Our World Underwater

Type: Expo / trade show and photography competition
Frequency: Annual (February, Chicago)
Location: Donald E. Stephens Convention Center, Rosemont, Illinois, USA
Founded: 1971
Associated competition: Wetpixel/DPG International Underwater Photo & Video Competition (2006—2019), rebranded as DPG/Wetpixel Masters (2020—present)
Website: underwatercompetition.com

Overview

Our World Underwater (OWU) is one of the largest consumer dive shows in the United States. Founded in 1971 in Chicago, it has served as a major annual gathering point for the dive and underwater photography communities. The expo typically draws over 10,000 attendees and features nearly 300 exhibit booths displaying underwater photography and video equipment, dive travel, and related products ([1]). In 2009, over 15,000 people attended the 39th annual show ([2]).

Note: The founding details (1971, Joyce Markstahler, Jim Mackie-Smith, Harry Shanks of YMCA Metro Council of Chicago, premiere at Chicago’s Playboy Hotel) are from external sources, not the Wetpixel archive.

The show’s centerpiece is the Saturday night film festival, which features presentations from prominent underwater filmmakers and photographers. The festival also serves as the venue for announcing winners of the associated photography and video competition. Presenters at the film festival have included notable figures such as Emeroy Kristof, Stan Waterman, John Chatterton, and Richie Kohler ([3]).

The Expo

OWU functions as an industry trade show where major underwater photography equipment manufacturers debut new products. The 2006 show featured debuts including the Ikelite DS200 substrobe and 8-inch dome port for fisheye and wide-angle zoom lenses. Exhibitors included Reef Photo, Helix, Light and Motion, Ultralight Control Systems, Green Force/Manta Industries, Ikelite, Underwater Photo Tech, Bonica, SubSee/ReefNet, and Sea Life ([4]).

The expo also hosts seminars and workshops on topics ranging from dive photojournalism to wide-angle photography techniques. In 2011, photojournalist Jett Britnell presented on British Columbian diving and conducted a workshop on getting published in scuba magazines, while Adam Hanlon presented on wide-angle photography ([5]).

The show historically takes place over a weekend in February at the Donald E. Stephens Convention Center in Rosemont, Illinois, near Chicago.

Rolex Our World-Underwater Scholarship

The show is also associated with the Rolex Our World-Underwater Scholarship Society (OW-USS), which offers scholarships to individuals aged 21—24 interested in underwater pursuits. As of 2003, the program offered a North American Rolex Scholarship ($20,000) and a European Rolex Scholarship (15,000 GBP) ([6]).

The Competition

Origins and founders

In 2006, Wetpixel and DivePhotoGuide.com (DPG) partnered to create an international underwater photography competition held in association with the OWU expo. The competition was co-founded by professional underwater photographers Jason Heller (of DPG) and Eric Cheng (of Wetpixel). The inaugural event accepted only digital entries and awarded more than $25,000 in prizes across six categories, including a dedicated compact camera category. Winners were announced on stage at the 2006 OWU festival in Chicago ([7]). A unique feature was that 15% of entry proceeds were donated to marine conservation efforts, a tradition maintained throughout the competition’s history ([8]).

Growth and stature

The competition quickly grew into what organizers and the industry called the “Superbowl” of international underwater imagery events. By 2007, it was paired with the DEEP Indonesia competition as a joint series hosted on UnderwaterCompetition.com, with combined prizes exceeding $55,000 ([9]). By 2008, the prize pool reached $80,000 ([10]). The 2012 edition marked the seventh year and offered over $100,000 in combined prizes across 15 categories between the two contests ([11]).

Entry fees were $10 per image or video ([12]). The competitions attracted entries from participants in over 20 countries and thousands of individual entries — the 2013 contest received over 1,500 entries alone ([13]).

Organization

The competition was organized by Matt Weiss (DPG) and Eric Cheng (Wetpixel). Jason Heller of DPG served as the primary on-site presenter, announcing winning images and videos during OWU’s Saturday night film festival. Winning images were displayed at the show and published by supporting media partners worldwide. Winning videos were broadcast as episodes of the iTunes-featured DiveFilm HD Podcast Video ([14]).

Categories

The competition evolved its categories over the years. Typical OWU categories included:

The definition of “macro” in the competition rules generated community debate. The rules stated “any image captured with a macro lens, where the size of the subject on the image sensor is life size or greater,” which some argued excluded most typical macro shots taken at less than 1:1 magnification ([15]).

Judges

The competition featured distinguished judging panels drawn from the top ranks of underwater photography. Notable judges over the years included:

Photo judges for OWU 2012 included Alex Mustard, Brian Skerry, Berkley White, Keri Wilk, and Matt Weiss, with Steve Douglas, Eric Hanauer, and Mary-Lynn Price judging video ([16]).

Rebranding to DPG/Wetpixel Masters (2020)

In 2020, the Our World Underwater imaging contest was rebranded as the DPG/Wetpixel Masters Underwater Imaging Competition. The announcement stated that since its inception in 2006, the contest had been “an opportunity to compete globally with some of the world’s most accomplished image-makers” and that placement marked “an entry into the membership of a very exclusive group of underwater image-makers” ([17]).

The rebranded competition maintained the same high standards but shifted to being the de facto “World Championship” of international underwater imagery events. By 2022, it offered over $75,000 in prizes with streamlined categories: Wide Angle, Macro, Traditional, Black and White, Over-Under, and Short Film ([18]). The competition continued to operate through UnderwaterCompetition.com.

Timeline

Pre-Wetpixel era

The competition years (2006—2019)

DPG/Wetpixel Masters era (2020—present)

Best of Show Winners

YearWinnerCountryImageCategory
2007Jose Alejandro AlvarezJuvenile lionfish
2009Justin GilliganAustraliaPortuguese Man O’ War (split-shot)
2011Anatoly BeloshchinRussiaCommercial, Conceptual & Fashion
2012Jeff Hartog“Fire in the Water”
2013Sam Cahir“Paris the mako shark”Wide-Angle Unrestricted
2014Sumer VermaIndia”A journey begins” (turtle hatchling)Wide-Angle Unrestricted
2015Anthony BerberianMacro Unrestricted
2016Fabien MichenetFrench PolynesiaWide-Angle Unrestricted
2017Yatwai So“Phantom” (juvenile sweetlips)Macro Traditional
2018Shane GrossCanadaSeahorsesMacro Traditional
2019Luc RoomanBelgiumMating frogsWide-Angle Unrestricted
2020Scott Portelli“Spurt”Wide-Angle Unrestricted
2021Martin Broen“Speleothems”Black and White
2022Martin Broen“Big Cave Chamber”Black and White

Notable repeat winners

Community discussion

The competition generated active discussion in the Wetpixel forums. Topics included debate over prize distribution — a 2008 Bronze medal winner publicly noted that her prize (a $475 BC) was worth less than the 4th-place Honorable Mention prize ($975 strobe) in the same category, sparking discussion about how contest organizers allocate sponsor-donated prizes ([62]). In 2013, forum member “divegypsy” (Fred) questioned the $10-per-image entry fee, comparing it unfavorably to the British Wildlife Photographer of the Year contest. Adam Hanlon responded that OWU and DEEP were organized by small teams without government funding, and that the fees covered significant administrative costs ([63]). Fred also raised recurring questions about the macro category definition and enforcement of contest rules ([64]).

Relationship with DEEP Indonesia

The OWU competition was part of a joint series with the DEEP Indonesia competition. Both were run simultaneously through UnderwaterCompetition.com, with OWU featuring technical categories (macro traditional, macro unrestricted, wide-angle traditional, etc.) while DEEP Indonesia offered themed entry categories (animal portrait, animal behavior, reefscapes, etc.). OWU winners were announced at the Chicago expo in February; DEEP Indonesia winners at the Jakarta expo in March ([65], [66]).

Key people

References


Sources

  1. Wetpixel article, Feb 13, 2011: Our World Underwater Hosts Photojournalism Workshop
  2. Wetpixel article, Mar 5, 2009: Summary Coverage From Our World Underwater 2009
  3. Wetpixel article, Feb 11, 2007: 2007 Our World Underwater Winners Announced
  4. Wetpixel article, Mar 8, 2006: Our World Underwater 2006 Photos By Terry Schuller
  5. Wetpixel article, Feb 13, 2011: Our World Underwater Hosts Photojournalism Workshop
  6. Wetpixel article, Nov 2, 2003: Rolex Our World Underwater Scholarship
  7. Wetpixel article, Feb 26, 2006: Wetpixel Divephotoguide Contest Winners Announced At Owu
  8. Wetpixel article, Nov 28, 2006: Reminder Submit To Our World Underwater And Deep 2007 Competitions
  9. Wetpixel article, Nov 28, 2006: Reminder Submit To Our World Underwater And Deep 2007 Competitions
  10. Wetpixel article, Dec 7, 2007: Owu2008 And Deep2008 Call For Entries Part 2
  11. Wetpixel article, Dec 1, 2011: Our World Underwater And Deep Indonesia 20121
  12. Wetpixel article, Dec 17, 2014: Our World Underwater Contest 2015 Is Open For Entries
  13. Wetpixel article, Feb 18, 2013: Results Announced Our World Underwater 2013
  14. Wetpixel article, Oct 12, 2009: 2010 Our World Underwater Deep Indonesia Competitions
  15. Forum thread: Has Our World Underwater Got Macro Wrong
  16. Wetpixel article, Jan 9, 2012: Our World Underwater Deep Indonesia Judges Announced
  17. Wetpixel article, Jan 7, 2020: Announcing The Dpg Wetpixel Masters Underwater Imaging Competition 2020
  18. Wetpixel article, Nov 1, 2022: Dpg Wetpixel Master 2022 Is Open For Entries
  19. Wetpixel article, Nov 2, 2003: Rolex Our World Underwater Scholarship
  20. Wetpixel article, Feb 26, 2006: Wetpixel Divephotoguide Contest Winners Announced At Owu
  21. Wetpixel article, Mar 8, 2006: Our World Underwater 2006 Photos By Terry Schuller
  22. Wetpixel article, Mar 10, 2006: Our World Underwater 2006 Dpg Report
  23. Wetpixel article, Feb 11, 2007: 2007 Our World Underwater Winners Announced
  24. Wetpixel article, Feb 13, 2007: 2007 Our World Underwater And Deep Indonesia Winners Posted
  25. Wetpixel article, Feb 24, 2007: Divephotoguidecom Posts Coverage From Our World Underwater 2007
  26. Wetpixel article, Feb 16, 2008: Live Coverage From Our World Underwater 2008
  27. Wetpixel article, Feb 19, 2008: Owu 2008 Photo Video Contest Winners Announced
  28. Forum thread: Owu Photo Contest Prizes
  29. Wetpixel article, Feb 22, 2009: 2009 Our World Underwater Winners Announced
  30. Wetpixel article, Mar 5, 2009: Summary Coverage From Our World Underwater 2009
  31. Wetpixel article, Feb 20, 2010: Our World Underwater 2010 Contest Winners Announced
  32. Wetpixel article, Feb 25, 2010: Our World Underwater 2010 Show Coverage
  33. Wetpixel article, Feb 22, 2011: Results Of Our World Underwater Announced
  34. Wetpixel article, Feb 20, 2012: Results Of Our World Underwater 2012 Announced
  35. Wetpixel article, Dec 1, 2011: Our World Underwater And Deep Indonesia 20121
  36. Wetpixel article, Feb 18, 2013: Results Announced Our World Underwater 2013
  37. Wetpixel article, Jan 3, 2013: Call For Entries Our World Underwater And Deep Indonesia
  38. Wetpixel article, Feb 19, 2014: Our World Underwater 2014 Winners Announced
  39. Wetpixel article, Mar 1, 2015: Results Our World Underwater 2015
  40. Wetpixel article, Dec 17, 2014: Our World Underwater Contest 2015 Is Open For Entries
  41. Wetpixel article, Feb 9, 2015: Deadline Extended Owu 2015
  42. Wetpixel article, Feb 27, 2016: Results Of Our World Underwater 2016 Announced
  43. Wetpixel article, Nov 20, 2015: Call For Entries Our World Underwater And Deep 2016
  44. Wetpixel article, Feb 25, 2017: Our World Underwater 2017 Winners Announced
  45. Wetpixel article, Nov 28, 2016: Owu And Deep 2017 Contests Open For Entries
  46. Wetpixel article, Feb 18, 2018: Results Our World Underwater 2018
  47. Wetpixel article, Feb 17, 2019: Results Our World Underwater 2019
  48. Wetpixel article, Jan 7, 2020: Announcing The Dpg Wetpixel Masters Underwater Imaging Competition 2020
  49. Wetpixel article, Feb 29, 2020: Results Dpg Wetpixel Masters 2020
  50. Wetpixel article, Nov 26, 2021: Results Dpg Wetpixel Masters 2021
  51. Wetpixel article, Feb 16, 2022: Wetpixel Live 2021 Wetpixel Dpg Masters Results
  52. Wetpixel article, Jan 23, 2023: Results Dpg Wetpixel Masters 2022
  53. Wetpixel article, Nov 1, 2022: Dpg Wetpixel Master 2022 Is Open For Entries
  54. Wetpixel article, Feb 27, 2016: Results Of Our World Underwater 2016 Announced
  55. Wetpixel article, Feb 25, 2010: Our World Underwater 2010 Show Coverage
  56. Wetpixel article, Feb 27, 2016: Results Of Our World Underwater 2016 Announced
  57. Wetpixel article, Feb 18, 2018: Results Our World Underwater 2018
  58. Wetpixel article, Nov 26, 2021: Results Dpg Wetpixel Masters 2021
  59. Wetpixel article, Jan 23, 2023: Results Dpg Wetpixel Masters 2022
  60. Wetpixel article, Feb 17, 2019: Results Our World Underwater 2019
  61. Wetpixel article, Feb 18, 2018: Results Our World Underwater 2018
  62. Forum thread: Owu Photo Contest Prizes
  63. Wetpixel article, Jan 3, 2013: Call For Entries Our World Underwater And Deep Indonesia
  64. Forum thread: Has Our World Underwater Got Macro Wrong
  65. Wetpixel article, Oct 12, 2009: 2010 Our World Underwater Deep Indonesia Competitions
  66. Wetpixel article, Nov 20, 2015: Call For Entries Our World Underwater And Deep 2016
  67. Rolex Our World-Underwater Scholarship (2003) (article)
  68. Wetpixel/DPG Contest Winners at OWU 2006 (article)
  69. OWU 2006 Photos by Terry Schuller (article)
  70. OWU 2006 DPG Report (article)
  71. Reminder: OWU and DEEP 2007 (article)
  72. 2007 OWU Winners Announced (article)
  73. 2007 OWU and DEEP Winners Posted (article)
  74. DPG Coverage: OWU 2007 (article)
  75. OWU 2008 Call for Entries (article)
  76. Live Coverage: OWU 2008 (article)
  77. OWU 2008 Winners (article)
  78. 2009 OWU Winners (article)
  79. OWU 2009 Show Coverage (article)
  80. 2010 OWU/DEEP Competitions Announcement (article)
  81. OWU 2010 Winners (article)
  82. OWU 2010 Show Coverage (article)
  83. OWU 2011 Photojournalism Workshop (article)
  84. OWU 2011 Results (article)
  85. OWU/DEEP 2012 Announcement (article)
  86. OWU 2012 Judges (article)
  87. OWU 2012 Results (article)
  88. OWU/DEEP 2013 Call for Entries (article)
  89. OWU 2013 Deadline Extended (article)
  90. OWU 2013 Results (article)
  91. OWU 2014 Winners (article)
  92. OWU 2015 Call for Entries (10th Annual) (article)
  93. OWU 2015 Deadline Extended (article)
  94. OWU 2015 Results (article)
  95. OWU/DEEP 2016 Call for Entries (11th Edition) (article)
  96. OWU 2016 Results (article)
  97. OWU/DEEP 2017 Call for Entries (12th Edition) (article)
  98. OWU 2017 Winners (article)
  99. OWU 2018 Results (article)
  100. OWU 2019 Results (article)
  101. DPG/Wetpixel Masters 2020 Announcement (article)
  102. DPG/Wetpixel Masters 2020 Results (article)
  103. DPG/Wetpixel Masters 2021 Results (article)
  104. Wetpixel Live: Masters 2021 Discussion (article)
  105. DPG/Wetpixel Masters 2022 Call for Entries (article)
  106. DPG/Wetpixel Masters 2022 Results (article)
  107. Forum: OWU Photo Contest Prizes (2008) (forum)
  108. Forum: OWU 2009 Results Discussion (forum)
  109. Forum: Has OWU Got Macro Wrong? (forum)