PRESS RELEASE

Beneath The Sea is pleased to announce and congratulate the winners of the BTS 2010 International Imaging Competition.

The BTS International Imaging Competition is open to underwater photographers and videographers throughout the world. Beneath The Sea is a federally tax-exempt (501(c)(3)) organization incorporated as not-for-profit in the State of New York and all proceeds from the Imaging Competition go to further BTS’s goals to (1) provide continuing education to the recreational diver community, (2) educate the public in the benefits of protecting the ocean environment and (3) support ocean and environment related projects and charities. A special thanks to our 2010 contributors who are listed at http://www.beneaththesea.org/BTS_Sponsors.html

The Best in Show-Underwater Photography receives the David Doubilet award for excellence in underwater photography – Grand Prize is a week at the Manta Ray Bay Hotel and diving with Yap Divers. This year’s winner is Yeang H Chng of West New York, New Jersey for “Salt Water Crocodile”

GENERAL
1 Lilly, Keri Wilk, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
2 Lightflower, Pedro Carrillo-Montero, Madrid, Spain
3 The Bridge , Tobias Friedrich, Wiesbaden, Germany
HON Sperm whale and friend, Peter Allinson, Kingsville, MD
HON Diver dream, Tomashevich Maxim, Moscow, Russia

MARINE LIFE
1 Humpback calf, Isabelle M Thiebaud, Port Stephens, NSW, Australia
2 Dolphin in the sun, Noam Kortler, Eilat, Israel
HON InnerGlow, Ross Gudgeon, Exmouth, WA

MACRO/CLOSEUP
1 Shrimp Resting , Gery Beeckmans, Sint Niklaas, OH, Belgium
2 Stargazer, Keri Wilk, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
HON Algae Sprout, Keri Wilk, Mississauga, Ontario, Canada
HON Skeleton Girls, Bettina Balnis , Velbert, Germany
HON Shrimp on Cranoid, Noam Kortler, Eilat, Israel

UNDERWATER BEHAVIOR
1 First Born Seahorse, Lazaro M. Ruda, Lake Park, FL
2 The Next Generation, Kat Ramage, Grand Cayman
3 Blue Snack, Bettina Balnis , Velbert, Germany
HON Loving Sepia’s, Luc Rooman, Kieldrecht, Belgium

CONSERVATION
1 Trapped, Leong Yow Chee, Singapore
2 Struggle for freedom, Karel Bernard, Tallinn, Harjumaa, Estonia
3 The Weight of the World, Karen W. Doody, Morehead City, NC
HON Invasive Lionfish Extraction, Karen W. Doody, Morehead City, NC
HON Hooked for Life, Phil Sokol, San Diego, CA

NOVICE/POINT & SHOOT
1 The Gang, Karel Bernard
2 Prince Charming, Karel Bernard, Tallinn, Harjumaa, Estonia
3 Ascent of Humpback, Christine Kornylak, Venice, CA
HON Coming in for a Closer Look, Shannon C.  Price, Seattle, WA
HON Red, White & Blue, Glenn M. Zavalko, Milford, CT

The Best in Show-Underwater Creative Photography receives the Jim Church award for excellence in underwater creative photography – Grand Prize is a live-aboard trip on the Manthiri in the Maldives. This year’s winner is Bartosz Strozynski, of Poznan, Poland for “Cosmos”

2 Parliament, Alexey Stoyda , Moscow, Russia
3 On Eternal Patrol, Jeremy Kozman, Orient, OH
HON Raggiezoom, Dennis Vandermeersch, Heule-Kortrijk, Belgium

The Best in Show-Videography receives the Stan Waterman award for excellence in underwater video – Grand Prize is a live-aboard trip on the Nai’a in Fiji. This year’s winner is Sharon Wada of Snohomish, WA for the video titled: “Beauty in the Beast”.

2.  The Romance of Lembeh Straight, Roger Roth, Cincinnati, OH
HON Alien Rhythm, Kris Wilk, Mississauga, Ontario

Video Snapshot

1.  Carcharhinus Longimanus, Rudolf Gonda, Budapest, Hungry
2.  Cuttlefish Hunting, Roger Uzun, San Diego, CA
3.  Batray Feeding, Walter Marti, Mission Viejo, CA
HON: Magic, Istvan Nemeth, Szombathely, Hungry

The winning images can be seen at http://www.beneaththesea.org/photo_contest_2010.html

The 34th Annual Beneath The Sea Dive Exposition will take place March 26, 27 and 28, 2010 at the Meadowlands Exposition Center, Secaucus, New Jersey – 10 minutes from Manhattan. Further information can be found on Beneath The Sea’s internet web site: http://www.BeneathTheSea.org

Bob Schrager