DIVELOG JUNE 406

1st Place Compact Camera Underwater Photo of the Year. Photo Credit NICOLAS REMY

(Rumour has it that one major underwater photo competition is currently in the process of disqualifying its most recent Grand Winner for misrepresenting how the awarded image was constructed.) I understand and share concerns about photographers who interfere with underwater subjects to stage otherwise impossible photos. As a vegan and as someone who adores and reveres octopuses above all other life on earth (my home is decorated with octopuses and mermaids in every room), I would not intentionally stage any image, especially one of this nature. I’m relieved that the ADEX judges did a thorough forensic on my image. They ultimately acknowledged the signs that the fish and the blue ring were engaged in battle, that I had only snapped the natural behaviour I had seen. I'm heartened that unattractive, confrontational images that are difficult to achieve but true (the punk rocks and grunges of the underwater photography world, minus destructive tendencies) can promote thoughtful discussion amongst some judges, sometimes being awarded for their merits. My thanks to ADEX, the judges and prize sponsors (also to Nicolas Remy) for ultimately encouraging me to continue making, sharing and entering underwater images that I think are meaningful. (Honestly it was touch-and-go

William Tan: 'Two times I've seen fish eating blue rings. The first time it happened in front of me. It took a bite and then spit out again. Then took a bite and spit out again, you know? It's moving all the time. It is impossible to shoot.' 'The second time ... I couldn't even lift up the camera in time to shoot and it was gone. I have to agree that this is not a beautiful picture but this is very difficult to shoot.' Hearing the judges' comments allows me some hypothesis as to why every other competition refused to even commend this image, despite its rarity. There seems some incredulity that the image was possible. (Many photographers use fudging technology or diluted ethics to create something 'new', so concerns about manipulation are often valid.) There's also a perception that depictions of even horrifying subjects in nature must be finessed to satisfy some universal standard of competition aesthetic. You'll lose points if you colour outside the lines, even while nailing the impossible shot. By all means document the death and destruction of the underwater world, but for Neptune's sake make it look pretty. Ultimately, acceptance that the difficulty and rarity of an image might at times outweigh dolling up nature's horror to satisfy aesthetic baselines prevailed. The image was awarded ADEX 2024 Voice of the Ocean Compact Camera Photo of the Year. Competitions typically award aesthetically pleasing, easy to-read, easy-on-the-eye images that look pretty in the press and on their posters for next year's event. And they don't want to be perceived as controversial, potentially awarding images which might need to be disqualified if unethical practices are suspected or proved.

for a while there.) Love and bubbles, PT (Pink Tank) Hirschfield xxx

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DIVE LOG Australasia #406 - June ‘23