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2018 SoCal Shootout Results

SoCal Shootout

2018 WINNERS

Congratulations to all of our winners of this years SoCal Shootout, and thank you to all who participated! This year marked our 8th annual shootout, with a record breaking number of prizes and dollar values!  After hearing reports from our various contestants, conditions were quite mixed depending on where you went out, making some divesites much more challenging to shoot than others, but overall there were some great marinelife sightings and some stunning photos submitted! Thank you again to all those who participated, we hope you had a great time and look forward to seeing you next year!  The 9th annual SoCal Shootout will be September 13th - 15th, 2019.


Who is the Host?

Bluewater Photo is an underwater photography company, offering photo equipment and support for all your photography/videography needs.  It is also the founder of the SoCal Shootout competition. Over the past 8 years, this shootout has become an exciting event, inviting divers from all accross Southern California to dive and photograph with the opportunity to win great prizes.

Bluewater Travel is the sister company to Bluewater Photo.  While the photo store offers gear for underwater photographers & videographers, the Travel company is a full service dive travel agency.  They can arrange your scuba diving trips to anywhere in the world, oftentimes finding better rates for you than you would booking direct! They also arrange our Underwater Photography Workshops which are a popular option for beginners and advanced photographers alike to improve their photo skills.

The Underwater Photography Guide is the 3rd branch of the "Bluewater Family".  it is the #1 visited resource worldwide for underwater photographers and scuba divers to learn and improve their underwater photography. It publishes highly-regarded tutorials, technique tips, in-depth gear reviews, and underwater photo news.


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 $25,000. 

Sponsor and prize information are included with each winning photo.


Thank you to our great judges!

The 2018 SoCal Shootout was judged by professional photographers Andy Sallmon, Renee Capozzola, and Scott Gietler. To learn more about each judge, please click here. 


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 Mid to Wide Angle • Compact Macro

Edited Video • UnEdited Video


BEST IN SHOW

Nikon D7200 Camera, Tokina 10-17mm Lens, Nauticam Housing, Sea & Sea YS-D1 Strobes

Best in Show - Josh Musselwhite

Octopus with Sunball

John won a free stay with Cayman Beach Resorts, at either  Cobalt Coast, Cayman Brac, or Little Cayman Resorts

 

Olympus E-M5 Camera, Olympus 60mm Macro Lens, Nauticam CMC-1 Lens, Dual Sea & Sea YS-D1 Strobes  

Honorable Mention Best in Show - Desmond Ho

Janolus

Desmond won an Aquatica GH5 Housing with TLC Arm Sets

 

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Open Wide Angle

First Place - Davis Huber

Tope Shark in Kelp

Davis won a YS-D2 Strobe from Sea & Sea

Nikon D850 Camera, Nauticam Housing, Sigma 15mm Fisheye, Kraken Hydra 3500, Inon Z-240 strobes

Second Place - Jon Anderson

Cabezon on the Rigs

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

Nikon D4 Camera

Third Place - Curtis Wee

Horn Shark

Curtis won a Kraken Sports Hydra 2500 Light

Olympus E-PL1 Camera with Olympus Housing

Fourth Place - Tiffany Poon

Lobster & Ray

Tiffany won a YS-D2 Strobe from Sea & Sea

Nikon D850 Camera, Nauticam Housing, Sigma 15mm Fisheye, Kraken Hydra 3500, Inon Z-240 strobes

Fifth Place - Jon Anderson

Sheephead in Rigs

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

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Open Macro

Olympus E-M5 Camera, Olympus 60mm Macro Lens, Nauticam CMC-1 Lens, Dual Sea & Sea YS-D1 Strobes  

First Place - Desmond Ho

Janolus

Desmond won an Aquatica GH5 Housing with TLC Arm Sets

Canon G7X Mark II Camera, with Nauticam CMC+2 & Kraken Snoot Light

Second Place - Michael Edward Francisco

Barnacle

Michael won a Kraken Sports Hyrda 3500 Video Light

Olympus E-M5 Camera, Olympus 60mm Macro Lens, Nauticam CMC-1 Lens, Dual Sea & Sea YS-D1 Strobes  

Third Place - Desmond Ho

Sculpin Eye

Desmond won an Aquatica GH5 Housing with TLC Arm Sets

Canon Rebel T2i with Ikelite housing

Fourth Place - Devon Fox

Blenny

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

Nikon D850, Nauticam Housing, Nikon 105mm Macro, Kraken +13 diopter, Kraken Hydra 3500, Inon Z-240 Strobes, Retra Snoot

Fifth Place - Jon Anderson

California Two Spot Octopus

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

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Open Behavior

First Place - John Ericksen

Orange Throated Pike Blenny

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

Olympus E-PL1 Camera with Olympus Housing

Second Place - Tiffany Poon

Lizardfish Feeding

Tiffany won a YS-D2 Strobe from Sea & Sea

 

Nikon D810 Camera with Sea & Sea D810 Housing

Third Place - Brook Peterson

Garibaldi Defending it's Nest

Brook won a ThinkTank Photo Airport Advantage Plus Camera Bag

 

Nikon D7100 Camera with Nikkor 60mm Macro Lens and Ikelite Housing

Fourth Place - Jim Agronick

Chromodorids

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

 

Panasonic GH4 Camera with 16mm Fisheye Lens, Nauticam GH3 housing

Fifth Place - Davis Huber

Battling Sheephead

Davis won a YS-D2 Strobe from Sea & Sea

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Open Portrait

Nikon D7200 Camera, Tokina 10-17mm Lens, Nauticam Housing, Sea & Sea YS-D1 Strobes

First Place - Josh Musselwhite

Octopus with Sunball

John won a free stay with Cayman Beach Resorts, at either  Cobalt Coast, Cayman Brac, or Little Cayman Resorts

 
Nikon D850, Nauticam Housing, Nikon 105mm Macro, Kraken Hydra 3500, Inon Z-240 Strobes, Retra Snoot

Second Place - Jon Anderson

Scythe Butterfly Fish

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

Nikon D850, Nauticam Housing, Nikon 105mm Macro, Kraken +13 diopter, Kraken Hydra 3500, Inon Z-240 Strobes, Retra Snoot

Third Place - Jon Anderson

Moray Eel

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

Olympus E-M5 Camera, Olympus 60mm Macro Lens, Nauticam CMC-1 Lens, Dual Sea & Sea YS-D1 Strobes  

Fourth Place - Desmond Ho

Janolus

Desmond won an Aquatica GH5 Housing with TLC Arm Sets

Canon 7D Camera, Canon 60mm Macro Lens, Subsee +5 Wet Lens in Aquatica Housing with Dual Sea & Sea YS110a strobes x2 and Sola 800 Focus Light.

Fifth Place - Craig Hoover

Fringehead

Craig won a Light & Motion Sola 2000 Flood Video Light

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Mirrorless Wide Angle

Olympus EM1 Camera with Panasonic 8mm Lumix Fisheye Lens in Nauticam Housing

First Place - Andre Labuda

Copper Rockfish on Oil Rigs

Andre won a stay with Atmosphere Resort in Dumaguete, Philippines

Second Place - Tyler Schiffman

Tope Shark

Tyler won a Kraken Sports WeeFine Ring Light

Olympus EM1 Camera with Panasonic 8mm Lumix Fisheye Lens in Nauticam Housing

Third Place - Andre Labuda

Wolf Eel Swimming on Rigs

Andre won a stay with Atmosphere Resort in Dumaguete, Philippines

Fourth Place - John Ericksen

Garibaldi on wall

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

 

Olympus OMD EM5 Camera

Fifth Place - Bruce Sudweeks

Sheephead in kelp

Bruce won a $150 Gift Certificate from Bluewater Photo

Bluewater Photo

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Mirrorless Macro

First Place - John Ericksen

Fringehead

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

Olympus E-M5 Camera, Olympus 60mm Macro Lens, Nauticam CMC-1 Lens, Dual Sea & Sea YS-D1 Strobes  

Second Place - Desmond Ho

Goby

Desmond won an Aquatica GH5 Housing with TLC Arm Sets

Olympus E-M5 Camera, Olympus 60mm Macro Lens, Nauticam CMC-1 Lens, Dual Sea & Sea YS-D1 Strobes  

Third Place - Desmond Ho

Octopus Eye

Desmond won an Aquatica GH5 Housing with TLC Arm Sets

Olympus E-M5 Camera, Olympus 60mm Macro Lens, Nauticam CMC-1 Lens, Dual Sea & Sea YS-D1 Strobes  

Fourth Place - Desmond Ho

Spanish shawl

Desmond won an Aquatica GH5 Housing with TLC Arm Sets

 

 


Panasonic Gx-1, 80mm Olympus Lens, Nauticam housing, Ds-1 strobes 

Fifth Place - Julie Gordon

Octopus in Crevice

Julie won a single day boat trip from Truth Aquatics.

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Compact Mid to Wide Angle

First Place - Bruce Olinder

Kelp with Sunbeams

Craig won a Light & Motion Sola 2000 Flood Video Light

Canon G7X Mark II Camera

Second Place - Jason O'Rourke

Garibaldi

Jason won a ThinkTank Photo Video Transport 18 Camera Bag

Third Place - George Moakley

Horn Shark

George won a $400 Ikelite gift certificate

Ikelite

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Compact Macro

Canon G7X Mark II Camera with Dual Sea & Sea YS-01 Strobes

First Place - Michal Ross

Goby

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

Canon G7X Mark II Camera with Dual Sea & Sea YS-01 Strobes

Second Place - Michael Ross

Simnia Snail

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

Canon G7X Mark II Camera with Nauticam CMC+2 and Kraken Ringlight 3000

Third Place - Michael Edward Francisco

Barnacle

Michael won a Kraken Sports Hyrda 3500 Video Light

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Edited Video

 

GoPro Camera
First Place - Todd Kortte

"California Dreaming"

Todd won a free stay at Volivoli Dive Resort in Fiji

 

Canon 70D in a Sea and Sea housing + a Sony RX100 V in a Fantasea housing
Second Place - Weiwei Gao

"Under the Moonlight"

Weiwei won a free stay at El Galleon Dive Resort in Puerto Galera, Philippines

Panasonic GH5
Third Place (tie) - Dan McGanty

"A Rigs Adventure"

Dan won a Kraken Sports Hyrda 5000 Video Light

 

Canon 70D in a Sea and Sea housing + a Sony RX100 V in a Fantasea housing
Third Place (tie) - Weiwei Gao

"A Glimpse of La Jolla Canyons"

Weiwei won a free stay at El Galleon Dive Resort in Puerto Galera, Philippines

 

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UnEdited Video

 

Panasonic GH5
First Place - Dan McGanty

Sea Lion Circling

Dan won a Kraken Sports Hyrda 5000 Video Light

 

Canon 70D in a Sea and Sea housing + a Sony RX100 V in a Fantasea housing
Second Place - Weiwei Gao

Bat Ray Swimming at Night

Weiwei won a free stay at El Galleon Dive Resort in Puerto Galera, Philippines

 

GoPro Camera
Third Place - Todd Kortte

Mola Mola swimming

Todd won a free stay at Volivoli Dive Resort in Fiji


Interested in improving your own photography? Check out all of these photography workshops, run during dive trips all over the world!
Photography Workshops

Want to step it up with your camera gear? Reach out to our sales team and mention the SoCal Shootout for some extra discounting on your next purchase!
sales@bluewaterphotostore.com
310-633-5052

 


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

 

The 9th annual SoCal Shootout will take place on September 13-15th, 2019.

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