The best underwater photographer of 2021 has been Renee Capozzola, from the United States, for her elegant image: “Shark’s Skylight”. The UPY Underwater Photographer of the Year contest has thus announced the winners of the 2021 contest, with a woman winning this prestigious award for the first time thanks to her beautiful photo of sharks and birds under the setting sun of French Polynesia.
The complete set of UPY2021 results and the complete collection of photos are available for download and save in the free Yearbook. The UPY team thanked all the photographers who supported this year’s contest with their photographs, especially in these challenging times with the coronavirus pandemic hitting every corner of our planet.
This annual UK-based global photo contest has celebrated photography below the surface of the ocean, lakes, rivers and even swimming pools since 1965.
The American Renee Capozzola, therefore, has become the underwater photographer of the year after her impressive image of blacktip reef sharks in French Polynesia took the first prize in this 2021. Originally from southern California, Capozzola He has traveled the world with his camera, according to his website. The winning image, “Sharks’ Skylight”, was taken on the island of Moorea in the Pacific in August. “French Polynesia strongly protects its sharks, it is my favorite place to photograph them,” he said in a statement released by the contest organizers. “I spent several afternoons photographing in the shallow waters at sunset, and I was finally rewarded with this scene: crystal clear waters, a rich sunset, sharks and even birds.”
The contest has 13 categories, with topics such as macro photography, wide angle photography, behavior and wrecks, as well as four categories for photographs taken specifically in British waters. Mark Kirkland was named British Underwater Photographer of the Year 2021 for his vision of wildlife in the city center titled “While You Sleep”, captured near his home in Glasgow. Kirkland said the shooting was the culmination of “standing still in the dark” for 25 hours for four nights.
Congratulations to all the participants! We hope you like the selection of winners.
