The winners of the Third Annual Underwater Tour Awards have been announced. The prestigious annual international competition encourages and inspires passion for photography, exploration and discovery from behind the lens and helps raise awareness of the world’s incredible, fragile marine and aquatic inhabitants and their environments. For the first time the Underwater Tour Awards partnered with environmental education and action organisation, Take 3, and introduced a new novice category, The Take 3 for the Sea Contest. Proceeds from registration fees and additional donations were given to Take 3.
Led by Convenor Darren Jew, Canon Master and six-time winner of the AIPP’s Professional Nature Photographer of the Year, the international judging panel: Amanda Blanksby, William Tan, Dr Richard Smith, Russell Ord and Brett Lobwein judged hundreds of images submitted by photographers from all over the world.
“Each year the competition grows, and we are delighted with the high calibre of submissions,” said Darren Jew. “The finalists’ gallery takes us on a remarkable underwater tour, showcasing the fine work of competing underwater wildlife photographers and celebrating the natural wonders of the underwater world”.
The Guru Awards – Photographic Competition
The only international photography competition of its kind to incorporate a systematic Ethical Review for images submitted, the Underwater Tour Awards Team is committed to ensuring the natural world is depicted both creatively and honestly, with due regard shown to the welfare of all marine life and habitats. All shortlisted images entered were subject to the competition’s Ethics Review process, conducted by renowned Marine biologist and author, Dr Richard Smith, before moving to the first round of judging.
And the winners are…
The Guru Grand Prize
The Guru Grand Prize celebrates a great photographer, not just one great photo and is awarded to the photographer who attains the highest level of achievement from six entries across three or more of the six competition categories.
The Guru Grand Prize Winner: Jake Wilton, Australia
Finalists:
- Gabriel Guzman, Australia
- Jørgen Rasmussen, Singapore
- Jake Wilton, Australia
Individual Guru Image Categories:
Underwater Scenes
Winner: Cameron McFarlane
Finalists:
- Helen Walne, South Africa
- Gabriel Guzman, Australia
- Wayne Osborn, Australia
- Talia Greis, Australia
Underwater Characters
Winner: Jake Wilton
Finalists:
- Gabriel Guzman, Australia
- Dave Levasseur, Canada
- Josh Blank, Australia
- Nicolas Remy, Australia
Aquatic Abstract
Winner: Wade Hughes, Australia
Finalists:
- Derek Firman, Australia
- Richard Condlyffe, USA
- Karen Ho, Papua New Guinea
- Walter Drechsler, Germany
Topside Scenes
Winner: Anthony Brown
Finalists:
- Jørgen Rasmussen, Singapore
- Reed Plummer, Australia
- Pam Osborn, Australia
- Cameron McFarlane, Australia
Underwater Black and White
Winner: Pavlos Evangelidis
Finalists:
- Gabriel Guzman, Australia
- Katie Clewett, Australia
- Ellen Cuylaerts, United Kingdom
- Karen Ho, Papua New Guinea
Reportage
Winner: Jørgen Rasmussen, Singapore
Finalists:
- Sam Glenn-Smith, Australia
- Jodi Frediani, USA
- Jørgen Rasmussen, Singapore
The People’s Choice Award
Winner: Anthony Brown, Australia
Runner Up: Mel Wu, Australia
Two new awards were introduced in 2022:
The Packer’s Prize (chosen by the Underwater Tour Team) goes to Helen Walne, Cape Town, South Africa
The Take3 Contest
Winner 1: Emma Turner, NSW
Runner Up: Jean-Louis Lebreux, QLD
Winner 2: Jules Casey, VIC
Runner Up: Cathy Finch, QLD
“Congratulations to all winners and well done to all entrants,” Darren Jew encouraged. “We’d like to thank all our valued Partners – Take 3 and their fabulous prize partners, and our generous friends at CameraPro, Mike Ball Dive Expeditions, Momento Pro, Heron Island, Walindi Plantation Resort, Lady Elliot Island, Lady Musgrave Experience, QySEA FIFISH, Henderson Greenpreene, Inon and SeaLife.”
Co-founder Tim Hochgrebe added, “Thank you to everyone who has taken part and supported the Awards this year. Planning for the Underwater Tour Awards 2023 is already in full swing and we are looking forward to seeing you next year”.
