2005: Underwater Worlds - Winner
George Duffield (United Kingdom)
Leopard seal pass
Leopard seals can be shy or inquisitive and sometimes aggressive, but you don't know how an individual will behave until you're in the water with it. Antarctic water is also numbingly cold, often with terrible visibility. Only on the last day of a filming trip to Antarctica did George get a chance to dive with leopard seals in clear water. Three huge ones were swimming around a small berg of ancient, clear ice - a perfect underwater backdrop. This 3.6-metre-long (12-foot) individual was particularly curious about the human interloper and came closer and closer at every pass. This shot was the last shot George took of the seal as it swept by, close to his face. It was time to retreat. As he swam back to the boat, the seal followed, nipping at his fins all the way. A thrilling but sobering experience.
Canon 1DS mark II with 17-40mm f4 lens; 1/200 sec at f6.3; 320 ISO; Seacam housing.
View other winners in this category
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Adult awards Ocean rider Magnus Lundgren
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Adult awards Great hammerhead Charles Hood
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Adult awards Reclining emperor shrimp Malcolm Hey
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Adult awards Pike pose Michel Loup
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Adult awards Blue-spotted grouper Tim Laman
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