2006: Underwater Worlds - Highly Commended
Tobias Bernhard (Germany)
King swimmer
The king penguin colony at Sandy Bay on Maquarie Island in the sub-Antarctic is camped around a tidal pool for easy access to the tempestuous Southern Ocean. Tobias positioned himself in the water near one of their favourite launch sites to watch the busy thoroughfare of penguins rushing back and forth. 'The birds didn't hang around,' says Tobias. 'They were on a mission to fill their bellies.' Here, one flies past the photographer on its way out to sea, its eye on the camera. 'They were so unfazed by me,' adds Tobias. 'Some of them even cheekily used my back as a diving board, while I was bent over, half in the water, with my eye glued to the viewfinder.'
Nikon D2x with 14mm f2.8 lens; f15 at 20 secs; 100 ISO; Subal housing.
View other winners in this category
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Adult awards The swirling shoal Manu San Felix
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Adult awards The great mimic Michael Aw
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Adult awards Big fish, little fishes Gavin Parsons
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Adult awards Pigfish in kelp Ross Armstrong
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Adult awards Swimming for life Willem Kolvoort
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