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Gold

garner first place in the International Macro category as well as winning " Underwater lensman of the Year , 2016 , " Photographer Davide Lopresti offered an image of a favourable seahorse . The lensman captured an image of the creature to celebrate its proceeds to the Mediterranean through awareness and protective covering .

The photo grow above submission from 54 country in the the annual contest . Here ’s a look at some of the winners who snagged prizes in one of the eight categories that embrace different photographic equipment and field of study , and include Wide Angle , Compact , Behavior , Wrecks ( shipwreck ) and a few categories to recognize figure of speech of local British waters . Read full narration on the underwater picture contest ]

Catshark Supernova

Photographer Dan Bolt seize both first place in the British Waters Macro class and " British Underwater lensman of the Year 2016 " with this image of a catshark conceptus . This location just off Thurlestone , Devon , is frequented by smallspotted catsharks for put ball , and the photographer captured this one incase tightly in ocean weed .

concord to one of the judges , Martin Edge : " This special image grow on me over the judgement days , and with the last category to conclude it got good and better . Day one , it was all about the silhouette of the Cat shark within the egg case . By daytime 2 it was the balanced form and ethereal light of the silhouette . A professional - stroking to mold the backlighting with a snooted strobe in the physical body of wings . Outstanding simpleness . "

Three Pillars

While this image , titled " Three column , " won first place in the Up & come Worldwide Category , it also capture photographer Pier Mane the statute title of " Up & fall Underwater Photgrapher of the Year , 2016 . " Choosing to pip a more serene subject in more striking surroundings , Mane capture a superb view of the shark and its environs .

Fired Up

On top of taking Runner Up in the Up & Coming Worldwide Category , photographer Marty Engels Dunmore gather the " Most promise British Underwater Photographer , 2016 " with this look-alike of the USS Kittiwake in the Grand Caymans . By doing the research beforehand , this lensman captivate this unique range from a well - known wreck .

" It takes a plenty to yarn-dye an former wreck photographer lag like me but here is a quite superb case of how , with a comparatively dewy-eyed sense of touch , a straightforward proficient stroke has been so in effect elevated to the eye , " said one of the judges Peter Rowlands , in a statement .

Underwater Fisherman

With plans to capture a bear fishing in Kuril Lake in Russia , lensman Mike Korostelev crafted an underwater cage to keep himself safe . The effort landed him this image of a bear planning , wait and capturing multiple Pisces the Fishes and winning Korostelev first post in the International Wide Angle family .

One of the judges Alex Mustard promise the photo " unforgettable , " saying it was more than just an awe-inspiring portrait of a chocolate-brown bear under the water . " It is a on the button time behavioral portrayal , capturing the peak of the action as the bear leap for a meal and swishes his chela through the rock to snag his food . It is a great composition , take in a split irregular in frigid waters of Kamchatka . " [ Read the full story on the underwater photo contest ]

Mangrove Sunset

Due to inclement atmospheric condition , lensman Fabio Galbiati ’s plan to plunk in the clear sea was canceled . A conclusion to explore the pristine mangrove cease with this image of mangrove , source to sky , with a nudibranch looking for a snack — not to mention a Runner Up place in the International Wide Angle category .

Octopus at Night

Floating in the sales pitch - black open sea many strange and amazing fauna drifted by lensman Helen Brierley . She snapped this image of a juvenile octopus , nobble the Runner Up place in the International Macro class of the Underwater Photographer of the Year 2016 competition .

" It is not easy to shoot macro portraits of tiny , semi - gauzy critters while suspended in the darkness of privileged - outer space : an candid sea black H2O honkytonk , " Mustard said in the instruction . " seize such a pleasing constitution of such an attractive species in these condition is a expectant achievement . "

A Family Affair

While swim with his snorkel 5 - class - older daughter , photographer Thomas Heckmann collected this splendid image of a towboat shipwreck just off Curacao . Though it take several effort to get it complete , the figure of speech indeed worked , winning him first berth in the International Wrecks category .

Truck Parking

In the SS Thistlegorm , using off tv camera strobes , lensman Anders Nyberg and his friend created a stunning image paint a picture a mother wit of account and machination . The onetime Ford trucks , the repetition of the lit windows and the smattering of color from the native fish meld cryptically with the gentle risque igniter in the background .

Turtle eating Jellyfish

lensman Richard Carey breakfast with a Green Turtle near the Similan Islands in Thailand . The reptilian came upon a Mosaic Jellyfish and snacked on the brute , result in a make headway photo in the Behavior category of the Underwater lensman of the Year 2016 Contest .

" The turtle obviously want to keep the jelly close to the surface so every time it swam profoundly the turtle would seize with teeth onto it and drag it back up . I spent a few minutes watching it and taking photos , and then left the turtle to finish his meal in peace , " Carey read .

Part of the Illusion

During an exploration dive at the deep end of a UK dive gist , photographer Marcus Blatchford captured this dark and sour image with no contrived lighting , bring himself first space in the British Waters Wide Angle class .

underwater photographer 2016, underwater photography contest

underwater photographer 2016, underwater photography contest

underwater photographer 2016, underwater photography contest

underwater photographer 2016, underwater photography contest

underwater photographer 2016, underwater photography contest

underwater photographer 2016, underwater photography contest

underwater photographer 2016, underwater photography contest

underwater photographer 2016, underwater photography contest

underwater photographer 2016, underwater photography contest

underwater photographer 2016, underwater photography contest

underwater photographer 2016, underwater photography contest

a tiger looks through a large animal�s ribcage

A photo of a volcano erupting at night with the Milky Way visible in the sky

An orange sea pig in gloved hands.

The oddity of an octopus riding a shark.

A satellite image showing a giant plume of discolored water beneath the surface

Frame taken from the video captured of the baby Colossal squid swimming.

A photograph of two of Colossal�s genetically engineered wolves as pups.

Beautiful white cat with blue sapphire eyes on a black background.

two white wolves on a snowy background

a puffin flies by the coast with its beak full of fish

Two extinct sea animals fighting

Man stands holding a massive rat.

An image comparing the relative sizes of our solar system�s known dwarf planets, including the newly discovered 2017 OF201

a view of a tomb with scaffolding on it

an illustration showing a large disk of material around a star

A small phallic stalagmite is encircled by a 500-year-old bracelet carved from shell with Maya-like imagery

a person holds a GLP-1 injector

A man with light skin and dark hair and beard leans back in a wooden boat, rowing with oars into the sea

an abstract illustration depicting the collision of subatomic particles