The Seventh Marine Awareness through Digital Underwater Shootouts (MAD 7) concluded at Alona Beach on Panglao Island, Bohol the weekend of November 26 – 28. The event attracted underwater photographers from across the Philippines to take place in this one-day shootout format. Categories of competition included Special Beginner, Intermediate, and Open to provide an opportunity for photographers of all levels to compete and earn valuable prizes. The focus of the competition was Macro subject matter, meaning photos should be life size images of the subject or larger. {{more}} Judging criteria accounted for uniqueness, creativity, technical ability, and rarity of the subject matter, highlighting the quality, variety, and beauty of marine life in the area.
More than 50 organizers, participants, volunteers, dive guides, and underwater photography fans gathered to celebrate the event and see the awarding of prizes for all levels on Sunday evening at the sprawling Bohol Divers resort. It was a festive occasion with dancers, live music, a lavish buffet and tropical rum drinks. Battling the occasional rain shower, the emcees made their way through the program, distributing all prizes and awards and congratulating the winners. In the end, the group of divers who had traveled from Dumaguete City to compete walked away with the First Place photo in each category and a few others to complement their success.
Andre Snoopy Montenegro, of Scuba Ventures in Dumaguete City, won the overall “Best of Show” award with his photo of a winking shrimp, one which also won him the “First Place” in the Intermediate Category. Montenegro also won “Third Place” in the Intermediate category with his photo of a wrasse. Alex Roleda took home “Second Place” in this category with his photo of a porcelain crab.
Steve De Neef, instructor and underwater photographer, won both the “First Place” and “Third Place” awards in the Open category with his impressive photos of gobies. Spencer Dempsey won the “First Place” award for the Special Beginner category, with his goby on wire coral. Glenn Carballo, of Diveworx in Dumaguete City, was honored with the “Honorable Mention” award for his photo of an arrowhead crab on a crown of thorns starfish.
A photo exhibit including works from all of these underwater photographers will be on display at Robinson Mall in Dumaguete City until December 15th. Next year’s event, Marine Awareness through Digital Underwater Shootouts (MAD 9), will be held in Dumaguete City from June 10th to 12th. For event details, sponsorship inquiries, and information on registering, please contact spencerdempsey [at] gmail [dot] com.