Press Release

Layang Layang, 27 July 2008 - Congratulations to the winners of the Layang Layang Underwater Digital Photo Shootout 2008! 

After six days of friendly competition among 34 competitors from 10 countries, a panel of three internationally acclaimed underwater photographers (Settimio Ciprianni, Stephen Wong and Rod Klein) selected winning images from entries submitted by contest participants.

Each of the participating divers undertook the challenge of creating beautiful and creative images during their dives around Layang Layang, with contest rules permitting everyone to submit up to three images in each of two categories — macro and wide-angle.

Given the world-renowned, rich waters around Layang Layang, as well as the determination and skill of the contest participants, it’s no surprise that the top images from this year’s event are simply amazing!

Winning images will be published on the Layang Layang Island Resort website (www.layanglayang.com) and FiNS Online (www.finsonline.com), as well as via the FiNS Magazine iTunes Podcast.

Layang Layang Island Resort is a man-made atoll located in the deep, blue waters of Sabah, Malaysia. The resort is world-famous for providing some of the best diving that the Asia-Pacific region has to offer — including everything from encounters with large pelagics like hammerhead sharks and manta rays to smaller reef residents like pygmy seahorses.

For more information on Layang Layang or on next year’s Digital Photo Shootout, see www.layanglayang.com.

Contest Results

Wide Angle
First Prize - George Russel Childress (USA)
Second Prize - Francisco Javier Ibanez Tejero (Spain)
Third Prize - Yu Chuan (China)
Fourth Prize - Louisa Jane Reid Butler (United Kingdom)
Fifth Prize - Oscar Alfredo Rulli Chalela (Spain)
Sixth Prize - Leander Maree Wiseman (Australia)

Macro
First Prize - Adam Daniel Butler (United Kingdom)
Second Prize - George Russel Childress (USA)
Third Prize - Dominic Peter Barrington (Australia)
Fourth Prize - Oscar Alfredo Rulli Chalela (Spain)
Fifth Prize - Leander Maree Wiseman (Australia)
Sixth Prize - Patricia Sibajas Narvares (Spain)