DPG/Wetpixel Masters Underwater Imaging Competition

Type: Photography and videography competition
Frequency: Annual (since 2006)
Organizers: DivePhotoGuide (Jason Heller, later Matt Weiss) and Wetpixel (Eric Cheng, later Adam Hanlon)
Website: UnderwaterCompetition.com
Location: Online submission; awards presented at Our World Underwater (Chicago) and DEEP Indonesia (Jakarta)

Overview

The DPG/Wetpixel Masters (originally the “Wetpixel.com and DivePhotoGuide.com International Photo & Video Competition”) is one of the most prestigious underwater photography and videography competitions in the world, often described as the “Superbowl” or “World Championship” of international underwater imaging events ([1]). Founded in 2006 by professional underwater photographers Jason Heller (DivePhotoGuide) and Eric Cheng (Wetpixel), the competition is unique in being held in association with two dive expos on opposite sides of the world simultaneously: Our World Underwater in Chicago and DEEP Indonesia in Jakarta ([2]).

The competition features multiple still-image and video categories, with prizes that have grown from $25,000 in its inaugural year to over $100,000 by 2019 ([3]). Fifteen percent of entry proceeds are donated to marine conservation efforts, a commitment maintained since the competition’s founding ([4]).

Founding and Early Years (2006—2009)

The competition was established in 2006 as the “1st Annual Wetpixel.com and DivePhotoGuide.com International Photo Competition.” For the inaugural event, only digital entries were accepted (images taken from digital cameras or scanned from film), and photographers competed in six categories for over $25,000 in prizes. A distinctive feature was the special Compact Camera category for point-and-shoot cameras. Winners were announced on stage at the 2006 Our World Underwater festival in Chicago ([5]).

The 2nd Annual competition (2006—2007 season) expanded to over $35,000 in prizes with seven still-image categories plus video. Celebrity judges included Stephen Frink, Alex Mustard, and Eric Cheng. Prizes included dive trips to South Africa, Socorro Islands, Raja Ampat, Komodo, Grand Cayman, Galapagos, Bora Bora, Solomon Islands, and the Bahamas. The Best of Show winner was Christopher Guglielmo for “Shark in Motion” ([6]). Winners were announced at OWU 2007, where Jason Heller presented the winning images to a packed crowd ([7]).

The 2007 competition also saw the launch of the companion DEEP Indonesia competition, with Best of Show going to Magnus Lundgren for a photograph of an oceanic whitetip shark ([8]).

The 3rd Annual competition (2007—2008 season) grew to over $50,000 in prizes with seven still-image and two video categories. Judges included Eric Cheng, Berkley White, Tony Wu, Ric Frazier, Chuck Nicklin, and Mary Lynn Price. The Best of Show winner at OWU was Jose Alejandro Alvarez for “Juvenile Lionfish” ([9]). At DEEP Indonesia 2008, Dale Sanders won Best of Show with a salmon spawning photograph ([10]).

In October 2008, Wetpixel and DivePhotoGuide relaunched UnderwaterCompetition.com with automated entry submission and payment, reflecting the competition’s growth. The organizers noted that “in just 4 years, these competitions have become some of the most prestigious and widely supported international underwater photography & video competitions in the world” ([11]).

The 4th Annual competition (2008—2009 season) reached over $75,000 in prizes. Legendary National Geographic photographer David Doubilet joined the judging panel, a significant milestone for the competition’s prestige ([12]). A novice category was added for the first time ([13]). Justin Gilligan of Australia won Best of Show at OWU 2009 with a split-shot of a Portuguese Man O’ War, with category winners representing over twenty countries ([14]).

Growth and Prestige (2010—2019)

2010—2013

At DEEP Indonesia 2010, Magnus Lundgren won his second Best of Show. Judges included Eric Cheng, Dietmar Fuchs, Diego Garcia, and Tony Wu, and photographers from eleven countries placed ([15]).

By 2011, the competition was described as the “Superbowl” of international underwater imagery, with thousands of entries from 19 countries and over $75,000 in prizes. Anatoly Beloshchin from Russia won Best of Show at OWU 2011 for an image from the new Commercial, Conceptual and Fashion category. A People’s Choice Award was introduced, sponsored by Canon, won by Uwe Schmolke for “Prying Eyes” ([16]).

At OWU 2012, Jeff Hartog (Wetpixel member “Loftus”) won Best of Show with “Fire in the Water.” The competition attracted over 1,500 entries. Judges for 2012 included Alex Mustard, Brian Skerry, Berkley White, Keri Wilk, and Matt Weiss for the photo contest; Steve Douglas, Eric Hanauer, and Mary-Lynn Price for video. DEEP Indonesia judges included Jason Bradley, Diego Garcia, David Fleetham, Matt Weiss, and Eric Cheng ([17], [18]).

In 2013, Pulitzer Prize-winning photographer Vincent Laforet joined the judging panel, bringing “a fresh insight and vision” alongside Alex Mustard, David Fleetham, Berkley White, Diego Garcia, Keri Wilk, and Matt Weiss. Prizes exceeded $80,000. Sam Cahir won Best of Show at OWU with a mako shark portrait “Paris the mako shark,” and John Boyle and Fionn Crow Howieson won the video category with “The Giants of Cenderawasih Bay” ([19], [20]).

2014—2016

At OWU 2014, Sumer Verma from India won Best of Show with “A journey begins,” a stunning image of a turtle hatchling. The competition awarded $50,000 in prizes to winners from more than 15 countries ([21]).

At DEEP 2015, Eduardo Acevedo won Best of Show with “Open Water” from the Animal Portraits category ([22]).

At OWU 2016, Fabien Michenet won Best of Show in the Wide Angle Unrestricted category. The competition was described as “the epitome of underwater imaging events,” with $55,000 in prizes awarded to winners from a dozen countries ([23]).

2017—2019

At OWU 2017, Yatwai So won Best of Show for “Phantom,” an image of a juvenile sweetlips, from the Macro Traditional category. The judging panel included Abi Mullens, Alex Mustard, Berkley White, David Doubilet, and Keri Wilk ([24]).

At OWU 2018, Canadian photographer Shane Gross achieved the rare feat of winning both Best of Show (Macro Traditional, a trio of seahorses) and Gold in Wide Angle Traditional. Judges included Alex Mustard, Erin Quigley, Keri Wilk, and Lia Barrett, with approximately $55,000 in prizes ([25]).

The DEEP Indonesia 2018 competition became embroiled in controversy when concerns arose that some winning images showed physical manipulation of subjects. Yung-Sen Wu’s Best of Show image of a blue-ring octopus with eggs on a shell, and Francesco Pacienza’s compact camera Gold winner showing a nudibranch on a seahorse, were both scrutinized. After investigation — including requesting RAW files and consulting scientists — the organizers upheld both awards, stating there was “no definitive evidence” of manipulation. The controversy prompted a broader discussion about photographer ethics and the competition’s rules against staging subjects ([26]).

At OWU 2019, Belgian photographer Luc Rooman won Best of Show for his image of mating frogs in the Wide Angle Unrestricted category. Wetpixel columnist Henley Spiers was a notable multiple winner, taking Gold in Black and White and Silver in both Macro categories. Judges included David Doubilet, Howard and Michele Hall, Erin Quigley, Lia Barrett, and Abi Mullen, with $55,000 in prizes ([27]). At DEEP Indonesia 2019, Grant Thomas won Best of Show with an over-under image from Papua New Guinea ([28]).

By December 2019, the competition marked its 15th edition, with organizers Matt Weiss and Adam Hanlon (who had by then replaced the original co-founders in management) announcing over $100,000 in prizes and calling it “the most prestigious [contest] in the underwater imaging industry” ([29]).

Rebranding as DPG/Wetpixel Masters (2020—Present)

2020: The Rebrand

In January 2020, Wetpixel and DivePhotoGuide announced the rebranding of the Our World Underwater imaging contest as the DPG/Wetpixel Masters Underwater Imaging Competition. The announcement noted that “since its inception in 2006, the contest has been an opportunity to compete globally with some of the world’s most accomplished image-makers” and that placing in it “marks an entry into the membership of a very exclusive group of underwater image-makers” ([30]).

For 2020, judges included David Doubilet, Stephen Frink, Erin Quigley, Scott “Gutsy” Tuason, Keri Wilk, and Tony Wu, with over $55,000 in prizes. Scott Portelli won Best of Show with “Spurt” in the Wide Angle Unrestricted category. The 2020 competition featured categories for Wide Angle Traditional, Wide Angle Unrestricted, Macro Traditional, Macro Unrestricted, and Video ([31], [32]).

2021: Pandemic Adaptation

The 2021 edition adapted to the global pandemic’s impact on the dive travel industry. Rather than offering sponsor-donated dive trip prizes, the competition awarded cash prizes: $250 per category winner and an additional $750 for Best of Show. The organizers explained this was to “give back to those that have historically supported the Underwater Competition Series” during the pandemic ([33]).

Categories for 2021 included Wide Angle Traditional, Wide Angle Unrestricted, Macro Traditional, Macro Unrestricted, Black & White, and Video. The judging panel was Imran Ahmad, Mike Bartick, Florian Fischer, Stephen Frink, and Jennifer Hayes ([34]). Martin Broen won Best of Show with “Speleothems” from the Black and White category. Alex del Olmo dominated the Video category, winning first, second, and honorable mention with his “Out of the Black and into the Blue” series ([35]).

In August 2021, Wetpixel partnered with ADEX (Asia Dive Expo) and Underwater360 to launch “ADEX Pixel/Wetpixel’s PIXEL21,” a series of monthly discussion sessions titled “Conversation with the Masters of Underwater Photography” ([36]).

2022

The 2022 competition returned to a full prize pool worth more than $75,000, including dive trips and gear. Categories were Wide Angle, Macro, Traditional (minimal post-processing), Black and White, Over-Under, and Short Film, with a $1,000 cash grand prize for Best of Show. Judges were Renee Capozzola, Erin Quigley, Marty Snyderman, Kurt Amsler, Tom St George, and William Tan ([37]).

Martin Broen won Best of Show for the second consecutive year with “Big Cave Chamber” from the Black and White category, shot in Mexico’s Yucatan cenotes. Other notable winners included Nicolas Remy (Macro), Gillian Ward McCarty (Over-Under), Renata Romeo (Traditional), Raffaele Livornesse (Wide Angle), and Alex del Olmo (Video, for the second year running) ([38]).

2025: DPG Masters

In 2025, DivePhotoGuide rebranded the competition as “DPG Masters,” dropping the Wetpixel name from the title.

Competition Structure

Categories

The competition categories have evolved over the years:

Dual Competition Series

The competition is uniquely structured as a dual series held in association with two expos:

The OWU competition features technical categories (wide angle, macro, etc.), while the DEEP Indonesia competition offers themed categories (animal behavior, animal portraits, reefscapes, etc.) ([45]).

Judging

The competition has attracted distinguished judges throughout its history, including:

Conservation Commitment

Since its founding, 15% of all entry proceeds have been donated to marine conservation efforts. This commitment has been maintained through every iteration of the competition ([58], [59]).

Notable Controversies

DEEP Indonesia 2018 Manipulation Dispute

The most significant controversy in the competition’s history arose after the DEEP Indonesia 2018 results, when concerns were raised that winning images depicted physically manipulated subjects. The competition rules explicitly forbid images where “the subject has been moved into a position or environment in which they are not normally found.” Organizers investigated by requesting RAW files and the sequence of shots from the photographers, and consulted scientists and experienced photographers. Both contested awards were ultimately upheld due to lack of definitive evidence of manipulation, but the incident prompted broader discussion about photographer ethics in competitions ([60]).

Best of Show Winners

YearCompetitionWinnerImage Title
2006OWUChristopher Guglielmo”Shark in Motion” ([61])
2007OWUJose Alejandro Alvarez”Juvenile Lionfish” ([62])
2007DEEPMagnus LundgrenOceanic whitetip shark ([63])
2008DEEPDale SandersSalmon spawning ([64])
2009OWUJustin GilliganPortuguese Man O’ War split-shot ([65])
2010DEEPMagnus Lundgren(second BOS win) ([66])
2011OWUAnatoly BeloshchinCommercial/Conceptual/Fashion ([67])
2012OWUJeff Hartog”Fire in the Water” ([68])
2013OWUSam Cahir”Paris the mako shark” ([69])
2014OWUSumer Verma”A journey begins” ([70])
2015DEEPEduardo Acevedo”Open Water” ([71])
2016OWUFabien MichenetWide Angle Unrestricted ([72])
2017OWUYatwai So”Phantom” ([73])
2018OWUShane GrossSeahorse trio (Macro Traditional) ([74])
2019OWULuc RoomanMating frogs (WA Unrestricted) ([75])
2019DEEPGrant ThomasOver-under, PNG ([76])
2020MastersScott Portelli”Spurt” (WA Unrestricted) ([77])
2021MastersMartin Broen”Speleothems” (B&W) ([78])
2022MastersMartin Broen”Big Cave Chamber” (B&W) ([79])

Timeline

References


Sources

  1. Wetpixel article, Sep 11, 2006: Wetpixel Divephotoguide Photo And Video Contest 2007
  2. Wetpixel article, Oct 7, 2008: Wetpixel And Divephotoguide Relaunch Underwatercompetitioncom
  3. Wetpixel article, Dec 14, 2019: Call For Entries Underwater Competition Series 2019
  4. Wetpixel article, Sep 11, 2006: Wetpixel Divephotoguide Photo And Video Contest 2007
  5. Wetpixel article, Feb 26, 2006: Wetpixel Divephotoguide Contest Winners Announced At Owu
  6. Wetpixel article, Sep 11, 2006: Wetpixel Divephotoguide Photo And Video Contest 2007
  7. Wetpixel article, Feb 11, 2007: 2007 Our World Underwater Winners Announced
  8. Wetpixel article, Feb 13, 2007: 2007 Our World Underwater And Deep Indonesia Winners Posted
  9. Wetpixel article, Sep 17, 2007: 3nd Annual Wetpixel Divephotoguide Photo And Video Contest
  10. Wetpixel article, Apr 23, 2008: 2008 Deep Indonesia Underwater Photo Competition Winners
  11. Wetpixel article, Oct 7, 2008: Wetpixel And Divephotoguide Relaunch Underwatercompetitioncom
  12. Wetpixel article, Dec 17, 2008: David Doubilet Joins Judging Panel For Underwatercompetition
  13. Wetpixel article, Nov 6, 2008: 2009 International Underwater Photo Video Competitions
  14. Wetpixel article, Feb 22, 2009: 2009 Our World Underwater Winners Announced
  15. Wetpixel article, Mar 14, 2010: Deep Indonesia Photo Contest 2010 Winners Announced
  16. Wetpixel article, Feb 22, 2011: Results Of Our World Underwater Announced
  17. Wetpixel article, Feb 20, 2012: Results Of Our World Underwater 2012 Announced
  18. Wetpixel article, Jan 9, 2012: Our World Underwater Deep Indonesia Judges Announced
  19. Wetpixel article, Feb 18, 2013: Results Announced Our World Underwater 2013
  20. Wetpixel article, Jan 13, 2013: Vincent Laforet To Judge Photo Contests
  21. Wetpixel article, Feb 19, 2014: Our World Underwater 2014 Winners Announced
  22. Wetpixel article, May 4, 2015: Results Deep 2015
  23. Wetpixel article, Feb 27, 2016: Results Of Our World Underwater 2016 Announced
  24. Wetpixel article, Feb 25, 2017: Our World Underwater 2017 Winners Announced
  25. Wetpixel article, Feb 18, 2018: Results Our World Underwater 2018
  26. Wetpixel article, Mar 23, 2018: Deep 2018 Results Controversy
  27. Wetpixel article, Feb 17, 2019: Results Our World Underwater 2019
  28. Wetpixel article, Mar 28, 2019: Results Deep Indonesia 2019
  29. Wetpixel article, Dec 14, 2019: Call For Entries Underwater Competition Series 2019
  30. Wetpixel article, Jan 7, 2020: Announcing The Dpg Wetpixel Masters Underwater Imaging Competition 2020
  31. Wetpixel article, Feb 29, 2020: Results Dpg Wetpixel Masters 2020
  32. Wetpixel article, Feb 29, 2020: Results Dpg Wetpixel Masters 2020 2
  33. Wetpixel article, Aug 31, 2021: Entries Open Dpg Wetpixel Masters Of Underwater Imaging Contest 2021
  34. Wetpixel article, Oct 8, 2021: Introducing The 2021 Masters Esteemed Judging Panel
  35. Wetpixel article, Nov 26, 2021: Results Dpg Wetpixel Masters 2021
  36. Wetpixel article, Aug 6, 2021: Adex Pixel Wetpixel Masters Of Underwater Imaging Discussion Series
  37. Wetpixel article, Nov 1, 2022: Dpg Wetpixel Master 2022 Is Open For Entries
  38. Wetpixel article, Jan 23, 2023: Results Dpg Wetpixel Masters 2022
  39. Wetpixel article, Feb 26, 2006: Wetpixel Divephotoguide Contest Winners Announced At Owu
  40. Wetpixel article, Sep 17, 2007: 3nd Annual Wetpixel Divephotoguide Photo And Video Contest
  41. Wetpixel article, Feb 22, 2011: Results Of Our World Underwater Announced
  42. Wetpixel article, Nov 1, 2022: Dpg Wetpixel Master 2022 Is Open For Entries
  43. Wetpixel article, Nov 6, 2008: 2009 International Underwater Photo Video Competitions
  44. Wetpixel article, Apr 23, 2008: 2008 Deep Indonesia Underwater Photo Competition Winners
  45. Wetpixel article, Dec 14, 2019: Call For Entries Underwater Competition Series 2019
  46. Wetpixel article, Dec 17, 2008: David Doubilet Joins Judging Panel For Underwatercompetition
  47. Wetpixel article, Sep 11, 2006: Wetpixel Divephotoguide Photo And Video Contest 2007
  48. Wetpixel article, Oct 8, 2021: Introducing The 2021 Masters Esteemed Judging Panel
  49. Wetpixel article, Sep 11, 2006: Wetpixel Divephotoguide Photo And Video Contest 2007
  50. Wetpixel article, Feb 25, 2017: Our World Underwater 2017 Winners Announced
  51. Wetpixel article, Sep 17, 2007: 3nd Annual Wetpixel Divephotoguide Photo And Video Contest
  52. Wetpixel article, Jan 9, 2012: Our World Underwater Deep Indonesia Judges Announced
  53. Wetpixel article, Jan 13, 2013: Vincent Laforet To Judge Photo Contests
  54. Wetpixel article, Feb 17, 2019: Results Our World Underwater 2019
  55. Wetpixel article, Feb 18, 2018: Results Our World Underwater 2018
  56. Wetpixel article, Jan 9, 2012: Our World Underwater Deep Indonesia Judges Announced
  57. Wetpixel article, Sep 17, 2007: 3nd Annual Wetpixel Divephotoguide Photo And Video Contest
  58. Wetpixel article, Sep 11, 2006: Wetpixel Divephotoguide Photo And Video Contest 2007
  59. Wetpixel article, Aug 31, 2021: Entries Open Dpg Wetpixel Masters Of Underwater Imaging Contest 2021
  60. Wetpixel article, Mar 23, 2018: Deep 2018 Results Controversy
  61. Wetpixel article, Sep 11, 2006: Wetpixel Divephotoguide Photo And Video Contest 2007
  62. Wetpixel article, Sep 17, 2007: 3nd Annual Wetpixel Divephotoguide Photo And Video Contest
  63. Wetpixel article, Feb 13, 2007: 2007 Our World Underwater And Deep Indonesia Winners Posted
  64. Wetpixel article, Apr 23, 2008: 2008 Deep Indonesia Underwater Photo Competition Winners
  65. Wetpixel article, Feb 22, 2009: 2009 Our World Underwater Winners Announced
  66. Wetpixel article, Mar 14, 2010: Deep Indonesia Photo Contest 2010 Winners Announced
  67. Wetpixel article, Feb 22, 2011: Results Of Our World Underwater Announced
  68. Wetpixel article, Feb 20, 2012: Results Of Our World Underwater 2012 Announced
  69. Wetpixel article, Feb 18, 2013: Results Announced Our World Underwater 2013
  70. Wetpixel article, Feb 19, 2014: Our World Underwater 2014 Winners Announced
  71. Wetpixel article, May 4, 2015: Results Deep 2015
  72. Wetpixel article, Feb 27, 2016: Results Of Our World Underwater 2016 Announced
  73. Wetpixel article, Feb 25, 2017: Our World Underwater 2017 Winners Announced
  74. Wetpixel article, Feb 18, 2018: Results Our World Underwater 2018
  75. Wetpixel article, Feb 17, 2019: Results Our World Underwater 2019
  76. Wetpixel article, Mar 28, 2019: Results Deep Indonesia 2019
  77. Wetpixel article, Feb 29, 2020: Results Dpg Wetpixel Masters 2020
  78. Wetpixel article, Nov 26, 2021: Results Dpg Wetpixel Masters 2021
  79. Wetpixel article, Jan 23, 2023: Results Dpg Wetpixel Masters 2022
  80. Wetpixel article, Feb 26, 2006: Wetpixel Divephotoguide Contest Winners Announced At Owu
  81. Wetpixel article, Sep 11, 2006: Wetpixel Divephotoguide Photo And Video Contest 2007
  82. Wetpixel article, Feb 13, 2007: 2007 Our World Underwater And Deep Indonesia Winners Posted
  83. Wetpixel article, Sep 17, 2007: 3nd Annual Wetpixel Divephotoguide Photo And Video Contest
  84. Wetpixel article, Oct 7, 2008: Wetpixel And Divephotoguide Relaunch Underwatercompetitioncom
  85. Wetpixel article, Dec 17, 2008: David Doubilet Joins Judging Panel For Underwatercompetition
  86. Wetpixel article, Nov 6, 2008: 2009 International Underwater Photo Video Competitions
  87. Wetpixel article, Feb 22, 2011: Results Of Our World Underwater Announced
  88. Wetpixel article, Jan 13, 2013: Vincent Laforet To Judge Photo Contests
  89. Wetpixel article, Mar 23, 2018: Deep 2018 Results Controversy
  90. Wetpixel article, Dec 14, 2019: Call For Entries Underwater Competition Series 2019
  91. Wetpixel article, Jan 7, 2020: Announcing The Dpg Wetpixel Masters Underwater Imaging Competition 2020
  92. Wetpixel article, Aug 31, 2021: Entries Open Dpg Wetpixel Masters Of Underwater Imaging Contest 2021
  93. Wetpixel article, Nov 1, 2022: Dpg Wetpixel Master 2022 Is Open For Entries
  94. 1st Annual competition winners (2006) (article)
  95. 2nd Annual competition call for entries (article)
  96. 2007 OWU winners announced (article)
  97. 2007 OWU and DEEP winners posted (article)
  98. 3rd Annual competition call for entries (article)
  99. OWU 2008 winners (article)
  100. DEEP Indonesia 2008 winners (article)
  101. UnderwaterCompetition.com relaunch (article)
  102. 2009 competition series announcement (article)
  103. David Doubilet joins judging panel (article)
  104. 2009 OWU winners (article)
  105. DEEP Indonesia 2010 winners (article)
  106. OWU 2011 results (article)
  107. 2012 judges announced (article)
  108. OWU 2012 results (article)
  109. Vincent Laforet joins judging panel (2013) (article)
  110. OWU 2013 results (article)
  111. OWU 2014 results (article)
  112. DEEP 2015 results (article)
  113. OWU 2016 results (article)
  114. OWU 2017 results (article)
  115. OWU 2018 results (article)
  116. DEEP 2018 manipulation controversy (article)
  117. OWU 2019 results (article)
  118. DEEP Indonesia 2019 results (article)
  119. 15th edition announcement (2019) (article)
  120. Masters 2020 announcement and rebrand (article)
  121. Masters 2020 results (article)
  122. Masters 2020 full results gallery (article)
  123. Masters 2021 entries open (article)
  124. ADEX Pixel/Wetpixel discussion series (article)
  125. Masters 2021 judging panel (article)
  126. Masters 2021 results (article)
  127. Masters 2022 call for entries (article)
  128. Masters 2022 results (article)