2020 Ocean Art Contest Winners

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

 Blackwater      Underwater Conservation      Underwater Art

Compact Wide Angle      Compact Macro      Compact Behavior

List of Winners

Best of Show

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Our Sponsors:

Wide-Angle Category

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Macro

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"Orange and Hairy"

3rd Place - Ludvic Galko-Rundgren

Shot in Tulamben, Indonesia

Story of the Shot

"Latest Gossip"

Honorable Mention - Andy Schmid

Shot in Lembeh Strait, Indonesia

Story of the Shot

"Soulmates"

Honorable Mention - Erika Miura

Shot in Kerama Islands, Okinawa, Japan

Story of the Shot

Marine Life Behavior

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"A Mother's Watchful Eye"

2nd Place - Louise Nott

Shot in Shellharbour, Australia

Story of the Shot

"Shy and Brave"

3rd Place - Salvatore Ianniello

Story of the Shot

"New Life Into The World"

4th Place - Mayumi Takeuchi-Ebbins

Shot in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan

Story of the Shot

"Old Friends"

Honorable Mention - Adam Martin

Shot in Moorea, French Polynesia

Story of the Shot

"Take Cover"

Honorable Mention - Luke Gordon

Shot in West Yaukuve Levu Island, Fiji Islands

Story of the Shot

Portrait

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1st Place - Galice Hoarau

Story of the Shot

"Mardi Gras Blenny"

2nd Place - Jeff Molder

Shot in Kailua-Kona, Hawaii

Story of the Shot

"Harlequin Sweetlips"

3rd Place - Igor Bogachenko

Shot in Tulamben, Indonesia

Story of the Shot

"The Eyes Have It"

4th Place  - Thomas Gaitley

Shot in Jamestown, Rhode Island, USA

Story of the Shot

"Never Smile at a Crocodile"

Honorable Mention  - Catherine Holmes

Story of the Shot

Coldwater

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"Waiting for the Kiss"

2nd Place - Johan Sundelin

Shot in Halland, Sweden

Story of the Shot

"The Push"

3rd Place - Matthew Sullivan

Shot in Shetland Port Fidalgo, Alaska, USA

Story of the Shot

"Jewel of the Kelp Forest"

Honorable Mention - Jon Anderson

Shot in Monterey, California, USA

Story of the Shot

"Dream Meeting"

Honorable Mention - Celia Kujala

Shot in Coronado Island, Mexico

Story of the Shot

Nudibranchs

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"Queen of Sistiana"

2nd Place - Luca De Pauli

Shot in Sistiana, Italy

Story of the Shot

"The Sea Slug"

3rd Place - Raffaele Livornese

Shot in Anilao, Batangas, Philippines

Story of the Shot

"Maculata"

Honorable Mention - Jon Anderson

Shot in Monterey, California, USA

Story of the Shot

"Diana's Chromodoris"

Honorable Mention - Fred Turoff

Story of the Shot

 

Blackwater

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"Attitude"

2nd Place - Steven Kovacs 

Shot in Palm Beach, Florida, USA

Story of the Shot

"Juvenile Sailfish"

3rd Place - Galice Hoarau

Shot in Siladen, Indonesia

Story of the Shot

"Dinner Time"

Honorable Mention - Steven Kovacs 

Shot in Palm Beach, Florida, USA

Story of the Shot

"Pretty as a Peacock"

Honorable Mention - Lureen Ferretti

Shot in Palm Beach, Florida, USA

Story of the Shot

Underwater Conservation

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"French Reviera Corona Mask"

1st Place - Christophe Chellapermal

Story of the Shot

"Playing with Plastic"

2nd Place - Celia Kujala

Shot in Coronado Island, Mexico

Story of the Shot

"Cindy vs. Lionfish"

3rd Place - Stephanie Doniger

Shot in Honduras, Roatan

Story of the Shot

"The Rope"

4th Place - Eduardo Acevedo

Story of the Shot

"The Last Moments of a Sperm Whale"

Honorable Mention - Rafael Fernandez

Story of the Shot

"Eco Tourism"

Honorable Mention - Alex Lindbloom

Story of the Shot

Underwater Art

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"Crocosmile"

1st Place - Jenny Stock

Shot in Gardens of the Queen National Park, Cuba, Caribbean Sea

Story of the Shot

"Drowning in Plastic"

2nd Place - Justin Lutsky

Shot in California, USA

Story of the Shot

"Merry Christmas"

3rd Place - Andrey Savin

Shot in Negros Oriental, Philippines

Story of the Shot

"Andromeda"

Honorable Mention - Michal Štros

Shot in Lembeh, Indonesia

Story of the Shot

Compact Wide Angle

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"Alone"

2nd Place - Joanna Chen

Shot in New South Wales, Australia

Story of the Shot

"Ad Astra"

3rd Place - Andrea Michelutti

Shot in Trieste, Italy

Story of the Shot

"Pardon"

Honorable Mention - Na Mi

Shot in Vava'u Island, Tonga

Story of the Shot

"The Beast of Koh Tao"

Honorable Mention - Alexandra Vautin

Shot in Koh Tao, Thailand

Story of the Shot

Compact Macro

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"5 Baby Seahorses"

1st Place - PT Hirschfield

Shot in Blairgowrie Pier, Melbourne, Australia

Story of the Shot

"My Eggs"

2nd Place - Brian Vaccarella 

 Shot in Lembeh, Indonesia

Story of the Shot

"Garfish Reflection"

3rd Place - PT Hirschfield

Shot in Blairgowrie Pier, Melbourne, Australia

Story of the Shot

"The Hedgehog"

Honorable Mention - Daniela Menegon

Shot in Quebec, Canada

Story of the Shot

"I am shy"

Honorable Mention - Kathrin Landgraf-Kluge

Shot in Tulamben, Indonesia

Story of the Shot

Compact Behavior

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"Coral Spawning"

1st Place - Chia Chi Chang

Story of the Shot

"Synchronized"

2nd Place - Jules Casey

Shot in Port Phillip Bay, Australia

Story of the Shot

 

"Life's Purpose"

3rd Place - Jules Casey

Shot in Port Phillip Bay, Australia

Story of the Shot

"Barracuda Meets the Goggle Eyes"

Honorable Mention - Stephanie Doniger

Shot in Honduras, Roatan

Story of the Shot

"Life Begins"

Honorable Mention - Michele Sbrilli

Shot in Taranto, Italy

Story of the Shot

 

List of Winners

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