The 2020 Underwater Photographer of the Year contest (UPY) has just crowned its winners. More than 5,500 images were submitted by over 500 participants from around the world and the judges have had a tough time choosing the very finest.
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Recent reports state that the underwater camera market is set to have an approximate market value of USD 6 billion in 2023. And for this very specialized genre of photography, the valuation is expected to hit close to $13.
"You never know what's coming next," says marine biologist and diving instructor Nadine Bauer about the varied sights that present themselves when she's in the ocean. Keeping her visual style minimal allows the ocean's natural beauty to easily showcase itself for her camera.
"Fear is currency in the media," says marine photographer and adventure travel company owner Nikki Brant, about how sharks end up being demonized by media outlets. Most people tend to be wary of swimming in the seas after viewing the movie 'Jaws.
Something I've debated for years in my head has to do with Micro Four Thirds. Of course, there's been a shift in how things operate with the creation of OM Digital solutions. And hopefully, I think that OM System can do something about this.
"I didn't recognize myself in these 'too perfect' images," photographer Alison Bounce tells us in an interview. "Today I modify my photos slightly to compensate for the constraints of water. They are more authentic.
"Props like couches are weighted down to make them sink, but they can be a pain in the ass - with one mattress needing almost 100 pounds before it started to sink," says photographer Brett Stanley to us in an interview.
"It is not the photos at the end; it's the feelings, the experiences, the people and the nature in the individual moments that make up the photo for me personally," says Hamburg based photographer Swen Bachmann.