A stunning slug has won the Northern Beaches 2024 Underwater Photo Competition, with the image Clown Doris Nudibranch and Ascidian, captured by photographer Peter McGee, taking out first place.
As part of the Northern Beaches Council’s 31st Ocean Festival, the competition showcased stunning underwater photography captured at the five Aquatic Reserves on the Northern Beaches with a $4,000 prize pool up for grabs.
The competition highlights the talents of amateur and professional photographers, celebrating the vibrant life and ecosystems beneath the water.
This year there was eight competition categories, and a major prize, ‘The Valerie Taylor Underwater Photography Award for Excellence’ recognising a long-time Manly resident who has a lifelong passion for the ocean, ocean conservation and a love of underwater photography.
Northern Beaches Mayor Sue Heins said the exhibition is aimed to honour and promote awareness of the diverse flora and fauna found within the Aquatic Reserves.
“Every year I am impressed by the unexpected elegance of the underwater that is captured by our community,” Mayor Heins said.
“Every year I am impressed by the unexpected elegance of the underwater that is captured by our community,”
“This competition showcases the incredible local talent in capturing the beauty and importance of marine life in our Aquatic Reserves.
“Congratulations to all the winners for their outstanding contributions to this celebration of our ocean’s wonders.”
The competition’s People’s Choice award was won by Xina Hudson for her image, PJ Yin and Yang. Over a 1,000 people voted online in this category.
This year over 250 images and 28 reels were submitted with the judges having their work cut out for them.
The judges included Katherine Roberts – Senior Curator of the Manly Art Gallery & Museum, Nicolas Remy – a freelance underwater photographer and founder of The Underwater Club, an online photography school, and highly regarded photographer Scott McGale who owns photography school, the Photo Workshop Australia.
To view all the winners visit our website or visit the Manly Library from today, Monday 2 December – Sunday 8 December, 2024.
This year’s awards ceremony was held at Manly Art Gallery & Museum on Thursday 28 November 2024. The theme of Underwater Photography Competition ‘Life Below Water’ aligns this competition to the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, in particular SDG 14.
