Rated as the biggest underwater photography competition, the World ShootOut Underwater Photo Grand Prix Competition is now in its 5th year. Off the back of an invitation from African Dive Adventures and as a result of attending one of the world’s largest oceanic and water-themed exhibitions – Das Boot in Germany – Ugu South Coast Tourism has announced that it is one of the top prize partners for the 2015 competition. Between 1 January and 1 November 2015, the entire underwater world plays host to a `huge underwater festival’, hosting young, amateur and professional photographers from all over the world, competing with each other for grand prizes including cash, luxurious diving trips, diving equipment, photo gear and more.
With this competition attracting over seven hundred thousand dollars’ worth of prizes and taking into account the tough exchange rate, this has by no means been an easy feat!
Producer David Pilosof initiated the first World ShootOut competition in 2011, introducing an international competition as never featured before. To this day there is reportedly no other underwater photography competition that attracts such a significant number of entries, nor offering such remarkable prizes.
Hundreds of photographers from countries around the world take part in the World ShootOut competition and thousands of images are submitted, ranging from those that capture the calm lakes of the Nordic countries and Canada, to others that showcase the exotic secrets of Alaska and dramatic images of the great white shark in the Gulf of Mexico or the hidden treasures on the South Coast of KwaZulu-Natal.
Ugu South Coast Tourism (USCT) in association with Tourism KZN are sponsoring the first prize in the Sharks category, valued at R70 000. The prize consists of an action-packed 14 day trip for two to KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
Says UGSCT CEO, Justin Mackory, “We see this as an excellent opportunity, not only to showcase our diverse destination and our two incredible dive sites, but as a way to interact directly with the diving fraternity and with all those who treasure nature as much as we do. We wish the entrants the best of luck, and here’s hoping that in fact, one of the winning photos may well be taken right here on our shores.’
All World ShootOut winners and nominees will be announced at a festive ceremony, which will be broadcast live throughout Europe on Friday 29 January 2016, at the BOOT Dusseldorf Dive Show in Germany.
The World ShootOut 2015 consists of two main sections:
1. Real-Time ShootOut: A global real-time underwater photo shootout takes place during 1 January and 1 November 2015. Photographers enjoy complete freedom of choosing their own diving destination and can take part in the competition by diving in any natural water resource found around the world, including seas, oceans, lakes, rivers, under the ice and more.
2. Video Clips of the World: Videographers can stay at home and still take part in the competition! Videographers are invited to submit their best and most impressive video clips, taken anytime and anywhere in the world, to the Video Clips of the World category, awarding the first prize winner with a US$2,000 cheque!
For more information please visit the World ShootOut competition website.
