Winners of the United Nations World Oceans Day 2016 Photo Competition
By Ian Bongso-Seldrup
DPG is pleased to announce the winners and finalists of the Third Annual World Oceans Day Photo Competition, jointly organized by the UN Division for Ocean Affairs and the Law of the Sea, The Ocean Project, World Ocean Network, World Festival of Underwater Images, IAEA Ocean Acidification International Coordination Centre, and DPG. The judges were tasked with selecting the 1st, 2nd and 3rd place images from hundreds of entries in five categories: Above Water Seascapes, Making a Difference: Humans in Action, Underwater Life, Underwater Seascapes, and Youth Photographer. A 2016 World Oceans Day Theme winner was selected by the organizers.
Congratulations to the 2016 World Oceans Day Theme winner, Beth Watson; to the category winners, Mathieu Foulquié (Above Water Seascapes), Michele Hall (Making a Difference: Humans in Action), Gregory Lecoeur (Underwater Life), Alex Lindbloom (Underwater Seascapes), and Marlyss Brightwell (Youth Photographer); and to all the runners-up. The results were announced on World Oceans Day, Wednesday, June 8, 2016 at a reception at United Nations Headquarters in New York attended by several hundred delegates. The finalists and winners were announced by well-known underwater photographer Ellen Cuylaerts (Belgium) and their photos were projected in large format.
The photo contest partners wish to thank the judges: Dr. Rodolfo Werner Kinkelin, Advisor to the Antarctic Southern Ocean Coalition (ASOC) and the Pew Charitable Trusts (Argentina); Shawn Heinrichs, Founder of Blue Sphere Media, Associate Director of the Manta Trust (Colorado, USA); Kristal Ambrose, Founder of the Bahamas Plastic Movement (Bahamas); Nainoa Thompson, President of the Polynesian Voyaging Society (Hawaii, USA); Jayne Jenkins, Ambassador for Olympus Digital Cameras, Vice President for the Australasian Our World Underwater Scholarship Society (Australia); and the World Oceans Day Youth Advisory Council: Caitlin Philipps (Australia), Gabriella Schauber (Canada), Brandon Koots (Curacao), Sang-Jin Kim (Germany), Nehara Pandey (India), Melati Wijsen (Indonesia), Mohammed Wahabi (Morocco), Oghenechovwen C. Oghenekevwe (Nigeria), Eugenia Barroca (Portugal), Latisha Parkinson (Trinidad and Tobago), Baylee Ritter (USA). The organizers congratulate all of the winners again and thank everyone who participated in the competition. Thank you for sharing your work, and helping us convey the beauty and value of the oceans.
© Beth Watson (United States). 2016 World Oceans Day Theme Winner
© Mathieu Foulquié (France). Above Water Seascapes — Winner
© Gregory Lecoeur (France). Above Water Seascapes — 2nd Place
© Edwar Herreño (Colombia). Above Water Seascapes — 3rd Place
© Michele Hall (USA). Making a Difference: Humans in Action — Winner
© Tommi Kokkola (Finland). Making a Difference: Humans in Action — 2nd Place
© Edwar Herreño (Colombia). Making a Difference: Humans in Action — 3rd Place
© Gregory Lecoeur (France). Underwater Life — Winner
© Vania Kam (Hong Kong). Underwater Life — 2nd Place
© Brandi Mueller (USA). Underwater Life — 3rd Place
© Alex Lindbloom (USA). Underwater Seascapes — Winner
© Anders Nyberg (Sweden). Underwater Seascapes — 2nd Place
© Gregory Lecoeur (France). Underwater Seascapes — 3rd Place
© Marlyss Brightwell (United States). Youth Photographer — Winner
© Indigo Bolandrini (Egypt). Youth Photographer — 2nd Place
© Zara Edmond (Australia). Youth Photographer — 3rd Place