Critique from Ocean Art Photo Competition 2022 Judges

The Underwater Photography Guide recently concluded its 11th annual Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition, with a significant increase in entries compared to the past couple of years. This year's competition, considered the world's most prestigious and best-endowed underwater photo contest, awarded over $100,000 in prizes.

The competition would not be possible without a judging panel, each of whom is a leader in their field with decades of experience and some of the most prestigious awards in the diving, photo, and video industries. This year's panel included Marty Snyderman, a renowned underwater photographer, photography instructor, author, and speaker for nearly 40 years, who has won numerous awards and been featured in top publications worldwide. Another judge was Mark Strickland, an experienced diver with over 10,000 dives under his belt, who has had careers as a lifeguard, boat captain, scuba instructor, and cruise director. He is also passionate about underwater photography and leads several photo expeditions each year for Bluewater.

The judges focused on technical excellence, composition and creativity, conservation message, and emotional impact when evaluating the entries. Sharpness, exposure, colour accuracy, and proper post-processing were key factors in technical excellence. Originality, visual storytelling, and framing that highlights marine life or underwater scenes compellingly were essential for composition and creativity. The conservation message was assessed based on how well the image communicates the beauty and importance of ocean ecosystems. Emotional impact was evaluated based on the ability of the photo to evoke a sense of wonder or urgency regarding ocean preservation.

Several images were disqualified due to watermarking and use of editing techniques that were clearly prohibited by the rules. Entrants were reminded to give careful thought to the most appropriate category for each image and to consider simple edits such as minor cropping and tonal adjustment, which can make a significant difference in the competition.

The winning images from this year's competition have been stunning, showcasing the beauty and diversity of the underwater world. Congratulations to those whose images were honoured in the Ocean Art 2022 competition, as they can take pride in having their work chosen out of an extremely competitive field.

While there are no specific judging tips and suggestions for the 2023 Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition from Marty Snyderman, Mark Strickland, and Tony Wu found in the available search results, those interested in detailed, authoritative judging tips from these specific judges may consider checking official Ocean Art announcements or their direct communications.

The competition also emphasises the importance of the overall experience of being an underwater photographer, not just the capture of great images. The entire process, from researching future dive locales to familiarising oneself with potential subjects and behaviours, to fine-tuning equipment and techniques, is an integral part of the underwater photography journey.

The 2023 Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition is expected to attract even more entries, as underwater photographers from around the world showcase their talent and passion for the underwater world. Stay tuned for more updates on the 2023 competition and the beautiful images that are sure to emerge.

The Underwater Photography Guide's 11th annual Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition featured an increased number of entries compared to the previous years, with over $100,000 worth of prizes awarded.
Marty Snyderman, a renowned underwater photographer and photography instructor, was part of this year's judging panel for the competition.
Mark Strickland, an experienced diver with extensive backgrounds in diving, boating, and instruction, was also a judge in the 2022 Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition.
Judges evaluated entries based on technical excellence, composition and creativity, conservation message, and emotional impact.
Technical excellence required sharpness, correct exposure, color accuracy, and appropriate post-processing in images.
Originality, visual storytelling, and effective framing that highlighted marine life or underwater scenes were essential for composition and creativity.
Entries were disqualified if they contained watermarks or editing techniques prohibited by the competition's rules.
The winning images from the Ocean Art 2022 competition featured the beauty and diversity of the underwater world.
The 2023 Ocean Art Underwater Photo Competition will likely attract more entries from underwater photographers worldwide, showcasing their talent and passion for the underwater world.
Underwater photographers should also focus on the entire process, including researching dive destinations, understanding subjects' behaviors, and fine-tuning equipment and techniques, to enhance their underwater photography journey.
Interested parties can find detailed, authoritative judging tips from the 2022 judges by checking official Ocean Art announcements or their direct communications.
The competition emphasizes the importance of the lifestyle, science, finance, and technology aspects of underwater photography, as well as the sports and recreational activities associated with it, such as nudibranch spotting on dive expeditions led by Bluewater.