Underwater Photographer of the Year 2023
1 April – 15 July 2023
Gosport Gallery
The world’s most prestigious annual competition for underwater photography is coming to Gosport Museum and Art Gallery this spring.
Underwater Photographer of the Year, with roots as far back as 1965, is a globally respected competition celebrating the extraordinary realm hidden beneath the surface of oceans, lakes, rivers and even swimming pools. The 2023 competition attracted over 6000 entries from 72 countries and the winning entry – from Kat Zhou from the United States, featuring a playful, pink Amazonian dolphin - will be on display at Gosport Gallery, operated by Hampshire Cultural Trust, from Saturday 1 April.
Zhou’s photo ‘Boto Encantado’ perfectly frames this endangered species, whose numbers are falling year on year, by photographing it simultaneously above and below the surface, at sunset. Zhou commented: ‘After seeing how botos would sometimes bring their beaks above water, I wanted a split shot at sunset. Though the water was so dark that I was shooting blind, this dolphin gave me a perfect pose and smile!’
Chair of the competition judges, Alex Mustard, commented, “At first glance simple, then simply perfect. In dark, tannic waters, Kat has created a striking composition capturing this rarely photographed and endangered species in a precision composition. This is by far the best image we've ever seen of this species, whose numbers are declining at an alarming rate and whose IUCN’s Red List status was worryingly uprated to Endangered in 2019.”
At Gosport Museum and Art Gallery, which hosts the exhibition for the very first time, visitors will be able to see Zhou’s winning photograph as well as an edited selection from the finalists in the competition’s 13 categories. These include themes such as Macro, Wide Angle, Behaviour and Wreck photography, as well as four categories for photographs taken in British waters. As well as Dr Alex Mustard MBE, this year’s judges are experienced underwater photographers Peter Rowlands and Tobias Friedrich.
Tara McKinney Marinus, Visual Arts Exhibition Manager for Hampshire Cultural Trust, commented: ‘We are thrilled to be hosting Underwater Photographer of the Year for the first time at the newly refurbished Gosport Museum and Art Gallery. The prestigious exhibition is in a perfect setting in Gosport with its strong marine heritage and we look forward to welcoming visitors to see these incredible photographs.’
From the poles to the tropics, with captivating images of the highest technical brilliance which draw attention to the beauty of the planet’s waters, often depicting thought-provoking and challenging stories, visitors will embark on a journey of underwater discovery in this fascinating exhibition in Gosport until Saturday 15 July 2023.
For more information, please visit https://www.gosportmuseumandgallery.org.uk/event/underwater-photographe….