Ocean Views from Nature's Best Photos
The winners of the 2010 Nature's Best Photography Ocean Views Contest are a stunning sample of marine wildlife and ocean vistas from around the globe. The 2011 contest is open to photographers of all levels through January 5, 2011, and winners will be published in the Spring/Summer 2011 edition of Nature's Best Photography and Alert Diver magazines. The annual Nature's Best Photography Windland Smith Rice International Awards winners will be exhibited at the Smithsonian's National Museum of Natural History in Spring 2011.
Hammerhead Shark, Cocos Island, Costa Rica
Hammerhead Shark, Cocos Island, Costa Rica :
“This shark was cruising low along the reef known as Alcyone. Her left eye was glancing up toward other hammerheads when I took this shot from below.” -- Nature's Best photographer, Alan Studley.
Equipment Used to Capture the Shot: Nikon D300; Tokina 10-17mm lens; 1/80 sec at ƒ/7.1; Sea & Sea flash; YS 110 strobes.
Atlantic Spotted Dolphins, Little Bahama Bank, The Bahamas
Atlantic Spotted Dolphins, Little Bahama Bank, The Bahamas :
“At night, spotted dolphins move offshore into the Gulf Stream’s deep waters in search of squid.” -- Nature's Best photographer, Andrew Sallmon.
Equipment Used to Capture the Shot: Canon EOS 5D; 15mm ƒ/2.8 fisheye lens; 1/200 sec at ƒ/5.6; Sea & Sea YS-250 strobes.
Andrew Sallmon/Nature’s Best Photography
Humpback Whale, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, USA
Humpback Whale, Stellwagen Bank National Marine Sanctuary, USA:
“This humpback uses its lower jaw to strain fish off the water’s surface as sea birds snatch their own meals right out of the whale’s open mouth.” -- Nature's Best photographer, Bryce Flynn.
Equipment Used to Capture the Shot: Canon EOS 50D; 70-200mm lens; 1/800 sec at ƒ/5.
Squid at Sunset Reef Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands
Squid at Sunset Reef Grand Cayman, Cayman Islands :
“Upon returning from the reef after a night dive, I swam toward a bright reflection and came eye-to-eye with this beautiful, curious squid.” -- Nature's Best photographer Charles Viggers.
Equipment Used to Capture the Shot: Nikon D700; 105mm ƒ/2.8 lens; 1/250 sec at ƒ/25; Inon Z240s strobes.
Polar Bears, Cape Churchill, Manitoba, Canada
Polar Bears, Cape Churchill, Manitoba, Canada :
“In late November, land-locked polar bears gather along the Hudson Bay to await the formation of Arctic ice so they can return to their seal-hunting grounds for the winter.” -- Nature's Best photographer, Alan Zipp.
Equipment Used to Capture the Shot: Nikon D200; 80-400mm lens; 1/320 sec at ƒ/11; beanbag.
Sunset at Ecola State Park, Near Cannon Beach, Ore., USA
Sunset at Ecola State Park, Near Cannon Beach, Ore., USA:
“The receding tide left a multitude of starfish in tide pools clinging to exposed rocks along the shore. The rich hues matched the colors of the setting sun against the textures of the rocky beach.” -- Nature's Best photographer, David E. Becker.
Equipment Used to Capture the Shot: Nikon D300; 10.5mm lens; 1/4 sec at ƒ/22; Bogen tripod.
Giant Pacific Manta Ray, Revillagigedos Islands, Mexico
Giant Pacific Manta Ray, Revillagigedos Islands, Mexico:
“Manta rays sometimes approach divers; an up-close encounter with such a huge, peaceful animal is unforgettable!” -- Nature's Best photographer, Deborah Smrekar.
Equipment Used to Capture the Shot: Nikon D70; 12-24mm; 1/100 sec at ƒ/11; Ikelite strobe.
Black Skimmer, Nickerson Beach, Long Island, N.Y., USA
Black Skimmer, Nickerson Beach, Long Island, N.Y., USA:
“I visited the beach at sunrise after high tide and found this skimmer feeding, providing me with this reflected shot.” -- Nature's Best photographer, James A. Galletto.
Equipment Used to Capture the Shot: Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III; 500mm lens; 1/1600 sec at ƒ/5.6; Gitzo tripod.
Leatherback Sea Turtle, Playa Grande, Costa Rica
Leatherback Sea Turtle, Playa Grande, Costa Rica:
“Leatherback turtles are critically endangered, and this young hatchling is a symbol of hope for their future.” -- Nature's Best photographer, Jason Bradley.
Equipment Used to Capture the Shot: Nikon D2X; 12-24mm lens; 1/100 sec at ƒ/5.6.
Blue-veined Octopus at Anilao Batangas Pier, Philippines
Blue-veined Octopus at Anilao Batangas Pier, Philippines:
“This octopus displays tool-using behavior as it utilizes an empty shell for shelter and as a means of defense and protection.” -- Nature's Best photographer, Jeffrey de Guzman.
Equipment Used to Capture the Shot: Nikon D300; 105mm lens; 1/320 sec at ƒ/25; Inon Z240 strobes.
Surfer at Bogue Banks, North Carolina, USA
Surfer at Bogue Banks, North Carolina, USA :
“As I set up for a sunset shot—one last, solitary surfer exited the water and I quickly fired a few frames trying to capture the serenity of the moment.” -- Nature's Best photographer, Karen Doody.
Equipment Used to Capture the Shot: Nikon D300; 10.5mm ƒ/2.8 fish-eye lens; 1/250 sec at ƒ/4.
Tern and Loggerhead Sea Turtle, São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal
Tern and Loggerhead Sea Turtle, São Miguel Island, Azores, Portugal:
“I slowly approached this bird resting on the back of a turtle just under the surface of the water. I got the shot just before the tern flew away.” -- Nature's Best photographer, Nuno Sá.
Equipment Used to Capture the Shot: Canon EOS 20D; 70-200mm lens; 1/640 sec at ƒ/5.
Green Sea Turtle in the Canary Islands, Spain
Green Sea Turtle in the Canary Islands, Spain:
“I have been to this location many times, but no other photo has come out like this one composed with the sun behind a turtle’s head.” -- Nature's Best photographer, Pedro Carrillo.
Equipment Used to Capture the Shot: Nikon D200; 10-17mm ƒ/3.5-4.5 lens; 1/250 sec at ƒ/19; Seacam Seaflash strobes.
Kilauea Volcano, Kalapana, Hawaii, USA
Kilauea Volcano, Kalapana, Hawaii, USA:
“In the upper left of this image I can visualize the profile of Pele, the fire goddess of Hawaiian folklore, as if she is whispering to the sea.” -- Nature's Best photographer, Peter Lik.
Equipment Used to Capture the Shot: Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III; 50mm lens; 2 sec at ƒ/11; Gitzo tripod.
Adélie Penguins, Paulet Island, Antarctica
Adélie Penguins, Paulet Island, Antarctica :
“As we motored around Paulet Island in a Zodiac boat, these two curious penguins waddled across an iceberg to get a closer look at us.” -- Nature's Best photographer, Phillip Colla.
Equipment Used to Capture the Shot: Canon 5D Mark II; 24-105mm ƒ/4 lens at 24mm; 1/320 sec at ƒ/10.
Dwarf Minke Whale, Great Barrier Reef, Australia
Dwarf Minke Whale, Great Barrier Reef, Australia:
“Moments after its eyes emerged from the water for a ‘spy hop,’ this whale slowly descended in my direction and came as close as six feet before it dove away.” -- Nature's Best photographer, Steffen Binke.
Equipment Used to Capture the Shot: Nikon D200; Tokina 10-17mm lens; 1/400 sec at ƒ/7.1.
Red Crab Migration, Christmas Island, Indian Ocean
Red Crab Migration, Christmas Island, Indian Ocean :
“The largest land migration of any animal on Earth, as many as 120 million crabs carpet the island in red as they move from the rain forest to the coast.” -- Nature's Best photographer, Stephen Belcher.
Equipment Used to Capture the Shot: Canon EOS-1Ds Mark II; 17-40mm lens; 1/250 sec at ƒ/10; Gitzo tripod.
Great Barracuda, Witu Islands, Papua New Guinea
Great Barracuda, Witu Islands, Papua New Guinea:
“A four-foot-long barracuda is visible flashing past me, with the sky and the lights of my boat seen above.” -- Nature's Best photographer, Yeang H. Ch’ng.
Equipment Used to Capture the Shot: Canon EOS-1Ds Mark III; 16-35mm lens; 1/5 sec at ƒ/9; Inon Z240 strobes.
I have seen many beautiful photos of sea life in my past, but I think these are some of the best ones so far. Amazing what god has done to our Ocean Planet, Tony Nunez South West Florida:)