Underwater Photographer Of The Year 2022 reveals victorious sea-sational images

 

-Rafael Fernandez Caballero has been named Underwater Photographer of the Year 2022 for his image of five whale sharks feeding together in the Maldives.

 

Dancing with the giants of the night by Rafael Fernandez Caballero

From yawning seal pup to great white shark, a ship wreck to a shiny jellyfish - all were the participant models of underwater photography contest of the year 2022.

The extraordinary winners of this year’s Underwater Photographer of the Year contest were just announced, all revealed amazing ocean spectacles and species, and capture vistas from flooded mines to deep shipwrecks, while many more come from home countries and some are even taken in swimming pools. But what unites them all, is that they are all photographs that are worth our time to dive into and explore.

Among all the participant Rafael Fernandez Caballero has won the Underwater Photographer of the Year (UPY) 2022  award for his image of whale sharks in the Maldives. He named his beautiful photo ‘Dancing with the giants of the night’. To take this mind-blowing snap, he used Nikon, z7 II, Isotta Z7II/Z6II, Nikon 8-15mm Fisheye, iso 5000, f/4.2, 1/80, One OrcaTorch D950V. This picture of 11 whale sharks was taken at the Ari Atoll in the Maldives.

In his picture, Dancing with the Giants of the Night, the whale sharks are seen feeding on nocturnal plankton gathered around the lights of a boat.

"It was incredible when one whale shark came to our boat - but more and more kept arriving," Mr Caballero, from Spain, says.

"I was diving with shark researcher Gador Muntaner, who couldn't believe it as their numbers grew.

"He counted 11 sharks that night - a once-in-a-lifetime encounter that nobody thought was possible."

The picture came first out of 4,200 images from 71 countries.

Prizes and commendations were handed out in categories including Wide Angle, Macro, Wrecks, Behavior, Portrait, Black and White, Compact, Up and Coming, Marine Conservation, and more. Contest organizers share some of this year’s honorees with exemplary photography glimpses, with captions written by the photographers.

The results of the UPY (Underwater Photographer of the Year) 2022 were declared on February 11, 2022. It was actually a show of extravagant talents. This year, the competition was judged by former marine biologist Dr. Alexander Mustard, underwater photographer Peter Rowlands and award-winning full-time underwater photographer Tobias Friedrich. Here are the six winners who blew the judges minds away.

‘Supernova in paradise’ by Spain’s Quico Abadal

The Up and Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year 2022 title was won by Spain’s Quico Abadal. He named this beautiful picture ‘Supernova in paradise’. Quico used Olympus, EM-1 mark ii, Olympus, 8mm PRO f/1.8, iso 200, f/5, 1/160, Olympus UFL-3 to take this stunning snap. It was an orchestrated picture of underwater performer Jeniya at the Sairee beach Koh Tao in Thailand.

Great White Split by Australia’s Matty Smith

The British Underwater Photographer of the Year 2022 winner or the runner-up in the portrait category was Australia’s North Neptune Island's Matty Smith.

Diamonds and Rust by United Kingdom's Paul Pettitt 

The United Kingdom’s Paul Pettitt was announced the Most Promising British Underwater Photographer of the Year 2022. He stood third in the British Macro category for taking this picture that he named ‘Diamonds and Rust’. This picture of the Sea Gooseberries was taken on a bright afternoon.

All You Need is Love by Finland's Pekka Tuuri

The winner of the Behaviour Category Pekka Tuuri of Finland was announced the winner of the My Backyard Award 2022. He named this stunning underwater picture of three mating frogs ‘All You Need is Love’.

Big Appetite by Vietnamese Thien Nguyen Ngoc 

Vietnamese photographer Thien Nguyen Ngoc was announced the Marine Conservation Photographer of the Year 2022. He named this astonishing photo as ‘Season of anchovy fishery’.

'Yawn' by Britain's Henley Spiers

Third Place winner was  'Yawn' by Britan's Henley Spiers. A gray seal pup stretches and performs an exaggerated yawn as it awakens from a snooze in the kelp. There is a kinship one feels when sharing the water with marine mammals, and these seals are among the best underwater companions.

Abandoned Ship by Alex Dawson from Sweden

'Abandoned Ship' by Alex Dawson from Sweden. The wreck of Tyrifjord is one of the favourite wrecks in the Gulen dive-resort area of Norway.It sits approximately 40m (130ft) underwater and is very sheltered. The highlight of the wreck is always the huge steering wheel in the aft.

A Peaceful Coexistence by Lewis Michael Jefferies from the UK

'A Peaceful Coexistence' by Lewis Michael Jefferies, from the UK. In the summer months, jellyfish frequent the British isles in larger numbers, thought to be attracted by the warmer waters.

Black and white, Sarah's Underwater World by Kerrie Burow from Australia 

The scene 'Black and white, Sarah's Underwater World' by Kerrie Burow from Australia portrays the therapeutic power of water, which so many of us experienced during the pandemic.

Fluorescent Fireworks by James Lynott

Fluorescent Fireworks by James Lynott, Runner Up, British Waters Compact. There is so much variation in the fluorescence patterns among individuals, as well as the shapes created by the position of the tentacles in the water. This shot was taken in Loch Long during a night dive in October 2021.

'The Circle of Life' by Javier Murcia

'The Circle of Life' by Javier Murcia, this runner Up underwater photograph  depicts  the result of many years working on animal behavior. A diseased species is usually easy prey for a predator because it uses little energy. In this case, a Mediterranean predatory fish (Serranus scriba) has hunted a green fish (Labrus viridis), an endemic species to the Mediterranean and abundant in the Posidonia oceanica meadows.

Sunset Ray by Andy Schmid 

Wide angle runner up image Sunset Ray by Andy Schmid represents the "Tuna Factory" dive site close to Malé, in the Maldives.

'Best Buddies' by Dan Bolt, from the UK

'Best Buddies' by Dan Bolt, from the UK, British Water Macro image of but two beautiful little Yarrell's blennies holed up in a crack in the rock.

Rock Pool Star, by Martin Stevens

British waters compact: Rock Pool Star, by Martin Stevens, from the UK. Living from shallow water to deep water and reaching impressive sizes, spiny starfish are abundant in Cornwall.

enjoy your favorite UNDERWATER photograph....