DEEP Indonesia underwater photography competition 2009

DEEP Indonesia International Underwater Photo Competition 2009

On the heels of announcing the prestigious 4th-annual, US-based international photo and video competition, Wetpixel & DivePhotoGuide have once again organized a unique joint collaboration with a second international competition in association with DEEP Indonesia , Indonesia’s first-ever diving, adventure travel and water sports expo.

For three years now two international competitions associated with dive expos on opposite sides of the world have cooperated to establish a complementary series of categories and prizing opportunities.

Photographers will compete in 7 themed categories to win over $30,000 in prizes, including photo equipment, dive gear, and premium dive travel packages to some of the top photo destinations in Indonesia and beyond. Indonesia trips include Bali, Fak Fak, Komodo, Lembeh, Manado, and Raja Empat. Additional dive packages include Papua New Guinea and The Bahamas. The contest includes a category for images that focus on conservation and the marine environment, one specifically for entries taken by compact digital cameras, and one specifically for Indonesian entrants.

A panel of esteemed judges including leading professional underwater photographers, cinematographers and magazine editors will select winners after the Jan 15, 2008 deadline. Winners will be announced online, published by our media partners worldwide and exhibited during the DEEP Indonesia Expo in Jakarta, Indonesia (March 27 - 29, 2009).

As with all Underwatercompetition.com events, 15% of entry proceeds will be donated to marine conservation efforts.

Entry Fee: $10 per image

Rules & Guidelines

Categories

PHOTOS

Compact Cameras

Underwater images of all kinds, taken by point 'n shoot, non-SLR digital cameras. In this category, no entries from scanned slides or digital SLRs will be accepted. Although there exist many great underwater images taken by point 'n shoot cameras, it is often difficult for them to compete with SLRs when it comes to image quality. In this category, digital manipulation is allowed, but as we are not running a digital manipulation contest, you should exercise care in the decisions that you make.

Divers

Best image featuring a scuba diver underwater.

Animal Portrait

Best image featuring a portrait of an animal underwater.

Animal Behavior

Best image featuring underwater animal behavior.

Reefscapes

Best image featuring the rich reefs around the world.

Environment and Conservation

Topside and underwater images of all kinds, taken by any camera, with a focus on the marine or lake environment and conservation. Subject matter must address a marine or lake-related environmental issue. The goal in this category is to convey a real-world message.

Indonesia Residents

Open to Indonesian residents only

Prizes

(2) Live Aboard Trip to Fak Fak or Raja Ampat On Board MSY Seahorse

with MSY Seahorse

A diving package on any of our 7 - 15 nights diving cruises to Raja Empat or Fak Fak, Indonesia

(2) Komodo or Raja Ampat Live Aboard Trips

with Kararu Dive Voyages

7 night cruise in Komodo or Raja Empat Indonesia with Kararu Dive Voyages

(2) Live Aboard Trips to Papua New Guinnea on Board FeBrina

with MV FeBrina

You have won a voyage of up to 10 nights on board our liveaboard dive vessel, MV FeBrina. Your prize includes for twin share accommodation on board (cabin with share bathroom, with upgrade to ensuite facilities if space is available on departure), up to 8.5 dive days depending on selected voyage (four to five dives per day), tanks and weight belt, all meals, airport transfers and daily light laundry service.

(2) Diving in Kima Bajo Resort & Spa/ Eco Divers, Manado, Indonesia

with Kima Bajo Resort & Spa - Manado

7 night dive resort package, includes up to six days of diving With Kima Bajo Resort & Spa/ Eco Divers, Manado, Indonesia

(2) Diving in Lembeh Strait with Kungkungan Bay Resort

with Kungkungan Bay Resort

7 night dive resort package, includes up to six days of diving with Kungkungan Bay Resort, Lembeh Strait, Indonesia

(2) Diving Manado with Minahasa Lagoon Dive & Tour Club,

with Minahasa Lagoon Dive & Tours Club

7 night package includes six days of diving with Minahasa Lagoon Dive & Tour Club, in Manado, Indonesia

(2) Diving in Indonesian Borneo with Sangalaki Dive Lodge

with Sangalaki Dive Lodge

7 night dive resort package, includes up to six days of diving with Sangalaki Dive Lodge, Borneo, Indonesia

(2) Dive Safari in Bali with Aqua Marine Diving

with AquaMarine Diving Bali

1-week Dive Safari (DIVING -ONLY), including 5 days of diving in Bali, Indonesia

(2) Dive the Bahamas with Stuart Cove Dive Bahamas

with Stuart Cove's Dive Bahamas

7 days diving in the Bahamas with Stuart Cove

(2) 6 nights at Waka Resorts throughout Bali

with Waka Resorts & Cruises

2 nights accommodation from Waka Nusa, 2 nights accommodation from Waka Shorea Resort and 2 nights accommodation from Waka Namya Resort

(2) Strobes From Ikelite

with Ikelite

DS-125 strobes from Ikelite

(3) Radiator Streamer Wetsuits

with Radiator Wetsuits

1.5mm Long Sleeve Steamer Wetsuits

(6) Signed books from Wyland.

with Wyland

Signed books from Wyland.

(3) Gift Certificates from Ultralight Control Systems

with Ultralight Control Systems

$100 Gift Certificates from Ultralight Control Systems

Competition Judges

PHOTO JUDGES

Cor Bosman

Cor Bosman is a freelance underwater photographer specializing in marine life and behavior. After a successful career in Computer Science he picked up diving 15 years ago with his wife Julie Edwards. Traveling several months of the year they form a strong photography duo that regularly publishes articles and photos in magazines. Cor has received several awards, including a first prize in Our World Underwater and a Best of Show in the Underwater Images Competition. In recent years he has been a staff member at Wetpixel.com. More about Cor and Julie on http://underwa.ter.net

David Espinosa David Espinosa is the Editor of Scuba Diver Australasia (scubadiveraustralasia.com), the official publication of the PADI Diving Society in Asia Pacific. Though he prefers shooting video to still photography, he has a keen eye for what makes a great underwater photograph: With 18 years in the dive industry, he has seen thousands of spectacular underwater images, and has been a judge for numerous competitions. David has authored a guidebook to diving southeast Asia, and has published hundreds of articles on everything from destinations, equipment, and profiles on the world’s top dive celebrities and underwater photographers.

Jason Heller Jason Heller is a commercial and wildlife photographer based in New York City. His work is regularly published in scuba, travel and mainstream editorial and advertising worldwide. Jason is also a special corespondent for Sport Diver magazine and authors and shoots the IMAGES column. He has been recognized and honored by numerous advertising and marketing publications including Advertising Age magazine.

Jason is also the founder & CEO of DivePhotoGuide.com, a global portal for the underwater photography and video communities. The feature rich website offers daily news, articles, photo galleries, event calendars, and more. Jason launched the website after selling his digital advertising agency to the largest independent media agency in the world in 2005.

Jason's work can be seen on his website at www.jasonheller.com.

Tony Wu Since 1995, Tony has combined his love of visual art with his interest in the marine world through underwater photography, and he has concentrated on using his photographs and writing to encourage others to appreciate and protect the beauty of the oceans. Tony is currently Associate Editor of FiNS Magazine in Asia, and his photographs and essays appear regularly in periodicals and newspapers around the world.

Tony’s images have received international awards in Japan, Europe and the US, and his first book, Silent Symphony, received the award for “Best Book of the Year” at the 28th annual Antibes Festival of Marine Images in France. In recent years, Tony has been doing his best to keep up with the younger generation by starting up a blog and podcast, providing near real-time updates of his trips and experiences. See more of Tony's work at: http://www.tonywublog.com

VIDEO JUDGES

Celebrity judges include leading professional underwater photographers, cinematographers and magazine editors. A formal announcement of judges will follow.