2017 WINNERS

Thanks to everyone who participated in the 7th annual SoCal Shootout as well all a big congratulations to all of our winners! This year gave us a bit of south swell, making some locations more challenging to shoot than others. Wind kept boats from some of the further islands, and low visibility on the rigs created unique challenges, but overall we saw a wide variety of great shots that showcase the unique diving here in Southern California. We hope everyone had a good time during the SoCal Shootout and we look forward to next year! The 8th annual SoCal Shootout is September 14-16th 2018.

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Special Thanks to our Sponsors!

The winners have been awarded their prizes based on a point system, with more competitive categories awarding more points, and winners with the most points getting first choice of prizes available. Winners were allowed to rank their prize choice prior to selection from our prize pool of over $20,000. 

Sponsor and prize information are included with each winning photo.

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Thank you to our great judges!

The 2017 SoCal Shootout was judged by professional photographers Andy Sallmon and Scott Gietler. To learn more about each judge, please click here. 

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Winning Photos:

Click on the link below to jump directly to a specific category, or scroll through all photos below

Best In Show • Open Wide Angle • Open Macro • Open Behavior • Open Portrait

Mirrorless Wide Angle • Mirrorless Macro • Compact Wide Angle • Compact Macro

Edited Video • UnEdited Video

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BEST IN SHOW

Best in Show - Helen Brierley

Blue-Banded Goby. Read the story behind the shot.

Helen won a Kraken Sports Hyrda 5000 Video Light

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Open Wide Angle

First Place - Renee Capozzola

Casino Point, Catalina Above & Below

Renee won an Olympus TG-5 Camera with PT-058 Housing

Second Place - Brook Peterson

Norris Top Snail

Brook won a Sea of Cortez trip on the Quino el Guardian Liveaboard

Third Place (Tie) - Ty Oliver

Garibaldi in Kelp Forest

Ty won a Kraken Sports WeeFine Ring Light

Third Place (Tie) - Deanne Beck

Giant Black Sea Bass

Deanne won an Ikelite $400 Gift Certificate

Fourth Place - Ralph Pace

Schooling Tope Sharks

Ralph won an Aquatica GH5 Housing with TLC Arm Sets

 

Fifth Place - Adam Martin

Schooling Kelp Bass

Adam won a Cinebags Port Case Assortment

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Open Macro

First Place - Helen Brierley

Blue-Banded Goby

Helen won a Kraken Sports Hyrda 5000 Video Light

Second Place - Aaron Halstead

Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

Aaron won a ThinkTank Photo Video Transport 18 Camera Bag

Third Place - Ralph Pace

Octopus and Various Fish

Ralph won an Aquatica GH5 Housing with TLC Arm Sets

Fourth Place - Helen Brierley

Octopus Eye

Helen won a Kraken Sports Hyrda 5000 Video Light

Fifth Place - Desmond Ho

Fringehead

Desmond won a Kraken Sports Hyrda 3500 Video Light

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Open Behavior

First Place - Ralph Pace

Crab and Fringeheads Feeding

Ralph won an Aquatica GH5 Housing with TLC Arm Sets

Second Place - Craig Hoover

Spanish Shawl with Eggs

Craig won a free two day boat trip with Channel Island Dive Adventures

 

Third Place - Andre Labuda

Simnia Snail with Eggs

Andre won a four night stay with Maluku Divers in Indonesia

 

Fourth Place - Drew Wilson

California Sea Lion Blowing Bubbles

Drew won a free day trip on the CeeRay Dive Boat

 

Fifth Place - Bruce Sudweeks

Mating Nudibranchs

Bruce won a ThinkTank Photo Streetwalker Pro Camera Backpack

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Open Portrait

First Place - Cindy Shaw

Wolf Eel

Cindy won a YS-D2 Strobe from Sea & Sea

Second Place - Brook Peterson

California Sea Lion

Brook won a Sea of Cortez trip on the Quino el Guardian Liveaboard

Third Place - Brook Peterson

Hilton's Nudibranch

Brook won a Sea of Cortez trip on the Quino el Guardian Liveaboard

Fourth Place - Renee Capozzola

Juvenile Garibaldi

Renee won an Olympus TG-5 Camera with PT-058 Housing

Fifth Place - Desmond Ho

Fringehead

Desmond won a Kraken Sports Hyrda 3500 Video Light

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Mirrorless Wide Angle

First Place - Andre Labuda

Male Sheephead at Oil Rigs

Andre won a four night stay with Maluku Divers in Indonesia

Second Place - John Ericksen

Norris Top Snail on Kelp

John won a ThinkTank Photo Airport International Rolling Camera Bag

Third Place - Sean Steininger

Giant Black Sea Bass

Sean won a Kraken Sports WeeFine Ring Light

Fourth Place - Adrianna Leung

Kelp and Schooling Blacksmith

Adrianna won a free day trip on the CeeRay Dive Boat

 

Fifth Place - Tiffany Poon

Harbor Seal

Tiffany won a Light & Motion Sola 2500 SF Video Light

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Mirrorless Macro

First Place - Tiffany Poon

Octopus on Sand Dollars

Tiffany won a Light & Motion Sola 2500 SF Video Light

Second Place - Desmond Ho

Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

Desmond won a Kraken Sports Hyrda 3500 Video Light

Third Place - John Ericksen

Fringehead

John won a ThinkTank Photo Airport International Rolling Camera Bag

Fourth Place - Adam King

Hermissenda Nudibranch

Adam won a Cinebags Port Case Assortment

 

Fifth Place - Andre Labuda

Simnia Snail with Eggs

Andre won a four night stay with Maluku Divers in Indonesia

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Compact Wide Angle

First Place - Michael Alyono

Garibaldi at Oil Rigs

Michael won a YS-D2 Strobe from Sea & Sea

Second Place - Kendra Guffey

Female Sheephead

Kendra won a free single day boat trip with Channel Island Dive Adventures

Third Place - Kyle McGanty

Giant Black Sea Bass

Kyle won a $150 Gift Certificate from Bluewater Photo

Fourth Place - Jon Anderson

California Sea Lion

Jon won a $100 Gift Certificate from Ultralight Control Systems

Fifth Place - Jon Anderson

Diver and Red Gorgonian

Jon won a $100 Gift Certificate from Ultralight Control Systems

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Compact Macro

First Place - Michal Ross

Fringehead

Michal won a free single day boat trip with Channel Island Dive Adventures

Second Place - Scott Dreslinski

Hopkin's Rose Nudibranch

Scott won a free single day boat trip with Channel Island Dive Adventures

Third Place - Michael Alyono

Spanish Shawl Nudibranch

Michael won a YS-D2 Strobe from Sea & Sea

Fourth Place - Kimberly Lancaster

Octopus

Kimberly won a $100 Gift Certificate from Ultralight Control Systems

Fifth Place - Michael Alyono

Fringehead

Michael won a YS-D2 Strobe from Sea & Sea

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Edited Video

 

First Place - Roger Uzun

"Hunting the Cayon"

Roger won a trip to Aiyanar Beach & Dive Resort in Anilao, Philippines

 

Second Place - Todd Kortte

"La Jolla Shores"

Todd won a single day boat trip for two people from Truth Aquatics.

 

Third Place - Dan McGanty

"Catalina Diving"

Dan won a Light & Motion Sola 2500 SF Video Light

 

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UnEdited Video

 

First Place - Dan McGanty

Giant Black SeaBass Circling

Dan won a Light & Motion Sola 2500 SF Video Light

 

Second Place - Roger Uzun

Swimming Prawn

Roger won a trip to Aiyanar Beach & Dive Resort in Anilao, Philippines

Third Place - Roger Uzun

Tope Sharks

Roger won a trip to Aiyanar Beach & Dive Resort in Anilao, Philippines

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Thank you to all who participated and congratulations to all winners! We hope you will join us again next year. 

 

The 8th annual SoCal Shootout will take place on September 14-16th 2018.

 

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