This competition is now closed. View winning entries for each category here!

Categories

1) Underwater Images (>200m depth).
These can include images taken from ROVs, AUVs, manned submersibles , landers and drop/bounce cameras.

2) Technical Underwater Images (>200m depth).
These can include images taken with swath bathymetry, side-scan sonar, scanning sonar, acoustics or anything else that does not use a conventional camera system.

3) Microscopic / specimen images of deep – sea species or features.
We recognise it is not always possible to view the smallest components of the ocean and therefore we are looking for the best microscope and specimen photography undertaken in the laboratory of species collected deeper than 200m.

4) Fieldwork / experimental set-up / vessels & vehicles / equipment.
Images of the equipment used in deep-sea exploration and research, e.g submersibles at work, specimen sampling, or research platforms at sea (vessels, ROVs, ships, grabs, trawls). We stress they must tell a novel or unique story and be visually appealing.

5) Underwater video footage.
We would like to welcome short (< 1 min) video clips from 200m + of exciting, novel and unique underwater observations, both technical and scientific in order to promote the role of video observations in understanding the function of the deep ocean.

Prizes

Each category will have 3 main cash prizes. 1st = £500, 2nd =£300, 3rd = £200.

In additional the panel will also decide upon 1 special contribution that did not win an individual prize but provided a worthy contribution to the competition and marine science.

Exhibition

All images will be viewed as part of the 11th International Deep-Sea Biology Symposium, 9-14th July 2006, Southampton, UK, with the winning entries displayed in a Southampton City Art Gallery during the week of the symposium. The best images will be displayed as part of media coverage of the Symposium and in a special publication showcasing the winning and highly commended entries. Images may also appear on the website for promotion of the competition.

Judging Panel

Dr Alexander Mustard – Ocean Insight Ltd – Chair
Dr Martin Angel – National Oceanography Centre, Southampton
Dave Mackay – General Manager, Kongsberg Maritime LTD
Lisa Andrews – Editor, BP Magazine
Guy Cantwell – Manager, Corporate Communications, Transocean
Tim Craven – Project Organiser and Curator, Southampton City Art Gallery

Rules and Regulations

1. The competitor must be the owner or have the permission for the image/footage entered. Where footage is taken as part of an oil and gas operation permission from the operator/contractor is sufficient.

2. Images that have won other awards in major competitions are not eligible.

3. Entry formats for images can be any common type. JPEG, TIFF, RAW, Slide, Prints, Transparencies. If in doubt please contact the organisers.

4. Entry formats for video footage can be in any of the following formats. VHS, SVHS, DVD, DVCAM, MiniDV, Quicktime, AVI or MPG. The video footage should be no longer than 1 minute. For further queries contact the organisers.

5. The decision of the judging panel is final. The judging panel reserve the right to withhold awards should the entries contravene any of the rules or regulations.

6. Entries must be received by the 9th May 2006. Deadlines will not be extended, unless under special written circumstances. The results will be announced 2 weeks prior to the Symposium and presentations will be made during Symposium events 9-14th July 2006. Invitations to collect winning awards will be made if appropriate.

7. The organisers and sponsors reserve the right to free reproduction and exhibition of the entries only in connection with the promotion of, and publicity of the competition and the conference.

8. The organisers and sponsors cannot except any liability for the handling of the images, while every care will be taken to avoid any damage or loss.

9. All entries must be accompanied by an entry form. The return of images / footage will only be made available with the provision of a paid addresses envelope and forwarding instructions.

10. Only 3 entries per category are permitted from one individual.

Organising Team

Lis Maclaren, NOC,S: lkm@noc.soton.ac.uk
Dr Ian Hudson, NOC,S
Daniel Jones, NOC,S