Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year 2006

Alex Mustard · Issue 33, Nov/Dec 2006 · pp. 44–45

Products mentioned: Nikon D2X, Nikon D70s, Nikon D100, Nikon D200, Canon 5D, Nikon 12-24mm lens, Nikon 14mm f2.8 lens, Seacam housing, Subal housing, Nexus housing, Ikelite S200 strobe

The Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year is probably the most prestigious photographic competition for underwater photographer, a fact backed up by the calibre of names that have won awards in the past and those that continue to enter each year. Each year the competition attracts around 20,000 entries from professional and amateur photographers from about 60 countries, which are whittled down to about 90 winning and commended images spread across 16 categories. Underwater images did particularly well in this year’s competition, placing first in four of the twelve adult categories, and winning awards or commendations in a further four categories. Moreover, the overall winner of the competition was Goran Ehlme’s photo of a Walrus feeding in the sediment. Similar to last year’s overall winner by Manuel Presti, it is certainly an image that polarises opinion, but both are incredibly origi…