The results of the Underwater Images competition 2010 have been released.

The competition attracted entries from 17 US states, and 25 different countries worldwide. Congratulations to all the award winners, many of whom are Wetpixel members.

The press release with the full results follows:

PRESS RELEASE:
June 15, 2010.

Underwater Images 2010 Photo/Video Competition-Final Results.

BEST OF SHOW.

Sponsored by The Walindi Plantation, and The MV FeBrina, PNG.
Gianni Pecchiar, Trieste, Italy- Star & Ray.

CONSERVATION CATEGORY.

First: Drew Wohl, Congers, NY- Have You Saved a Reef Today? (video)
Second: Karel Bernard, Harjumaa, Estonia- Great Cormorant.
Third: Thomas Haider, Vienna, Austria- Shark Lining.
Honorable Mention: Jeffrey deGuzman, Manilla, Philippines- Octopus in Coke.
Alessio Viora, Fontaneto d’Agogna, Italy- Dying Sunfish.

VIDEO CATEGORY.

First: Tobias Meinken, Girona, Spain- Meet Rooky.
Second: Walter Marti, Mission Viejo, CA- Octopoda.
Third: Steve Cohen, Annandale, VA- Whale Trails II.

SHIPWRECKS CATEGORY.

First: Uwe Schmolke, Hessen, Germany- Inside Umbria.
Second: Jim Garland, Merseyside, UK- Emily.
Third: Csaba Tokolyi, Budapest, Hungary- Poseidonia.
Honorable Mention: Jim Garland, Merseyside, UK- Giannis D.
Frederik Ehrenstrom, Gunnilse, Sweden- Ghost Ship & Diver.

WIDE ANGLE NOVICE CATEGORY.

First Place: Alison Vitsky, San Diego, CA- Monterey Afternoon.
Second Place: Claudio Gazzaroli, Ascona, Switzerland- Shark Smile.
Third Place: Phil Sokol, San Diego, CA- Sailfish Attack.
Honorable Mention: George Vincent, Lewisville, TX- Brown Seasnake.
Claudio Gazzaroli, Ascona, Switzerland- Under Ice.

WIDE ANGLE OPEN CATEGORY.

First Place: Esteban Tore, Malaga, Spain- Light at the End of the Tunnel.
Second Place: Keri Wilk, Mississauga, Canada- Lily.
Third Place: Eduardo Acevedo Fernandez, Los Reaelejos, Spain- Tortuga-Turtle Ocean.
Honorable Mention: Michele Davino, Udine, Italy- Verzasca.
Alessio Viora, Fontaneto d’Agogna, Italy- On the Move.

MACRO/CLOSE-UP NOVICE CATEGORY.

First Place: William Goodwin, Birmingham, AL-Peppermint Shrimp & Cardinalfish.
Second Place: Debi Henshaw, Menorca, Spain- Cardinalfish.
Third Place: Claudio Gazzaroli, Ascona, Switzerland- Coleman Shrimps.
Honorable Mention: Paolo Isgro, Belluno, Italy- Shrimp on Snake Eel.
Luc Rooman, Kieldrecht, Belgium- Ghost Lobster.

MACRO/CLOSE-UP OPEN CATEGORY.

First Place: Michele Davino, Udine, Italy- Girino.
Second Place: Michele Davino, Udine, Italy- Pesce Volante.
Third Place: Eduardo Acevedo Fernandez, Los Reaelejos, Spain- Multitude.
Honorable Mention: Keri Wilk, Mississauga, Canada- Mantis.
Nicholas Samaras, Thessaloniki, Greece- Jellyfish.

MAJESTIC CATEGORY.

First Place: George Vincent, Lewisville, TX- Manta Trifecta.
Second: Phil Sokol, San Diego, CA- Celestial Jellies.
Third: Dany Weinberg, Eilat, Israel- Red Army.
Honorable Mention: Eduardo Acevedo Fernandez, Los Reaelejos, Spain- Sky.
Debi Henshaw, Menorca, Spain- Reef Squid.

TOGETHERNESS CATEGORY.

First: Eduardo Acevedo Fernandez, Los Reaelejos, Spain- Face to Face.
Second: Dany Weinberg, Eilat, Israel- Hitchhikers.
Third: Alessio Viora, Fontaneto d’Agnogna, Italy- First Flight.
Honorable Mention: Todd Mintz, Regina, Canada- Room with a View.
Joao Paulo Krajewski, Sao Paulo, Brazil- Fish Tripod.

DIVERS & MARINE LIFE.

First: Esteban Tore, Malaga, Spain-Fragile Realm.
Second: Rockford Draper, Plano, TX- Manta Workshop.
Third: Steffen Binke, Mooroobool, Australia- Weedy Sea Dragon & Diver.
Honorable Mention: Eduardo Acevedo Fernandez, Los Reaelejos, Spain- Model.
Bruce Yates, Medina, WA- Sharks Converging.

From the Director: Thanks to all entrants, judges, and sponsors! Your participation is an integral part of this competition, and is greatly appreciated. We received entries from 17 states in the United States and 25 different countries. Competitions of this type share divers’ own visions of the underwater world, and serve to promote good conservation practices. They also highlight some of the world’s best diving destinations.

Prizes were set before the judging according to their values and the number of entries in the respective categories. Proceeds go to marine conservation, preservation, and scholarship purposes. This past year we again sponsored former sea turtle fishermen from Baja, Mexico to attend the National and International Sea Turtle Symposiums through ProPeninsula www.ProPeninsula.org where they learned about the conservation of this endangered animal and took that information home to spread the word with their neighbors.

We are also continuing to support Mahonia Na Dari, a Nature Conservancy program for students in Papua New Guinea, where they learn true conservation and preservation principles with hands-on experiences. www.Mahonia.org Some former Mahonia students have since become scientists who are still diligently working to conserve the world’s natural resources.

As we are all volunteers in these contests and they are just for fun, we hope everyone enjoyed our friendly competition this year. I’ll be looking forward to your entries next year. Safe Diving and Shooting. Sea Ya!

Roger Roth, Founder / Director.