Ten award-winning photos showcase the fascinating beauty of some of the most captivating seabed wrecks on earth. These images, recognized by the 2024 Underwater Photographer of the Year awards, feature submerged tanks, planes, and war machines from the two world wars.
One such striking photo, taken by Alvaro Herrero, captures the eerie allure of a sunken passenger plane in the Red Sea. Using a special cave photography technique, Herrero illuminated the silhouette of a diver swimming down the aisle of the Lockheed TriStar L-1011 wreck. This image, titled “Lockheed TriStar L-1011,” earned Herrero a “Highly Commended” award for his exceptional work.
German photographer Christian Horras also received a “Highly Commended” title for his photo “Takeoff,” showcasing the exterior of the same Lockheed TriStar L-1011. By strategically placing a powerful light inside the jet engine of the plane, Horras created the illusion of a powered engine, capturing a unique perspective of the wreck.
In another captivating photo titled “Bell AH-1F Cobra,” Herrero faced a challenging 20-minute deadline to photograph a sunken attack helicopter in the Red Sea. Despite the time constraints, Herrero’s photo was commended for its mastery of technique and subject matter.
The SS Thistlegorm, a legendary British cargo steamship sunk during World War II, was the subject of Swedish photographer Alex Dawson’s haunting photo. His image, “Inside the SS Thistlegorm Wreck,” showcases the remarkably preserved interior of the sunken ship, including rows of motorcycles on the back of trucks.
Photographer Fabi Fregonesi captured a mesmerizing moment when a school of fish formed the shape of a sail above a tugboat wreck in Brazil. Titled “Set Sail,” this photo earned third place in the contest for its unique composition and timing.
Becky Kagan Schott from the United States received recognition for her ghostly photo “Illuminating the Past,” depicting the wrecked boat Kyle Spangler in Lake Huron. After years of attempts, Schott successfully captured the wooden schooner in dark conditions, impressing judges with her use of lighting and composition.
These award-winning photos offer a glimpse into the captivating world of underwater wreck photography, showcasing the beauty and mystery of these submerged relics. Norman in the Great Lakes captured an incredible moment in her photo “Breaking Point” by Becky Kagan Schott. The image showcases the massive bulk carrier, Norman, which sank in a collision on Lake Huron in 1895, breaking in half due to the impact. Resting 210 feet deep in the cold, dark waters of the lake, the vessel disappeared beneath the waves in just three minutes, taking three crew members with it.
In the photograph, technical divers can be seen illuminating the massive break that runs through the ship as they swim through it. Becky Kagan Schott, the photographer, was awarded “Highly Commended” for this stunning image.
Moving on, photographer Kieran Hatton’s photo “Simply Audacious” captures the legendary visibility in the waters off Donegal, Ireland. The image shows the wreckage of HMS Audacious, a British Battleship sunk by a World War I mine, with two powerful guns visible in the shot. The symmetry and lighting in the photograph were praised by Mr. Rowlands, earning Hatton a “Commended” title.
Guilhem Duprat’s photo “The Parat” depicts the World War II wreck of a rescue steamer sunk by Allied aircraft in 1944 in the Norwegian fjords. Diving to a depth of 196 feet, Duprat captured the beauty of marine life clinging to the vessel, showcasing a contrast between the life on the wreck and the desolate sea bed. The image won a “Commended” title for its creative vision.
Lastly, the overall winner of the competition was American photographer Martin Broen for his photograph of sunken tanks at Jordan’s underwater military museum in the Red Sea. The image captures the symmetry of the chieftain tanks with their menacing guns, along with Broen’s dive buddy in the background. The unique sight of war machines submerged in the water and stationed along the reefs was highlighted by Mr. Broen as a peaceful use of the apparatus of war in today’s troubled times.
Overall, these captivating images showcase the beauty and history found in underwater wrecks, capturing moments frozen in time beneath the surface of the sea. Please provide an alternative version of the text. Please rewrite this sentence.
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