Perfect moment : winning a gold medal in UWP contest

perfect moments, PhotoCompetitons, underwater

well today I will tell you about a perfect moment which is happening now as I try to write 🙂

I take part in the UWP contest for a couple of years but only did so more seriously since last year. Last December, 3 of my images went into the finals, one in the freshwater, one in the wide angle with diver and one in the Macro nudibranch category.

These were great news. And finally today we got the results! And guess what?

I am winning the Gold medal in the Macro Nudibranch category with my image “Golden”

Gold Medal in Macro Nudibranch category

To my great surprise my freshwater shot placed as Runner Up as well 🙂

Runner Up in Freshwater category

When I’m in the water and taking photos I don’t think about competitions and medals. I enjoy that moment which enables me to get a close look into a world which is unknown for a lot of humans. I can’t believe that your photos are getting better if you have the ambition of competition in your mind. So I will go on taking pictures just because I love being in that wet world, below the surface, face to face to a wonderfully different world!

I’m happy to see so many familiar names in the winners’ list. Congratulations to all of you! I hope that you have your own personal “perfect moment” as well today!

You can find all the winners here : Underwater Photo medal winners

Perfect moment – Galapagos Islands

perfect moments, Travels

The Galapagos Islands have always been a mythic place to me. Back in 1999, we were travelling Ecuador up and down and we managed to get a 8 day trip to the famous islands in the Pacific. I had seen numerous documentaries and was excited to set foot on the islands.

What impressed me most was the fact that all these wild animals showed no fear. You could get really close to watch them. No tele lens needed.They checked us with one eye and accepted us in their world. The only place where I have a similar feeling is underwater. I love diving for a lot of different reasons but the fact that you can get face to face within touching distance with wild animals in their habitat is one of the main reasons.

Some of the habitants of the Galapagos islands seemed to have skipped several stages during the evolution. Oh yes, Darwin was here and put up his famous theory!

Well, watch for yourself!

As we entered the year of the dragon…here are some of them

Iguana

crawling

meeting up with friends…

This huge old turtle is the king of the island : Lonsome George

Here one of my favourite encounters. A young Galapagos albatross. He still has to wait a bit to get rid of his teenager face and to be able to fly :-

I can’t but think that it is a huge privilege to witness nature that way : close up but with respect. The balance is fragile…

I will never forget the look in these eyes…

These animals never had a reason to fear men . Let’s hope we don’t prove them wrong!

More pics : Ecuador&Galapagos 1999

Interview Radio 100,7

Exhibitions, Travels

Here is yesterday’s interview. I had the pleasure to talk about diving and photography during 7 minutes on radio 100,7in order to promote tonight’s multi-media show “Indonesia: Maumere to Komodo”

Where : Prabbeli Wiltz   When : 8pm tonight

Hier j’avais le plaisir de parler de plongée et de photo sous-marine lors d’une interview à radio 100,7 afin de promouvoir la soirée photo de ce soir “Indonésie: Maumere à Komodo”

Où : Prabbeli Wiltz    Quand : ce soir à 20.00h