mona dienhart

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 – Torres del Paine (Chile)

perfect moments

In 1999 Chris and I decided to travel down south from Santiago de Chile to the Strait of Magellan. During this trip we had planned a 7 day trek of the “circuit” in the Torres del Paine NP.

The hike circles around the famous Torres del Paine . At this time there were a few “campamentos” along the trail to put up a tent and you had to bring all your food supply as nothing was available while on the road.

Weather was another issue. It could change from winter snow storm to summer sun at cyber speed and most of the time the temperatures were close to freezing at breakfast.

Halfway was the John Garner Pass at 1200m above sea level. For most of us the highlight of the trek. After an altitude difference of 800m you were supposed to have a view on the Grey glacier.

We started early in the day and the weather was nice. Arriving close to the top of the pass was exciting. We were walking up and I had lots of images in my head… how would it look like?

Then finally I can see the flag and slowly the glacier comes into sight, partially…a bit more and then!

All the exhaustion disappears. I watch from my right to the left and all I see is GLACIER GREY!

What a panorama! Ice all over as far as your eyes can see!

Unfortunately we cannot stay for too long up there. There is no protection from the strong winds and there are still 5-6 hours down to the camping. (Actually the camping is situated at Lago Grey, lake Grey which you can see on the 3rd photo of the glacier.) 🙂

There is only one way to earn this view : 2-3 days hiking (either way round)

After the one week trek all our bones were aching, our feet were full of blisters. We didn’t have a shower at all. But we were happy. And the view of the Grey Glacier never got out of my mind…

Expo -SoirĂ©e Bodrum 2011

diving, Exhibitions, PhotoCompetitons

   Invitation Bodrum 2011 (pdf)

Coupe du Monde de Photographie sous- marine
Date : 30 septembre Ă  19.00h
Lieu : AUTOPOLIS (Bertrange)

Venez dĂ©couvrir les photos de l’Ă©quipe luxembourgeoise qui a participĂ© Ă 
la Coupe du Monde de Photo Sous-Marine. Denis Palbiani et moi-mĂŞme avions pris part Ă  ce concours qui s’effectue tous les deux ans.
Nous pourrions discuter autour d’un verre et vous allez dĂ©couvrir le dĂ©roulement de cette compĂ©tition,en compagnie de tous les sponsors.