The Underwater Photographer of the Year Exhibition

Dive down deep into an underwater world of superlative photography

When you were small, did you ever imagine yourself as a mermaid or a merman? Did the secrets of the sea fascinate you? Were you hypnotised by mellifluous waves, the phosphorescent bioluminescence of tiny glowing organisms, the curly flair of a seahorse’s tail and the regenerative abilities of the starfish?

If you long to visit the depths that so often defy human exploration then the Underwater Photographer of the Year Exhibition will provide you with a glimpse into the giant aquarium that remains so utterly foreign to most of us. Showing in South Africa for the first time, the exhibition will take place at the Chavonnes Battery Museum at the V&A Waterfront Clock Tower from Sunday, 1 May, until Friday, 30 September 2016.

Partnering with the National Sea Rescue Institute (NSRI), not only will the show blow you away with its gorgeous images, but all donations collected throughout its duration will be given to local schools and community organisations on behalf of the NSRI.

The exhibition encompasses 41 images that fall into eight relevant categories intended to uncover the phenomenal beauty and intrigue of the ocean, with an environmental bent. The pictures are selected from 54 different countries, including South Africa, Mexico, Russia, Indonesia, Malta, Egypt and Jordan.

One of the many reasons to visit the show is to demonstrate our support of South African photographer Pier Mane, who won the Up & Coming Underwater Photographer of the Year 2016 title with his image ‘Three Pillars – Practice, Patience & Luck!’ Davide Loprestis’ overall winning image ‘Gold’ will also be on display, featuring a tiny spiny seahorse in Trieste as a celebration of the creature’s return to the Mediterranean – a region that’s invested much in instigating sustainable protection measures to save marine life from destructive fisheries.

Keep an eye out for Mane’s image of a rare Hawksbill sea turtle in Sodwana Bay and Prieto’s flighty photo of an endangered Hawaiian Petrel. Give Sarah Bowring’s friendly seal a kiss and admire Paul Colley’s playful picture of a duck and a fish, using his home-made pole-cam. Rewarding patience, perseverance and photographic excellence, all the photographs on display are inspiring, and provide a snapshot into a world we know little about – a world we need to protect.

The ocean occupies 99% of our planet’s living space and contains an estimated 80 – 90% of all life on earth. This exhibition is our opportunity to explore a wild and wonderful biosphere that exists below the surface.

TICKETS TO THE 2016 UNDERWATER PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR EXHIBITION AT THE V&A WATERFRONT

The exhibition is open seven days a week from 9am until 4pm, and adult tickets are R70p/p, student/ senior/ wild card holder tickets are R50p/p, and children from six to 16 years pay R30p/p. Kids under six enter for free and it’s R200 for a family of four. If you go on Sunday, 1, or Monday, 2 May 2016, entrance is FREE in honour of Worker’s Day. Tickets are available from Webtickets.co.za and at the door. 

Images by: Sarah Bowring, Paul Colley, Pier Mane and Alejandro Prieto.

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Interested in other exhibitions around town? Take a look at our overview of galleries in Cape Town for ideas!

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