Underwater

This picture is a classic underwater scene, combining an eye catching subject (a Caribbean Reef Shark) with attractive sun rays, radiating out from a dive boat. The different elements are pleasingly balanced in the frame. I particularly like the drama of this scene, with the shark between the photographer and the safety of the boat and the surface, it certainly ratchets up the tension.

A pleasing reef scene of a lionfish hunting in front of a seafan. Lionfish are an invasive species in the Atlantic, but this picture is in their proper home in the Pacific, on a reef in South East Asia. The framing of the lionfish right in front of the seafan shows hows its camouflage works. I like the small fish cowering at the bottom of this frame away from the predator.

A real polished piece of work, that combines technical excellence with a well conceived concept to produce a worthy winner. The image has a magical quality, with the model dressed in a fairy like dress and dancing in ethereal light beams. The limited colour palette really enhances the picture, with the warm coloured flowers and hair standing out against the green water.

Another excellent model shot that marries technical mastery with a fascinating concept. I really like the half light, half dark frame. I also like the photographer's choices on how to use the model, using the blur of the surface to hide the head of the model and also instructing her to lift her arms out of sight too. The lighting is well controlled to reveal the form of the nude model.

It is impossible to ignore this picture which is instantly eye catching. It shows a grey seal in a kelp forest. The forced perspective of a wide angle lens really makes the seal pop out from the background and the strobe lighting makes the teeth pop out further still. I like the fact that you can't see the seal's eyes in this picture, which really draws my eyes to the teeth.

A dramatic photo of a great white shark, mouth open showing its teeth, at the surface of the ocean. The shark looks massive and the pose is full of energy. It really captures a great moment. There is some movement blur on the shark, which stopped this unforgettable shot finishing higher.

A beautiful swirling shape from this school of barracuda creates a very eye catching composition. The idea really suits black and white. I find the divers' bubbles a bit of a distraction and the fish are slightly blurred, which stopped this eye catching picture placing even higher.

Photographs of hippos underwater are not common and it is the subject that makes this picture special. Hippos tend to make a mess of the water that they live in, so clear pictures like this one are also an achievement. I like the monochromatic blue palette of this picture which adds to the ambience and the feeling of being underwater.

A pin sharp image of a penguin. I love the comical pose of the wings and the eye contact. The bubbles coming off the back of the penguin give the feeling of moment. The only weakness of this image is that it is all foreground, and I feel that it would be even better with a bit more space around the subject, especially in front of the bird, giving more of a feeling of place.

Underwater photography is a broad discipline and I was very happy to include this photo in the top three. I think that this is a mosquito larva – tiny, wiggling subjects that have never been seen in such detail before. Technically this is a most impressive shot, capturing the subject so sharply against a pastel background, at such high magnification. Shows that you don't need to travel far to produce excellent underwater images.

Another strong model shot. I really like the effect of the bright highlights on the wall of the pool and the feeling of movement of the model. The chiffon fabric adds to the feeling of movement too. This shot has a strong feeling of being underwater.

What a fantastic portrait, full of character and revealing the behaviour of the subject. Polar bears are aquatic bears and this photo shows how being underwater is perfectly natural for them. I love the eye contact from the bear, which gives me the chills as this huge, dangerous predator eyes you, with its monstrous claw there too.

When shooting people underwater the key is to have a concert for the image and then to capture it perfectly. Which is what the photographer has done here. I really like the long exposure used here that has recorded the bubbles as streaks in the water. I would like to see this shot with the model dressed in normal clothes, rather than swimming trunks. I think a man in a suit, with the fine bubbles recorded as streaks could look like someone caught in the rain.

The child's hand pressed against the glass, and the smiling face of the beluga whale produce an image that is impossible not to like. I also like the colour contrast between the colourful hand and sweater of the child and the mainly monochrome world of the whale, which produces a visually intriguing image.

Blue ring octopus are one of the world's most venomous creatures. This tiny cephalopods are not much bigger than your thumb, but one bite from them can be lethal. They flash their blue rings as a warning, which the photographer has captured clearly in this picture. I particularly like the shallow depth of field used here, which makes the complex 8 armed shape of the octopus stand out from the background. The eye is slightly soft, which is a pity.