle Category - "The Shepherd"

1st Place - George Kuo-Wei Kao - Novice Wide Angle Category - "The Shepherd"

George Kuo-Wei Kao Report

#52

4th Place - Qing Lin - Supermacro Category - "Spikefin Goby"

4th Place - Qing Lin - Supermacro Category - "Spikefin Goby"

Qing Lin Report

#53

2nd Place - Tobias Friedrich - Wide-Angle Category - "The Engine"

2nd Place - Tobias Friedrich - Wide-Angle Category - "The Engine"

Tobias Friedrich Report

#54

2nd Place - Fabien Martinazzo - Compact Behavior Category - "Protective Cocoon Of The Parrot Fish"

2nd Place - Fabien Martinazzo - Compact Behavior Category - "Protective Cocoon Of The Parrot Fish"

Fabien Martinazzo Report

#55

4th Place - Simon Deblock - Compact Behavior Category - "Hairy Frogfish Hunting At Night"

4th Place - Simon Deblock - Compact Behavior Category - "Hairy Frogfish Hunting At Night"

Simon Deblock Report

#56

2nd Place - Wu Yung-Sen - Macro Category - "The Story"

2nd Place - Wu Yung-Sen - Macro Category - "The Story"

Wu Yung-Sen Report

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#57

4th Place - Petr Polách - Macro Category - "Lucernaria Quadricornis"

4th Place - Petr Polách - Macro Category - "Lucernaria Quadricornis"

Petr Polách Report

#58

3rd Place - Andrey Savin - Nudibranchs Category - "The Sky"

3rd Place - Andrey Savin - Nudibranchs Category - "The Sky"

Andrey Savin Report

#59

2nd Place - Davide Lombroso - Portrait Category - "Look At Me"

2nd Place - Davide Lombroso - Portrait Category - "Look At Me"

Davide Lombroso Report

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#60

3rd Place - Brooke Lori Pyke - Conservation Category - "Plastic Soup"

3rd Place - Brooke Lori Pyke - Conservation Category - "Plastic Soup"

Brooke Lori Pyke Report

#61

3rd Place - Johan Sundelin - Coldwater Category - "Hungry"

3rd Place - Johan Sundelin - Coldwater Category - "Hungry"

Johan Sundelin Report

#62

3rd Place - Steven Kovacs - Marine Life Behavior Category - "Worm With Eggs"

3rd Place - Steven Kovacs - Marine Life Behavior Category - "Worm With Eggs"

Steven Kovacs Report

#63

Honorable Mention - Greg Lecoeur - Portrait Category - "Cormoran Underwater"

Honorable Mention - Greg Lecoeur - Portrait Category - "Cormoran Underwater"

Greg Lecoeur Report

#64

2nd Place - Alessandro Grasso - Conservation Category - "Trapped"

2nd Place - Alessandro Grasso - Conservation Category - "Trapped"

Alessandro Grasso Report

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#65

Honorable Mention - Alessandro Buzzicheli - Wide-Angle Category - "The Cave"

Honorable Mention - Alessandro Buzzicheli - Wide-Angle Category - "The Cave"

Alessandro Buzzicheli Report

#66

Honorable Mention - Yat Wai So - Macro Category - "The Indian"

Honorable Mention - Yat Wai So - Macro Category - "The Indian"

Yat Wai So Report

#67

4th Place - Mauro Apuleo - Nudibranchs Category - "Green Field"

4th Place - Mauro Apuleo - Nudibranchs Category - "Green Field"

Mauro Apuleo Report

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#68

3rd Place - Claudo Zori - Portrait Category - "Toads"

3rd Place - Claudo Zori - Portrait Category - "Toads"

Claudo Zori Report

#69

3rd Place - Enrico Somogyi - Reefscapes Category - "Reef At Sunrise"

3rd Place - Enrico Somogyi - Reefscapes Category - "Reef At Sunrise"

Enrico Somogyi Report

#70

3rd Place - Adam Martin - Wide-Angle Category - "Eye Of The Tornado"

3rd Place - Adam Martin - Wide-Angle Category - "Eye Of The Tornado"

Adam Martin Report

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LanteiaTG
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

I can't even fathom how that would look and feel to experience. Simply amazing.

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#71

Honorable Mention - Donghoon Lee - Compact Macro Category - "Dancing In The Garden"

Honorable Mention - Donghoon Lee - Compact Macro Category - "Dancing In The Garden"

Donghoon Lee Report

#72

5th Place - Cedric Peneau - Nudibranchs Category - "Orange UFO"

5th Place - Cedric Peneau - Nudibranchs Category - "Orange UFO"

Cedric Peneau Report

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#73

1st Place - Eduardo Acevedo Fernandez - Reefscapes Category - "Raja Ampat"

1st Place - Eduardo Acevedo Fernandez - Reefscapes Category - "Raja Ampat"

Eduardo Acevedo Fernandez Report

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#74

2nd Place - Leon Zhao - Supermacro Category - "Hiding In Flowers"

2nd Place - Leon Zhao - Supermacro Category - "Hiding In Flowers"

Leon Zhao Report

#75

3rd Place - Jenny Stock - Underwater Art Category - "Bubble Portrait"

3rd Place - Jenny Stock - Underwater Art Category - "Bubble Portrait"

Jenny Stock Report

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#76

2nd Place - Stan Chen - Compact Macro Category - "Ponda Goby With Eggs"

2nd Place - Stan Chen - Compact Macro Category - "Ponda Goby With Eggs"

Stan Chen Report

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#77

1st Place - Talia Greis - Compact Wide Angle Category - "Blended"

1st Place - Talia Greis - Compact Wide Angle Category - "Blended"

Talia Greis Report

#78

4th Place - Enrico Somogyi - Compact Wide Angle Category - "Boat Full Of Bottles"

4th Place - Enrico Somogyi - Compact Wide Angle Category - "Boat Full Of Bottles"

Enrico Somogyi Report

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Full Name
Community Member
4 years ago DotsCreated by potrace 1.15, written by Peter Selinger 2001-2017

Glass bottles are the only "pollution" I like. They are completely inert so they don't actually harm the ocean. All they do is give critters more home options.

#79

2nd Place - Paolo Bausani - Marine Life Behavior Category - "Lethal Fluid"

2nd Place - Paolo Bausani - Marine Life Behavior Category - "Lethal Fluid"

Paolo Bausani Report

#80

3rd Place - George Kuo-Wei Kao - Novice Wide Angle Category - "Welcome To Mikura-Jima"

3rd Place - George Kuo-Wei Kao - Novice Wide Angle Category - "Welcome To Mikura-Jima"

George Kuo-Wei Kao Report

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#81

Honorable Mention - Jeongin Kim - Novice Wide Angle Category - "Couple Dating"

Honorable Mention - Jeongin Kim - Novice Wide Angle Category - "Couple Dating"

Jeongin Kim Report

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#82

Honorable Mention - Chun Ho Tam - Nudibranchs Category - "Sheep In Dreamland"

Honorable Mention - Chun Ho Tam - Nudibranchs Category - "Sheep In Dreamland"

Chun Ho Tam Report

#83

1st Place - Nicholas More - Wide-Angle Category - "Blur Of Sweetlips"

1st Place - Nicholas More - Wide-Angle Category - "Blur Of Sweetlips"

Nicholas More Report

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#84

5th Place - Taeyup Kim - Wide-Angle Category - "Paradise"

5th Place - Taeyup Kim - Wide-Angle Category - "Paradise"

Taeyup Kim Report

#85

Honorable Mention - Steven Kovacs - Blackwater Category - "Flounder"

Honorable Mention - Steven Kovacs - Blackwater Category - "Flounder"

Steven Kovacs Report

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#86

1st Place - Stan Chen - Compact Macro Category - "Lemon Goby"

1st Place - Stan Chen - Compact Macro Category - "Lemon Goby"

Stan Chen Report

#87

2nd Place - Michael Loh - Novice Macro Category - "Hairy Shrimp"

2nd Place - Michael Loh - Novice Macro Category - "Hairy Shrimp"

Michael Loh Report

#88

5th Place - Jeongin Kim - Novice Wide Angle Category - "Humphead Parrotfish And Diver""

5th Place - Jeongin Kim - Novice Wide Angle Category - "Humphead Parrotfish And Diver""

Jeongin Kim Report

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#89

5th Place - Mok Wai Hoe - Portrait Category - "Silky Portrait And Sunset"

5th Place - Mok Wai Hoe - Portrait Category - "Silky Portrait And Sunset"

Mok Wai Hoe Report

#90

Honorable Mention - Yen Yi Lee - Reefscapes Category - "Rose Garden"

Honorable Mention - Yen Yi Lee - Reefscapes Category - "Rose Garden"

Yen Yi Lee Report

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#91

Honorable Mention - Nicholas More - Reefscapes Category - "Glass Fish Reef"

Honorable Mention - Nicholas More - Reefscapes Category - "Glass Fish Reef"

www.uwphotographyguide.com Report

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#92

4th Place - Nicole Helgason - Conservation Category - "Acropora Robusta Coral Fragments At The Ocean Gardener Coral Nursery In Candidasa Bali"

4th Place - Nicole Helgason - Conservation Category - "Acropora Robusta Coral Fragments At The Ocean Gardener Coral Nursery In Candidasa Bali"

Nicole Helgason Report

#93

2nd Place - Minsik Roh - Compact Wide Angle Category - "Red And Blue"

2nd Place - Minsik Roh - Compact Wide Angle Category - "Red And Blue"

Minsik Roh Report

#94

5th Place - Hakan Basar - Macro Category - "Flamboyant In Space"

5th Place - Hakan Basar - Macro Category - "Flamboyant In Space"

Hakan Basar Report

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#95

3rd Place - Paolo Isgro - Supermacro Category - "Tiny Hairy Shrimp"

3rd Place - Paolo Isgro - Supermacro Category - "Tiny Hairy Shrimp"

Paolo Isgro Report

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#96

Honorable Mention - Kimber Greenwood - Underwater Art Category - "Untitled"

Honorable Mention - Kimber Greenwood - Underwater Art Category - "Untitled"

Kimber Greenwood Report

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#97

Honorable Mention - Pasquale Vassallo - Conservation Category - "The Dawn Of A Not, New Day"

Honorable Mention - Pasquale Vassallo - Conservation Category - "The Dawn Of A Not, New Day"

Pasquale Vassallo Report

#98

Honorable Mention - Rafael Fernandez Caballero - Conservation Category - "Both Worlds Of Fishing"

Honorable Mention - Rafael Fernandez Caballero - Conservation Category - "Both Worlds Of Fishing"

Rafael Fernandez Caballero Report

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#99

3rd Place - Willy Irawan - Compact Behavior Category - "Mating Hairy Frogfish"

3rd Place - Willy Irawan - Compact Behavior Category - "Mating Hairy Frogfish"

Willy Irawan Report

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#100

4th Place - Tae Wook Kang - Underwater Art Category - "Narcissism"

4th Place - Tae Wook Kang - Underwater Art Category - "Narcissism"

Tae Wook Kang Report