First Place, Open Macro category. Photo by Brook Peterson – “Eye Candy”
Blue Water Photo Store is excited to announce the winners of the 4th Annual SoCal Shootout. Top photo winners included colorful scenes from the stunning kelp forests from Debbie Karimoto and Renee Capozzola, a frenzy of bait fish on Oil Rigs from Nirupam Nigam, Elaine Obien and others, mesmerizing octopus eyes from winner Brook Peterson, and so many more.
In addition to their Unedited Video category, this year they introduced a new video category and received many excellent entries. The new “Edited” video category allowed participants to submit a longer, edited piece. First place in this category went to Roger Uzun with a stunning look at the diversity found in just two days of diving in Southern California. Other winners included beautiful tales of a day of diving Californian waters, and a look at the SoCal local pinnipeds.
Unedited videos this year captured beautiful large schools of baitfish as well as rare subjects like the Scythe butterflyfish and unique behaviors including a nudibranch feasting.
The 4th Annual SoCal Shootout weekend took place September 12th-14th, 2014 with participants shooting all over the Southern California waters. Blue Water Photo received a large number of great entries, despite the large swell and wind that made the weekend of diving a little more challenging that usual. Entries were judged by professional underwater photographers Mark Strickland, Andy Sallmon and Bluewater Photo owner Scott Gietler. Over $14,000 in prizes are being awarded to the winners including trips from the Rocio del Mar liveaboard, the Cortez Club & La Concha in La Paz, and Maluku Divers in Indonesia, underwater photo gear from Sea & Sea Underwater Imaging, AJ Saito of Recsea and much more.
The full list of winners and their photos can be seen at:
http://www.bluewaterphotostore.com/2014-socal-shootout-results
Above: First Place Winner, Edited Video Category. Roger Uzun – “SoCal Dive Days”
About the SoCal Shootout
The SoCal Shootout is an annual photography competition where some of Southern California’s most active underwater photographers strive to capture the best possible photos over a three day period. Major editing is not allowed, so the competition truly tests a photographer’s ability to capture stunning imagery in-camera. Bluewater Photo, Southern California’s only dedicated underwater photography center, sponsors the event along with many top underwater photography and scuba brands, international resorts and local dive boats – all of which are excited to support the Californian scuba diving community.