TO GALLERY

Shades of Colour is an underwater photo competition which we've been running for years in Dive Pacific magazine. Enter and you might have your image published in the magazine, as well as win Sea Tech vouchers!

The New Zealand Underwater Association (NZUA) are creating a new look for Dive New Zealand / Dive Pacific magazine as a website. We will also post results here.

All images are copyright the photographer and used by permission. Please contact us if you wish to use any of these images and we can put you in touch with them.

Our competition schedule can be found here. We are currently taking entries for the next comp.

Does your image tell a story?

By Dave Moran

Once again, we received some amazing images.

The Olympus TG-6 (now 7) once again producing excellent images from a Point and Shoot camera, especially for close-up and macro.

We judge all the images we receive very carefully. How do we pick a winner?

The most important element of these images that lifted them onto the winner's podium for us is that they told a story and conveyed drama or adventure.

Next time you head out to shoot a few images of your dive day, think a little outside the box – what can I do so that my photographs tell a story that conveys drama or adventure, or both!?

Thanks for all those that have made the effort to enter this fun competition.
We look forward to receiving your entries for our winter edition - Send your entries by Monday 2 September.

Notes

A note on prizes:

The prize vouchers are now split evenly between categories:

Interchangeable Lens Camera category winner	NZ$100 Sea Tech voucher
Interchangeable Lens Camera category highly commended	NZ$50 Sea Tech voucher
Point & Shoot Camera category winner	NZ$100 Sea Tech voucher
Point & Shoot Camera category highly commended	NZ$50 Sea Tech voucher

A note on watermarks:

We know that some of your would be more comfortable with us displaying watermarked version of your pics on our site. That's completely understandable. We're happy to comply with this - but please, send us two versions: one without a watermark for judging (we like it to be anonymous). Please keep watermarks subtle.

This Issue's Winners:

Interchangeable Lens (IL) Camera Category Winner:

Alex Stammers, New Zealand. ‘Snapper Pass.’ Goat Island, Auckland, New Zealand. Nikon D800, Nauticam Housing, 15mm Fisheye Lens, 1 x Inon Z-240 Strobe – ISO 320, F13, 1/20.

Congratulations, Alex.

Alex was diving his favourite (we think) diving location Goat Island, just north of Auckland city. Alex continues to refine his photographic techniques.

Judges' Comments

What caught our eye was the kelp that this beautiful snapper is swimming through.

There is obviously a current running or a moderate wave swell running overhead. Alex has captured an image that looks like it's in motion. The snapper's blurred fins also add to the movement.

With all this movement going on, Alex still managed to capture the snapper's eye sharp in focus, using a very slow shutter speed of a 20th of a second. He moved his camera at the same right to left speed as the snapper to help create the final effect.

Well done, Alex! Alex receives a Sea Tech Gift Voucher for NZ$100.00

IL Camera Highly Commended:

Thomas Chen, New Zealand. ‘Dropping’; Mokohinau Islands, Auckland, New Zealand. Canon EOS R5, Ikelite Housing, Canon EF 8-15mm f/4L Fisheye USM, 1 x Ikelite DS230, 1 x DS160 II Strobes – ISO 125, F8, 1/200.

Congratulations, Thomas Chen.

Thomas was having a ball diving the stunning Mokohinau Islands which are at the northern extremities of the Hauraki Gulf.

Judges' Comments

Thomas has captured his diving buddy experiencing a moment akin to drifting through outer space! But it's even better than outer space – you are surrounded by blue maomao and the air bubbles of your fellow explorer! It's one of the joys of diving.

Beautifully positioned camera shot of the diver's relaxed descent with the sun punching a powerful strobe-like burst of light from the surface.

Thomas, you have captured the diving magic of a perfect day at the Mokes!

Well done, Thomas. Thomas receives a Sea Tech Gift Voucher for NZ$50.

Point & Shoot Camera Category Winner:

Luca Davenport-Thomas, New Zealand. ‘Leviathan.’ Rocky Bay, Porirua, Wellington, New Zealand. Olympus Tough TG-6, Backscatter MF-2, Optical Snoot OS-1 – ISO 100, F5, 1/60.

Congratulations, Luca Davenport-Thomas, New Zealand.

Luca was diving Rocky Bay, Porirua, New Zealand when he spotted this southern conger eel gazing at a young Yaldwyn's triplefin resting on what appeared to be a cluster of triplefin's eggs. The eel's next meal?

Judges' Comments

We love the drama that this image portrays. What pops to mind is: what happens next?

Luca's use of an optical snoot to get in close to the subject matter and soft strobe lighting has added to a dramatic effect.

Sharply in focus, the eel's eyes are watching your every move!

Excellent positioning of this Olympus TG-6 camera to capture this excellent natural history image.

Congratulations Luca. Luca receives a Sea Tech Gift Voucher for NZ$100

Point & Shoot Camera Highly Commended:

Judy Ormandy, New Zealand. ‘Preparing to submerge, ice diving.’ Arctic Bay, Baffin Island, Canada. Olympus Tough TG-6, Ikelite housing with Dome port – ISO 100, F13, 1/250.

Congratulations, Judy Ormandy.

Judy was dipping her toes into the chilly waters of Arctic Bay, which is an Inuit hamlet located in the northern part of the Borden Peninsula on Baffin Island in the Qikiqtaaluk Region of Nunavut, Canada. Check it out on a map, it sure is isolated!

She comments about her ice diving experience: "Ice-diving equipment is heavy (drysuit and undergarments extra weight etc) and I found it extremely demanding. I had limited dexterity with dry gloves and thick undergloves, necessitating photography to be kept as simple as possible!

"We were tethered to a surface line. I snapped this over/under image as I submerged into the icy waters."

Judges' Comments

I can relate to Judy's comments about diving under the ice and taking images, which I experienced in Antarctica – very demanding! To have the presence of mind to snap off an image as you start your icy dive is commendable!

The image tells a story.

A safety line is, I believe, the most important thing besides the air on your back when diving under the ice. The dive tender's silhouetted image against the stunning blue sky shows he has the safety line firmly held as he attends to the divers he is responsible for. The surface reflection of this safety line adds that touch of magic that underwater photographers search for.

Well done, Judy – especially impressive when we consider everything else that is going on when diving under the ice.

Judy receives a Sea Tech Gift Voucher for NZ$50.00