2022 Underwater Tour Photo Competition winners announced
In December 2022, the winners of the third Underwater Tour Awards were announced. This prestigious international competition takes place annually, encouraging and inspiring the passion for underwater photography, while raising awareness of our fragile aquatic and marine ecosystems and their denizens.
The event in 2022 marked the first time that the Underwater Tour Awards partnered with environmental education and action organisation Take 3, introducing a new category for novices called, The Take 3 for the Sea Contest. Proceeds from the contest registration fees and additional donations were given to Take 3.
Judges
Led by Canon Master and six-time winner of the AIPP’s Professional Nature Photographer of the Year award, Darren Jew, the international judging panel included Amanda Blanksby, William Tan, Dr Richard Smith, Russell Ord and Brett Lobwein, who judged hundreds of images submitted by photographers from around the world.
“Each year the competition grows, and we are delighted with the high calibre of submissions,” said Jew. “The finalists’ gallery takes us on a remarkable underwater tour, showcasing the fine work of competing underwater wildlife photographers and celebrating the natural wonders of the underwater world.”
The Guru Awards
– Photographic Competition
The Underwater Tour Awards is the only international photography competition of its kind to use a systematic Ethical Review for images submitted. The team behind the event is “committed to ensuring the natural world is depicted both creatively and honestly, with due regard shown to the welfare of all marine life and habitats.” This meant that before moving to the first round of judging, all shortlisted images entered were subject to the competition’s Ethics Review process, which was conducted by renowned marine biologist and author Dr Richard Smith.
And the winners are…
The Guru Grand Prize
Highlighting the work of a great photographer, rather than just one great photo, the Guru Grand Prize is awarded to the photographer who achieves the highest level of accomplishment with a portfolio of six entries across three or more of the six competition categories.
Winner: Jake Wilton, Australia
Finalists:
- Gabriel Guzman, Australia
- Joergen Rasmussen, Singapore
- Jake Wilton, Australia
Guru Image Categories
Underwater Scenes
Winner: Cameron McFarlane
Finalists:
- Helen Walne, South Africa
- Gabriel Guzman, Australia
- Wayne Osborn, Australia
- Talia Greis, Australia
Underwater Characters
Winner: Jake Wilton
Finalists:
- Gabriel Guzman, Australia
- Dave Levasseur, Canada
- Josh Blank, Australia
- Nicolas Remy, Australia
Aquatic Abstract
Winner: Wade Hughes, Australia
Finalists:
- Derek Firman, Australia
- Richard Condlyffe, USA
- Karen Ho, Papua New Guinea
- Walter Drechsler, Germany
Topside Scenes
Winner: Anthony Brown
Finalists:
- Joergen Rasmussen, Singapore
- Reed Plummer, Australia
- Pam Osborn, Australia
- Cameron McFarlane, Australia
The People’s Choice Award
Winner: Anthony Brown, Australia
Runner Up: Mel Wu, Australia
Underwater Black and White
Winner: Pavlos Evangelidis
Finalists:
- Gabriel Guzman, Australia
- Katie Clewett, Australia
- Ellen Cuylaerts, United Kingdom
- Karen Ho, Papua New Guinea
Reportage
Winner: Joergen Rasmussen, Singapore
Finalists:
- Sam Glenn-Smith, Australia
- Jodi Frediani, USA
Two new awards introduced
The Packer’s Prize
(chosen by the Underwater Tour Team)
Winner: Helen Walne, Cape Town, South Africa
The Take3 Contest
Winner 1: Emma Turner, NSW
Runner Up: Jean-Louis Lebreux, QLD
Winner 2: Jules Casey, VIC
Runner Up: Cathy Finch, QLD
Words from the organisers
“Congratulations to all winners and well done to all entrants,” said lead judge Jew. “We’d like to thank all our valued Partners, Take 3 and their fabulous prize partners, and our generous friends at CameraPro, Mike Ball Dive Expeditions, Momento Pro, Heron Island, Walindi Plantation Resort, Lady Elliot Island, Lady Musgrave Experience. QySEA FIFISH Henderson Greenpreene, Inon and SeaLife.
Co-founder Tim Hochgrebe added, “Thank you to everyone who has taken part and supported the Awards this year. Planning for the Underwater Tour Awards 2023 is already in full swing and we are looking forward to seeing you next year.”
About the Underwater Tour and Underwater Tour Awards
An annual collaboration between Juliette Myers of IlluminOcean and Tim Hochgrebe of underwater.com.au, the Underwater Tour seeks to celebrate the best of our oceans, promoting inspiration, discovery and adventure. The team was joined in 2020 by creative partners Darren Jew, Jasmine Carey and Greg Crow from Finslap and Photo-competitions.
For more information about the Underwater Tour, please contact Tim Hochgrebe: tim@underwater.com.au.
The Underwater Tour Awards recorded announcement video can be found at: youtu.be/QTRK_dINvjw. For more information about the Underwater Tour Awards, please contact Darren Jew: darren@finslap.com
