STILL IMAGE CATEGORIES

• Macro Traditional - Any underwater image of a 7x5 inch or smaller picture area.
  
  The "Traditional" divisions allow for the adjustment of brightness, contrast, color, and sharpness only. Cropping, cloning, and other digital manipulation is not allowed in this category. This restriction on digital manipulation will enable people who are not as savvy at Photoshop to compete on more-or-less even ground as those with more experience. It also highlights composition and lighting skills by not allowing cropping and cloning. Before selecting winning entries, we reserve the right to audit your original RAW or JPG files. Our judges are digital photography experts, so please do not submit cropped or manipulated entries in this category.

• Macro Unrestricted - Any underwater image of a 7x5 inch or smaller picture area.
  
  The "Unrestricted" divisions have no such rules regarding digital manipulation. Anything goes, but as we are not running a digital manipulation contest, you should exercise care in the decisions that you make.

• Wide Angle Traditional - Underwater images larger than a 7x5 inch picture area.
  
  The "Traditional" divisions allow for the adjustment of brightness, contrast, color, and sharpness only. Cropping, cloning, and other digital manipulation is not allowed in this category. This restriction on digital manipulation will enable people who are not as savvy at Photoshop to compete on more-or-less even ground as those with more experience. It also highlights composition and lighting skills by not allowing cropping and cloning. Before selecting winning entries, we reserve the right to audit your original RAW or JPG files. Our judges are digital photography experts, so please do not submit cropped or manipulated entries in this category.

• Wide Angle Unrestricted - Underwater images larger than a 7x5 inch picture area.
  
  The "Unrestricted" divisions have no rules regarding digital manipulation. Anything goes, but as we are not running a digital manipulation contest, you should exercise care in the decisions that you make.

• Compact Camera
  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.

• 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. 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.

VIDEO CATEGORY

• Best underwater video vignette under 60 seconds long. Subject matter is open, but video must be at least 70% underwater footage, and judges will want to see you maximize impact in such a short amount of time. See Guidelines and Instructions for complete details.

Stephen Frink

Stephen Frink is the world's most frequently published underwater photographer with editorial work appearing in Scuba Diving Magazine, for whom he is Director of Photography and writes a monthly column on underwater photo trends and techniques. Previously, he was a contributing photographer for Skin Diver Magazine for 17 years. His work has also been published in a wide variety of general interest publications such as Natural History, Glamour, Time, Newsweek, Islands, Travel And Leisure, Esquire, Fortune, Forbes, Money, as well as numerous National Geographic publications. Frink has authored a coffee table book entitled "Wonders Of The Reef", published by Harry N. Abrams; and teaches the Stephen Frink School of Underwater Photography in his home waters of Key Largo, Florida. Clients for assignment photography over the past 24 years have included Nikon, Canon, Victoria's Secret, Mercury Marine, Aqua Lung, Scuba Pro, Jantzen, Dacor, R.J. Reynolds, Sea Quest, Henderson Aquatics, Club Med, and scores of resorts and live-aboard dive boats throughout the world.

More about Steve at http://www.stephenfrink.com

Eric Cheng

Eric Cheng is an underwater photographer who has become known around the world for his expertise in underwater imaging. He has meticulously documented his travels around the world, and has been published in numerous publications, both in print and on the web. In 2003, Eric was awarded a prestigious Antibes Festival award for his work with Wetpixel.com, the Antibes underwater imaging web site of the year, and in 2005, he won a category in the prestigious Nature's Best Magazine photo competition, which has placed some of his work in the Smithsonian's Natural History Museum. Eric also leads trips and has given workshops and seminars in locations around the world.

Eric owns and runs Wetpixel.com, the premiere online resource for underwater photographers. Hosting over 6,150 registered underwater photographers internationally, Wetpixel's friendly community offers breaking news, reviews, features, community forums, image galleries, photo contests, photo expeditions, and more.

Eric's underwater images can be found on personal website: http://echeng.com/travel/

Dr. Alexander Mustard

Dr Alexander Mustard is both a marine biologist and also a part of a 'new wave' of up-and coming young underwater photographers who have challenged our perceptions of what we see underwater, Alex has won many awards for his photography including being a multiple winner in both the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year and World Festival of Underwater Photography in Antibes, France. His new book "The Art Of Diving", a collaboration with author Nick Hanna, is not just a photo collection but is an exploration of why we love to dive, and has been described by David Doubilet as "the best book about diving since Jacques Cousteau's The Silent World." He is founder of the Young Underwater Photographer's Group, the Digital Officer for the British Society of Underwater Photographers and a Co-Administrator of Wetpixel.com. Alex is also the brains behind Magic filters - filters designed specifically for available light underwater photography with digital cameras.

More about Alex at http://amustard.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’s images have received international awards in Japan, Europe and the US, and his writing appears regularly in publications worldwide. 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.

Tony is a columnist and Asia Editor for Sportdiving magazine, as well as Senior Contributor for FiNS magazine. His work has appeared in a number of publications, including Asia Pacific Reef Guide, Grzimek's Animal Life Encyclopedia, Sportdiving, FiNS, Action Asia, Marine Photo, Diving Photography, Diver (Japan), Diving World, Unterwasser, DiveLog, Dive New Zealand, Dive (U.K.), Sportdiver, Thai Diver, Asian Diver, NatureWatch, DecomStop, Talking Science, Asahi Shimbun, Tourism Asia, DestinAsian, Asia Pacific Tropical Homes, Photoi, Solitaire, Asian Geographic, Asiaweek, Time, Harper’s Bazaar, The Arts Magazine, The Peak, Prestige, RSYC Magazine, Today, Streats, The New Paper and the Straits Times.

Tony's work can be seen at http://tony-wu.com