Estonian nature photographer Kaido Haagen was successful in international competitions this year too.
The Estonian Grey Seal was defeated by the Beluga Whale and Spinner Dolphin, but triumphed over the Humpback Whale, Sperm Whale, and Manta Ray.
The results from the photo competition were as follows:
OCEAN VIEWS PHOTOGRAPHY AWARDS
NATURE´S BEST PHOTOGRAPHY
First award:
Franco Banfi (Beluga Whale)
Second award:
Toshio Minami (Spinner Dolphins)
Third award:
Kaido Haagen (Grey Seal)
Fourth award:
Mark van Coller (Cape Gannet & Sardines)
Fifth award:
Christian Loader (Leafy Seadragon)
Sixth award:
Quincy Dein (Inside the Wave)
Seventh award:
Todd Mintz (Sockeye Salmon)
Marine life in the Estonian waters is not as rich and colourful as in the tropical ones, but every time you go diving, you hope to see something special. The biggest animal in our waters is the Grey Seal (Halichoerus grypus). Although it is quite common and its population is growing here, it is very complicated to meet them under the water.
But if you are in the right place at the right time it can be a really wonderful experience. This picture has also another story to tell - it is the eutrophication as the major environmental problem of the Baltic Sea.
...and another contest:
Let's talk about sex.
European toad (Bufo bufo) at 1 meter depth in an old, now flooded sandpit in
Viljandimaa, Estonia.
"As a matter of fact it isn’t necessary to travel very far for exciting experiences and photos. It is enough to poke one’s nose into a ditch with reasonably clear water and the dramas-tragedies-comedies are revealed in all their splendour to your eyes. Whether it be the last breaths of a tadpole in the jaws of a diving beetle larva or for instance the mating play of frogs in the photo above“, is Kaido Haagen’s view.
For all who want to see the original photos there is a last chance to go and see the unique underwater photo exhibition now travelling in Estonia.
The exhibition is sub-aquatic in all senses of the word: all photos are taken under water and they are also shown under water. The travelling exhibition „Silmad vees II – Wet eyes II”can be visited from March 20th at the Keila aquatic sports centre, Keila veekeskus.
Kaido Haagen’s underwater photos can be seen here: