Feast for the Eyes
Unveiling the depths of the ocean unveils a visual feast, adorned with vibrant hues and captivating anatomies. The University of Miami Rosenstiel School of Marine & Atmospheric Science hosts an annual underwater photography contest, where the enchanting beauty of sea creatures comes to life. In 2012, amidst over 700 entries, Ximena Olds (Florida) claimed the coveted “best overall” award with her striking image of a headshield sea slug, captured in the waters of St. Thomas, U.S. Virgin Islands.
Fan Favorite
With an overwhelming response, this mesmerizing jellyfish photograph garnered close to 50% of the 1,221 online votes in the esteemed underwater photography contest. Todd Aki, a talented photographer from Florida, captured this extraordinary shot.
Cute Gobies
Securing the top spot in the Macro category, Todd Mintz from Canada astounded the judges with his captivating photograph featuring the adorable yellownose gobies, Elacatinus randalli. These charming creatures peek out from the intricate patterns of brain coral in Bonaire, Dutch Caribbean.
Shocking Shrimp
Claiming an impressive third position in the Macro category is Marcello DiFrancesco from Italy, with his striking capture of an Emperor shrimp, Periclimenes imperator. The photograph was taken amidst the captivating underwater world of Ambon, Indonesia.
Wide Angle
Mark Fuller from Israel triumphed in the Wide Angle category, capturing the captivating beauty of a Lionfish, belonging to the genus Pterois, in the mesmerizing depths of the Red Sea.
Mangrove Madness
Securing a remarkable second place in the Wide Angle category, Matt Potenski from New Jersey amazed the judges with his stunning photograph depicting a vibrant school of fish gracefully navigating their vibrant habitat of red mangroves (Rhizophora mangle) in the picturesque South Bimini, Bahamas.
Bold Fish
eschmeyeri) captured everyone’s attention and secured a well-deserved second place in the esteemed “fish or marine animal portrait” category. Rockford Draper from Texas skillfully captured the striking portrait of this scorpionfish during their expedition in Bali, Indonesia.
Nudi … branch
Claiming an esteemed third place in the animal portrait category is the captivating nudibranch (Cratena peregrina). Nicholas Samaras from Greece skillfully captured this remarkable species in Chalkidiki, Greece. Notable for its distinctive features, including bright-orange marks at the base and tip of its tentacle-like structures called rhinophores, C. peregrina is known to exhibit hermaphroditic characteristics.
Big Baby
Despite its massive appearance, this magnificent creature is merely a youngling—a juvenile sperm whale (Physeter macrocephalus). Douglas Kahle from Florida captured this awe-inspiring photograph in Dominica, which deservedly claimed first place in the animal portrait category.
Dainty Crab
In Komodo National Park, Indonesia, Davide Lopresti from Spain skillfully captured the charming scene of a porcelain crab nestled among the delicate tendrils of a feathery sea pen. This captivating photograph secured a well-deserved second place in the macro category.
Harlequin Beauty
Phillip Gillette, a talented student from Florida, earned the well-deserved second place in the “best student entry” category with his impressive shot of a captivating harlequin shrimp (Hymenocera picta). The photograph showcases the shrimp hiding amidst the vibrant marine environment of the Similan Islands, Thailand.
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