Shades of Colour is an underwater photo competition which we've been running for years in Dive Pacific magazine. The New Zealand Underwater Association (NZUA) now own and run Dive New Zealand / Dive Pacific magazine as a website.
All images are copyright the photographer and used by permission. Please contact us if you wish to use any of these images and we can put you in touch with them.
Our competition schedule can be found here. We are always taking entries for the next comp.
That elusive WOW factor
By Dave Moran
We often mention the WOW factor when judging pictures.
It is a fact that people become desensitised when exposed to the similar things repeatedly. News items that are repeated are a good example.
When judging pictures, we quickly view all the entries before diving back in for a closer look.
During this first pass we sometimes get drawn in to stand-out images. We often say, "WOW let’s look at that image in detail!"
- What are we looking at?
- Do we want to learn more about the story the image is telling us?
- Is the image’s composition good?
- Is the focus sharp?
- Lighting?
All the winners’ images in this competition have an element of that elusive wow factor.
As always we look forward to receiving your personal masterpieces for the next competition. If you've never entered before, we encourage you to send in your pics! If you've entered but not placed - keep trying! :)
| Send your entries for Shades of Colour #192 Autumn 2025: June 2nd 2025* |
*Sophie reserves the right to extend this out a week or two at the last minute
This Issue's Winners:
Interchangeable Lens (IL) Camera Category Winner:
'Female argonaut paper nautilus hitching a lift on a salp' by Tony Burt, New Zealand. Taken in Anilao, Philippines. Sony A1, Nauticam NA-A1 housing, 90mm Macro Lens, Sea&Sea YS-D3 strobes – ISO 400, F18, 1/250.
Congratulations, Tony.
Tony loves taking macro images of creatures that are difficult to find and photograph. He visited Anilao in the Philippines which is renowned for its blackwater diving and the diversity of its marine life, especially including little critters!
For further info on the argonaut check out this DAN article by Mike Bartick.
Judges' Comments
For us this image incorporated all of the points in my opening comments. We hope you agree!
Well done, Tony! Tony receives a Sea Tech Gift Voucher for NZ$100.00
IL Camera Highly Commended:
'Alien' by Shayne Seddon, Tairua, New Zealand. Taken at Hahei, Coromandel, New Zealand. Sony A6400, with 16-50mm lens, HF-1 – ISO 200, F5.6, 1/80.
Congratulations, Shayne.
Shayne was diving the water off Hahei on the East Coast of the Coromandel Peninsula when he spotted this Turritopsis rubra, also known as the Crimson Jelly. The species is native to New Zealand and southern Australia – and very fitting for our summer competition as it's usually found off our coasts in summertime!
Judges' Comments
This image ticks a lot of boxes.
- A very interesting subject to photograph – well spotted, Shayne.
- Sharp focus.
- Great composition.
- Excellent example of soft lighting and camera settings (ISO200, 38mm, f5.6, 1/80 secs) to create the illusion of an alien floating in space!
Congratulations, Shayne. Shayne receives a Sea Tech Gift Voucher for NZ$50.
Point & Shoot Camera Category Winner:
'Octopus' by Rhys Walsh, Northland, New Zealand. Taken at Cape Rodney/Okakari Point Marine Reserve, New Zealand. OM System Tough TG-7 in a PT-059 Housing.
Congratulations, Rhys!
Rhys is the new underwater photography tutor at Goat Island Dive, so if you want to learn more about the craft, he seems like he's got the goods! Rhys was diving at Goat Island Marine Reserve to test the macro capabilities of his new OM System TG-7.
He has cropped the image to further increase the “drama” of this image. A success in our opinion!
Judges' Comments
As judges we instantly stopped and thought, what are we looking at? Is an alien eye watching us from the swirling gases of a ring circling around the planet of Saturn or Jupiter?
This image has that magical WOW factor. Stunning colour contrasts. Sharp focus.
Well done Rhys! Rhys receives a Sea Tech Gift Voucher for NZ$100.00
Point & Shoot Camera Highly Commended:
'Pregnant Mamma' by Lizz Santos, Wellington, New Zealand. Taken at Raja Ampat, Indonesia. Olympus Tough TG-6, handheld torch – in macro mode.
Congratulations, Lizz!
Lizz was enjoying the many photographic opportunities at Raja Ampat, Indonesia when she spotted this tiny bubble coral shrimp (Vir philippinensis).
Lizz waited patiently until the soon-to-be mother slowly crawled further out to show off the eggs growing inside her transparent body.
Judges' Comments
Another very impressive image taken with an Olympus Tough!
Lizz cropped the image but no colour editing as she loves the impurities and the natural colours – as we do too! (Lizz doesn't touch up any of her pictures for those reasons.)
We love the fine structural detail that this images shows us of this tiny shrimp. The focus is pin-point sharp. Composition is spot on.
Congratulation Lizz, a fantastic image. Lizz receives a Sea Tech Gift Voucher for NZ$50.00
Gallery
Click on an image to enlarge and see photo details
IL Camera Category
Point & Shoot Camera Category
Notes
A note on prizes:
The prize vouchers are now split evenly between categories:
| Interchangeable Lens Camera category winner | NZ$100 Sea Tech voucher |
| Interchangeable Lens Camera category highly commended | NZ$50 Sea Tech voucher |
| Point & Shoot Camera category winner | NZ$100 Sea Tech voucher |
| Point & Shoot Camera category highly commended | NZ$50 Sea Tech voucher |
A note on watermarks:
We know that some of your would be more comfortable with us displaying watermarked version of your pics on our site. That's completely understandable. We're happy to comply with this – but please, send us two versions: one without a watermark for judging (we like it to be anonymous). Please keep watermarks subtle.
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