Lorenzo Mittiga — Grand Prize Winner

Age: 52

How Long Have You Been a Shooter: 34 years

How Long Diving: 45 years

Day Job: Photographer/videographer/marine biologist/conservationist

Favorite Camera: Nikon D810 and Nikon D850

What’s your favorite place to shoot underwater?
Everywhere underwater. The ocean is so diverse that I don’t think it’s right to compare places; they are all different and offer different things to see and explore. In every part of the ocean there’s always the “unexpected.” It’s truly impossible for me to pick a specific place. Of course, a piece of my heart is always in the Mediterranean Sea, where I come from.

What inspires your photography?
The immense sense of art I see in the ocean’s nature. In the water, I feel focused and connected with my surroundings. The cam- era is only a tool to freeze forever what I see with my eyes. I’m inspired by the fact that I never forget, that I’m one of those lucky people who can dive and see what’s going on down there and, through my images, describe to others what it’s like.

What’s your advice for underwater shooters entering their first photo contest?
Be very strict with yourself. There are amazing photographers out there, and it is always a challenge to stand out. Look at previous winners to have an idea of what is a winning photo. Be objective and choose only the best of the best. A photograph either has to tell an incredible story, be unique or be visually stunning. It has to bring out emotions. It’s best to create your style over time and make your style a brand. Participating in photo contests is a good practice to challenge yourself, be criticized and make your photography better.

Instagram: @lorenzomittiga

Chris Gug — First Place, Behavior

Age: 43

How Long Have You Been a Shooter: 28 years

How Long Diving: 28 years

Day Job Underwater photographer

Favorite Camera No camera in particular, but Nauticam housings, Ikelite DS-161 strobes and Bigblue video lights

Awards:
Numerous, including Wildlife Photographer of the Year, Environmental Photographer of the Year, Our World Underwater, and Beneath the Sea

What’s your favorite place to shoot underwater?
The next place I go, wherever that may be! I never have a favorite place be- cause as a photographer, I travel only to shoot, and each shot is preconceived. I go to that destination to achieve that shot, rather than going to a destination looking for something to shoot.

Your favorite underwater subject to photograph:
Contrary to this photo, I’m a “scenic” guy, so I’m looking to create a wide-angle underwater landscape, often with split-shots. But of course, I also love hunting for black-water subjects, which is the opposite of what I just said—so consider those my two favorite subjects.

What’s your most unforgettable moment underwater?
A male queen trigger-fish was having a bad day in Turks and Caicos and took his aggressions out on me. With perhaps 100 bites over 20 minutes, he outright destroyed an 8-inch acrylic dome port, split both of my strobes’ sync cords, and took a few nice sized chunks of my fingers and one from my bald head. But how could I leave, when I was getting such great photos? I’d gladly sacrifice my gear and some blood for a great photo any day!

What’s your No. 1 bucket- list dive destination?
Antarctica, to photograph swimming penguins!

Instagram: @gugunderwater

Miguel Ramirez — First Place, Compact Camera

Age: 43

How Long Have You Been a Shooter: 7 years

How Long Diving: My first dive was 25 years ago, but I have been diving regularly for three years.

Day Job: Lifeguard

Awards: Ocean Art, World Shoot- out, DEEP (Indonesia), ADEX Singapore, LBO (Malaysia), Underwater Photo Marathon (Croatia), Proteus Varna (Bulgaria)

Favorite Camera: Compact Olympus TG (actually the TG-6) and Nauticam housing

What’s your favorite place to shoot underwater?
The Philippines. I love to shoot macro photography underwater and muck dive in Anilao. Also, I have great memories of Tubbataha Reef.

What’s your most unforgettable moment underwater?
The first time I was underwater with a humpback whale, on Réunion Island. I thought my heart was going to stop when she approached 5 meters from me!

What inspires your photography?
The pleasure of beingunderwater and discovering underwater species.

How would you describe your photography style? How did you develop it?
I like to try and discover different styles. I learned on my own by trying and observing the specialists. But my most successful style of photography is “reflections,” when a sub- ject swims under the sur- face of the water. I try to bring a poetic or artistic touch to the composition, thanks to the reflection and the environment.

What’s your No. 1 bucket- list dive destination?
Raja Ampat.

What underwater shooter do you most admire, and why?
I admire the work of Tim Ho, for its creativity and simplicity. He inspired me a lot in his way of using compact cameras.

Facebook: Migaloo Photography

Giacomo Marchione — First Place, Macro

Age: 61

How Long Have You Been a Shooter: 27 years

How Long Diving: 35 years

Day Job: Orthopedic surgeon

Favorite Camera: Nikon D850

What’s your favorite place to shoot underwater?
I have many places in my heart. Among my favorites, the Maldives, with its kandu, shoals and large animals. But also Indonesia and the Philippines.

Your favorite underwater subject to photograph?
The environment, and large animals such as manta rays and sharks, where I can show the majesty of the oceans.

What’s your most unforgettable moment underwater?
Hanifaru Lagoon in the Baa Atoll at Dharavandhoo, with its manta rays and whale sharks. The particular situations of moon, tide and plankton gather 80 to 100 mantas for a unique show.

How would you describe your photography style? How did you develop it?
My photographic style is a classic style that comes from terrestrial photography brought to document the beau- ties of the seas. I prefer to use wide-angle lenses, where the frame is the master and where my eye documents what I observe. For macro, in recent years I have developed some techniques including double exposure and the use oft he snoot.

What’s your advice for underwater shooters entering their first photo contest?
To have good preparation on the water both in technique and in attitude. Photography must be, during the dive, the only thing we have to think about. Nothing must disturb the study and processing of the image we want to create.

Instagram: @marchionegiacomo

Viktor Lyagushkin — First Place, Wide-Angle

Age: 50

How Long Have You Been a Shooter: Since 1995

How Long Diving: Since 1999

Day Job: Photographer, head of Phototeam.pro

Favorite Equipment: Nikon D850, Nikon Z7, Subal housing, Bigblue lights, Ikelite strobes

Awards:
HP Eilat Red Sea (Israel), 2013; Ocean Art Contest (USA), 2013; Memorial María Luisa (Spain), 2013; Santi Award (Poland), 2013; TTL Contest (Australia), 2013; Beneath the Sea (USA), 2014; Sony World Photography Awards, 2014; Global Arctic Award, 2016; Trierenberg Super Circuit, 2018; Epson Pano Award, 2018; and many more.

What’s your favorite place to shoot underwater?
Under ice.

Your favorite underwater subject to photograph:
Weird things in a weird world. Any time I try to show even ordinary subjects in a new way.

How would you describe your photography style? How did you develop it?
I prefer a wide fisheye lens to include all the world around, and I love to have full control over the light, so caves and night scenes are better for me. I can light them according to my taste. I have dozens of strobes and lights in my bag, which is why my friends call me Mr. Slave Strobe.

What underwater shooter do you most admire and why?
When I started, I was charmed by the work of David Doubilet and Wesley Skiles. They were pioneers who started to make really great under- water photography.

What’s your advice for underwater shooters entering their first photo contest?
Do not try to enter with many shots. Choose only one, the best of yours.

Instagram: @viktor_lyagushkin