Wildlife photographer of year

[John Gulliver]

A friend of mine and his then girlfriend (now wife)* went there by a package tour from Sweden in November a couple of years ago. It was the wrong season for whales – they only saw dolphins – and the divecentres had closed because it was out of season. They managed to find someone who rented them cylinders and weights and pumped air but there were no diveboats operating, so they had to do all their dives from shore. The diving was pretty mediocre. I've seen their pics and was not attracted to go there. It may be a lot different if you go at the right time, though.
* Anders, it was Jonas and Carola.

[Tim Ingmire]

I think whilst all good (and some very good) piccies (except the trout and anthias), they really aren't mindblowing are they?  The jelly fish pic I've seen before - look in underwater photography magazine issue 14 (or is it 11?) - there's one just like it.

If somebody had told me these were all amateur shots from people on a U/W photography course I would not have been surprised - but they aren't, they are supposedly top notch piccies from an elite bunch.

Having said that, they are still way better that what I could produce.

[Lou]

Anders,

I assumed that they could be post-processed, but they just "look" it.  That's what turns me off.  It seems more a technical exercise than a really emotional experience and with photos, much more than painting, I need to feel some emotion off them when they are an artistic exercise and not an illiustration.

Do you know what I mean?

Maybe I'm just rambling......

Lou

[Anders Schersten]

Lou,
I think I know what you mean and I agree with you to a large extent, a picture has to convey a feeling or message (preferrably both). Unfortunately quite uncommon...

John,
That's right, they were there, but I have not seen their pics. Another friend of mine were there too and seemed fairly happy. One would go for the whales though as the rest probably is like the Canaries.

Cheers,
anders

[Helen F H]

Think some of ours are pretty good....

[Helen F H]

Look!  its a one of them thingys that sucks itself back in when you stick your finger in it.......