Digital Online

Underwater Photography Contest

EDA  Download Digital Online flyer

2009 EDA Underwater Photo Contest Awards Ceremony
Sponsor: Le Meridien Al Aqah donated a 2 night stay voucher as the 1st prize.

After a successful response to our first Digital Online Underwater Photo Contest, an awards ceremony was held at a conference hall in the Kempinsky Hotel – Mall of The Emirates in Dubai on Sunday 5th of July 2009, to announce the winners of the three photographic categories; Macro, Wide Angle and Fish.

A short introductory speech was given by Ibrahim Al Zu’bi, which was followed by a slide show by Steve Walsh, showing different underwater images from all over the world. Marcelo Mariozi, who coordinated the competition, then gave a detailed presentation on underwater photography and his vision for the future of UW photography and upcoming competitions and courses. Marcelo also briefly introduced the international panel of judges and their areas of expertise.

It was fantastic to see how this contest created an interest toward UW photography. We look forward to the results for the 2010 Underwater Photo Contest in June.


About the Digital Online Underwater Photography Competition:
Digital Online is the recently new step on the development of underwater photography in the UAE with the official launch of the 2009 Digital Online Underwater Photography Contest.

Digital Online will take place in the first semester of each year and will serve as a qualifying event for the planned National. It will also add points to a soon to be released ranking system so that the photographers can keep track of their development.

The Digital Online event (as well as the National Championship) is be open to all EDA members (UAE Nationals and foreigners with a Resident Visa) and holders of any diving certificate.

Introduction
The Digital Online Underwater Photo Contest, from now on referred to as Digital Online, is a yearly internet-based event with the main objectives of:

  • Gathering information on the number of underwater photographers in the UAE;
  • Discovering new promising underwater photographers in the UAE;
  • Developing the human interaction with the underwater environment by displaying the beauty of its fauna and flora.


Categories

  • Wide Angle (WA): Photographs taken with a wide-angle lens (or adapters that provide an equal level of field-of-view), with or without human presence, portraying the natural beauty of the underwater environment and/or the human interaction underwater (see Orientations & Restrictions).
  • Fish (FI): Photographs of whole fish and/or fish parts as the main visual element (NOT mammals, crustaceans, mollusks etc…) taken with any lens, portraying its natural behavior and environment.
  • Macro (MA): Photographs taken with close up-equipment, portraying underwater flora and/or fauna. The main element NOT being fish.


Registration and Image Upload
Registration to Digital Online is free. The participant needs to be a member of EDA and send an email to photo@emiratesdiving.com with the following information:

  • Full name
  • EDA Membership Number
  • Camera Model

  • Non-Nationals should also add a low-res scan of their Resident VisaAnd he/she MUST send all his/her images attached to this same email message. Because only the first email received by the organization will be considered valid.

  • All images must be .JPG files, in the EXACT dimensions of 600 x 400 pixels. The images should be named:
  • Wide Angle Category: w.jpg
  • Fish Category: f.jpg
  • Macro: m.jpg


  • Only ONE picture will be accepted per photographer, per category.

  • The original pictures (slides, negatives or high-resolution digital files) are going to be requested by EDA to confirm and authenticate the results before their announcement. If they are not received within 15 days from the requested date, the picture will be disqualified.
    The process of registering and sending images is the confirmation that the photographer accepts the rules of the event, and recognizes EDA and only EDA as capable of evaluating the cases not contained herewith.

  • You will receive an email to confirm the registration.


Deadlines and Results
The deadline for registration and image upload is midnight (UAE local time) on stated date. There will be no exceptions. The results will be made public and the prize ceremony will take place at an EDA Social event.