Underwater Photographer of the Year Awards 2021 winners announced
US photographer Renee Capozzola has been named as the Overall Winner of the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2021.
Capozzola is the first female winner in the prestigious competition, beating out thousands of other entries taken by photographers from nearly 70 different countries from around the world.
Underwater Photographer of the Year is an international competition, based in the UK, which aims to showcase the best of underwater photography, celebrating images taken below the surface of the ocean, seas, lakes, rivers, ponds and pools
The competition is made up of thirteen categories, including Macro, Behaviour, Black & White, and Marine Conservation, as well as several categories focused specifically on images that are captured in British waters.
Captured at sunset, in the waters of French Polynesia, Capozzola’s winning image, Sharks’ Skylight, depicts a number of blacktip reef sharks swimming below seagulls.
Sharing the story behind the image, Capozzola said, “I dedicated several evenings to photographing in the shallows at sunset, and I was finally rewarded with this scene: glass-calm water, a rich sunset, sharks and even birds.”
“I envisioned and aimed to capture the sharks underwater with the sunset seen through Snell's window. It took many attempts, but on this particular evening the water was calm, the sharks came into a nice composition, and I got lucky with the birds as well.”
“Since many shark species are threatened with extinction, it is my hope that images of these beautiful animals will help promote their conservation.”
Labelled as “mesmerising” and a “richly deserved winner,” the judges of the competition were impressed by the way Capozzola composed and created her captivating final image.
Indeed, describing the image as “a sunset ballet of reef sharks and sea birds,” competition judge Alex Mustard identified Capozzola’s photograph as a clear winner, and the competition’s other two judges, Peter Rowlands and Martin Edge, agreed.
Top placed Australian photographers
In other news, a number of Australian photographers have been named as winners and finalists in this year’s competition.
Diana Fernie’s image The Cut taken at Leru Cut in the Solomon Islands has won her the title of Black & White category winner.
Speaking on Fernie’s image, judge Peter Rowlands said, “The composition is classic and the decision to convert to black andwhite was a winning choice.”
Tasmanian photographer Danny Lee also took home a top award, placing third in the Up & Coming category of the competition, a category that was created to celebrate new talent as well as innovative and unique underwater photography.
You may recognise Lee’s photograph from a Behind the lens story we published late last year, which you can read here to get the full story behind his split-level albatross photograph.
In his comment on Lee's image, competition judge Martin Edge said, “A split image of an albatross is one thing but this author has gone on to include great light, superb eye contact and a glint of both feet. Superb imagery.”
Commended and Highly Commended Australian photographers
Additionally, several other Australian photographers received highly commended and commended awards in various categories of the 2021 competition. You can see their award-winning images below.
You can see the full gallery of category winners and finalists on the competition website here.